Getting children excited about reading can start with something as simple as a good bedtime story. And what better way to make reading feel familiar than with stories that reflect the food, places, traditions, families, and imaginations of Africa?

These seven children’s books offer plenty to explore. In Emeka, Eat Egusi!, a young Nigerian boy discovers that trying something new can be an adventure of its own. Chasing Dragonflies follows Shingai as he imagines grand adventures with his baby sister, only to discover that she might be the hero after all. In Little Rivers and Special Boats, six-year-old Bamitale learns about her illness and finds a way to make sense of an experience she doesn’t quite understand.Then there’s Anansi and the Talking Cloth, a rhythmic Ghanaian folktale about Anansi, kente weaving, and the importance of valuing the people who keep creative traditions alive.

These books offer stories of family and everyday childhood. They also serve as reminders that African children deserve to see themselves, their worlds, and their imaginations reflected on the page. So, whether you’re looking for a new bedtime ritual or trying to get a reluctant reader interested in books, this list is a good place to start.