The traditions of Western fairy tales and African oral storytelling are beautifully combined with bold and colorful illustrations in a collection of stories that celebrate the ingenuity and compassion of four young heroines.
Age
Catalog sorted by age group
The 12 Days of Christmas
This story sets the traditional Christmas carol in Africa, using a combination of text and rebuses. This book includes author’s note about some of the African traditions depicted.
Koi and the Kola Nuts
An African folktale follows the son of a chief who must make his way in the world with only a sackful of kola nuts and the help of some creatures that he has treated with kindness.
Halala Means Welcome: A Book Of Zulu Words (Jump At The Sun)
Introduces words in Zulu, a “musical language with unusual clicking sounds” while following the activities of a boy at home in South Africa.
Exploration Into Africa
Exploration Into Africa is part of a series describing the history of chosen regions before and after their exploration by Europeans. This book is about exploring the whole story of Africa from the earliest times, through the periods of its great empires, to the time of its exploration by European travelers right up to the present day. Read about the Ghanaian Empire that was so wealthy the dogs in the king’s palace wore collars of solid gold. Read about massive walls of Great Zimbabwe, the fabulous city that was suddenly abandoned for no apparent reason. And read about the Europeans who came and explored Africa in their quest to solve the mysteries of that continent.
Jackal’s Flying Lesson
With the help of a blue crane, a mother dove rescues her babies from a not-so-clever jackal.
Khoikhoi, Southern Africa
Anansi
Two Jamaican folk tales in which Anansi the spider practices his trickery on others. Includes an audio cassette featuring narration and music.
One Sun Rises
The varied wild creatures of Africa introduce young readers to the world of numbers and counting, as well as to the diverse landscapes and wildlife of the African continent.
Nii Kwei’s Day
Nii Kwei lives in Accra, the capital of Ghana. He gets up at 6 o’clock every morning. He helps his sisters and brother tidy up the compound, then he eats a breakfast of coco (corn porridge), bread, fried eggs and a chocolate drink. At 7:30 he goes to school in a taxi. Later, on his way home, he goes to Abraham’s material store with his mother. He ends the day playing football with his cousins, back at the compound. This book is part of the series A Child’s Day, photographic information books concentrating on the daily lives and experiences of children in countries around the world, published in association with Oxfam.
Zoom Upstream
Zoom the cat follows a mysterious trail through a bookshelf to Egypt, where he joins his friend Maria in a search for his Uncle Roy.