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lannthacker's review against another edition
4.0
Great read aloud and early chapter book. A typical little girl many of my community's families could relate to. Anna Hibiscus also happens to be a biracial child living with her extended family in Amazing Africa. Such a vibrant, glowing view of modern Africa through a child's eyes. It was refreshing to read a positive portrayal of a part of the world usually viewed as a Catalog of Problems.
katiegrrrl's review against another edition
4.0
Cute easy chapter book about a young girl who lives in Africa and what her life is like.
2017 Read Harder Challenge- book set more than 5000 miles from me
2017 Read Harder Challenge- book set more than 5000 miles from me
leskit's review against another edition
5.0
I put these in the library where I work (elementary school). I read this first book in the series to classes. It is utterly delightful. I love having the opportunity to look at how a child lives halfway around the world (I am in Alaska). What things do we have in common? What is different? Very valuable series to have available. Charming stories and wonderful writing.
chelse34's review against another edition
3.0
Read this one is with my 2nd child. I don't think this is a good one to hold the interest of a 5-year-old. I don't think he really loved it. And it was fine for me, but again, it wasn't really one I loved. So I don't think I'm going to continue on to book two. It does set up for the next book that's for sure though.
makenziewho's review against another edition
4.0
Hewan's review: "It was ok. I didn't really like it as much as Milly Molly Mandy or Besty Tacy or Pooh. I liked the snow chapter so I'd give that one five stars."
Finding a good early chapter book with a Black main character is difficult, so in that regard this book is a gem! I loved the fact that life in Africa is portrayed as both modern and traditional- traditional dress and customs are highly valued, but the family also texts each other and lives in a big city. It's a great balance.
On the other hand, I didn't love how Anna's country isn't specified- just "amazing Africa." Life in Ethiopia is very different than life in say, Nigeria. I found myself explaining that several times throughout the book. Also, the writing was good, but much more modern and realistic than what we're used to, so I think Hewan didn't connect with it as much. These books might be better to save until she can read them independently, because they just don't have the charm of our usual read-alouds.
Finding a good early chapter book with a Black main character is difficult, so in that regard this book is a gem! I loved the fact that life in Africa is portrayed as both modern and traditional- traditional dress and customs are highly valued, but the family also texts each other and lives in a big city. It's a great balance.
On the other hand, I didn't love how Anna's country isn't specified- just "amazing Africa." Life in Ethiopia is very different than life in say, Nigeria. I found myself explaining that several times throughout the book. Also, the writing was good, but much more modern and realistic than what we're used to, so I think Hewan didn't connect with it as much. These books might be better to save until she can read them independently, because they just don't have the charm of our usual read-alouds.
ivyinthepages's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 4 leaves out of 5
Characters: 4.5/5
Cover: 3/5
Story: 3.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Classic/Children
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yeah
Hated|Disliked|It Was Okay|Liked|Loved
A quick and easy read Anna, in this story, learns a good few things about the world and how life isn't so nice and sometimes it is. Anna did kinda rub me the wrong way but I think that just comes with her being a child and not knowing her own wrong doings, but she learns a valuable lesson and she seems grateful for the lesson.
All in all it was a good little book to read.
Characters: 4.5/5
Cover: 3/5
Story: 3.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Classic/Children
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yeah
Hated|Disliked|It Was Okay|Liked|Loved
A quick and easy read Anna, in this story, learns a good few things about the world and how life isn't so nice and sometimes it is. Anna did kinda rub me the wrong way but I think that just comes with her being a child and not knowing her own wrong doings, but she learns a valuable lesson and she seems grateful for the lesson.
All in all it was a good little book to read.
gwenby's review against another edition
5.0
Lovely children’s character providing insight into family life in Amazing Africa
megatsunami's review against another edition
5.0
I adored this young-reader chapter book, and so did my kids (my toddler for some reason was almost as entranced as my kindergartener). It features the adventures of a biracial/ bicultural girl who lives with her wealthy extended family in Africa*. Some of my favorite things about this book:
- Anna's twin baby brothers are called Double and Trouble. So cute.
- The book names and honors cultural differences in a way that is rare in children's books. The first story explores questions of family interdependence vs. independence, and while it clearly comes down on one side, it never feels judgmental.
- The story about the flower sellers is totally a sweet example of restorative justice in action.
- Many of the characters have adorable names like "Comfort".
- The lovely writing is pleasing to both adult and children's sensibilities.
*I almost took off a star for the one thing that bothered me about this book: the fact that it was set generically in "Africa." The author is Nigerian and the food, clothing, etc. seemed generally West African, but no specific country or culture is named. In one way I can imagine reasons why the author chose to be generic, but I am trying not to teach my children that the continent of Africa is a single country or a single unitary culture (as it's often portrayed).
- Anna's twin baby brothers are called Double and Trouble. So cute.
- The book names and honors cultural differences in a way that is rare in children's books. The first story explores questions of family interdependence vs. independence, and while it clearly comes down on one side, it never feels judgmental.
- The story about the flower sellers is totally a sweet example of restorative justice in action.
- Many of the characters have adorable names like "Comfort".
- The lovely writing is pleasing to both adult and children's sensibilities.
*I almost took off a star for the one thing that bothered me about this book: the fact that it was set generically in "Africa." The author is Nigerian and the food, clothing, etc. seemed generally West African, but no specific country or culture is named. In one way I can imagine reasons why the author chose to be generic, but I am trying not to teach my children that the continent of Africa is a single country or a single unitary culture (as it's often portrayed).
crysrowe's review against another edition
3.0
This is a great first chapter book for new readers. As an adult, I found the writing to be choppy, but my 6-year-old and I loved the stories. It deals with a real family, with real experiences and emotions, and it made us laugh. Although we read it out loud, it’s one she could have read herself.