Family Reading Recommendations

New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations

The Heart Never Forgets by Ana Ot (author) and Hayden Goodman (illustrator)

As villagers gather to hear masked musicians beating drums, savor fried plantains, and watch the joyful dancers, a young girl joins the celebration with her family. But this year, everything feels different; it’s the first masquerade without Grandpa.

Each member of the family carries something that honors Grandpa. But the young girl doesn’t have any of Grandpa’s items. Instead, she brings with her a special memory shared only between the two of them. Will she be able to share it with the world?

The Miraculous Masquerade: An Ekpe Harvest Celebration Tale by Idara Otu (author) and An Hryvtsova (illustrator)

The Harvest Time Masquerade is an important tradition where Ekpe Society members honor the earth and skies for rendering favorable conditions for their crops. Ema, only ten-years-old, wants to guide her younger brother, Eno, who hopes to be initiated as an Ekpe when he grows up. This delightful tale captures the magnificent essence of this time for various clans across Nigeria.

The Fortune-Tellers by Lloyd Alexander (author) and Trina Schart Hyman (illustrator)

When a young carpenter hears that a fortune-teller has come to town, he immediately sets off to learn about his future. Will he be rich? Happy? Famous? After giving the carpenter some promising predictions, the seer mysteriously disappears—and the young man’s fate takes a turn that offers much wise and witty fun!

Mayowa and the Masquerades by Lola Shoneyin (author) and Francis Blake (illustrator)

City-dwelling Mayowa is unhappy because he has to visit his grandmother in Ilisan, Nigeria. When he gets there, his grandmother pairs him up with the fun-loving Denuyi. Together, they explore the town and all its wonders. The boys chase grasshoppers, dip their feet into a stream, climb a tree, and even join in with a Masquerade parade!

I Am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon by Baptiste and Miranda Paul (authors) and Elizabeth Zunon (illustrator)

When Tantoh was a child, he loved the dirt and all that grew in his grandmother’s garden. In school, his fellow students mocked him by calling him “Farmer.” His brother told him to study hard so he could one day get a job in an office. But Tantoh knew that wasn’t the right path for him. Today, Tantoh is a proud farmer, an environmental leader, and the founder of the international charity Save Your Future Association. Authors Baptiste and Miranda Paul traveled though northwest Cameroon to see firsthand how Farmer Tantoh’s grassroots work is growing a movement.

Chicken in the Kitchen by Nnedi Okorafor (author) and Mehrdokht Amini (illustrator)

When Anyaugo follows a giant chicken into her kitchen one warm night in Nigeria, she embarks on a fun-filled adventure where nothing is quite as it seems. Is the nature spirit that lives in the wooden walls of her house a help or a hindrance? Is the mischievous giant chicken a friend or a foe? Most importantly, will Anyaugo be able to save the food her aunties have cooked for the New Yam Festival the next day?