As World Kid Lit Month approaches – the 10th anniversary! – we’re thrilled to share this downloadable book list to help you find picture books from Africa. Click here or on the graphic below to open the PDF. We’ve included one picture book for every country; for some countries we couldn’t resist including a couple more. If you’re in the UK, you can find these books at our ‘Read Africa’ page on bookshop.org and support World Kid Lit in the process!

Let us know what we’re missing over on social media – what do you recommend?You could use our This September I’ll Be Reading graphic to tell us which book you want to read.

Algeria

Sabbath Lion: A Jewish Folktale from Algeria by Howard Schwartz and Barbara Rush, illustrated by Stephen Fieser. Harpercollins Childrens Books

Angola

Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba (My Early Library: My Itty-Bitty Bio) by Virginia Loh-Hagan, illustrated by Jeff Bane. Cherry Lake Publishing

Benin

Idia of the Benin Kingdom by Ekiuwa Aire. Our Ancestories

Botswana

I See the Sun in Botswana by Judith Inglese and Dedie King. Satya House Publications

Burkina Faso

The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story of One Ordinary Bicycle written by Jude Isabella, illustrated by Simone Shin. Kids Can Press

The Water Princess written by Susan Verde and Georgie Badiel, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

All Aboard for the Bobo Road written by Stephen Davies, illustrated by Christopher Corr. Andersen Press

Burundi

Endless Afternoons written by Gaël Faye, illustrated by Hippolyte Petitjean, translated from French by Irene Vázquez. Levine Querido

Cameroon

The Gift by Alain Serge Dzotap, illustrated by Dephine Renon, translated from French by Alain Serge Dzotap. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers | See our interview with the author here

I Am Farmer Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon written by Baptiste Paul and Miranda Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon. Lerner Publishing Group

Cape Verde

My Heart Speaks Kriolu written by Stefanie Foster Brown, illustrated by Keisha Morris. Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster

Central African Republic

The Magic Doll: A Children’s Book Inspired by African Art written by Adrienne Yabouza, illustrated by Elodie Nouhen. Prestel | See our review here

Chad

Rain School by James Rumford. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing

Comoros

Comoros Canvas by Aminul Hoque. Independently published

Côte d’Ivoire

Akissi: Tales of Mischief written by Marguerite Abouet, illustrated by Mathieu Sapin, translated from French by Marie Bédrune and Judith Taboy. Flying Eye Books | See our review here

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Our World: Democratic Republic of the Congo by Mel Nyoko. Barefoot Books

Kende! Kende! Kende! written by Yaya Gentille and Kirsten Cappy, illustrated by Rahana Dariah. Child’s Play 

Djibouti

The Big Book of Djibouti Facts by James K. Mahi. Independently published

Egypt

The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story written by Aya Khalil, illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan. Tilbury House Publishers

Egyptian Lullaby written by Zeena M. Pliska, illustrated by Hatem Aly. Roaring Brook Press

Equatorial Guinea

In My Heart Equatorial Guinea: Guinea Ecuatorial en mi corazón written in English and Spanish by Milondo Liliane Kabamba, illustrated by Oksana Vynokurova. Milondo Kabamba

Eritrea

Trouble written by Jane Kurtz, illustrated by Durga Bernhard. Ready Set Go Books. Bilingual: English and Amharic

Seeking Refuge: Hamid’s Story – A Journey from Eritrea by Andy Glynne, illustrated by Tom Senior. Wayland

The Journey by Telling the Real Story, illustrated by Jenny Sjödin. Available online in English, Tigrinya and Arabic

Eswatini

Nothando’s Journey by Jill Apperson Manly. Jabu Books

Ethiopia

Gloria’s Porridge written by Elizabeth Laird, illustrated by Toby Newsome. Tiny Owl Publishing

Gabon

Gabon: Philippe Ngome’s Painting: My Family Goes to Market by Jacquiline Touba and Barbara Glasser. Art by Philippe Ngome. Young Artists of the World series. PowerKids Press

Gambia

The Best Beekeeper of Lalibela: A Tale from Africa by Cristina Kessler, illustrated by Leonard Jenkins. Holiday House

Ghana

Anansi and the Golden Pot written by Taiye Selasi, illustrated by Tinuke Fagborun. DK Children

Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah written by Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Sean Qualls. Schwartz & Wade

Sankofa: A Culinary Story of Resilience and Belonging written by Eric Adjepong, illustrated by Lala Watkins. Penguin Workshop

Guinea

The Three Little Birds/Les Trois Petits Oiseaux written by Saran Kaba, Youssouf Diallo and Miriama Diabeté, illustrated by Augustus Moore Jr. One Moore Book

Guinea Bissau

Svara’s Mangroves Adventures written by Priyanka Lalla and Svara Lalla, illustrated by Jaden Kissoon. Independently published

Kenya

Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees written by Franck Prévot, illustrated by Aurélia Fronty, translated from French by Dominique Clément. Charlesbridge

Community Soup by Alma Fullerton. Pajama Press

The Wooden Camel written by Wanuri Kahiu, illustrated by Manuela Adreani. Lantana Publishing

Lesotho

One Round Moon and a Star for Me by Ingrid Mennen, illustrated by Niki Daly. Bodley Head Children’s Books

Liberia

Head, Body, Legs: A Story from Liberia written by Won-Ldy Paye and Margaret H. Lippert, illustrated by Julie Paschkis. Henry Holt Books for Young Readers

Libya

The Tiger of Tripoli/Le Tigre de Tripoli/نمر طرابلس written by NRC Writers Club, illustrated by Helen Patuck. Kitabna/Norwegian Refugee Council. Available to read online at Kitabna in trilingual edition English, French and Arabic.

