Join us as we continue across our continental chapter books to Africa. In the GO GLOBAL Curriculum, we learn about the ecosystems, the plants and animals, and the diverse people of Africa. While even older children will love the picture books we list, we want to also provide some chapter books for read aloud or for your child’s quiet reading. All these books cover some difficult circumstances of the protagonists in the stories. Make sure to discuss the story and struggles with your children. These books will impart a sense of Africa, in different locales and even different times. Even more importantly the reader is challenged to grow in empathy and concern for others.
When your children tell you about these books have them show you where they happened on a globe or map. See other questions in the South American Book List post to ask to encourage deeper thinking and understanding for your student.
Africa Chapter Books
Each book is marked with its Reading Level RL, and its Interest Level IL. You as the parent need to discern if your child is ready for the topics and themes in the story.
Listening for Lions, Gloria Whelan. RL: Gr. 6 and up; IL: Ages 10 -15. Enchanting fictional story of young girl whose missionary parents are struck with influenza and she is sent back to England. Ms. Whelan portrays both Africa and England with great clarity, description, and appreciation. The reader gets a real sense of place and an appreciation of both. Like the lions, the main character in this book must be patient, strong, and courageous.
A Long Walk to Water, Linda Sue Park. RL: Gr. 5 and up; IL: Ages 11 and up. Powerful dual narrative told with brutal, simple honesty delivers a remarkable perspective on the Sudanese conflict and the lost boys of Sudan. Make sure that your child can absorb this intellectually and emotionally. An amazing book!
Star of Light, Patricia St. John. RL: Gr. 5 and up. IL: Ages 8-14. Set in North Africa, tale of a boy who rescues his blind little sister from being sold to be a beggar by taking her to a medical missionary. Sobering and inspiring story from Ms. St John who based many of the aspects of this novel on her experiences as a medical missionary in Morocco. There is a shorter edited version, but we recommend for the longer (250+ pages) out of print version.
The Golden Goblet, Eloise Jarvis McGraw. RL: Gr 5-9. IL: Ages 9-14. Fast paced adventure story of an orphaned boy in Ancient Egypt who finds the courage and strength to solve a mystery, foil a crime, and set his life on a new trajectory. Vividly detailed setting and heartwarming ending makes this a great read. Parental Notification: There is information about the ancient Egyptian religion, but it is not in an active, devotional, or occultic sense.
Missionary Books based in Africa
Missionary stories teach about countries and cultures and the Christian faith. See Notes on Missionary Books in our South America post.
David Livingstone, Africa’s Trailblazer, Christian Heroes Then & Now, Janet and Geoff Benge. RL: Gr. 5-8; IL: Ages 9-13. Livingstone was an explorer and an evangelist who braved the dangers of Africa when others would not. This book emphasizes his missionary work and his perseverance.
Escape from the Slave Traders: David Livingston, Trailblazer Books, Dave and Neta Jackson. RL: Gr. 4-8; IL: Ages 8-12. Tale of two African boys who are captured by slave traders, but helped by missionary and British government official who is doing everything he can to put a halt to the slave traders in southeaster Africa during the 1860’s. While the details about the boys are fictional, the story of Livingston is true.
Trial by Poison: Mary Slessor, Trailblazer Books, Dave and Neta Jackson. RL: Gr. 4-8; IL: Ages 8-12. This book covers one specific tale from Mary Slessor’s life where she sets up a school, teaches reading and the love of God.
Mary Slessor: Forward into Calabar, Christian Heroes Then & Now, Janet and Geoff Benge. RL: Gr. 5-8; IL: Ages 9-13. Leaving her life as a mill worker in Scotland, Mary Slessor served the unreached tribes in Africa’s Calabar region from 1848 to 1915. In what is now Nigeria, Ms. Slessor spread Christianity while promoting women’s rights and protecting native children. She is most famous for having stopped the common practice of infanticide of twins.
Rowland Bingham: Into Africa’s Interior, Christian Heroes Then & Now, Janet and Geoff Benge. RL: Gr. 4-8; IL: Ages 8-12. At only 20 years old, Rowland set sail for Africa from England in 1893 with two friends. Bingham, the sole survivor of this expedition founded the Sudan Interior Mission, which is still ministers in Africa.
C.T. Studd, No Retreat, Christian Heroes Then & Now, Janet and Geoff Benge. RL: Gr. 5-8; IL: Ages 9-13. A star cricket player in England converts to Christianity and then spent fifty years as a missionary to the Congo and Sudan, to India, and to China. He was not a “Chocolate Christian.”
Lillian Trasher, The Greatest Wonder in Egypt, Christian Heroes Then & Now, Janet and Geoff Benge. RL: Gr. 5-8; IL: Ages 9-13. The founder of Egypt’s first orphanage was an American woman with no means of support trusted the Lord through poverty, war, and deadly epidemics. An inspiring story set in modern Egypt.