Anna Hibiscus

"Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa." And so begins this engaging collection of short stories about a young girl, the daughter of an African father and Canadian mother, who lives with her father's extended family in a large white house within a beautiful garden compound. In Anna Hibiscus on Holiday, Anna, her mother and father, and her twin brothers Double and Trouble, attempt to take a holiday away from all of the uncles, aunties and cousins who make their compound so noisy, only to discover that many hands make light work. Auntie Comfort sees the family's prodigal daughter, who lives in far off America, coming home for a visit. With a few hints from Anna Hibiscus, Auntie Comfort manages to reassure the family that she has show more not forgotten her roots. In Anna Hibiscus Sells Oranges, our young heroine imagines that the life of an orange vendor is colorful and exciting, and decides to join their ranks and sell the oranges from her family's orange trees. Her uncles and grandfather show her that her actions have hurt the girls who usually sell fruit outside their compound gate - girls whose impoverished families rely on their earnings - and Anna Hibiscus works hard to make it up to them the next day. Finally, in Sweet Snow, Anna talks, sings and dreams of the cold white stuff. When her Granny Canada writes with an invitation to visit in the summer, she asks instead to be allowed to come when it is winter.

I greatly enjoyed reading Anna Habiscus, the first in a series of chapter-books devoted to the adventures of its eponymous heroine. The author Atinuke, although she currently lives in Wales, was born and raised in Nigeria, and it's clear that her girlhood was a major inspiration in the creation of the characters of Anna and her lovable family. I liked the family dynamics here - the respect shown to Grandmother and Grandfather, the mutual help all of the aunts and uncles give one another, the role played by older children in helping to care for the younger ones - and the mixture of the traditional and modern in Anna and her family's life. I especially liked the third story, Anna Hibiscus Sells Oranges, as it highlights the vast disparities in wealth to be found in Africa (and elsewhere, of course), and the importance of thinking of the impact of our decisions upon others. Anna, who had only been thinking of selling oranges as a fun activity, and who had never considered the advantages she would have as a child of a wealthier family - her oranges were more colorful and juicy, and she, dressed in a clean and fresh dress, made a more appealing vendor than the poorer girls - learns just how hard life is in the city for those less fortunate than herself when she must work for the orange girls for a day. Recommended to anyone looking for engaging chapter-books for young people just getting going with (slightly) longer fiction, as well as to anyone interested in quality children's books featuring modern-day Africa. show less

Atinuke. (2010). Anna Hibiscus. Illustrated by Lauren Tobia. Tulsa, OK: Kane Miller. 112 pp. ISBN 978-1-935279-73-0. (Hardcover) $12.99.

Anna Hibiscus has a big warm family helping her navigate through personal preferences, cultural identity, and class differences. I have NEVER read a book as good as this one for young students that so GETS how to show privilege in society in a way that respects both rich and poor. I also appreciate Atinuke’s ability to convey cultural concerns: the first story clearly shows both the differences and the similarities between American children and children not from America. Anna Hibiscus’s big, extended family often creates the need for time alone—but the family is so much a part of everyday life, show more that goal is often difficult, if not impossible to achieve. The cultural fears Anna Hibiscus has for her beloved Auntie Comfort deals with the ways in which we understand both our own cultures and the cultures of others. The writing style evokes the oral tradition of Africa without limiting its effectiveness in this country. The structure of the stories is excellent with clear beginnings, middles, and surprising endings. These stories are unique! The fact that these stories have no specific place in Africa is a MERE DETAIL. Imagine Anna Hibiscus from the Netherlands or Spain or China and the writing is still excellent writing, the issues are still handled brilliantly, and the venturesome creativity is still outstanding. The fact that Tobia’s illustrations are charming is so much gravy! Of all the books that did NOT make our Notable Children's Books list, this one is perhaps the most disappointing. It really did seem as if the only real objection to this book is that it made the mistake of using the word Africa. Folks complained that it did not provide a specific location. The book, however, is NOT a geography book. Amazing Africa is a poetic refrain. Even if we grant that the book would have been better with a specific, Nigerian, location, the fact remains that there is so MUCH else in this book that it should have made our list. Darn! [Please note that I am very happy with our list and with my committee and with the process, but we all have our regrets and this one is mine]. Readers also have three additional titles from Atinuke: Hooray for Anna Hibiscus, Good Luck Anna Hibiscus, and Have Fun Anna Hibiscus. I look forward to reading more from Atinuke and I HIGHLY recommend that you pick up these gems, which are available in both paperback and library binding (the ISBN above is for the library binding). show less

I have been meaning to read this for a long time, but hesitated because it seemed like it would be very young -- nope, just fantastic storytelling. Atinuke is a joy to read -- the cadence of her language, the sweet but interesting and funny stories, the incredibly vivid setting. Love the illustrations as well -- they complement the story perfectly.

