(1) K-3 About a quarter of a million years ago, "we"—modern humans—first appeared in Africa. Combining vibrant, painterly illustrations and short, lyrical, explanatory paragraphs, Smith outlines major contributions of these various groups from prehistoric Africa, including acquiring language, making music and art, creating tools, growing crops, and developing and using medicines. Back matter includes an illustrated chart that corresponds to each contribution, arranged in the same chronological order as the text, and shares brief historical information about each milestone. For example, readers glimpse two early humans in a cave with the accompanying text: "We questioned, 'What could this blank canvas possibly become?'" The chart in the back matter supplies more details: the earliest human drawings date back seventy-three thousand years and were found in the Blombos Cave in South Africa. In addition, these early Africans explored, pondering, "Perhaps these Nile perch are not the only ones who can river-fly. Can we not try?" An impressionistic migration map suggests the paths Africans took to populate the rest of the globe. An author's note and a timeline complete the book.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2025

(3) PS Our World series. Illustrated by Netsanet Tesfay. In this slice-of-life board book, a young dark-skinned girl and her father rise to the promise of a new day in Ethiopia, break bread (literally — they eat chechebsa, an Ethiopian torn flatbread), then spend a pleasant day at Entoto Natural Park, where horse-riding and hide-and-seek are on the agenda. The doting pair returns home to enjoy dinner with Mom and the girl’s older brother, and when it’s slumbertime, Dad looks happy as a clam reading his daughter a bedtime story. Habtemariam’s characters and Tesfay’s depiction (colorful childlike illustrations offer interesting details) of the city of Addis Ababa exude bonhomie. Ethiopian social practices (like eating with one’s hands from a communal plate and the Habesha coffee ceremony) are casually woven into the story. A pictorial glossary of Amharic words concludes this winsome offering.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Mouni Feddag. Illustrated with vibrant mixed-media drawings of the people, products, and landmarks of Africa, this geographical overview by Atinuke, known for her Anna Hibiscus books set in "Amazing Africa" and others, treats readers to a smorgasbord of countries and customs, emphasizing: "African countries must be the most diverse on the planet!" Colorful hand-drawn maps peppered with spot art--plus words of welcome in a variety of languages--introduce each region of the continent, followed by a page for each country, including a paragraph about what the country is known for, one or two additional facts, and a dynamic illustration. Additional pages cover African religions, hair styles, and obsession with football (a.k.a. soccer). Perfect for browsing or for inspiring internet exploration, the book ends with an index and a list of related links.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Loveis Wise. Through art and words, with the framework of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, Zoboi (American Street, rev. 3/17; Black Enough, rev. 1/19) and Wise beautifully "sew together a tapestry of / their stories / one fine quilt / a blanket for the children / to keep them warm, protected, and safe." Each brightly colored spread tells of important moments and people in African American history. Author and illustrator first bring readers back to Africa and remind them that before there was Africa and African Americans, there were the Fulani, the Hausa, the Ashanti, and the Akan, who lived in Mali, Kongo, and Songhai. As they move along, readers are reminded of the Middle Passage, enslavement, the Civil War, and the Great Migration. Despite the hardships and struggles, the people remember their Kuumba (creativity), Imani (faith), Nia (purpose), Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), and Ujamaa (cooperative economics) to survive and thrive. Wise's sumptuous digital illustrations are reminiscent of the patches created by African American quilters to remind future generations of their past. The bright colors reflect the hope and optimism that African Americans have carried with them. Along with history, readers are introduced to the principles of Kwanzaa in an informative and heartfelt appended author's note and timeline.

Reviewer: Nicholl Denice Montgomery | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) 4-6 Straightforward text and comics-style sequential art combine in a (fictionalized) account of the Black student–led protest in 1976 Soweto, South Africa, in opposition to a law requiring half the school lessons be taught in Afrikaans. Separate chapters follow three individuals, including twelve-year-old Hector, whose lifeless body appears in a black-and-white photograph at book's end. An afterword describes how that photograph "became a powerful symbol." Lovingly illustrated portraits further humanize the three main characters. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(3) K-3 Fifteen wisdom sayings from around the African continent are paired with brilliant illustrations from global artists in this informative book. Each aphorism is labeled by country and includes an explanation of its meaning. The book's art is noteworthy for how the many illustrators (identified in the appendix) interpret the sayings in their own unique styles. A great way to explore wisdom traditions and figurative language.

