African Geography

“The People Could Fly,” the title story in Virginia Hamilton’s prize-winning American Black folktale collection, is a fantasy tale of the slaves who possessed the ancient magic words that enabled them to literally fly away to freedom. And it is a moving tale of those who did not have the opportunity to “fly” away, who remained slaves with only their imaginations to set them free as they told and retold this tale.

Study the West African civilization using this targeted book on sixth-grade social studies. Using the knowledge indicated in this book, your child should be able to locate the Niger River as well as vegetation zones, which allowed West African Civilizations thrive. Encourage your child to relate these features to the trade of salt, gold, slaves, and food. Get a copy today.

Life takes unusual turns for a nomadic family and their animals, including a young pup born far away in the African desert. Due to sudden, strange events at their kraal, he is adopted by a free-range farmer to herd cattle in Molodi Valley. The pup, whose Faunalang name is Flame, faces many a challenge to prove himself to more than one of his new family.

You are INVITED. To a most marvelous party. For a most marvelous man. A man who turned the alphabet into THUMP A BUMP. Who turned words into JAZZ into RIVERS into BUSTIN' A MOVE. All of his word-children will be there, uh-huh. Because it’s a party for LANGSTON. Langston Hughes. King o’ Letters. Renaissance Man. So don’t be shy. Come on in. To the Hoopla in Harlem. EVERYONE is welcome.

A poem about how a wolf tricked a shepherd and taught him a valuable life lesson.

This is a story of a little girl who is motivated by her dreams to enter a dancing competition in her village. African dance uses improvisation and the entire body. Some dancers learn their moves from former dancers, who became famous by participating in dance during various rituals, celebrations, or festivities.

This Caldecott Medal winner from prolific children’s book author and illustrator Gail E. Haley is steeped in colorful African and Caribbean language and folklore. It is the legendary tale of Kwaku Ananse - the spider man - and how he bargained with Nyame the Sky God to give his treasure of stories to the world.

Nkechi‘s wish to be an ant was granted by the wind of wishes, but not without a prize to be paid. The story teaches the child about hard work and responsibility. It also takes us through the world of ants and how they build their colony. This is from the collection series, Grandma Wura‘s Story Hut.

Through sublime landscapes and warm images of a boy and his family, this adaptation of the beloved folk song creates a dazzling, intimate interpretation that rejoices in the connectedness of people and nature.

African penguins waddle around nesting colonies in lower numbers than ever before. Despite South African government efforts to protect the penguin colonies and their ocean fish supply, young penguins still struggle to survive. Fuzzy chicks waiting for food in open nests may overheat in the sun or become prey. Others simply may not get enough food to survive on their own once their parents leave.