Parents' Guide to

Tales From Africa

By Kevin McCaffrey, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

These tales educate, entertain, and entrance.

Book Mary Medlicott Folklore 1995
Tales From Africa Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Twelve new stories, commissioned from contemporary African storytellers, come from all over the continent and cover the gamut from traditional animal fables to comical cautionary tales. They educate, entertain, and entrance, as good stories are bound to do.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Storytelling is alive and well on that continent of mystery and magic, Africa; these 12 tales are rich in the diversity of land, people, and style. Mary Medlicott, who has also edited The King With Dirty Feet, has compiled a thought-provoking and well-balanced look at the concerns and hopes of the ancient and emerging lands of the African continent.

As she says in her editor's note, when these stories are told, the listening is loud. One that really speaks out is "The Bittersweet Hunter and the Deer-woman," an offering from Nigeria in which love and kindness triumph over meanness, jealousy, and gossip. The illustrations, by African artist Ademola Akintola, capture the vibrant color and energy of diverse cultures. For the most part, though, they don't capture the abundant dramatic moments of the stories.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the lessons to be learned from these stories. In "Tiyotiyo," for example, how does the boy make the best of a perceived weakness? Families can also discuss how people create myths and legends to explain the world around them.

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate