African Princess: The Amazing Lives of Africa's Royal Women [Hardcover]

Joyce Hansen (Author), Laurie McGaw (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2004 | Grade Level: 3 and up

What was it like to live as a queen in ancient Egypt, or as an Amazon warrior in western Africa? African Princess tells the stories of six remarkable royal women and the eras in which they lived, from 1473 B.C. to the present. Some lived in great luxury; others lived in exile as freedom fighters. The rise of the slave trade and the arrival of European colonists unsettled the entire continent and forced rulers to find ways to govern and protect their kingdoms. Consequently, many of these royal women ruled in extremely difficult times, marked by palace intrigue, foreign invasion, and harrowing adventure.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7–A beautiful book from cover to cover. A portrait of Princess Njinga (of Matamba c. 1582-1663) graces the cover of the volume, representing the qualities of strength, pride, and conviction that the six royal women profiled in this title possessed. Hansen's introduction addresses the varied nature of the continent's land and people and informs readers that the six "…princesses and queens whose stories are told in this book give us views of Africa we do not often see." The map of the continent that faces this introduction features small portraits of each person positioned over the area in which she lived and ruled. Each chapter covers the life and times of one leader from Hatshepsut (c. 1497-1457 B.C.) to Elizabeth of Toro (1940-), and opens with a stunning, full-page portrait. In addition, there are quality reproductions of artwork and photos of artifacts, sites, and individuals. In the early profiles, the author sometimes shares what she imagines the women might have thought or felt given the time or circumstance. Chapters on later individuals include a few quotes. Captions and occasional sidebars add additional information. These intelligent and dedicated women all overcame obstacles, took risks, and often challenged the status quo. Their stories will provide inspiration to all readers.–Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-8. The history is compelling in this collective picture-book biography of six highly successful African women--warriors, builders, businesswomen, and administrators--whose exciting personal stories show the rich diversity of the continent and celebrate their achievements during times when most women had little power. From Hatshepsut of ancient Egypt and Amina of sixteenth-century Zaria (now part of Nigeria) to contemporary Princess Elizabeth of Toro, a Ugandan lawyer, model, foreign minister, and U.N. ambassador, Hansen's lively, well-researched accounts bring close each woman's struggle and place it within the context of her country's changing politics and culture. The spacious book design is inviting: the paper is thick and glossy, the type is small but clear, and attractive geometric designs border the pages. The six full-page artist renderings of the women are glamorized, but there are also plenty of fully captioned historic prints and photos of carvings and artifacts. Hansen is always careful to distinguish fact from surmise, and her research will stimulate readers to find out more. Unfortunately, the bibliography is very brief, and there's no further documentation, even for direct quotes. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Jump At The Sun (September 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786851163
• ISBN-13: 978-0786851164
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Children's Books > History > Africa

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Women of beauty, strength, and power!, April 7, 2005

By 

Reginald D. Garrard "the G-man" (Camilla, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: African Princess: The Amazing Lives of Africa's Royal Women (Hardcover)

Six examples of African feminine royalty are showcased in chronological order, from pre-Christian times to the modern era. Each of the women focused was representative of her time, yet she showed a foresight and independence that made her stand out from her contemporaries.

The text by former schoolteacher Joyce Hansen, along with Laurie McGraw's superb illustrations, makes for a captivating and inspiring read for youngsters, female and male. It also should be noted that the book should be shared with all children for there still remains some misconceptions in the general public about Africa, even to this day.

The book does a good job of addressing and correcting those misconceptions in a highly professional and insightful manner.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uses words and pictures to recreate the lives, March 4, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: African Princess: The Amazing Lives of Africa's Royal Women (Hardcover)

From a female pharaoh in ancient Egypt to an African princess of her people who avoided men, and an empress, African Princess uses words and pictures to recreate the lives of six selected powerful royal women of Africa. Good reading skills in grades 2-4 will lend to an appreciation of early female African leaders.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars African Princess, April 24, 2011

By 

kipling52 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: African Princess: The Amazing Lives of Africa's Royal Women (Hardcover)

I'm the mother of a multi-racial child. I want her to know the background of all of her races. I also want her to know there are princesses of every color (unlike the Disney movies portray). This book is a wonderful glimpse into the African heritage that we all seem to know very little about.