This week’s What to Read Wednesday is highlighting children’s books from another geographical region of our incredible planet… Africa!
As of press time, I’ve only visited three of the fifty-four countries that make up the great continent of Africa. Even my modest sampling (Burkina-Faso, Mali, & Morocco) forever emblazoned my heart– the cultures, varied and vibrant, are far richer than preconceived stereotypes.
The following’s a sampling of terrific titles related to the African nations nearest & dearest to my own heart:
The Water Princess – This tale is set in Burkina-Faso and illustrates how women young & old daily collect water for their households. I witnessed this firsthand, and even filmed the video below of a young gal on one of many trips to the local water-source to fill the cistern for the day.
Tree of Life – The World of the African Baobab
You know that giant tree in the middle of Animal Kingdom at Disneyworld? Or the one at the Oregon Zoo by the lions?
They’re replicas of real Baobab trees– peculiar looking giants I marveled at along the road from Burkina-Faso to Mali. Locals shared folklore that says the original tree was so beautiful it became conceited and proud, so God took flipped it upside down on it’s head, leaving it’s unsightly roots in the air, humbling it effectively forevermore. The book has a slightly different rendition and also details their impact on the ecosystem.
One Plastic Bag: The Recycling Women of Gambia This book was another delight to discover, as it details the very handicraft I worked on with oppressed women while in West Africa in 2010. Harvesting plastic bags that litter the countryside, women can repurpose them into practical and marketable goods. As knitters/crocheters, my kids enjoyed hearing of this anew, and were especially delighted when I then unearthed a tote made from just such discarded bags there in Africa.
Related posts: What to Read Wednesday: The French Connection; What to Read Wednesday: Artists & Mexico Edition
And now for the link up!
The most popular post from last week was:
This really was a terrific share; I loved her creative Potterhead activities and also her stance on the series itself.
Our hosts will still share a themed selection of our favorite books each week.
If you’d like to join us as a co-host for What to Read Wednesday, please contact Anne.
This list has our book themes, but you don’t have to stick to that to link up–any family-friendly posts are welcome. So, come on! Join in the fun!
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