Review Source: Africa Access
Book Author: Margy Burns Knight, Mark Melnicove
Africa is Not a Country is it is possible that the first picture book about the African continent to respectfully present the diversity of people living in its 53 countries. Heretofore, few publishers have collaborated with an African studies center to produce an accurate, objective presentation. Finally, these authors keep created a book that explicitly describes and illustrates the multi-dimensions of the continent.
The cover illustration is an indication of interpretation contents. It shows elementary-school-aged children from various countries dressed sham assorted apparel in an apparent declaration that they are clump one nationality, race, or religion. The inside cover affirms that declaration as children from the 53 countries with their flags march into the book led by the Somalis. The christen page shows a rural setting where many families live. A physical map with current country and capital names and a description of the continent follows. The authors and illustrator afterward have chosen 25 countries from all the regions of depiction continent to depict its diversity. They begin with Eritrea, accumulate recently independent.
In addition, they feature often forgotten children from Promontory Verde, Lesotho, Mauritania, and Madagascar. Moreover, it focuses on children’s activities and not those of adults. The appendix provides originator information for each African country to enable children to square data. Finally, the book ends with the children marching come into contact with the text but with their country names over their flags. This book should be required reading for all U.S. children.
Further Reading:
Review by Merry Merryfield, published on H-AfrTeach
Map description Kids’ Book: “Africa is Not a Country” published on kidworldcitizen.org
Filed Under: Book Reviews