Best Children’s Books Set in Africa

Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan, illustrated by Mercè López
A boy named Musa travels by bus to the seashore. However regardless that the bus feels full to him, his Dada says there’s at all times room for extra individuals. Because the daldala continues the journey, extra individuals, animals, and issues climb aboard. The passengers wiggle and squish to make room for extra. Counting, rhyming, tradition, and group, it is a playful rhyming story with beautiful illustrations that celebrates the nation and folks of Zanzibar. 

The Water Princess by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is the African sky the dusty earth– she will play conceal and search with the wind and dance within the wild grass however can’t make the water run clearer or come nearer. So, each day, she wakes to stroll along with her Maman to gather water. They sing and chuckle and cease at an enormous Karite tree for snacks– then proceed to the river. Quickly it’s time to fill their pots and return dwelling shoulders aching. Lastly, Gie Gie will get a small drink of water. Useful again matter explains the plight of communities with no entry to scrub water.

The Song of Delphine by Kenneth Kraegel
We cherished this story a couple of servant lady in an African palace who sings to assist with her loneliness. When the giraffes hear her songs, they befriend her. However the princess has her locked up — till the Queen hears her sing. Delphine finds her fortunately ever after along with her new buddy, the apologetic princess.

We All Went on Safari: A Counting Journey through Tanzania by Laurie Krebs, illustrated by Julia Cairns
Mild rhymes, some repetitive textual content (LOVE), and loads of attractive safari vistas make you are feeling as if you’re together with this Maasai household as they spot (and rely) wildebeests, lions, warthogs, and extra animals on their safari. Completely beautiful.

Nya’s Long Walk A Step at a Time by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
This necessary story highlights a really actual (and solvable) plight of households all over the world…
In dusty south Sudan, slightly lady named Nya is getting water for his or her household when her little sister Akeer turns into very unwell, too unwell to stroll. Nya struggles to hold each the water and her sister on the lengthy stroll dwelling. She units brief objectives for herself — stroll to the bushes. Then make it to the stump. She walks dwelling step-by-step by step. Then retains strolling along with her mom to the clinic which is a 3-day-walk. Akeer will get higher however her sickness from water contamination is the main reason for loss of life worldwide for youngsters beneath the age of 5.

Catch That Chicken! by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank
One other successful e book from Atinuke full of African tradition, beautiful mixed-media artwork, and the proper quantity of textual content. Whereas different youngsters could be speedy at spelling or braiding hair, Lami is the speediest, bravest rooster catcher. In the future, she runs too quick up a baobab tree and falls down, spraining her ankle. Her Nana Nadie provides her some recommendation, “It’s not fast toes that catches chickens — it’s fast pondering.” Lami takes the recommendation and figures out find out how to catch chickens by making them come to her.

B is for Baby by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank
I really like how this story celebrates the tradition and folks of West Africa, too. Child goes to take a basket of bananas to baba’s bungalow. (See all these “b” phrases?!) Huge Brother doesn’t discover that he has slightly stowaway within the basket — however we do. Readers will delight at seeing Child’s little face peeking out of the basket whereas Brother rides his bike, passing a baobab, baboon, bus, and different phrases that begin with the letter b earlier than arriving at Baba’s. When Baba seems within the basket, out pops Child! Attractive illustrations. 

Mayowa and the Masquerades by Lola Shoneyin, illustrated by Francis Blake
Mayowa enjoys a enjoyable day within the Nigeria nation with a brand new buddy and new adventures together with chasing grasshoppers, visiting piglets, and dancing on the masquerades.

A Visit to Grandad: An African ABC by Sade Fadipe, illustrated by Shedrach Ayalomeh
I really like that this alphabet e book is a cohesive story! It’s a narrative about an African lady on college break who goes to go to her grandad. “O is for onions Grandad slices for my eggs. / P is for pump. We fetch water in our kegs.” Wealthy, detailed illustrations give readers a powerful sense of place and emotion.

Handa’s Noisy Night by Eileen Browne
Two pals have a sleepover and Hana hears numerous unusual sounds — snorts, chattering, rattling, and extra. Handa’s buddy, Akeyo, explains that it’s simply the grown-ups being noisy. We all know from the illustrations that the noises are African animals exterior. Stunning, colourful illustrations and a intelligent plot that showcases African animals.

