Synopsis: Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa. She lives with her whole family in a wonderful house. There is always someone to laugh or play with. She loves to splash in the sea with her cousins and have parties for her aunties. But more than anything else in the world, Anna would love to see snow.

Review: Anna Hibiscus is storyteller Atinuke’s first book for children . It seems ideally suited for independent readers in Year 2 or 3: divided into four manageable, self-contained stories, with familiar language, a family setting and a heroine whose desires and frustrations are easy to identify with.

Though uncomplicated, the narrative is rich and engaging, and new illustrator Lauren Tobia’s pictures add much depth and incidental detail. The book’s real value, however, lies in its portrayal of Africa (in particular, the Nigeria of the writer’s childhood), and its potential to challenge prejudices and broaden horizons. Many children (and adults) have a one-dimensional view of Africa, gained from watching TV news reports about poverty, famine, disease and war. Anna Hibiscus offers an alternative perspective. Portraying a wealthy family living in a big city, traditional aspects of Nigerian culture (such as dress and food) intermingle with modern technology and transport. The terrible gap between rich and poor is touched upon, in Anna’s encounters with the beggar-boy or the girls selling oranges, but the overall tone is warm and humorous, a celebration of all that is best about African life.

 Anna’s world is one of love, vibrant life and responsibility, where respect for the wisdom of the older generations and care for those in need are highly prized. Particularly interesting was the message about family life in the opening story, where the reader is shown the value, as well as the challenges, of a large, inter-dependent, extended family. As the aunties remind us: “It is not good to be alone … We have to help each other.” (p. 25)

Teachers will find much to discuss with their classes as they follow Anna in the ups and downs of family life, growing up and learning from our mistakes.

2007-09-16