5 Picture Books Set in Africa

The Water Princess, by Susan Verde, Georgie Badiel and Peter H. Reynolds 
This moving book is about a young girl named Gie Gie who is princess of her own kingdom, and dreams of bringing clean water directly to her village. Each morning she and her mother take the long daily journey to the well to get water. A beautiful book that will open your child’s eyes to other children’s experiences; they may never turn on the tap the same way again. This story is inspired by the childhood of supermodel Georgie Badiel, who grew up in Burkina Faso, and now is the founder of the Georgie Badiel Foundation, which helps make this clean water dream a reality.

Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
“Now every year in Africa they hold the Jungle Dance, where every single animal turns up to skip and prance.” Sounds like fun! That is, unless you’re Gerald the giraffe who thinks he can’t dance with his long giraffe neck and legs. A sweet and lively story that brings African wildlife to the dance floor and will move your own tiny dancer and show that everyone can dance, it’s just about finding the music that speaks to you.

Nelson Mandela, by Kadir Nelson
This non-fiction picture book explores the life of the great Nelson Mandela. From his childhood in South Africa to his ascendancy to the country’s presidency, this inspiring figure’s message of hope and equality for all feels particularly relevant today. Gorgeously illustrated portraits of Mandela accompany the poetic text.

Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa, by Jeanette Winter
This one is also based on a real life hero, Wangari Maathai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work on saving the environment. Wangari was from Kenya, and grew up in a country filled with trees. But when she comes back years later, the trees are gone. Instead of feeling hopeless, Wangari takes action and proves that one hardworking woman truly can create a big change.

Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky, by Elphinstone Dayrell and Blair Lent
Has your child ever asked you questions about the sun and the moon and why they are way up high in the sky? Well this book takes this question and answers it with a wonderful classic African folktale. According to this story, the sun and moon once lived here on Earth, but when things get too crowded with the water and his people, they were pushed up into another orbit.