Aardema, V. (1976). Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears. New York, New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
This book tells the story of the coniving mosquito who caused the death of the baby owlett with her mischevious ways. Subsequently, the sun will not rise until the mother owl, who makes the sun rise, finds out who killed her baby owl. The moral of this tale tells the reader why mosquitos BUZZZZZZ, BUZZZZ, BUZZZ!
Aardema, V. (1973). Behind the Back of the Mountain: Black Folktales from Southern Africa. New York, New York: E P Dutton.
This is a compilation of several folktales, including How Blue Crane Taught Jackal to Fly, Tusi and the Great Beast, and The House in the Middle of the Road. The ethnicity of the tale, such as Zulu is identified at the beginning of each tale. Additionally, at the end of the book, the “sources” of each tale are identified.
Alembi, E. (2000). Elijah Masinde, rebel with a cause. Kenya: Sasa Sema Publications.
This chapter book is about life and times of Elijah Masinde, a religious and political figure in Kenya. Told through the eyes of a Kenyan grandmother to her grandchildren, the story begins as a way of demonstrating to the children the need for oral tradition and storytelling about the history of their country. It covers the religious and political resistance Masinde demonstrated when fighting for his country.
Cleveland, R. (2006). The Clever Monkey: A Folktale from West Africa. Atlanta: August Publishers House Inc.
The Clever Monkey is about two cats who are fighting over a piece of cheese. Both cats offer to split the cheese evenly between each other; however, neither cat trusts the other cat to split the cheese evenly. A monkey comes along to offer to “help” the two cats in their dilemma, by splitting the cheese. The money divvies up the cheese by eating it and claiming, “oh, no they are not even,” and east a little more of each piece. Finally the monkey leaves the cats with the most miniscule pieces of cheese-of course the monkey’s belly is full!
Daly, N. (2004). Jamela's dress. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
Daly shares the story of a young girl named Jamela who is left in charge of watching her mother’s fabric. She quickly becomes swept up in her imagination and parades the streets as a queen. Quickly Jamela realizes she has accidentally destroyed her mother’s fabric and not must find a way to fix it!
Daly, N. (1985). Not so fast Songololo. New York, NY: Macmillian Publishing Company.
Not So Fast, Songololo is a story about a boy and his grandmother, Gogo in South Africa. The two spend a wonderful day together in the city, and the only thing Malusi wants is a pair of new shoes, as being from a large family he only ever gets hand-me-downs. But his grandmother swoops in to do what grandmother’s do best – spoil their grandkids.
Daly, Niki. (2007). Pretty salma: A little red riding hood story from africa. New York. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
This story follows the same plot as the English version of, “Little Red Riding Hood;” however, this story takes place in Africa. Pretty Salma is off to the market place to buy some things for her Granny. She is told to come straight home and not talk to any strangers; however, Pretty Salma travels off the beaten path and encounters Mr. Dog. You can imagine what character Mr. Dog reflects in this African version of “Little Red Riding Hood.”
Daly, N. (2012). The herd boy. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
The Herd Boy is Daly’s most recent book and is not yet released. The book is about Malusi, a herd boy who looks after his grandfather’s sheep and goat. Malusi does his job well for being such a small boy. This story follows Malusi as he dreams of someday being more than a herd boy. Daly writes this story to show that many great people come from unpretentious beginnings. This hardcover will be released in October 2012.
Diakite, B. (1997). The hunterman and the crocodile: A west african folktale. New York: Scholastic Press.
Diakite presents an original African folktale about a man named Donso and a crocodile family. After doing a good deed for the family, he soon realizes that he has been tricked and may now become a tasty treat! Diakite discusses the balance of nature and the importance of treating all living things with respect and value.
Haley, G. E. (1988). A story a story. New York, NY: Aladdin.
This book was a winner of the Caldecott Medal. It tells the story of how the world got all the stories. All the stories belonged to the Sky God, Nyame. They were kept in a box beside his throne. Ananse, the Spider man, wanted the stories and went out to get what the god wanted in trade for the stories. This book is adapted from an African folktale, and is a "trickster tale."
House, C. (2002). Nelson mandela: Fighter for humanity. Kenya: Sasa Sema Publications.
This book tells the harsh story of Nelson Mandela and his life as he fights for the freedom of his nation. The story is written with a view of hope that someday people of various race, ethnicity, or culture can live together in peace.
