Best Children’s Books Set in Africa

Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan, illustrated by Mercè López
A boy named Musa travels by bus to the beach. But even though the bus feels full to him, his Dada says there’s always room for more people. As the daldala continues the trip, more people, animals, and things climb aboard. The passengers wiggle and squish to make room for more. Counting, rhyming, culture, and community, this is a playful rhyming story with stunning illustrations that celebrates the country and people of Zanzibar. 

Kente for Jojo written by Bernard Mensah, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Vibrant collage illustrations fill this sweet story about a family who takes the big brother to pick out a kente cloth for the new baby, Jojo. The weaver lets the brother help and even though he makes a mistake, the kente turns out okay because kentes are about love.

The Water Princess by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is the African sky the dusty earth– she can play hide and seek with the wind and dance in the wild grass but can’t make the water run clearer or come closer. So, every day, she wakes to walk with her Maman to collect water. They sing and laugh and stop at a giant Karite tree for snacks– then continue to the river. Soon it’s time to fill their pots and return home shoulders aching. Finally, Gie Gie gets a small drink of water. Helpful back matter explains the plight of communities with no access to clean water.

The Song of Delphine by Kenneth Kraegel
We loved this story about a servant girl in an African palace who sings to help with her loneliness. When the giraffes hear her songs, they befriend her. But the princess has her locked up — until the Queen hears her sing. Delphine finds her happily ever after with her new friend, the apologetic princess.

We All Went on Safari: A Counting Journey through Tanzania by Laurie Krebs, illustrated by Julia Cairns
Gentle rhymes, some repetitive text (LOVE), and plenty of gorgeous safari vistas make you feel as though you’re along with this Maasai family as they spot (and count) wildebeests, lions, warthogs, and more animals on their safari. Absolutely lovely.

Nya’s Long Walk A Step at a Time by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
This important story highlights a very real (and solvable) plight of families around the world…
In dusty south Sudan, a little girl named Nya is getting water for their family when her little sister Akeer becomes very ill, too ill to walk. Nya struggles to carry both the water and her sister on the long walk home. She sets short goals for herself — walk to the bushes. Then make it to the stump. She walks home step by step by step. Then keeps walking with her mother to the clinic which is a 3-day-walk. Akeer gets better but her illness from water contamination is the leading cause of death worldwide for children under the age of five.

Catch That Chicken! by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank
Another winning book from Atinuke filled with African culture, exquisite mixed-media art, and the perfect amount of text. While other kids might be speedy at spelling or braiding hair, Lami is the speediest, bravest chicken catcher. One day, she runs too fast up a baobab tree and falls down, spraining her ankle. Her Nana Nadie gives her some advice, “It’s not quick feet that catches chickens — it’s quick thinking.” Lami takes the advice and figures out how to catch chickens by making them come to her.

B is for Baby by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank
I love how this story celebrates the culture and people of West Africa, too. Baby is going to take a basket of bananas to baba’s bungalow. (See all those “b” words?!) Big Brother doesn’t notice that he has a little stowaway in the basket — but we do. Readers will delight at seeing Baby’s little face peeking out of the basket while Brother rides his bike, passing a baobab, baboon, bus, and other words that start with the letter b before arriving at Baba’s. When Baba looks in the basket, out pops Baby! Gorgeous illustrations. 

M is for Mango written by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank
In this day-in-the-life story, the monkeys steal baby’s mango and cause mayhem and mischief. But don’t worry, baby Mo gets his sweet mango snack in the end. I love Angela’s artwork, the adorable and determined baby, and the big, bold text size.

Mayowa and the Masquerades by Lola Shoneyin, illustrated by Francis Blake
Mayowa enjoys a fun day in the Nigeria country with a new friend and new adventures including chasing grasshoppers, visiting piglets, and dancing at the masquerades.

A Visit to Grandad: An African ABC by Sade Fadipe, illustrated by Shedrach Ayalomeh
I love that this alphabet book is a cohesive story! It’s a story about an African girl on school break who goes to visit her grandad. “O is for onions Grandad slices for my eggs. / P is for pump. We fetch water in our kegs.” Rich, detailed illustrations give readers a strong sense of place and emotion.