Madagascar

La vie est une roue qui tourne: Un voyage à travers le Madagascar, Découvre le site royal d’Ambohimanga written in French by Faty Sambou and Papa Samba Dia, illustrated by Papa Ba Gaye. Le Buntu Village

Malawi

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind written by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon. Dial Books for Young Readers

Mali

The Goggle-Eyed Goats by Christopher Corr and Stephen Davies. Andersen Press

The Big Green: Everyone Can Make a Difference by Ken Wilson-Max. Otter-Barry Books. New in 2026!

Mauritania

Mansa Musa: The Richest Man In History by Young Trees Education, illustrated by Emanuel Colban. Young Trees Education

Mauritius

A Dream of Birds by Shenaz Patel, illustrated by Emmanuelle Tchoukriel, translated from French by Edwige-Renée Dro. Amazon Crossing Kids

Morocco

Alya and the Three Cats by Amina Hachimi Alaoui, illustrated by Maya Fidawi, translated from Arabic by Mehdi Retnani and John Conn. Crackboom

Mozambique

Mozambique coloring book for kids – with facts by Ringeo Ulentz. Independently published. New in 2026!

Namibia

Whispers from the Khwe: A collection of folktales written by Patricia Dinyando, Vote Ngugwe and Ndapewa Fenny Nakanyete. University of Namibia Press

Niger

Don’t Spill the Milk! by Christopher Corr and Stephen Davies. Andersen Press

Nigeria

Olu and Greta by Diana Ejaita. Rise x Penguin Workshop

Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus written by Atinuke, illustrated by Lauren Tobia. Walker Books

Chicken in the Kitchen written by Nnedi Okorafor, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini. Lantana Publishing

What Happened on Thursday? A Nigerian Civil War Story by Ayo Oyeku, illustrated by Lydia Mba. Amazon Crossing Kids

Republic of the Congo

The Magic Tree: A Tale from the Congo by Gerald McDermott. Puffin Books

Rwanda

Keza and the Green City/Keza N’umujyi Utoshye by Green City Kigali. Available in English and in Kinyarwanda from Green City Kigali.

São Tomé and Príncipe

Princess Naku and the Twin Islands: São Tomé and Príncipe by Weruche George. Guy & Rae Publishing

Senegal

King Alboury Cooks the Best Jollof: A fictional story inspired by King Alboury Ndiaye, the last King of the Jollof Kingdom in Senegal, written by Sokhna Ndiaye, illustrated by Tiolu Yoloye and Francis Ufere. Kunda Kids

Seychelles

A Journey through Seychelles’ Waters by Christi Olivier Savy. Available in English and Kreol. Marine Conservation Society Seychelles

Sierra Leone

The Spirit of Sierra Leone: A Kid’s Guide to the History of Sierra Leone by Brittney Caldwell, illustrated by Harmoni’s Brush. Independently published

Somalia

Spirit of the Cheetah: A Somali Tale by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed, illustrated by Julia Cairns. Wisdom Tales

South Africa

On My Papa’s Shoulders by Niki Daly. Otter-Barry Books

I Am You: A Book about Ubuntu by Refiloe Moahloli, illustrated by Zinelda McDonald. Amazon Crossing Kids

Grandad Mandela by Ambassador Zindzi Mandela, Zazi and Ziwelene Mandela, and Zondwa Mandela, illustrated by Sean Qualls. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

How Many Ways Can You Say Hello? by Refiloe Moahloli, illustrated by Anja Stoeckigt. Penguin Random House South Africa

South Sudan

Nya’s Long Walk: A Step at a Time written by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Clarion Books. Picture book companion to A Long Walk to Water.

Sudan

Nabra’s Nubian Numbers: 2 (Geri, Fai, Omir) written by Ramey Dawoud, illustrated by Hatim Eujayl. Nubian Languages edition. Taras Press. Meet the Author here on World Kid Lit blog

Tanzania

Bahiya, the Little Zebra by Nahida Esmail, illustrated by Randa Abubakr. African Bureau Stories

Togo

My First Book Togo: All About Togo For Kids by Jonathan Day and Penelope Palette. Independently published

Tunisia

Azizi and the Little Blue Bird written by Laïla Koubaa, illustrated by Mattias de Leeuw, translated from Flemish by David Colmer. Lantana Publishing

Uganda

Sleep Well, Siba and Saba written by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl, illustrated by Sandra Van Doorn. Lantana Publishing

Sing to The Moon written by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl, illustrated by Sandra Van Doorn. Lantana Publishing

Zambia

Let’s Learn About Zambia: World Wonders for Little Explorers by Avery Josephs. Independently published

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe written by Anna Makanda and Sharmane Barrett, illustrated by Natàlia Juan Abello. Our World My Roots

Africa: Not Country Specific

ABCs of Kings and Queens of Africa by Boni Kadio. Boni Kadio

Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country written by Atinuke, illustrated by Mouni Feddag. Walker Books

African Queens: Incredible Stories of Africa’s Legendary Women Leaders: Discover 12 inspiring African queens throughout history by Onyinye Iwu. Out this week from Walker Books!

Ayo’s Adventure Across the African Diaspora from Afro to Zulu written by Ain Heath Drew, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson. Barefoot Books 

Fadya and the Song of the River written by Laura Nsafou, illustrated by Amélie-Anne Calmo, translated from French by Ros Schwartz. Tate Publishing

Our Story Starts in Africa written by Patrice Lawrence, illustrated by Jeanetta Gonzales. Magic Cat Publishing

Buy these books and more at our Bookshop.org bookstore