West African Picture Books

From cultural diversity to rich histories, these books showcase all things West Africa. You'll find stories from West African countries such as Nigeria, Benin, Cape Verde, Ghana, Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and more! If you would like to add a title for inclusion in this booklist, please complete this form.

Benin

Burkina Faso

• Drop by Drop by the USCCB Department of Justice (2015)

• The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story of One Ordinary Bicycle by Jude Isabella (2015)

• The Water Princess by Susan Verde (2016)

• All Aboard for the Bobo Road by Stephen Davies (2016)

Chad

• Rain School by James Rumsford (2010)

Cameroon

• I Am a Farmer by Baptiste Paul (2019)

• Snow Flower and the Panther by Fleurie LeClercq (2018)

• The Market Bowl by Jim Averbeck (2013)

• My Heart Will Not Sit Down by Mara Rockliff (2012)

• Sense Pass King by Katrin Hyman Tchana (2002)

• Vacation in the Village by Pierre Njeng (1999)

• Oh, No, Toto! by Katrin Hyman Tchana (1997)

Cape Verde

• Seaside Dream by Janet Bates (2016)

Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

 The Gambia

• The Mischievous Mosquitoes of Banjul by (Momodou Ndow and Saffie Jagne (2022)

• My Beautiful Gambian Life: A Story in Photography by Muhamadou Bittaye (2022)

• Unbreakable Thread by Emily Joof (2022)

• Our Favourite Things. The Story of Home in The Gambia and Sweden by Emily Joof (2020)

• Mangoes and Monkeybread: Fruity Fun with Ella & Louis by Emily Joof (2019)

• Princess Halima and the Kingdom of Affia by Fyen (2015)

• Fatou, Fetch the Water by Neil Griffiths (2105)

• One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul (2015)

Ghana

• Threads of Me: Kente for Show and Tell by Erica Asante (2022)

• Princess Nana Afia: The Majestic African Hair Show by Dora Owusu (2021)

• There's Rice At Home (Twi Edition) by Mayowa Agbabiaka (2020)

• Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Walker (2020)

• Afia the Ashanti Princess: A Visit to the Motherland by Crystal Boateng (2020)

• What's That? My Alphabets in Twi and English by Sandra Amoako (2020)

• What About Adjoa by Rachael Buabeng (2018)

• Gizo-Gizo!: A Tale from the Zongo Lagoon by Emily Williamson (2018)

• The Imported Ghanaian by Alba Kunadu Sumprim (2016)

• Girl to the World: Akua's Masterpiece by Oladoyin Oladapo (2016)

• Grandma Comes to Stay by Ifeoma Onyefulu (2015)

• Grace Goes to Ghana by M. Mimi Sutton (2015)

• Emmanuel’s Dream: The Ture Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thomspon (2015)

• F is for Fufu: An Alphabet Book Basked on the Ghanaian Goldilocks by Dr. Tamara Pizzoli (2014)

• The Ghanaian Goldilocks by Dr. Tarama Pizzoli (2014)

• What's That: My First Numbers in Twi and English by Sandra Amoako (2013)

• One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference by Katie Milway (2008)

• Pretty Salma: A Little Red Riding Hood Story from Africa by Niki Daly (2007)

• Kente Colors by Debbi Chocolate (1997)

• Sosu’s Call by Meshack Asare (1997)

• Kofi and His Magic by Maya Angelou (1996)

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Liberia

• Christmas in Sanoyea by Ophelia S. Lewis (2019)

• Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile by Won-Ldy Paye (2014)

• The Talking Vegetables by Won-Ldy Paye (2010)

• Why Leopard Has Spots: Dan Stories from Liberia by Won-Ldy Paye (1999)

• Mommi Watta: Spirit of the River by Virginia Castleman (1997)

• Two Ways to Count to Ten: A Liberian Folktale by Ruby Dee (1990)

Mali

• Beauty and the Beast by H. Chuku Lee (2014)

• Sidikiba's Kora Lesson by Ryan Skinner (2008)

• Yatandou by Gloria Whelan (2007)

• I Lost My Tooth in Africa by Baba Wagué Diakité (2006)

• The Magic Gourd by Baba Wagué Diakité (2003)

• The Hatseller And The Monkeys by Baba Wagué Diakité (1999)

