African Wildlife Trivia  •  Dawid van Lill NATURAL HISTORY •  2008 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) Did you know that East Africa has more native mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians than any other part of the world? Full of facts and fun, this primer on African animals and insects contains eye-catching illustrations and info on African geography. (AFR227, $11.95)
Akimbo and the Elephants  •  Alexander McCall Smith LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 68 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A chapter book for young readers by the astoundingly prolific author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The series, originally published in Britain in the 1990s, tracks the ongoing adventures of 10-year-old Akimbo, whose father is a game warden. In this tale, Akimbo comes up with a plan to stop the ivory poachers. With black-and-white illustrations. Geared for 8-9 year olds. (AFR157, $5.99)
Akimbo and the Snakes  •  Alexander McCall Smith  •  LeUyen Pham LITERATURE •  2006 •  HARD COVER  • 80 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A chapter book for young readers by the astoundingly prolific author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The series, originally published in Britain in the 1990s, tracks the ongoing adventures of 10-year-old Akimbo, whose father is a game warden. In this tale, Akimbo visits his uncle's snake farm and gets up close and personal with the deadly green mamba. With black-and-white illustrations. Geared for 8-9 year olds. (AFR172, $9.95)
Planting the Trees of Kenya, The Story of Wangari Maathai  •  Claire A. Nivola BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2008 •  HARD COVER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Watercolor illustrations and lyrical prose combine to tell the remarkable true story of Wangari Maathai, the winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, who changed the fate of her village in the highlands of Kenya by teaching her people how to care for it. (EAF189, $16.95)
Wangari's Trees of Peace, A True Story from Africa  •  Jeanette Winter BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2008 •  HARD COVER  • 32 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) An illustrated biography of Wangari Mathaai, founder of the Kenyan Green Belt Movement and winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for her work in Kenya. (EAF188, $17.00)
Big Cats  •  Seymour Simon NATURAL HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 40 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A full-color introduction to the life of big cats around the world, including the tiger, lion, leopard, puma, cheetah, jaguar, and snow leopard. A brief text accompanies the photos, which concentrate on how the animals behave in the wild. Intended for children ages 4-8. (BST46, $6.99)
Jambo Means Hello, Swahili Alphabet Book  •  Muriel Feelings  •  Tom Feelings LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  1995 •  PAPER  • 56 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A highly recommended introduction to the people and culture of East Africa -- and basic words in Swahili -- for younger readers, ages 4-8. With black-and-white illustrations by Tom and text by Muriel, the husband-and-wide team who have also produced an award-winning counting book in Swahili. (EAF100, $6.99)
Moja Means One, Swahili Counting Book  •  Muriel Feelings  •  Tom Feelings CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1992 •  PAPER  • 56 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Tom provides richly detailed illustrations to accompany Muriel's presentation of the numbers one to ten in Swahili. Intended for children ages 4-8, it's a nice introduction to the culture of East Africa. A reprint of the 1972 Caldecott winner. (EAF99, $6.99)
Africa  •  David Petersen CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1998 •  PAPER • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Part of the True Book series, this illustrated, readable volume teaches children about the geography and diverse cultures of Africa. Geared towards younger readers (4-8). (AFR219, $6.95)
Safari, My Trip To Africa  •  Susan Hoy TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1995 •  HARD COVER  • 80 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Reginald Oliver Smythe, the traveling teddy bear, takes a trip on safari in Africa in this read-aloud diary. Accompanied by his owner and travel companion, Susan Hoy, Reggie provides charming observations of the trip. Beautifully illustrated, this entertaining, spiral bound book will appeal to little kids on safari. (AFR70, $26.00)
Wild Safari Scratch and Sketch  •  Heather Zschock  •  Kerren Barbas NATURAL HISTORY •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 64 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Reveal the wildlife of Africa as you copy simple sketches of 20 amazing animals in this fun activity book. The bright colors and fascinating facts are enough to entice any youngster. (EAF155, $12.99)
Serengeti Journey, On Safari in Africa  •  Gare Thompson NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  HARD COVER  • 48 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) A fun and informative overview of the Serengeti and its wildlife for readers ages 4 to 8. (EAF150, $17.90)
