, age

's Comments:

I like it. It is funny.

, age

's Comments:

I like it. It is funny. I hope other kids like it.

avondreannte', age 11

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because he was an old friend and also a madman that had courageous thoughts that were very eccentric.

Karen, age 11

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

The madman was able to help Walukaga when no one else could because the madman was very smart. Also, the friendship between the madman and Walukaga shone through.

Karen's Comments:

I thought that this story was very entertaining. Thank you for putting it here. It has helped me on a World Studies assignment. 

Sarah, age 12

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because always when you need someone's help it is always the person that you least expect will be able to help you.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I haven't experienced that yet.

Sarah's Comments:

I really enjoyed it and it kept me thinking through the whole story about how he was going to make the iron man.

Grant, age 8

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because he had lots of time to think about silly things like how many hairs a king could burn into charcoal.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

When we do problem solving at school.

Grant's Comments:

I like riddles. It was a great story!!! Perfection!!! Amazing!!! Wonderful!

Ryan, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because nobody else thought about it, they just thought silly thoughts.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

When we had a substitute, he had a hard problem.

Ryan's Comments:

It was cool for the adventure.

, age

's Comments:

I thought it was a nice story. 

damien, age 15

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

He was mad.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I never have ideas.



damien's Comments:

It was okay.

Stephanie, age 9

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

He was able to help because he's smart!

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I cannot remember a time.



Stephanie's Comments:

I thought it was a very good story!

Stephanie, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because they had a good friendship.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I don't know!



Stephanie's Comments:

I thought it was very good.

Dan/Kurt, age 9/10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?



Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





Dan/Kurt's Comments:

I liked the thought that he was magic but I was worrying also that he would die.

Thomas, age 9

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because the Madman knew that the King didn't have enough hair or tears.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I did not have an idea no one else could solve.



Thomas's Comments:

I think this story was very funny. I also think that this was a good story.

Amber, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?



Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





Amber's Comments:

I thought the story was great!!! It really had a lot of detail. I want to read another one of these stories.

Stephanie, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because they had a good friendship.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I don't know!



Stephanie's Comments:

I thought it was very good!!!!! 100% 

Steven, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

I think that he was very clever.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

Don't know.



Steven's Comments:

I thought that it was not very well...

Autumn, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

I think that the Madman was a wizard and that he could help anybody.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





Autumn's Comments:

I thought the story was a good story because it can help somebody with a trouble like Walukaga had.

Lauren, age 9

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because the madman was a very madman with clever thoughts that he usually used to trick people, but since this was a friend he used them to help him.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





Lauren's Comments:

I liked the madman's clever thoughts and the way he shared his food. I also liked the moral of the story. Finally, I liked the detail.

Megan, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because he was a madman and I think he would be able to think of stupid and crazy things to tell the king to do that is impossible for his task.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I never really solved a problem before.



Megan's Comments:

This story was very creative! I really liked it a lot.

lizzie/brittany, age 10/10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

He helped because he knew how to do it.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

When friends say that they're not your friend anymore and they will not talk to you about it.



lizzie/brittany's Comments:

This story was very cool and the person who wrote it is a good author.

James, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

I think he could help him because he probly did that once to someone to get out of something and he probably pretended to go crazy.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





James's Comments:

I thought this story was the best if I had to rate it I would give it a ten.

Melanie, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

He helped him with a excuse.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





Melanie's Comments:

I thought the story was very cool. It had a lot of detail.

Alexis, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?



Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

Maybe he was gifted and everybody thought he was a madman, and nobody had to listen to what he had to say.



Alexis's Comments:

I thought this story was very good because it kind of tells you that if you don't know how to solve your problem you should ask another that might know the answer.

Melissa, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

The madman was able to help Walukaga because he listened to him without interrupting him.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I can't remember a specific time.



Melissa's Comments:

I thought it was okay.

Danny, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

He was the only one that is good to Walukaga.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

When I fell off my bike.



Danny's Comments:

I hated it!!!!!!!!!

Matt, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

He was able to help him because he was his boyhood friend and he was very clever.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

That never happened to me.



Matt's Comments:

I really really liked the story it was neat.

Ryan, age 9

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because he was a madman and madmen have crazy ideas.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I had a problem when we were picking teams for basketball. 



Ryan's Comments:

The story was awesome, it was very creative.

Megan, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because he was a madman.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

How I could make more firends.



Megan's Comments:

I thought it was a very good book.

Jessica, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

I think the madman came up of an idea for the blacksmith because he maybe had other friends that were really smart and he learned from them.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I solved a problem when my friend couldn't think which house she would build out of legos.



Jessica's Comments:

It was great!!!!!!!

Ally, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

I think the madman could help Walukaga because even though the man was mad, he still had very good advice.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

This was a while ago. I was playing a game with some friends and and my friends wanted to play different games. So I came up with an idea. I lined everybody up in age order and told them to play all the games in that order.



Ally's Comments:

I thought this story was good.

Lysa, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because he was the craziest of his friends and none of his other of Walukaga's friends could be able to figure out any reasonable answer. 

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I can't think of a time.



Lysa's Comments:

I thought it was great and surprising.

Nick, age 9

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because everybody said that Walukaga could never make a real life person because it was impossible.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

Nothing happened.



Nick's Comments:

I thought that the story was really good.

alyssa, age 9

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because he was good friends with him. Also, because he knew a lot about the king.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

One time, my mom lost her ring and I knew where it was.



alyssa's Comments:

I think it was great, I loved it!

robert, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

He was Walukaga's friend and it was the only one that was not violent.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

In school just yesterday we were trying to make a lightbulb light (I did it 1st).



robert's Comments:

I loved it, it had a good lesson (moral).

Kaitlynn, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

The madman was able to help Walukaga because he was wise.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

No time.



