Children’s Africana Book Awards
← Back to Main Awards Page
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.
3 Books Honored in 2024
All That It Ever Meant
Family, grief, ghosts, and a mystery: this clever and compelling young adult novel heralds a masterful new voice from Zimbabwe.
Mati’s family is reeling from the death of Mati’s mother. Her Baba has drawn into himself, her sister Chichi is rebelling, and her young brother Tana is desperate for love and normalcy. When Chichi pulls her worst stunt yet, Baba uproots the family from their home in England for an extended camping holiday in their native Zimbabwe.
Along for the trip is Meticais, a fabulously attired gender-neutral spirit—or ghost? or imaginary friend?—who only Mati can see and converse with. Guided by Meticais’s enigmatic advice and wisdom, Mati must come to terms with her grief and with the difficulty of living between two cultures, while the family must learn to forge their way in a world without their monumental mother.
Full of captivating characters and stunning plot twists, All That It Ever Meant delivers a nuanced and unforgettable story of grief, love, and family.
Flipflopi: How a Boat Made from Flip-Flops Is Helping to Save the Ocean
by Linda Ravin Lodding and Dipesh Pabari, Illustrated by Michael Machira Mwangi
Read Our Review of Flipflopi: How a Boat Made from Flip-Flops Is Helping to Save the Ocean
Juma is excited to go fishing with his grandfather, Babu Ali. But when they get to the beach, they find the sand covered in plastic pollutionflip-flops, plastic straws, toothbrushes, bottles, and shopping bags. One of the flip-flops floating in on a wave looks like a boat. That gives Juma and Babu Ali an idea.
Based on the true story of the Kenyan dhow boat Flipflopi, this inspirational tale demonstrates how innovation, art, and determination can transform plastic pollution into something useful. In 2017, 30,000 flip-flops and other plastic waste items, all collected from the Kenyan coast, were melted, shaped, and carved into the dhow named Flipflopi. Weighing in at 7 tons, this boat is a testament to what can happen when awareness is turned into action.
Sankofa: A Culinary Story of Resilience and Belonging
by Eric Adjepong, Illustrated by Lala Watkins
Inspired by acclaimed chef Eric Adjepongs own childhood, Sankofa is the powerful story of a young boys culinary journey 400 years into the past to reconnect with his African roots and find his own place in America."Adjepong has crafted a delectable story that blends food history and Ghanaian culture. A celebration of food and culture that reminds youngsters to look back as they move forward." Kirkus ReviewsWhat if home was a place youve never been? For Kofi, a first-generation Ghanaian American boy, home is a country called Ghana. But its a place hes never been. When tasked to bring a dish that best represents his familys culture to school for a potluck lunch, Kofi is torn. With the help of his Nanabarima (grandfather), Kofi learns the hardship and resilience his family has enduredand how food has always been an integral part their story and culture. Sankofa is a reminder that food can transport you to a place called homeeven if youve never been.
