I often search Amazon for kids books and save the ones that I find to my wish list to think about if I should buy them or not. But when I saw this book I bought it immediately and I am so glad that I did.  The book is called South African animals by Lindiwe Mabuza and Alan Baker.  It is stunning.  It has simple text introducing you to a number of animals found in South Africa going from a to z.  The illustrations are stunning. Here is an example

It includes the typical African animals that you would expect like lions and elephants but it also includes some more unusual birds like the Yellow-Billed Hornbill and Ibis.   I am probably a bit biased having grown up in South Africa and wanting my kids to know about the country and its animals but I do think that even if you are not from South Africa this would be a great book to teach young kids about African animals.

Both my kids are enjoying reading this book and Blue has been enjoying searching his animal tub for the animals as we read the book.

We have a number of other great kids books on Africa.

We have already used Going on a Lion Hunt for some fun learning as well as Handa’s Surprise and Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain but my personal favourite kids book on Africa is The Brave Little penguin by Andrea Florens and Claire Norden.  This story is about a little penguin who hatches on top of Table mountain and his journey to find his family.  Along the way he meets a number of animals including a dassie, baboons, zebras and some seals.  It is a wonderful story on so many levels.