“This is a great beginner’s guide to pre-colonial Africa.” —Ibram X. Kendi, author of Stamped from the Beginning and How to Be an Antiracist. Black history began long ago with the many cultures and people of the African continent. Through portraits of ten heroic figures, author Tracey Baptiste takes readers on a journey across Africa to meet some of the great leaders and thinkers whose vision built a continent and shaped the world. Illustrator Hillary D. Wilson’s brilliant portraits accompany each profile, along with vivid, information-filled landscapes, maps, and graphics for middle-grade readers to return to again and again. Some of my favorite books are Sulwe and Mama Panya’s Pancakes. I appreciate Sulwe because it takes a layered and important topic like colorism and presents it in a way that children can understand. It’s a lesson to both the readers and the listener and to me, that is the perfect making of a successful book. But if you take a book like Mama Panya’s Pancakes, you would think it’s about food. it is, but it is also about patience, community, and understanding. It is critical for children to understand the importance of being mindful and to have pride in their culture. There is always something to be taught in children’s books. Whether it’s a fantasy or a historical timepiece, there is always an important message that the reader can apply to their everyday life. Here are eight children’s books where Africa is a major character in the story. If you are interested in other tales from around the world, check out this post on popular children’s books from different parts of the world.
