Anna Hibiscus

Anna Hibiscus lives in a beautiful house in Africa filled with aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is never lonely, and her large family teaches her many lessons about life. Anna texts her Auntie Comfort who lives in America, tries to sell oranges in the dusty streets of the city, and wishes and wishes to see snow, which is all the way across the Atlantic Ocean where her Granny Canada lives.

Positive messages about family, being kind, and working hard define this excellent series. Anna Hisbiscus is a loveable, relateable, curious girl and her family is cheerful and supportive.

Atinuke breaks down American stereotypes and misconceptions about Africa. She shows a place where families live together, women pound yams and cassava, and the poorest children work all day begging on the streets. And yet it's also a place full of cars and skyscrapers amid shanty towns, texts and emails as well as letters.

Atinuke's Africa is a vibrant, contrasting blend of tradition and modernity, compassion versus complacency. Though it has its downsides, children (and parents!) may find themselves wishing for some of the close-knit community of Anna Hibiscus' world. This series is highly recommended.

Review by Lauren Shearer
Lauren Shearer writes words for fun and profit. She also makes films, but everyone knows you can't make a profit doing that. Her other hobby is consistently volunteering way too much of her time. You can read more of her reviews here.