Barefoot books, 979888892120
There has been a plethora of books written about Africa in the last few years, although still a relatively small proportion of them are aimed at children. This book expands the understanding that people have about where they come from and their heritage, but in a very relatable and charming way.
The young hero Ayo is having trouble getting to sleep and tries to relax by counting sheep in Swahili, the language of his ancestors and starting on an A-Z book. The next thing he knows is that he is in a dreamland that shows him how the people of Africa have moved around the world, taking their various cultures with them. The clever way in which this has been achieved by the author, is to treat the book as an A to Z, which gives a sub-title of ‘Afro to Zulu’. We follow Ayo as he visits a wide range of countries and experiences the history, religions and cultures that form part of his heritage. Although the book is arranged in this alphabetical order, we also have a note at the top of each double page spread which tells us which country is being used as the example. I also love the map at the back of the book which shows us just how far African communities have spread, many of those as a result of the slave trade. As you can see from the cover, this is a vibrant, colourful and exuberant look at the world of the diaspora. Both the author and the illustrator have undertaken a lot of research in their attempts to be accurate in their work and they have done a really excellent job.
This book is aimed at the young reader and will be great for sharing with individuals or small groups. Although the main character is African American, the book looks at countries in the Caribbean and also to African countries that were ruled by the British in the past; this means that the cultural references can be appreciated by a British audience. This is a book that should find its way in to all primary school libraries and will make a brilliant starting point for a whole range of discussions.
About the author:
Ain Heath Drew
Ain Heath Drew is the author of Ari J.’s Kinky, Curly Crown. As an educator, she uses books to expand her students’ knowledge about the world around them. Ain lives in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
About the illustrator:
Erin K. Robinson is an Emmy-nominated illustrator trained at the Parsons School of Design and
the Corcoran School of Art. Erin’s illustrations have been featured in The New York Times and The Washington Post, and she has illustrated numerous picture books, including the multiple star-reviewed title A Library which was written by Coretta Scott King Honor winner Nikki Giovanni. Erin splits her time between Brooklyn, NY, and Washington, DC., USA.
About the publisher:
Barefoot Books is an award-winning, independent, women-owned and run, children’s book publisher based in Concord, MA. Founded by two mothers in England in 1992, we are committed to creating visually captivating books that celebrate global awareness and diversity, spark curiosity and capture imaginations. Today, our unwavering commitment to opening children’s hearts, minds and worlds feels more important than ever. Barefoot Books was shortlisted for the Alison Morrison Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award in 2024’s IPG Awards.
On a personal note I had the great pleasure of visiting Barefoot books when they were based in Bath in the early 2000s and I was a children’s librarian in the area.
the winter they are now part of the cultural scene. The first one in the UK (and still the largest) is the Notting Hill carnival, which began in 1966 and this is the centre of Man-man’s story. I became much more aware of the importance of carnival when I worked in Bristol and St Paul’s was one of my libraries. I remember a gentleman coming to the library and having a discussion about a children’s book written about 1970 and telling the story of the St Paul’s carnival, using photos of the preparations and event; we were able to find a copy of the title in the store and he was able to show us pictures of him and his friends taking part. At the time, there were very few books covering the subject, but I am pleased to say that the situation appears to have improved, with a good range of both fiction and information books covering the topic.
was a civil servant in Ghana before becoming a general trainee with the BBC. She has taught in Spain and Jamaica and worked at the University of Ghana. Her short stories have been published in Critical Quarterly, African Love Stories:an anthology and New Daughters of Africa. Her first adult novel, True Murder, was published by Jonathan Cape in 2009. Her first YA novel, A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars, was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award in 2018 and nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Award 2018. The Secret of the Purple Lake, a collection of interlinked fairy stories for children aged 9 to 12 was published by Cassava Republic in October 2017. She lives in London.
for people from all races and backgrounds to see themselves in the world around them.