Africa Is Not A Country [Paperback]

Margy Burns Knight (Author), Anne Sibley O'Brien (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-The authors narrate the experiences of children at play, at school, and at home, and use realistic illustrations to explore the cultural, environmental, ethnic, and social diversity of the 53 countries that make up the African continent. They explain that in Rwanda, refugee children (many of whom have been orphaned) are making pictures of war, while in Kenya, two children race to school, dreaming of one day becoming professional runners. From vast deserts with camels in the North to lush agricultural lands in Central and Southern Africa, the widely varied terrains are described in a paragraph or two of text. Unfortunately, there are no chapter or subtopic headings to indicate immediately what country is being discussed, and there is no indication of where it is located on the continent, so it's difficult to find it on the map. While the art is lively and colorful, and the book concludes with an alphabetical listing of the countries and facts about them, this offering does have its drawbacks.-Daniel Mungai, Queens Borough Public Library, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

From Booklist

Ages 6-8. The title says it all. Instead of the "vanishing tribes" view of one Africa with tourists from different countries photographing the animals and primitive people, this informative picture book celebrates the diversity of the 53 nations that make up the continent today. On each page there's a quick vignette of children in one country, with a bright, happy, colorful illustration. Three girls in school uniform walk on Cairo's jammed city sidewalks. A boy in Nigeria practices the ancient Igbo dances. At the back a small note on each country fills in facts about geography, currency, population, etc. There's still the danger of generalization (kids in Kenya running to school), and there are minor inaccuracies (South Africa's Freedom Day dates from 1994, not 1974); but readers will want to go on from here to explore in depth particular countries that interest them. The essential differences and connections are here. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Millbrook Press (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761316477
• ISBN-13: 978-0761316473
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Africa
  • #10 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Africa
  • #12 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Explore the World > Africa

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A delightful picture book for children, September 9, 2000

By 

[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: Africa Is Not A Country (Library Binding)

KNIGHT, Margy Burns Mark Melnicove Africa is Not a Country Millbrook Sep 2000 Grade 1-4

This book dispels the misconception that Africa is a country. The authors narrate the experiences of children at play, school, home, and use realistic illustrations to explore the cultural, environmental, ethnic and social diversity of all 53 countries that make up the African continent. They instruct the reader about each African country, revealing its unique characteristics among the family of African nations. For example on Rwanda, kids are shown making pictures of war, while on Kenya, which is famous for producing long distance runners, the authors show two children running to school, dreaming of one day becoming professional runners. The vast and varied African continent is shown using maps and the different people who inhabit the different environments. From vast deserts with camels in the North, to lush agricultural lands in Central and Southern Africa, the authors introduce Africa to young children in this colorful and easily readable book, and explains that Africa is so large, diverse and complex, it should not be thought as a single nation. Africa has so much to offer: soccer, agricultural products, different religious faiths, fossils, and the diversity is not only of land and culture, but of people too. At the end of the book is an alphabetical capsule of all 53 countries, featuring capital city, population, Independence Day, currency, a pronunciation guide, national flags, and unique facts about the country. Beautifully illustrated and well researched, it will be a joy to young children being introduced to Africa and the many countries that make the African continent.

Daniel M. Mungai Queens Borough Public Library, New York City

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well done, January 16, 2004

By 

Ed Gibbon www.congocookbook.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: Africa Is Not A Country (Paperback)

It's sort of sad that a book like this is even necessary, but I have seen teachers make assignments such as, "Everyone will do a report on how people live in different places. We need reports on Japan, Mexico, Germany, China, and Africa."

"Africa Is Not a Country" takes a brief look at the 50-some individual contries that make up the African continent. Each country is presented in a two-page spread, with some text and a large illustration. The text works in lots of facts about each country, without being overly academic. The illustrations are large, colorful, and detailed. The book begins with morning and ends at night and depicts people having breakfast, going to school, doing housework, shopping, playing, etc. The emphasis is always on modern people (not wildlife, not "exotic" tribes). Well done.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars children today need this book, December 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Africa Is Not A Country (Paperback)

Having visited many classes of young children, I have seen the ignorance that children today have about the African continent and the vast cultures that inhabit the mysterious land. Knight's writing is academic, but not too technical, and playful but honest as she presents a look at the daily lives of children from all over the continent. The book is complete with a listing of all the African countries and important facts about them making it handy in the classroom and wonderful detailed stories about specifically chosen countries making it useful for home story telling. Children need this book and the bst part is that they will love it too.