Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country

Amazing Atinuke! And Feddag does a wonderful job, too.

I love the details that do indeed inspire further research, and the ones the reference other concerns that young people are already thinking about. For example:

Chad includes the line "Language is like nature--it evolves."
Equatorial Guinea exports oil, which is used "to create gas and plastic."
Mauritania still has slavery.
Morocco's medinas have a certain careful topography probably unnoticed by 99% of white tourists.

I sincerely do recommend this for everyone, not just kids and families.
If your library doesn't have it yet, request it... if not for your sake, at least for families!

Organized by region (Southern, East, West, Central, North), with a introduction, index, and "find out more" (websites), this guide to "Amazing Africa" is bursting with bright colors and patterns and interesting facts.

As Atinuke writes in her intro, "Africa is changing all the time: new countries are being created or swallowed up, old traditions are being lost and new ones developing. This book can only give an idea of what Africa is like in the moment that I am writing. So enjoy this book for what it is: a tiny glimpse into this wonderful continent.
I could not squeeze everything that I know and love about Africa into this book. There is room to say only two or three things about each country. But I hope this book will make you want to show more find out more about the most amazing continent on the planet!"

A sumptuous book to spend a lot of time with. show less

Recommended Ages: Gr. 2-5

Plot Summary: The 3 page introduction explains the continent as a whole, focusing on the positives, accomplishments, and diversity of the continent and its people. Then, the author identifies a region and gives a one paragraph introduction to that region. After that, each country gets it's own page. Sometimes the information is about animals, or people, or land. Sometimes it's about the government, music, or food. Each country has one paragraph explaining something important, and then two random facts, sometimes giving more information about something mentioned in the paragraph, sometimes listing another brief fact.

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Personal Thoughts: Although I do love show more travel guides, I think overall this book is very engaging and well-written. It can be easily read cover to cover, section by section, or just browsed. There truly are interesting tidbits about each country. I did find I went back and looked at the region map often. Now I want this same kind of guide for other continents! While this book is definitely non-fiction, it does have a lot of opinions mixed in. It may be interesting to identify the facts vs. opinions! The focus on the positives and accomplishments made me rethink my impression of Africa.

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Activity: Facts vs. Opinions, for older students it could also lead to a discussion of bias -- why did the author choose to include THAT information. show less

The illustrations alone deserve a five out of five for this book. I am obviously somewhat of an adult now, but I have always been a very visual person. My children, like many others in today’s visually focused society, share a love for intricate and exciting visuals in books as well. This book is a wonderful read for any children who are of age to appreciate the vivid designs. The illustration may be what grabs my attention, or the children's; however, the information contained in the book sheds a light on Africa in ways that the United States-focused media and news do not in my area. The pictures in this book also work to grab readers like me and my children while sitting us down to educate us. Books like this make it easier to read show more informational texts that may not initially interest children or adults. This book gets a five-star review from me. show less

RGG: Vibrant and engaging. Makes clear that Africa is not a monolinth, but many different countries. The information though is somewhat superficial. Reading Interest: 8-11.

Intermediate
This thick book gives information on all African countries.
This book is good, it gives info of a different countries with handrawn illustrations. There are text features where handwritten text gives more specific info. I could use this book where I read about a different country each day, or assign each student a different country to write a paragraph or do a report on.

Discover the amazing diversity of the African continent in this beautiful book, with words by Atinuke and lively illustrations from Mouni Feddag.

Atinuke’s first non-fiction title is a major publishing event: a celebration of all 55 countries on the African continent! Her beautifully-written text captures Africa’s unique mix of the modern and the traditional, as she explores its geography, its peoples, its animals, its history, its resources and its cultural diversity. The book divides Africa into five sections: South, East, West, Central and North, each with its own introduction. This is followed by a page per country, containing a delightful mix of friendly, informative text and colourful illustrations. The richest king, the show more tallest sand dunes and the biggest waterfall on the planet are all here, alongside drummers, cocoa growers, inventors, balancing stones, salt lakes, high-tech cities and nomads who use GPS! This is non-fiction at its most exciting, exhilarating and energetic, illustrated with passion and commitment by a great new talent, Mouni Feddag.

-Amazon description show less