Children’s Africana Book Awards
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The Children’s Africana Book Awards (CABA) are presented annually to the authors and illustrators of the best children’s and young adult books on Africa published or republished in the U.S. Africa Access and the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association (ASA) created CABA in 1991 to encourage the publication and use of accurate, balanced children’s materials about Africa.
The Center for African Studies at Howard University is the institutional base for the Awards.
Also check out The Children’s Africana Book Awards (CABA) Festival.
7 Books Honored in 2026
Barracoon Adapted for Young Readers: The Story of the Last Black Cargo
by Zora Neale Hurston and Adapted by Ibram X. Kendi, Illustrated by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson
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Nonfiction, Hardcover, 240 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780063098336
In the first middle grade offering from Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi, young readers are introduced to the remarkable and true-life story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last survivors of the Atlantic human trade, in an adaptation of the internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed Barracoon.
This is the life story of Cudjo Lewis, as told by himself.
Of the millions of men, women, and children transported from Africa to America to be enslaved, eighty-six-year-old Cudjo Lewis was then the only person alive to tell the story of his capture and bondagefifty years after the Atlantic human trade was outlawed in the United States. Cudjo shared his firsthand account with legendary folklorist, anthropologist, and writer Zora Neale Hurston.
Adapted with care and delivered with age-appropriate historical context by award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi, Cudjos incredible story is now available for young readers and emerging scholars. With powerful illustrations by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson, this poignant work is an invaluable contribution to our shared history and culture.
Umm Kulthum: The Star of the East
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Nonfiction, Hardcover, 48 pages
Publisher: Interlink Pub Group Inc
ISBN: 9781623716608
A picture book about the life and career of the unforgettable Arab icon Umm Kulthum, whose extraordinary voice captivated the Arab world for more than fifty years.
Admired by artists such as Maria Callas, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, and Bono, Umm Kulthum became one of the most influential singers in history and a lasting symbol of Arab culture and pride.
Born into a poor family in rural Egypt, she defied the expectations of her time by persuading her parents to let her attend school, where she learned to read and recite the Quran. Disguised as a boy, she traveled with her father, performing at religious gatherings until her remarkable voice could no longer be concealed, earning her early acclaim.
Determined to fulfill her ambitions, Umm Kulthum moved to Cairo, where she overcame skepticism to become one of the Arab worlds most celebrated performers. Collaborating with Egypts leading poets and composers, she perfected her artistry and mesmerized audiences with her powerful, emotionally rich performances. Her flawless command of the Arabic language and profound connection with listeners earned her legendary titles, including “The Lady,” “Egypts Fourth Pyramid,” “The Mother of the Arabs,” and “The Star of the East.”
Beautifully illustrated by Egyptian artist Ahmed Abdelmohsen, this inspiring picture book by award-winning author Rhonda Roumani introduces young readers to the life and enduring legacy of one of the Arab worlds greatest cultural icons.
Golden Threads
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Fiction, Paperback, 124 pages
Publisher: Ayin Press
ISBN: 9781961814219
A beautifully illustrated story celebrating traditional craftsmanship, community, and the power of working together.
In 1920, young Rachelle lives in Fs, Morocco, where Jewish and Muslim families share a vibrant neighborhood filled with friendship, creativity, and tradition. She spends her days playing with friends, admiring her grandmothers amulets, teasing a nosy photographer, and watching her parents weave delicate strands of gold in the familys jewelry workshop.
Life in the mellah is rich with culture and wonderuntil rumors spread of a strange machine arriving from across the sea. Feared by some as a monster, the machine threatens the livelihoods of the neighborhoods skilled artisans and the traditions they have preserved for generations.
Determined to protect their way of life, Rachelle joins her grandmother, her parents, and four friends in an effort to stop the machines arrival. Together, they discover the strength of community and the enduring value of preserving their heritage.
Prince Among Slaves: The Remarkable True Story of an African Prince Enslaved in Mississippi, and His Journey Home
by N. H. Senzai
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Nonfiction, Hardcover, 48 pages
Publisher: Penguin Random House
ISBN: 9781984816986
This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the extraordinary true story of Abdulrahman Ibrahim Ibn Sori, a Muslim West African prince whose lifelong journey from royalty to enslavementand ultimately to freedomstands as a remarkable testament to faith, resilience, and hope.
Born in 1762 in the prosperous kingdom of Futa Jallon, Abdulrahman was a gifted scholar, fluent in five languages, as well as a warrior, husband, father, and trusted leader in his fathers court. But his life changed forever when he was captured by a rival tribe, sold to English slave traders, and transported across the Atlantic to Natchez, Mississippi, where he was enslaved.
After an unsuccessful escape attempt, Abdulrahman drew strength from the stories of the prophets Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, whose examples of faith helped him endure unimaginable hardship. Over the years, he built a new life, married, and became a father once again. Then an extraordinary chance encounter set in motion the events that would eventually secure his freedom and allow him to return to Africa after forty years in bondage.
Meticulously researched, N. H. Senzai brings Abdulrahman Ibrahim Ibn Soris remarkable story to life with compassion and historical insight, while Anna Richs striking illustrations capture the courage, dignity, and perseverance that defined his journey.
Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim
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2026 Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book
Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, 2026
A wonderful story to show how it is possible to overcome our fears of doing something new by accepting help from others. School Library Journal, starred review
The love between Kwesi and his grandmother is both powerful and empowering Booklist, starred review
Kwesi loves spending time at the lake with his friends, but theres one problemhe cant swim. To his surprise, he learns that his beloved grandmother, Nana Ruby, cant swim either.
When Nana Ruby shares the story of growing up in Ghana, moving to the United States, and experiencing segregation that kept many Black families away from public pools and beaches, Kwesi begins to understand why so many people in his community fear the water.
Together, Kwesi and Nana Ruby make a promise to face their fears. Inspired by Mami Wata, the legendary water spirit of West African folklore, they encourage one another to learn to swim and discover the courage that comes from facing challenges together.
This touching intergenerational picture book explores family, resilience, and the lasting effects of segregation while celebrating the power of community and cultural heritage. End notes introduce readers to the Akan people, day names, Adinkra symbols, and the legend of Mami Wata.
Through Sand and Salt: A Tale of Discovery Across the Sahara
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Fiction, Hardcover, 48 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 9781547607051
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
From critically acclaimed artist Elizabeth Zunon comes a picture book about one boys journey to deliver salt across the deserta journey that reveals the true value of this precious mineral.
In the Sahara, salt is worth its weight in gold. When Malik is finally old enough to join his fathers caravan transporting salt along the ancient trade route to Timbuktu, he cant wait to prove himself worthy of the responsibility.
As the caravan crosses the vast and unforgiving desert, Malik discovers that salt does far more than preserve and flavor food. Essential to trade, ritual, civilization, and even the human body, salt sustains life itself. Along the way, Malik also gains something equally valuable: the confidence to grow from an eager novice into a future leader of the caravan.
This gorgeous, awe-inspiring picture book celebrates the remarkable journey of salt, the connections it forges, and its enduring power to nourish both people and communities.
After the Clotilda: Africatown’s Hidden History
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Nonfiction, Hardcover, 32 pages
Publisher: Capstone Press
ISBN: 9781669074779
In 2019, the remains of the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to bring captive Africans to the United States, were discovered in the Mobile River. The historic find helped illuminate the story of Africatown, a community founded by survivors who had been illegally transported to Mobile, Alabama, aboard the ship in 1860 and enslaved.
For more than 160 years, the people of Africatown have preserved their history, culture, and traditions while fighting to protect their community from decades of industrial encroachment and environmental racism.
This book introduces readers to the survivors of the Clotilda, the remarkable community they built, and the resilience they have shown in preserving their heritage and advocating for justice.
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