Anna Hibiscus

by Atinuke

Paperback, 2007

Status

Available

Call number

823.92

Publication

Walker Childrens Paperbacks (2007), 96 pages

Description

Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Nigerian-born author Atinuke's acclaimed Anna Hibiscus tales have won starred reviews from Booklistand Kirkus Reviews. This first tale in the series introduces young listeners to Anna, who lives with her parents, twin brothers, and large extended family in Africa. Anna is overjoyed when she learns she gets to go on a beach vacation with her parents. But once away from her aunties and cousins, Anna begins to think that vacations aren' t so great after all- especially when you can' t experience them with everyone you love.

User reviews

LibraryThing member edspicer

Atinuke. (2010). Anna Hibiscus. Illustrated by Lauren Tobia. Tulsa, OK: Kane Miller. 112 pp. ISBN 978-1-935279-73-0. (Hardcover) $12.99.

Anna Hibiscus has a big warm family helping her navigate through personal preferences, cultural identity, and class differences. I have NEVER read a book as good

as this one for young students that so GETS how to show privilege in society in a way that respects both rich and poor. I also appreciate Atinuke’s ability to convey cultural concerns: the first story clearly shows both the differences and the similarities between American children and children not from America. Anna Hibiscus’s big, extended family often creates the need for time alone—but the family is so much a part of everyday life, that goal is often difficult, if not impossible to achieve. The cultural fears Anna Hibiscus has for her beloved Auntie Comfort deals with the ways in which we understand both our own cultures and the cultures of others. The writing style evokes the oral tradition of Africa without limiting its effectiveness in this country. The structure of the stories is excellent with clear beginnings, middles, and surprising endings. These stories are unique! The fact that these stories have no specific place in Africa is a MERE DETAIL. Imagine Anna Hibiscus from the Netherlands or Spain or China and the writing is still excellent writing, the issues are still handled brilliantly, and the venturesome creativity is still outstanding. The fact that Tobia’s illustrations are charming is so much gravy! Of all the books that did NOT make our Notable Children's Books list, this one is perhaps the most disappointing. It really did seem as if the only real objection to this book is that it made the mistake of using the word Africa. Folks complained that it did not provide a specific location. The book, however, is NOT a geography book. Amazing Africa is a poetic refrain. Even if we grant that the book would have been better with a specific, Nigerian, location, the fact remains that there is so MUCH else in this book that it should have made our list. Darn! [Please note that I am very happy with our list and with my committee and with the process, but we all have our regrets and this one is mine]. Readers also have three additional titles from Atinuke: Hooray for Anna Hibiscus, Good Luck Anna Hibiscus, and Have Fun Anna Hibiscus. I look forward to reading more from Atinuke and I HIGHLY recommend that you pick up these gems, which are available in both paperback and library binding (the ISBN above is for the library binding).

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LibraryThing member Leov

Lovely little book about the appealing Anna Hibiscus who lives with her Canadian Mum, and her African Dad, Siblings, Cousins Aunties, Uncles, Grandparents, all together in a big house. Four little stories tell about the differences between Anna's family and her Mum's family, her family and the poor

families that live all around her, the neat things about a large family and what happens when people move away from the homes they are used to

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LibraryThing member prkcs

Anna Hibiscus is a little girl who lives with her extended family in a big beautiful compound on the outskirts of a bustling African city. Each chapter tells a new story about Anna and her family. The chapters flow into the next, but each stands alone as well. This is the first book in a series of

early chapter books, decorated with sweet illustrations.

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LibraryThing member Sullywriter

Anna Hibiscus lives in "Amazing Africa" but geography gets no more specific than that. Since the author is Nigerian-born, it's probably safe to assume that's what the author has in mind. The first book in a series originally published in England, this is a warm, appealing family story with a

charming protagonist.

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LibraryThing member dms02

This was everything I had hoped it would be based on other reviewers. A really great early chapter books for read aloud. There are no calamities - no forced moral lessons - no special powers. Just a sweet girl who lives in Africa with her family. This book contains small glimpses into her life in

the form of short story chapters that all flow together. We will definitely be reading more of this series.

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LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26

"Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa." And so begins this engaging collection of short stories about a young girl, the daughter of an African father and Canadian mother, who lives with her father's extended family in a large white house within a beautiful garden compound. In Anna Hibiscus

on Holiday, Anna, her mother and father, and her twin brothers Double and Trouble, attempt to take a holiday away from all of the uncles, aunties and cousins who make their compound so noisy, only to discover that many hands make light work. Auntie Comfort sees the family's prodigal daughter, who lives in far off America, coming home for a visit. With a few hints from Anna Hibiscus, Auntie Comfort manages to reassure the family that she has not forgotten her roots. In Anna Hibiscus Sells Oranges, our young heroine imagines that the life of an orange vendor is colorful and exciting, and decides to join their ranks and sell the oranges from her family's orange trees. Her uncles and grandfather show her that her actions have hurt the girls who usually sell fruit outside their compound gate - girls whose impoverished families rely on their earnings - and Anna Hibiscus works hard to make it up to them the next day. Finally, in Sweet Snow, Anna talks, sings and dreams of the cold white stuff. When her Granny Canada writes with an invitation to visit in the summer, she asks instead to be allowed to come when it is winter.

I greatly enjoyed reading Anna Habiscus, the first in a series of chapter-books devoted to the adventures of its eponymous heroine. The author Atinuke, although she currently lives in Wales, was born and raised in Nigeria, and it's clear that her girlhood was a major inspiration in the creation of the characters of Anna and her lovable family. I liked the family dynamics here - the respect shown to Grandmother and Grandfather, the mutual help all of the aunts and uncles give one another, the role played by older children in helping to care for the younger ones - and the mixture of the traditional and modern in Anna and her family's life. I especially liked the third story, Anna Hibiscus Sells Oranges, as it highlights the vast disparities in wealth to be found in Africa (and elsewhere, of course), and the importance of thinking of the impact of our decisions upon others. Anna, who had only been thinking of selling oranges as a fun activity, and who had never considered the advantages she would have as a child of a wealthier family - her oranges were more colorful and juicy, and she, dressed in a clean and fresh dress, made a more appealing vendor than the poorer girls - learns just how hard life is in the city for those less fortunate than herself when she must work for the orange girls for a day. Recommended to anyone looking for engaging chapter-books for young people just getting going with (slightly) longer fiction, as well as to anyone interested in quality children's books featuring modern-day Africa.

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LibraryThing member jennybeast

I have been meaning to read this for a long time, but hesitated because it seemed like it would be very young -- nope, just fantastic storytelling. Atinuke is a joy to read -- the cadence of her language, the sweet but interesting and funny stories, the incredibly vivid setting. Love the

illustrations as well -- they complement the story perfectly.

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LibraryThing member MrsBond

Less a chapter book, more a collection of short stories about Anna Hibiscus and her family. Childlike but not childish, the stories share Anna's observations of her family and life in Africa. Readers will appreciate the similarities between American and the African culture described, as well as

come to new understandings about the differences. A single chapter could be read as a stand-alone story time, opener to cultural discussion or research.

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LibraryThing member LynnMK

This is the first in a charming and beautiful series for young readers. My only reservation is that it is set in "Africa," rather than naming an individual country.

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