Each chapter can just about stand alone:

Anna Hibiscus on Holiday: Anna's Canadian mother longs for a family holiday with only immediate family, but it turns out they really need everyone (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents) to have a good time.

Auntie Comfort: Auntie Comfort is visiting from America, but Grandfather is worried that she will have forgotten their ways of eating and dressing. Anna borrows her uncle's phone to send messages to Auntie Comfort before she arrives, and the visit goes splendidly.

Anna Hibiscus Sells Oranges: Inspired by the girls outside her family compound's gates, Anna collects oranges from her trees to sell, but in doing so she deprives the girls of their livelihood. The next day, Grandfather and Anna work show more for the girls to make up for it.

Sweet Snow: Anna dreams of seeing and playing in snow. When her "Granny Canada" writes to invite Anna to visit in the summer, Anna tells about her dreams of snow, and Granny Canada invites her to go at Christmas instead.

Couldn't get 4yo really interested in this but we'll try another time. I love that it provides a window into a little girl's life somewhere completely different from here - "Africa. Amazing Africa" - and that it doesn't shy away from representing inequality, no matter how uncomfortable. Anna Hibiscus's mother is Canadian, her father African. show less

I've been eagerly awaiting this beginning chapter book series since I saw it mentioned online last year I've forgotten where of course! Sometimes, it seems like all beginning chapter books are the same. Actually, sometimes it seems like all children's books, realistic fiction at least, is the same. Kids' lives center around school, friends, and popularity. They have an argument with a friend, they don't have friends, they're having trouble in school, or they have a dead/divorced parent. Of course, that's what most kids worry about and deal with, so that's what they want to read about. But I'd like to think that some kids are interested in how kids in other cultures live. Those kids - and hopefully even the kids who are obsessed with show more popularity, media, and stuff - will find Anna Hibiscus intriguing, different, and completely delightful.

Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. We're never told exactly what country, but it's probably coastal Nigeria, since the author grew up in Nigeria and Anna lives near a big city near the coast. Anna lives in a compound with her Canadian mother, African father, and a huge family of cousins, aunts, uncles, and her twin baby brothers, benevolently ruled over by her wise grandparents.
In her first set of adventures, Anna's mother tries to have a family vacation with just her immediate family - and Anna and her mother realize just how much they need all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents! An aunt who has been in America returns home and everyone is worried that she will have forgotten African ways. Anna admires the orange sellers at their gates and disobeys grandfather to go sell oranges - resulting in a painful punishment and a hard lesson. Finally, Anna desperately wants to see snow and works out a way to make her dream come true!
In her second set of adventures, Anna is picked out to sing for a large audience, but it's her twin baby brothers who save the day when she freezes. Tired of all the fuss and painful braiding, Anna decides to opt out of braiding her hair - and learns the hard way that a few hours of pain is worth it! Anna's family tries out a new generator and decides sometimes the old ways are best. Finally, Anna gets her wish to go to the other side of the city but discovers it isn't at all what she had expected.
Anna is an exuberant, sympathetic character. Her very different culture and the poverty that surrounds her middle-class family are clearly portrayed without over-dramatizing issues or confusing explanations. Lauren Tobia's illustrations bring out the humor of the stories and the various characters, helping readers distinguish Anna's big, loving family. Beginning readers will be charmed by this glimpse into a fascinating, warm, exciting, lively world, very different from their own lives. I look forward to introducing our readers to Anna Hibiscus and encouraging them to try something new!

Verdict: Highly recommended! The only drawback is it can be difficult to get Kane Miller's books, especially complete series, through regular vendors. However, these are worth a little digging on Amazon, Book Depository, or ordering direct.

Anna Hibiscus
ISBN: 978-1935279730; Published June 2010 by Kane Miller; Review copy provided by publisher through Raab Associates

Hooray for Anna Hibiscus
ISBN: 978-1935279747; Published January 2010 by Kane Miller; Review copy provided by publisher through Raab Associates show less

Less a chapter book, more a collection of short stories about Anna Hibiscus and her family. Childlike but not childish, the stories share Anna's observations of her family and life in Africa. Readers will appreciate the similarities between American and the African culture described, as well as come to new understandings about the differences. A single chapter could be read as a stand-alone story time, opener to cultural discussion or research.

This is the first in a charming and beautiful series for young readers. My only reservation is that it is set in "Africa," rather than naming an individual country.