Common Sense Media Review
By Kyle Jackson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Illuminating profiles, vivid images reveal nuanced history.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
AFRICAN ICONS: TEN PEOPLE WHO SHAPED HISTORY profiles a diverse array of men and women who made an impact on the ancient, medieval, and early modern worlds. The book is largely chronological, beginning in ancient Egypt and ending in the powerful Kingdom of Benin in the 1500s, covering a vast span of time and space. In between the rich biographies that structure the book, bestselling author Tracey Baptiste offers informative overviews of major shifts in African history, expertly explaining complex subjects like trade across the Sahara, the importance of the griot storytelling tradition, and the influence of African folktales. While some of the figures -- such as pioneering Egyptian physician and architect Imhotep, or famed fabulist Aesop -- may be familiar to readers, Baptiste also showcases a number of more obscure leaders and thinkers. Overall, the book provides a broad introduction to a complex and often ignored history that the author worries could be "lost forever" if students do not engage with it.
Is It Any Good?
This succinct and sweeping overview is surprisingly nuanced and filled with details and descriptions that bring the ancient world to life. Author Tracey Baptiste's writing is sophisticated but accessible, drawing from the latest research in history and archaeology. Full-color archival images of artifacts and vibrant illustrations by Hillary D. Wilson jump off the page and provide an eye-catching compliment to Baptiste's prose. The bibliography, notes, and additional resources provided in the appendix also offer a good starting point for further research for curious students and teachers, while the powerful author's and illustrator's notes explain the motivations of the creators of this marvelous book.
African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History is an exciting volume that will appeal not only to kids already interested in African history and culture, but also may stimulate and inspire young readers who've had limited exposure to the deep and entangled histories of the continent and its peoples.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the images of Africa and Africans in African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History. How do they compare with how they're represented in media? Why do you think so many shallow stereotypes continue to dominate public perception of the region?
Why do you think historians have struggled to recover many of the stories of early African history? What might be some solutions to this problem?
Who are some modern or present-day "African icons" you can think of?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Hillary D. Wilson
- Genre : History
- Topics : Arts , History , STEM
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Algonquin Young Readers
- Publication date : October 19, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
- Number of pages : 176
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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