• Sundiata: Lion King of Mali by David Wisniewski (1992)

Mauritania

• Deep in the Sahara by Kelly Cunnane (2018)

• Look a this: Food by Ifeoma Onyefulu (2013)

Niger

Nigeria

• Naming Ceremony by Seina Wedlick (2023)

• A is for Agbada: An African Alphabet Adventure by Udehedhe Olakpe (2022)

• Kaaro Tomi, Good Morning Tomi by Abimbola Anifowshe (2021)

• The Adventures of Olufunmilayo and Her Magic Lunchbox by Wendy Oshifodunrin (2021)

• C is for Chi!: An Alphabet Book about Nigeria by IJ Weir (2021)

• J is for Jollof: An African Alphabet by Dr. Gloria Fatusin

• Catch That Chicken! by Atinuke (2021)

• Too Small Tola by Atinuke (2021)

• Draw Me Close To You by Kossim Osseni (2020)

• The Mosquito Bite That Changed Olu's Life by Uchechi Mba-Uzoukwu (2020)

• There's Rice At Home by Mayowa Precious Agbabiaka (2020)

• The Coming of Night : A Yoruba Tale from West Africa by James Riordan (2000)

• Christmas in Lagos by Sharon Abimbola Salu (2019)

• Diary of A Toddler by Olubunmi Aboderin Talabi (2019)

• A Chicken Called Peri Peri by Sharon Abimbola Salu (2019)

• How the Leopard Got His Claws by Chinua Achebe (2019)

• Baby Goes to Market (Board Book) by Atinuke (2019)

• Chichi and Didi Love Their Names by Peace Amadi (2019)

• A Visit to Grandad: An African ABC by Sade Fadipe (2019)

• Chicken in the Kitchen by Nnedi Okorafor (2019)

• Anya Goes to Nigeria by FungChung Nikko (2018)

• The Colors of Me: Chi-Chi’s Hair by Dr. Stephanie Oguchi (2018)

• Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora (2018)

• Monday’s Ball by Segun Mosuro (2018)

• Goat Called Curry by Sharon Abimbola Salu (2018)

• ABChD Igbo (Board Book) by Chmmie Gbugu (2017)

• Femi the Fox: A Pot of Jollof by Jeanette Kwakye (2017)

• Yoruba101: Greetings: Ade visits his parents by Adebayo Ibidapo Adegbembo (2017)

• Amadi's Snowman: A Story of Reading by Katia Novet Saint-lot (2015)

• My Nigeria: People, Places and Culture by Constance Omawumi Kola-Lawal (2014)

• The Big Ceremony by Ozi Okaro (2014)

• Ife’s First Haircut by Ifeoma Onyefulu (2014)

• Shango’s Son by Dr. Winmilawe (2012)

• Ikenna Goes to Nigeria by Ifeoma Onyefulu (2007)

• Catch that Goat by Polly Alakija (2007)

• Welcome Dede! An African Naming Ceremony by Ifeoma Onyefulu (2004)

• Chidi Only Likes Blue by Ifeoma Onyefulu (1997)

• Why The Sky Is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale by Mary-Joan Gerson (1995)

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

• On the Way to School: Senegal by Anna Obiols (2018)

• Xavier the Prince: Step into Africa by Aminata Traore (2018)

• Fatou and the Kora: A Modern West African Fairy Tale by Dr. Tamara Pizzoli (2016)

• Sofie and the City by Karima Grant (2006)

• Bintou's Braids by Sylvianne Diouf (2004)

• Ebele's Favourite: A Book of African Games by Ifeoma Onyefulu (1999)

Sierra Leone

• The Taste of Home by Aminata Jalloh (2023)

• 20 Women Icons of Sierra Leone Who Shaped History by Akindele T.M. Decker (2021)

• Adama Loves Akara by Vickie Remoe (2021)

• A Print for Ami by Vickie Remoe (2021)

• 20 Icons of Sierra Leone Who Shaped History by Akindele T.M. Decker (2020)

• The Biggest Little Brother by Aminata Jalloh (2017)

• Mabela the Clever by Margaret Read MacDonald (2001)

• Tamba and the Chief: A Temne Legend by Lilly (1998)

Togo