Here Is the African Savanna  •  Tom Leonard  •  Madeleine Dunphy SCIENCE •  2006 •  PAPER • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) Rhyming verse and colorful illustrations introduce young readers to the animals, habitat and ecosystem of the African savanna. (EAF186, $9.95)
The Place of Lions  •  Eric Campbell NATURAL HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) In this engaging tale, 14-year-old Chris and his father are involved in a plane crash en route to Tanzani, leaving them stranded on the Serengeti Plain. Chris then embarks on a heroic 30-mile journey to find help and befriends an aging lion along the way. (EAF168, $6.95)
Ashanti to Zulu, African Traditions  •  Leo Dillon  •  Diane Dillon  •  Margaret Musgrove CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1980 •  PAPER  • 32 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A full-color introduction to 26 different African cultures, arranged from A to Z. Intended for kids ages 9-12, this classic won the Dillons their second Caldecott Medal for best illustration in a children's book. (AFR73, $6.99)
Eyewitness Africa  •  Yvonne Ayo CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1995 •  HARD COVER • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A thoroughly illustrated overview of traditional ways of life throughout Africa in the highly visual Eyewitness series. Each two-page spread is devoted to a specific aspect of African life, such as home-building, medicine and religion. Geared for children ages 9-12. (AFR59, $15.99)
Africa, Cultural Atlas for Young People  •  Jocelyn Murray CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 96 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A fully illustrated overview of African culture and history by anthropologist Jocelyn Murray (who also wrote the adult version of this book). It covers broad historical and cultural themes and includes a two-page spread on each region throughout the continent. With lots of maps and color photos. Highly recommended as an introduction to all Africa. (AFR58, $35.00)
The White Giraffe  •  Lauren St. John LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) After a family tragedy, Martine has to go live with her grandmother in South Africa on a wildlife game preserve. Everyone denies the rumors of a white giraffe, but soon myth and magic begin mixing with reality, and Martine must use all her courage and intelligence to save her new home. (SAF182, $16.99)
Listening For Lions  •  Gloria Whelan LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 194 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) National Book Award-winning Whelan sketches the Kikuyu and the Maasai people and the life and landscape of East Africa after the Great War in this absorbing, old-fashioned tale of sudddenty orphaned 13-year old Rachel and her love of Africa. Geared for ages 9-11. (EAF179, $5.99)
African Plains Coloring Book  •  Dianne Gaspas-Ettl NATURAL HISTORY •  PAPER  • 48 PAGES • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) With 41 well-researched, excellently rendered scenes, this absorbing book introduces children to African wildlife and habitats, including a giraffe at a water hole, a cheetah with its young on an abandoned termite mound, and a yellow-winged bat amid the blossoms of the baobab tree. Descriptive captions accompany each illustration. (EAF164, $3.95)
Elephant (Eyewitness Books)  •  Ian Redmond  •  Dave King NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 63 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A vivid introduction to the elephant, in the colorful Eyewitness visual style. With plenty of background on the natural history of the elephant, including description of its behavior and social habits. Geared for children ages 9-12. (BST44, $15.99)
Going Solo  •  Roald Dahl BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1999 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS With its large print and album-like photographs, this autobiography is packaged for ages 12 and up, but both young and old will delight in Dahl's recollections of life as a Royal Air Force pilot in WWII, featuring his adventures in Tanzania (then called Tanganyika). (EAF78, $6.99)
Elephant Tears, Mask of the Elephant  •  Richard Trout MYSTERY •  2006 •  HARD COVER  • 241 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS The second novel in the action-packed, fact-filled, techno-thriller MacGregor Family Adventure Series. Zoologist Dr. Jack MacGregor, his paleontologist wife Mavis and their three teens team up against poachers in Kenya to save endangered animals. (EAF151, $15.95)
Our Secret, Siri Aang  •  Christina Kessler LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS When the 12 year-old Namelok secretly undertakes the care of an orphaned rhinoceros she faces great personal risk and must adapt to the challenging changes in her Maasai community. (EAF161, $6.99)
Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales  •  Nelson Mandela LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES • FAMILY A wide-ranging collection of tales from all over the continent, the majority traditional folktales from Southern Africa. With handsome full-color illustrations throughout, a map, and notes on contributors. A team of expert folklorists, poets and authors transcribe the tales, each selected by Mandela. This is an oversize, illustrated hardcover edition, but the book is also available in a pocket paperback edition (which lacks the illustrations). (AFR135, $16.95)