Written by Habel Amolo Green Environment Through Reading Advocacy I am excited to share with you today the story of Professor Wangarĩ Maathai, a Kenyan Nobel Laureate who was passionate about preserving our environment, leading to her starting an environmental movement called the "Greenbelt Movement”. Wangarĩ authored several important books which showcase her big WHY … Continue reading #INTYALITMONTH: Wangarĩ Maathai
#INTYALITMONTH: Ondjaki
Written by Vicky Smith My library is located in the small city of Portland, Maine, in the northeastern United States; it’s just steps from the North Atlantic. But most days after school, a visitor to our teen room will hear more Portuguese and Lingala than English, as Portland has become a destination for Angolan asylum … Continue reading #INTYALITMONTH: Ondjaki
#INTYALITMONTH: West African YA – Two Coming-of-Age Stories
Written by Annie Harris I’ve spent most of my career exploring children’s literature and finding ways to connect my students to stories. However, over the last ten years, I’ve had a shift in my overall understanding of how and why students connect. Growing as both an educator and a person, I’ve realized the importance of … Continue reading #INTYALITMONTH: West African YA – Two Coming-of-Age Stories
#INTYALITMONTH: Black Vampires Meet Dark Academia in Tigest Girma’s “Immortal Dark”
Written by Kim Tyo-Dickerson In a world where East African vampires are bound by human bloodlines and ancient legacies, one Ethiopian young woman dares to challenge the deepening darkness surrounding her to find her missing sister. Nineteen-year-old Kidan Adane and her twin sister June were never supposed to return to the arcane world of their … Continue reading #INTYALITMONTH: Black Vampires Meet Dark Academia in Tigest Girma’s “Immortal Dark”
The subversive power of love in South African picture books
Today's guest post is written by Bridget Krone. Bridget Krone lives and works in a village called Hilton just outside Pietermaritzburg, in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains in South Africa. Her office looks onto a field where cows graze in the winter and cranes (both crowned and blue) visit in the summer. She has … Continue reading The subversive power of love in South African picture books
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Adi of Boutanga: A Story from Cameroon
Arranged and forced marriages are the reality for many young teenage girls around the world. But does it really have to be this way? This middle grade illustrated novel is based on the true story of Adi, as told to renowned Cameroonian author and poet Alain Serge Dzotap. Adidjatou, or Adi for short, is a … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Adi of Boutanga: A Story from Cameroon
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Baby Goes to Market
The shoppers are out in force and the market is abuzz with activity. Women in brightly colored dresses carry baskets on their heads laden with fruit and vegetables, hens strut around, and moped driver wait for clients at the taxi rank. This is Baby and Mama’s destination: the vibrant world of a West African market, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Baby Goes to Market
#IntlYALitMonth Review: Binti
Review by Christina Fawcett Going away to school and leaving everything you know behind is hard. Going away to school on another planet is harder. Going away to school and your interplanetary shuttle being attacked by murderous Meduse is so much worse. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor follows a young Himba woman who is the first … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth Review: Binti
#IntlYALitMonth Review: Mask Off
Review by Joanna Snellin Masculinity has become a hot topic in recent years, and rightly so. With the internet a breeding ground for incels and misogynists, one can’t help but fear for the future of masculinity and what it’s like for teenagers exploring this rocky terrain. In response to this, there have been, thankfully, some … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth Review: Mask Off
#IntlYALitMonth Review: Death at the Voyager Hotel
Review by Karla Edwards Death at the Voyager Hotel is a whodunit novel by Kwei Jones-Quartey set in the bustling city of Accra, West Africa. The book provides a rich and intricate portrayal of life and culture in Accra and is full of suspense and fascinating characters. Jones-Quartey's novels offer insight into various aspects of … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth Review: Death at the Voyager Hotel