Kaitlynn's Comments:

I thought the story was great.

Kelsey, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because the madman was smart.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





Kelsey's Comments:

I thought it was exciting.

Caitlin, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

I think that the madman could help when no one else could is because the madman could maybe of been in the same position.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I haven't done anything yet, but I do hope I do soon.



Caitlin's Comments:

I thought that the story was very creative and I thought it was a good story.

Alison, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

I think that the madman was clever, not mad.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

When Jasmine and Lida had a fight.



Alison's Comments:

The King knew it was impossible.

Amy, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because the madman was one of Walukaga's closest friends and he was clever enough to help Walukaga outwit the king without getting anyone in trouble!

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I haven't had that time but I know I will sooner or later.



Amy's Comments:

I thought this story was well told and I hope to read it again soon.

Travis, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

There was not a lot of mysteries for The Blacksmith to work with. 

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

When I got hit in the mouth by a hard baseball. I did not know what to do about it.



Travis's Comments:

It was a good story. 

Frankie, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

The madman helped Walukaga by giving him the idea making charcoal out of hair, and 100 pots of tears from the villagers!

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





Frankie's Comments:

I liked the story. It was very funny (I laugh easily). I liked the part when the king asked Walukaga to make a man out of tin!

Hilary, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Maybe because the madman was one of Walukaga's best friends and cared about him very much.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I haven't yet but I hope to soon.



Hilary's Comments:

I thought it was pretty good, I would give it 4 stars.

matthew, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because The madman was the only one who would listen.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





matthew's Comments:

I thought that it was a very different story.

lee, age 10-11

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

He may have thought about quitting because he knew it would happen.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





lee's Comments:

I thought the story was ok.

Michelle, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

The madman was able to help Walukaga with his dilemma because he was a good friend.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

Once I lost my folder when I was home alone and I had all of my homework inside it, but I eventually found it.



Michelle's Comments:

I thought it was okay, I would rate it two stars.

Tim, age 9

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

The madman had to do the same thing as Walukaga for the king so the madman knew what to do.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I can't remember a time I did that.



Tim's Comments:

It was okay. It was kind of boring. Wait a minute, it was terrible.

Nathan, age 9

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because he was a old friend.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

Cannot tell because I do not know!



Nathan's Comments:

It was a good story!

Emily, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

I think the madman knew his idea was impossible. Then if Walukaga asked for these things he would not have to do the task.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





Emily's Comments:

I think younger kids would have liked the story more than a 10 year old would. The story was okay.

Ricky, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

The Madman lived in the country where nobody ever went.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I can't think of anything at this moment.



Ricky's Comments:

I liked the part when the king told him to build a iron man with blood even running through his veins. I thought it was a good story. This story is really good.

Steven, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

He was a good friend of the blacksmith's.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

Run away to a faraway land.



Steven's Comments:

The king was mean to ask the blacksmith for him to build a man out of iron. And it was good.

Allison, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

I think the madman was able to help because he had tried it before. Also because he was a wise man his days.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

When my friend didn't know what to do when when her friend was not being nice. 



Allison's Comments:

I thought the madman was a wise man. Also I thought that the king was not really thinking.

Adam, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because the madman had more advice for Walukaga.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I do not remember at the time, ok.



Adam's Comments:

I thought the story was great, it was different. It is one of the best stories I have read.

nick, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because the mad man was the only one who could help the blacksmith.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I just gave an idea and he came up with an answer.



nick's Comments:



Benjamin, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because the madman was clever and knew many tricks.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I can't think of a time when that happened. 



Benjamin's Comments:

I would like the characters to be more described. Also, I would like it to be more exciting. You could also have added more characters. But I liked it anyway.

David, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because no one else understood what Walukaga meant. Only his best friend understood Walukaga. Just like my friends solve my problems.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

One of my problems was to trade a basketball card for two football cards.



David's Comments:

I thought the story was funny. It was funny when the king ordered everyone to weep into their pots. It was also funny when the king ordered everyone to shave their heads and bring it to the castle.

Sean, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

because he was a madman.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





Sean's Comments:

I liked when the blacksmith played jokes on the king.

Emily R, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because he was wiser then people thought.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

I don't remember but I hope to have one soon!



Emily R's Comments:

Well, I think that the blacksmith should have been more honest.

Christina, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

I think the madman had a special power in his brain so he could get the best idea. I also think the madman had been watching Walukaga the whole time and thought of the great idea.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

Right now I cannot think of a time when I could solve a problem and nobody else could.



Christina's Comments:

Dear Whootie, I thought this story was great. It was the best story I ever read.

Ally, age 7

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

He Was A Madman !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.





Ally's Comments:

THE STORY WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shira, age 10

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

I think the madman was able to help Walukaga when no one else could because he had been isolated for so long that all he had time to do was think and everybody else had their lives to live and very little time to just sit there and think. I also think he

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

Once my best friend and I were at a waterslide park and we heard that another one of our frends was moving away. We couldn't believe that our friend Jessica would tell Nicole, a girl whom she hated and not tell Alissa and I her best friends. Then Alissa w



Shira's Comments:

I thought this was a great story with a great moral.

ashley, age 7

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

He was not afraid of the king.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

In math I was the only one that could figure it out.



ashley's Comments:

I thought it was kind of funny, my dad does too.

Elyse, age 12

Why was the madman able to help Walukaga when no one else could?

Because he was a very smart madman and no one else really cared enough.

Tell about a time when you had an idea that solved a problem no one else could solve.

There was a math problem that everyone got wrong except me. They were trying to add all of the numbers, when some of them were just extra numbers added in there!



Elyse's Comments:

I thought that the story was pretty good. All of the answers, to me anyway, are something that no one would ever think of. They seem just out of whack.