Handa’s Noisy Night by Eileen Browne
Two friends have a sleepover and Hana hears lots of strange sounds — snorts, chattering, rattling, and more. Handa’s friend, Akeyo, explains that it’s just the grown-ups being noisy. We know from the illustrations that the noises are African animals outside. Beautiful, colorful illustrations and a clever plot that showcases African animals.

Beauty and the Beast by H. Chuku Lee, illustrated by Pat Cummings 
Set in West Africa in Mali, this is a beautiful version of the fairy tale within a new culture. I also like that the author writes the story in first person from Beauty’s perspective.

Africa, Amazing Africa Country by Count by Atinuke, illustrated by Mouni Dddag
Filled with colorful illustrations and interesting information, this is an essential guide to the geography culture, and language of Africa. Atinuke highlights the important things for each country then gives some footnotes for more context. It’s a book that belongs on classroom and school library shelves, kids will pour over the pages of digestible information and appealing illustrations.

The Kaya Girl by Mamle Wolo
A thoughtful novel about a friendship that crosses regions, languages, income levels, and education–despite the stigmas and prejudices. Abena, from a rich southern family in Ghana, is spending the summer with her auntie to help at her auntie’s market store. There, Abena meets Faiza, a Muslim girl from northern Ghana who works as a kayayoo– a girl who uses a large head pan to carry shopping for customers. The two girls immediately become friends, and Abena’s eyes are opened to the differences in their lives and her own privileges. But when someone accuses Faiza of stealing, and Abena gets malaria, they are torn apart until fifteen years later in a beautiful full-circle moment.

Afia and the Land of Wonders written and illustrated by Mia Araujo 
Fantasy fans will love this magical and mesmerizing adventure that is inspired (but better) than Alice in Wonderland. Afia is a curious girl who is craving adventure. She leaves her beloved twin sister and closed community but gets tricked and trapped by a shape-shifting wood carver’s master, an abusive queen of an enchanted castle in a magical, slightly wacky land. A masked ghost helps Afia escape the queen’s palace, but she won’t escape the queen’s clutches for long. Lush color illustrations illuminate the dazzling story.

The Iron Tomb (Pyramid Hunters) by Peter Vegas
Sam arrives for summer vacation in Egypt only to discover his uncle is missing — and he is being hunted. Sam accepts the help of a friendly taxi driver and a rich girl from his plane ride (who both are hiding something) and follows the clues his uncle left behind. It looks like his uncle might have found one of the Arks of the Covenant and could be trapped there. But will Sam get to him before the thieves? An action-packed story in an interesting part of the world.

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and Iman Geddy
A Somali boy and his brother grow up in a Kenyan refugee camp with their day-to-day lives filled with hunger and boredom. Omar doesn’t attend the dusty camp school until age 11 because he’s been caring for his younger brother Hassan who has special needs. When the brothers get an interview with the UN, Omar gets his hopes up…but they’re not approved. Years pass with many struggles but education and the camp friendships continue to be bright spots for Omar. The book ends with a bittersweet new beginning.

The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Experience Amira’s life in Sudan before and after her village is attacked. After the attack, she must walk for days to get to the safety of a refugee camp. In her grief, she also finds hope in the form of a precious pencil as she sees its possibilities.

Fibbed by Elizabeth Agyemang
Everyone accuses Nana of lying and, as a result, she’s sent to visit relatives in Ghana. There, she not only hears her grandmother’s stories about Anase but she also meets the trickster spider and father of stories who can relate to not being believed for his stories. When her disbelieving cousins realize that Nana’s stories have been true all along, they join Nana and Anase to expose a bad company destroying the protected forest. Magic, folktales, advocacy, African culture, and the power of stories, this is a unique, beautifully illustrated graphic novel adventure.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Sudan’s reality, past and present, collide in this beautifully written true story. In 1985, we follow the harrowing journey of a young boy who, after his village was attacked, walks miles and miles to a refugee camp. In 2008, we read about a girl who must walk two hours morning and night to get fresh water. Above all, their stories are compelling; you won’t be able to put this book down or take clean water for granted again. A must-read.

Read Around the World Middle Grade Reading Challenge