Maillu, D. (2002). The survivors. Kenya: Sasa Sema Publications.
Maillu presents an African folktale about the Safariant and the Termite. Once from the same family, a feud breaks out between the two, and the Safariants are banished from the kingdom. The Safariants believe that they are superior, but ultimately the story results in a shocking conclusion showcasing what happens when you upset the balance of nature.
McBrier, P., & Lohstoeter L. (2004). Beatrice's goat. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.
Beatrice Biira is the heroine in this picture book by Page McBrier, based on her real life growing up in Uganda. Beatrice’s family suffered from poverty, therefore was unable to provide the tuition for the local school. Through the gift of a small goat, Beatrice is able to turn her companion into her family’s saving grace, and earn the money to win her spot in school.
McDermott, G. (1992). Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa. Singapore. Sandpiper.
This is teh story of the clever, though not wise rabbit who wants to get wisdom from teh Sky God. In order to recieve wisdome however, the rabbit must accomplis the "Three Impossible Tasks." Rabbit is able to accomplish these tasks, however, the reader discovers at the end why rabbits might be known for running fast.
Njeng’ere, David. (2003). Dedan kimiathi: Leader of the mau mau. Kenya: Sasa Sema Publications.
This story is about a Dedan Kimiathi a renegade for his people, in Kenya against British imperialism during the 1950’s. Dedan Kimiathi is not a popular culture African hero, such as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, or even Harriett Tubman. However, just as these African Americans fought for social justice for their race, Kimiathi also fought for the social justice-fair treatment of Africans in their homeland.
Vayssières, J. (2001). The amazing adventures of Equiano. Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers.
This book tells the true story of Olaudah Equiano in a format that transitions picture books to young adult literature. 60 pages in length, this reveals the heroic nature and resilience of a young African slave who used his travels and resources to not only earn his freedom, but provide support and political voice to other slaves around the world. Perfect for the upper elementary or middle school classroom.
Williams, K. (1991). Galimoto. New York: HarperCollins.
Williams shares the story of a young boy and his struggle to create his very own Galimoto or wire toy. The author traces his journey across a small African town in hopes of collecting enough wire. Older boys, and his brother laugh along the way at his journey, but ultimately he is able to create his very own Galimoto!
This book tells the story of the coniving mosquito who caused the death of the baby owlett with her mischevious ways. Subsequently, the sun will not rise until the mother owl, who makes the sun rise, finds out who killed her baby owl. The moral of this tale tells the reader why mosquitos BUZZZZZZ, BUZZZZ, BUZZZ!
Aardema, V. (1973). Behind the Back of the Mountain: Black Folktales from Southern Africa. New York, New York: E P Dutton.
This is a compilation of several folktales, including How Blue Crane Taught Jackal to Fly, Tusi and the Great Beast, and The House in the Middle of the Road. The ethnicity of the tale, such as Zulu is identified at the beginning of each tale. Additionally, at the end of the book, the “sources” of each tale are identified.
Alembi, E. (2000). Elijah Masinde, rebel with a cause. Kenya: Sasa Sema Publications.
This chapter book is about life and times of Elijah Masinde, a religious and political figure in Kenya. Told through the eyes of a Kenyan grandmother to her grandchildren, the story begins as a way of demonstrating to the children the need for oral tradition and storytelling about the history of their country. It covers the religious and political resistance Masinde demonstrated when fighting for his country.
Cleveland, R. (2006). The Clever Monkey: A Folktale from West Africa. Atlanta: August Publishers House Inc.
The Clever Monkey is about two cats who are fighting over a piece of cheese. Both cats offer to split the cheese evenly between each other; however, neither cat trusts the other cat to split the cheese evenly. A monkey comes along to offer to “help” the two cats in their dilemma, by splitting the cheese. The money divvies up the cheese by eating it and claiming, “oh, no they are not even,” and east a little more of each piece. Finally the monkey leaves the cats with the most miniscule pieces of cheese-of course the monkey’s belly is full!
Daly, N. (2004). Jamela's dress. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
Daly shares the story of a young girl named Jamela who is left in charge of watching her mother’s fabric. She quickly becomes swept up in her imagination and parades the streets as a queen. Quickly Jamela realizes she has accidentally destroyed her mother’s fabric and not must find a way to fix it!
Daly, N. (1985). Not so fast Songololo. New York, NY: Macmillian Publishing Company.