Beauty and the Beast by H. Chuku Lee, illustrated by Pat Cummings 
Set in West Africa in Mali, it is a stunning model of the fairy story inside a brand new tradition. I additionally like that the creator writes the story in first particular person from Magnificence’s perspective.

Africa, Amazing Africa Country by Count by Atinuke, illustrated by Mouni Dddag
Crammed with colourful illustrations and fascinating info, that is an important information to the geography tradition, and language of Africa. Atinuke highlights the necessary issues for every nation then provides some footnotes for extra context. It’s a e book that belongs on classroom and college library cabinets, youngsters will pour over the pages of digestible info and interesting illustrations.

The Kaya Girl by Mamle Wolo
A considerate novel a couple of friendship that crosses areas, languages, revenue ranges, and training–regardless of the stigmas and prejudices. Abena, from a wealthy southern household in Ghana, is spending the summer time along with her auntie to assist at her auntie’s market retailer. There, Abena meets Faiza, a Muslim lady from northern Ghana who works as a kayayoo– a woman who makes use of a big head pan to hold purchasing for clients. The 2 women instantly grow to be pals, and Abena’s eyes are opened to the variations of their lives and her personal privileges. However when somebody accuses Faiza of stealing, and Abena will get malaria, they’re torn aside till fifteen years later in a wonderful full-circle second.

Afia and the Land of Wonders written and illustrated by Mia Araujo 
Fantasy followers will love this magical and mesmerizing journey that’s impressed (however higher) than Alice in Wonderland. Afia is a curious lady who’s craving journey. She leaves her beloved twin sister and closed group however will get tricked and trapped by a shape-shifting wooden carver’s grasp, an abusive queen of an enchanted fortress in a magical, barely wacky land. A masked ghost helps Afia escape the queen’s palace, however she received’t escape the queen’s clutches for lengthy. Lush shade illustrations illuminate the dazzling story.

The Iron Tomb (Pyramid Hunters) by Peter Vegas
Sam arrives for summer time trip in Egypt solely to find his uncle is lacking — and he’s being hunted. Sam accepts the assistance of a pleasant taxi driver and a wealthy lady from his airplane journey (who each are hiding one thing) and follows the clues his uncle left behind. It seems like his uncle might need discovered one of many Arks of the Covenant and may very well be trapped there. However will Sam get to him earlier than the thieves? An action-packed story in an fascinating a part of the world.

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and Iman Geddy
A Somali boy and his brother develop up in a Kenyan refugee camp with their day-to-day lives full of starvation and tedium. Omar doesn’t attend the dusty camp college till age 11 as a result of he’s been caring for his youthful brother Hassan who has particular wants. When the brothers get an interview with the UN, Omar will get his hopes up…however they’re not permitted. Years move with many struggles however training and the camp friendships proceed to be shiny spots for Omar. The e book ends with a bittersweet new starting.

The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Expertise Amira’s life in Sudan earlier than and after her village is attacked. After the assault, she should stroll for days to get to the protection of a refugee camp. In her grief, she additionally finds hope within the type of a valuable pencil as she sees its potentialities.

Fibbed by Elizabeth Agyemang
Everybody accuses Nana of mendacity and, because of this, she’s despatched to go to kinfolk in Ghana. There, she not solely hears her grandmother’s tales about Anase however she additionally meets the trickster spider and father of tales who can relate to not being believed for his tales. When her disbelieving cousins understand that Nana’s tales have been true all alongside, they be a part of Nana and Anase to reveal a nasty firm destroying the protected forest. Magic, folktales, advocacy, African tradition, and the facility of tales, it is a distinctive, fantastically illustrated graphic novel journey.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Sudan’s actuality, previous and current, collide on this fantastically written true story. In 1985, we observe the harrowing journey of a younger boy who, after his village was attacked, walks miles and miles to a refugee camp. In 2008, we examine a woman who should stroll two hours morning and night time to get recent water. Above all, their tales are compelling; you received’t be capable of put this e book down or take clear water as a right once more. A must-read.