We are a family of happy travelers, in fact, we call ourselves “The Traveling Tribe.” It should be the name of our family memoir.
When we aren’t traveling physically, we are “armchair traveling.” It’s educational, fun, and a great way to learn new things about our world as a family. One way I’ve taught my children about the 7 continents is to use books from a specific continent and incorporate that into storytime or family reading time. Folktales are especially good for this project.
FACTS ABOUT AFRICA
Did you know that:
- Africa is the second-largest continent in the world?
- Africa is also called the Dark Continent because for a very long time not much was known about it. Africa’s terrain was very difficult to navigate and discover.
- Africa is the home of the Nile, the longest river in the world.
- It is also the home of the Sahara, the largest desert in the world.
- The equator passes through the middle of the African continent, this means it receives direct sunlight all year round. Africa’s hottest country (temp-wise) is Ethiopia.
Africa is very rich in minerals. Ninety-five percent of the worlds’ diamonds and more than 50% of the world’s gold comes from Africa. - 66% of the world’s chocolate comes from Africa.
- Africa is considered to be the place where the first humans lived and learned to use tools.
There are some very masterful storytellers about Africa. Did you know that Africa is also known as the storytelling continent? Where possible I’ve organized this list by some great authors and storytellers.
Read Around Africa Booklist
Books by Verna Aardema: Verna Norberg Aardema Vugteveen, best known by the name Verna Aardema, was an American author of children’s books. Born Verna Norberg in New Era, Michigan she graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Journalism in 1934. She worked as a grade-school teacher from 1934 to 1973 and became a correspondent for the Muskegon Chronicle in 1951, which lasted until 1972, the year before she retired from teaching elementary school:
Bimwili and the Zimwi: This story from Zanzibar explains what happens when Bimwili returns to the seashore to find a shell that she has left there. She is captured by an evil Zimwi who imprisons her in his drum. The purpose of this tale is to warn children about the dangers of straying alone from the village.
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain: This Nandi story uses rhyme and repetition in a cumulative pattern to teach about life and animals on the savannah. When the rains are late, Ki-pat uses an eagle feather to end the drought on the plain.
Misoso: Once Upon a Time Tales from Africa: From Angola to Zanzibar, this treasury is as varied and bountiful as Africa itself! Master storyteller Verna Aardema retells 12 tales of justice and revenge, greed and generosity, sly trickery, and off-the-wall silliness with her trademark humor and flair.
Why Mosquitos Buzz in People’s Ears : This West African cumulative tale begins when Mosquito tells Iguana a tall tale. Iguana, rather than listen to Mosquito, puts sticks in his ears and that is when the problem begins.
Mansa Musa: The Lion of Mali by Khephra BurnsMufaro’s
Beautiful Daughter by John Steptoe
Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky by Elphinstone Dayrell
Bintou’s Braids by Sylviane Diouf
Bury my Bones but Keep my Words: African Tales for Re-telling by Tony Fairman
The Hunter and the Crocodile by Baba Wague Diakite
Stories by Ann Grifalconi
Darkness and the Butterfly
The Village of Round and Square Houses
Anansi and the Talking Melon by Eric A. Kimmel
Stories by Tololwa M. Mollel
Rhinos for Lunch and Elephants for Supper. A Masai Tale
The Orphan Boy
My Rows and Piles of Coins
The Spider Weaver: A Legend of Kinte Cloth by Margaret Musgrove
The Fortune-Tellers by Lloyd Alexander
A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park
Sense Pass King: A Story from Cameroon
Off to the Sweet Shores of Africa and Other Talking Drum Rhymes by Uzo Unobagha
The Boy who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
Africa for Kids: Exploring a Vibrant Continent 19 activities by Harvey Croze
We could not have a list about Africa without a couple of books about one of the most incredible people on the planet; Nelson Mandela.
Peaceful Protest: The Life of Nelson Mandela by Yona Zeldis McDonough
Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales by Nelson Mandela
Who Was Nelson Mandela? by Pam Pollack
National Geographic Readers: Nelson Mandela by Barbara Kramer
What are your Africa Book picks?
ONE MORE THING–
During these times of solitude, social distancing, and maybe even lockdown, are your kids craving more things to do? Are you, as a parent, looking for the activities that will keep your wildlings busy while also sneaking in some learning?
Making reading an adventure and not a \”task/ chore/requirement\” is a great way to help them increase the desire to learn and keep them interested as well. But if you have reluctant readers in your home, that can just add another layer of stress to an already challenging routine. BUT, The ABCs of BookJumping is an ebook that is filled with tried-n-true book=inspired activities that will keep kids engaged and curious for hours.
The ABC\’s of BookJumping: The Best of Jump Into a Book by Valarie Budayr and Rebecca Flansburg allows frustrated parents of reluctant readers to enjoy hand-picked book reviews and unique companion activities that will reignite your child\’s love of reading and encourage screen-free family time.
What if you could \”live\” inside the pages of the children\’s books your family reads? What if you could enjoy the same adventures as the characters? Bookjumping is taking the solitary act of reading a book and transforming it into an event that can be shared with others. It\’s the process of pulling books off shelves and stories off pages. It\’s making kids\’ books come ALIVE by \”jumping\” inside the pages. Readers of this ebook will enjoy hand-picked book reviews and unique companion activities that will reignite your child\’s love of reading and encourage screen-free family time.
\”This fun picture-book-based e-book contains over 150 hand-picked book reviews, unique book-inspired activities, and recipes. Just in time for #summer reading!\” Amazon reviewer
We purposely made this book an ebook for the \”portability factor\” and affordable to fit every budget and family need.
Go here for more details on what you can expect from with awesome ebook and learn more about the authors.
Grab your copy of The ABCs of BookJumping: The Best of Jump Into a Book on Kindle HERE.
