Amazing Africa Projects You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series)
Separating the vast continent into its many distinct and diverse countries, this comprehensive reference introduces the ancient civilizations and tribes, unique traditions, and amazing wildlife of Africa. With 25 fun projects that kids can complete using easily accessible supplies and even recycled materials, this study clearly demonstrates what life is like in each unique setting. Step-by-step instructions show how to make shields for an initiation ceremony, cook banana fritters and benne cakes, and design animal masks to celebrate the seasons. Summarizing one of the world’s largest and most populous landscapes, this overview also touches on the obstacles overcome by the African people and how the global community can help them face future challenges.
Jordan and I got this book to review and we have had so much fun looking through it! Jordan is determined that the first project that we are going to complete together is African FuFu. FuFu by the way is
a thick porridge or paste made with yams, cassava, or grains
Pato didn’t buy us yams when he went to the store so that is on my grocery list. I personally am up for the Banana Fritters because, well, I love bananas.
I am huge on my children learning about other cultures. I think it’s so important for them. We live in such a diverse and beautiful world and you are less likely to believe in stereotypes or participate in racism (which, in my opinion, racism stems from being afraid of someone who is different from you – and isn’t being different what makes us each beautiful?) if you learn about other people, other cultures, learn about their customs, why they do this, why they do that. I’ve told my kids before that there are plenty of things that we do that seem weird to other people, but when they learn why, they understand us. (Keep in simple for the kids.)
This book is so great. It goes into facts about Africa. It tells about the different cultures in Africa. Africa is huge. There are so many different customs, languages (did you know there are an estimated 2,000 different langages spoken on that continent alone?) That’s a lot of diversity. This book takes some of that and teaches it to kids, giving them simple instructions on projects that can help them understand how other people (in the case of kids in the US – other people on the other side of the world) live. It goes into their storytelling, their wildlife, challenges their civilizations have had to overcome, it’s just an amazing book.
So amazing that when Jordan’s teacher saw it, she asked to borrow it for the weekend to read. I actually had to tell Jordan to get it back from her because I needed to do the review. 
It’s fascinating! I promised her she could borrow it again as soon as I had this typed up for you all to see.
There are so many projects in here: make your own golden amulet, the recipes I mentioned above, make a soccer ball, a Fon story banner, a ceremonial mask, an African rain stick and so much more.
The projects I think are going to be fun for us to do on weekends and during summer vacation when the kids are saying, Mooooom, I’m booooored. I’ll get the book out, read them some facts, and get down to making one of these cool items.
Jordan has carried this book around quite a bit, mom, did you know that black rhinos have been known to attack rocks and trees because they can’t see well? or mom, did you know that many Africans think nothing of a 6 hour walk to visit family? Yeah, that is not happening here. If I can’t drive to see my mom, I’m not going. (Sorry mom! ) I love books like this. Ones that my kids will pick up over and over again.
I have to mention the illustrations here as well, they are gorgeous! Megan Stearns is fantastically talented. They are black and white sketches, but they are so realistic. It looks like the people were posing for her as she drew them. Just beautiful artwork to accompany this great book!
I want to get more of these books for the kids now. If you look through the books over at Nomad Press they have so many different books like this. I’m really really interested in getting them:
Great Civil War Projects You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series)
Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself! (Build It Yourself series)
Great World War II Projects You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series)
Great Pioneer Projects You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series)
Those I think are my top ones because not only is important to learn about others, it’s important to learn where we came from and how we got to where we are today.
Who am I kidding, I want all the books. I’m hooked after just this one.
Amazing Africa Projects You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series)
for being a fun amazing book filled with so many things to do, so many facts to learn, but presented in a way that Jordan can understand easily. He could even read this (and has read part of it) to Katiana. It’s been wonderful!
Thank you so much to Nomad Press for sending us a copy of Amazing Africa Projects You Can Build Yourself (Build It Yourself series) to review! Also, thank you to the Product Review Place for connecting us together.
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