Reviewer: Monique Harris

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Living in... series. Illustrated by Tom Woolley. A girl in modern Egypt walks us through a day in her life, sharing tidbits of Egyptian history, geography, and culture along the way. Friendly digital illustrations accompany an engaging beginning-reader text, which provides a level-appropriate amount of information on topics such as the five pillars of the Islamic faith, common meals, and how to read hieroglyphics. Additional facts are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 J. J. Keki, a Jewish musician and farmer from a small village in Uganda with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim residents, was about to visit the World Trade Center on 9/11. The day's horrific events inspired Keki to return to Uganda to start a coffee cooperative that would include the whole community. An engaging photo-essay about an unusual agricultural experiment. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 One World, Many Countries series. These serviceable overviews for report writers are liberally illustrated with sharp photos. An introductory chapter highlights apartheid (South Africa), a spring festival (Egypt), or the Mombasa Carnival and safaris (Kenya). Four chapters then focus on land, government and cities, people and cultures, and daily life. A "Global Connections" page is usually devoted to a social issue. Fast facts are appended. Maps, reading list. Glos., ind. This review covers these One World, Many Countries titles: South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 One World, Many Countries series. These serviceable overviews for report writers are liberally illustrated with sharp photos. An introductory chapter highlights apartheid (South Africa), a spring festival (Egypt), or the Mombasa Carnival and safaris (Kenya). Four chapters then focus on land, government and cities, people and cultures, and daily life. A "Global Connections" page is usually devoted to a social issue. Fast facts are appended. Maps, reading list. Glos., ind. This review covers these One World, Many Countries titles: South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 One World, Many Countries series. These serviceable overviews for report writers are liberally illustrated with sharp photos. An introductory chapter highlights apartheid (South Africa), a spring festival (Egypt), or the Mombasa Carnival and safaris (Kenya). Four chapters then focus on land, government and cities, people and cultures, and daily life. A "Global Connections" page is usually devoted to a social issue. Fast facts are appended. Maps, reading list. Glos., ind. This review covers these One World, Many Countries titles: South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Searchlight Books: Do You Know the Continents? series. This boilerplate series provides basic information about the continent it covers in serviceable but generic prose. The author aims to encapsulate Africa's cultural and geographical diversity but succeeds in only the most cursory way. Brief chapters provide information on countries and cities, climate, landforms, natural resources, people, cultures, and economics. Colorful stock photos, maps, and sidebars appear throughout. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Kingfisher Readers series. This is a very basic look at the African savanna, illustrated with stock photos (some animals pictured aren't identified). The easy-to-read text presents random facts, and children will come away with a general if limited sense of the habitat. Each two-page spread focuses on a distinct topic; highlighted words in the text are defined in an appended glossary.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) 4-6 River Adventures series. This volume in the boilerplate series examines the role of the Nile River in the cities, regions, and landmarks through which it flows. Well-selected photographs and maps illustrate the accessible text, which discusses the importance of the Nile for irrigation and crop growth as well as the diverse cultures that live along its banks. A quiz concludes the book. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 My Country series. These generic country tours feature captioned stock photos and simple prose. In each, a young narrator walks readers through brief sections on location, landscape, weather, family life, demographics, food, schools, customs, and landmarks. The basic information is well organized; the bright layouts will engage readers. "Fast Facts" are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these My Country titles: Egypt and South Africa.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 My Country series. These generic country tours feature captioned stock photos and simple prose. In each, a young narrator walks readers through brief sections on location, landscape, weather, family life, demographics, food, schools, customs, and landmarks. The basic information is well organized; the bright layouts will engage readers. "Fast Facts" are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these My Country titles: Egypt and South Africa.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 4-6 Continents series. Standard encyclopedia information is dispersed among these forty-eight pages, illustrated with photographs that are sharp but not always well placed. The information is generally sound but superficial, inevitable for a short book on a broad topic: "People from many cultures live on this amazing continent." Common Core sidebars are more interesting but frequently at a higher skill level than the book itself. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(3) 4-6 Great Idea: Engineering series. Nardo briefly explains the initial purpose of the Giza pyramids--to deter grave-robbing of royal tombs--and predominantly focuses on the development of these remarkable structures without modern technology. Historical myths regarding the pyramids' construction are swiftly redressed, giving credit where credit is due: to free Egyptian workers. Diagrams, maps, and historical photos helpfully amplify the account. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(3) K-3 When Egyptians began protesting and calling for Mubarak’s resignation in 2011, people feared for the safety of the beautiful Bibliotheca Alexandrina--the library built in 2002 near the ancient site of the Great Library of Alexandria. In this lovely tribute to the spirit of cooperation, Roth’s trademark collages exuberantly illustrate the human chain that surrounded the library to save it.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Countries in Our World series. These volumes provide very general introductions to their title countries. Topics include geographical, economic, environmental, cultural, and political issues, positive and negative, faced by the citizens; useful spreads look ahead to 2020. Abundant photographs (of varying relevance) and sidebars highlight important facts and people. The volumes will be quickly dated. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Countries in Our World titles: Egypt in Our World and Kenya in Our World.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow