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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Facing the Lion, Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna  •  Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 127 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) In this short book for middle schoolers Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton recounts growing up as a Maasai on the Kenyan plains. This book brings readers from Lekuton's mischievous days in northern Kenya up to his decision to go to college in the U.S. Lekuton touches on milestones in Maasai life, especially his first encounter with a lion and circumcision. (EAF127, $15.95)
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)
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)
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. (AFR135, $16.95)
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)
Picture the World, Children's Art Around the Globe  •  Tracy V. Spates ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 68 PAGES • FAMILY A unique book, written by an art teacher who traveled the world in search of culturally significant art by children. This full-color book, illustrated with artworks and documentary photographs, highlights eight nations: Japan, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Russia, Kenya, the United States and Ecuador. Each chapter includes a cultural overview of the featured country, photographs of schoolchildren, descriptions of traditional handicrafts and a hands-on art activity inspired by the country's artistic tradition. It's a globally aware, multicultural book for children ages 6 and up. (WLD31, $24.95)
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)
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)
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)
The Serengeti Migration, Africa's Animals on the Move  •  Lisa Lindblad  •  Sven-Olof Lindblad NATURAL HISTORY •  1994 •  HARD COVER  • 40 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) A vivid description of the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra and other animals on the Serengeti plain of Tanzania and Kenya. The book features full-color photographs with just enough text to explain them, including a note on the Maasai people. Intended for children age 9 -12. (EAF57, $15.95)
Tall Blondes, A Book About Giraffes  •  Lynn Sherr NATURAL HISTORY •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 128 PAGES A giraffe-lover's guide to giraffes, not incidentally written by a tall blond person (and ABC correspondent). The author writes enthusiastically about the Giraffe Center outside Nairobi. With color illustrations throughout, this book will appeal to the whole family. (AFR79, $19.95)
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)