Over the years, as a publisher of books for children by African writers and illustrators, I've bemoaned the fact that many of the best books for children aren't accessible except in their country of origin... But here are a few that are widely available and definitely worth investigating, for all ages.
The Herd Boy by Niki Daly
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 978-0802855503
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Niki Daly and was lucky enough to publish his last 5 books. Niki was South African, a celebrated illustrator and author, and was one of the first authors on the continent to explore the experiences of black children in books for kids.
From the publisher: Malusi is a herd boy, which means that he must look after his grandfather’s sheep and goats and protect them from harm on the grazing slopes. This is a big job for a small boy and one Malusi does well. Still, he dreams of being more than a herd boy: he wants to be president! When Malusi mentions these hopes, his friend Lungisa laughs and laughs. But after an attack by a hungry baboon and an encounter with Nelson Mandela, Malusi wonders if his dream isn’t so impossible after all…
When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and Irman Geddy
Publisher: Dial Books
ISBN: 978-0525553908
How can one go wrong with the author/illustrator of Roller Girl, collaborating with two African writers, for this spectacular graphic novel that explores the war-time experiences of children?
From the publisher: Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day. Heartbreak, hope, and gentle humor exist together in this graphic novel about a childhood spent waiting, and a young man who is able to create a sense of family and home in the most difficult of settings.
Anna Hibiscus, series of 8 books, boxed set, by Atinuke
Publisher: Walker Books
ISBN: 978-1529503272
I’ve been in love with the Anna Hibiscus early readers since I first encountered them—though I might love the No. 1 Car Spotter series more, just FYI.
From the Publisher:
Anna Hibiscus
Anna Hibiscus lives in amazing Africa with her mother, her father, her baby twin brothers, and lots and lots of her family. Join her as she splashes in the sea, prepares for a party, sells oranges, and hopes to see sweet, sweet snow!
Hooray for Anna Hibiscus!
Anna Hibiscus lives in amazing Africa with her family in a wonderful house in a beautiful garden in a big city. Join Anna as she sings for the president, gets in a terrible tangle with her hair and visits the other side of the city.
Go Well, Anna Hibiscus
Anna Hibiscus and her family are going to the village with Grandfather. They travel by bus through mangrove swamp and rainforest, through scrubland and rivers, over hills and mountains.
You're Amazing, Anna Hibiscus
In the eighth title of the series about the universally loved Anna Hibiscus, written by internationally renowned Nigerian storyteller Atinuke, Anna Hibiscus is worried: her twin brothers.
Welcome Home, Anna Hibiscus
Anna Hibiscus is back home after visiting her grandma in Canada. But it seems that so much has changed while she was away!
Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus
Anna Hibiscus has never been away from her home in Africa, surrounded by her parents and baby brothers, as well as all of her aunts and uncles and cousins.
Love from Anna Hibiscus:Anna Hibiscus is on holiday with Grandmother and Grandfather in the village where they were born. She befriends the local children there and teaches them their ABC and 123.
Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus!
Anna Hibiscus is looking forward to visiting her grandmother in Canada, where she will see snow for the first time!
The Cedarville Shop and the Wheelbarrow Swap by Bridget Krone
Publisher: Catalyst Press
ISBN: 9781946395665
Bridget Krone is one of my favorite writers for middle grade—this and her Small Mercies are well worth reading. I’m biased, yes, because I published them but I couldn’t not list it—it made me cry (and laugh!) every time I edited it.
From the publisher:
A lot of things can feel just out of reach in 12-year-old Boipelo Seku's small, impoverished village of Cedarville, South Africa. The idea of one day living in a house that's big enough for his family is just a faraway dream. But when Boi stumbles on a story about a Canadian man who traded his way from a paperclip to a house, Boi hatches his own trading plan starting with a tiny clay cow he molded from river mud. Trade by trade, Boi and his best friend Potso discover that even though Cedarville lacks so many of the things that made the paperclip trade possible, it is fuller than either of them ever imagined. In a chain of events that turns Boi's tiny spark into a warming fire, Boi learns the power of friendship and community, and finds that something's value isn't in what you can trade for it, but in the good it brings to the people you love.
Idia of the Benin Kingdom: An Empowering Book for Girls by Ekiuwa Aire
Publisher: Our Ancestories
ISBN: 978-1777117900
From the Publisher: Join Idia of the Benin Kingdom as she molds herself from the young and curious daughter of a village warrior to becoming the Queen of the ancient African Kingdom of Benin. Discover the journey of a young heroine who saw her future in a dream and works her way to becoming one of the most well-loved, praised, and successful queens in African History.
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