Not So Fast, Songololo is a story about a boy and his grandmother, Gogo in South Africa. The two spend a wonderful day together in the city, and the only thing Malusi wants is a pair of new shoes, as being from a large family he only ever gets hand-me-downs. But his grandmother swoops in to do what grandmother’s do best – spoil their grandkids.
Daly, Niki. (2007). Pretty salma: A little red riding hood story from africa. New York. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
This story follows the same plot as the English version of, “Little Red Riding Hood;” however, this story takes place in Africa. Pretty Salma is off to the market place to buy some things for her Granny. She is told to come straight home and not talk to any strangers; however, Pretty Salma travels off the beaten path and encounters Mr. Dog. You can imagine what character Mr. Dog reflects in this African version of “Little Red Riding Hood.”
Daly, N. (2012). The herd boy. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
The Herd Boy is Daly’s most recent book and is not yet released. The book is about Malusi, a herd boy who looks after his grandfather’s sheep and goat. Malusi does his job well for being such a small boy. This story follows Malusi as he dreams of someday being more than a herd boy. Daly writes this story to show that many great people come from unpretentious beginnings. This hardcover will be released in October 2012.
Diakite, B. (1997). The hunterman and the crocodile: A west african folktale. New York: Scholastic Press.
Diakite presents an original African folktale about a man named Donso and a crocodile family. After doing a good deed for the family, he soon realizes that he has been tricked and may now become a tasty treat! Diakite discusses the balance of nature and the importance of treating all living things with respect and value.
Haley, G. E. (1988). A story a story. New York, NY: Aladdin.
This book was a winner of the Caldecott Medal. It tells the story of how the world got all the stories. All the stories belonged to the Sky God, Nyame. They were kept in a box beside his throne. Ananse, the Spider man, wanted the stories and went out to get what the god wanted in trade for the stories. This book is adapted from an African folktale, and is a "trickster tale."
House, C. (2002). Nelson mandela: Fighter for humanity. Kenya: Sasa Sema Publications.
This book tells the harsh story of Nelson Mandela and his life as he fights for the freedom of his nation. The story is written with a view of hope that someday people of various race, ethnicity, or culture can live together in peace.
Maillu, D. (2002). The survivors. Kenya: Sasa Sema Publications.
Maillu presents an African folktale about the Safariant and the Termite. Once from the same family, a feud breaks out between the two, and the Safariants are banished from the kingdom. The Safariants believe that they are superior, but ultimately the story results in a shocking conclusion showcasing what happens when you upset the balance of nature.
McBrier, P., & Lohstoeter L. (2004). Beatrice's goat. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.
Beatrice Biira is the heroine in this picture book by Page McBrier, based on her real life growing up in Uganda. Beatrice’s family suffered from poverty, therefore was unable to provide the tuition for the local school. Through the gift of a small goat, Beatrice is able to turn her companion into her family’s saving grace, and earn the money to win her spot in school.
McDermott, G. (1992). Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa. Singapore. Sandpiper.
This is teh story of the clever, though not wise rabbit who wants to get wisdom from teh Sky God. In order to recieve wisdome however, the rabbit must accomplis the "Three Impossible Tasks." Rabbit is able to accomplish these tasks, however, the reader discovers at the end why rabbits might be known for running fast.
Njeng’ere, David. (2003). Dedan kimiathi: Leader of the mau mau. Kenya: Sasa Sema Publications.
This story is about a Dedan Kimiathi a renegade for his people, in Kenya against British imperialism during the 1950’s. Dedan Kimiathi is not a popular culture African hero, such as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, or even Harriett Tubman. However, just as these African Americans fought for social justice for their race, Kimiathi also fought for the social justice-fair treatment of Africans in their homeland.
Vayssières, J. (2001). The amazing adventures of Equiano. Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers.
This book tells the true story of Olaudah Equiano in a format that transitions picture books to young adult literature. 60 pages in length, this reveals the heroic nature and resilience of a young African slave who used his travels and resources to not only earn his freedom, but provide support and political voice to other slaves around the world. Perfect for the upper elementary or middle school classroom.
Williams, K. (1991). Galimoto. New York: HarperCollins.
Williams shares the story of a young boy and his struggle to create his very own Galimoto or wire toy. The author traces his journey across a small African town in hopes of collecting enough wire. Older boys, and his brother laugh along the way at his journey, but ultimately he is able to create his very own Galimoto!