Anna Hibiscus

Early chapter books set in modern Africa about a middle-class family are hard to find in this country. Early chapter books that deftly handle the difficult issues of poverty, class, and economics are even rarer. Nigerian-born Atinuke's series about young Anna Hibiscus and her large extended family do these things with grace and humor. Originally published in England, the first two are now available here. Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa amazing Africa, in a city of lagoons and bridges . . . skyscrapers and shanty towns. Her mother is from Canada, her father from Africa, and she has twin baby brothers, Double and Trouble. Each of the four chapters tells a complete story and, while presenting clear cultural differences, explores themes that are universal and child-centered. A story about selling oranges from a family tree is of special interest as a resource for primary classrooms with economics benchmarks. Never didactic, the fluid storytelling is enhanced by Tobia's charming illustrations. While it is disappointing that a specific country is never identified, the book's strong features make it noteworthy.--Rutan, Lynn Copyright 2010 Booklist

Gr 1-3-With this introductory phrase, "Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa," we are introduced to the many facets of an African child's daily life with her close-knit family. The culture, land, and people of Africa come shining through in Atinuke's absolutely delightful stories (Walker, 2007) in this early chapter book. Four vignettes focusing on the child's life with her large, noisy, extended family point out the value of following traditions. Whether on holiday, selling oranges, dreaming of snow, or advising her Auntie Comfort in America, Anna Hibiscus learns lessons about respecting her elders, working hard, and becoming a proper African lady. Mutiyat Ade-Salu makes the sights and sounds of Africa come alive with her mesmerizing African lilt and clear diction. The humor and the gravity of the text are beautifully expressed, and the images of smiling relatives, lagoons, and the compound where Anna Hibiscus lives linger. One highlight is the simple, joyful paean to snow sung by Anna Hibiscus, although she has never actually seen it. Students will be fascinated by the richness of living near the sea and the rainforest, and will find opportunities to compare and contrast this lifestyle with their own experiences. A gem.-Lonna Pierce, MacArthur and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Binghamton, NY (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Linked short stories star Anna Hibiscus, who lives in a large house in a compound in "amazing Africa" with baby brothers Double and Trouble, parents and extended family. The first title in this appealing new series introduces Anna's world. The family goes on vacation, an auntie visits from America, Anna learns what it is to do hard work and she gets an invitation to visit her Canadian grandmother. Her world grows in Hooray for Anna Hibiscus! (978-1-935279-74-7): She starts school, sings before a large audience, tries a hair experiment and visits a very poor neighborhood. These stories celebrate the extended family and the combination of traditional ways with conveniences of the modern world; they contrast Anna's relatively privileged life with that of others in her country and reflect the Nigerian childhood of the author, a storyteller now living in Wales. Tobia's sketches, pen-and-ink with a gray wash, will help early readers visualize the family, unfamiliar customs and clothing and Anna's community. A third title has already been published in England. A welcome window into an unfamiliar world. (Fiction. 5-9)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.