(2) K-3 Ursula is a happy pink catfish who enjoys her life eating bugs, only to be asked one day why she swims upside down. What a strange question! Ursula had thought all fish swam like this, with their bellies turned up to the surface of the water. This query causes her to doubt her viewpoint, and if she might be in the wrong: "Was left right?! Was right wrong?! Which way was even up??" These wonderings rock Ursula's world, quite literally: "Her whole world flipped." And with that (the now much-anticipated "Tabor turn" established in Mel Fell, rev. 3/21, and Simon and the Better Bone, rev. 7/23), readers are instructed to flip the book upside down and turn the pages right to left. Ursula now sees the world as others do and realizes that she is, indeed, upside down. When she encounters a bat, she is shown another point of view, in which upside down is perfectly usual. Ultimately, Ursula decides that she gets to determine what's normal. Tabor's mixed-media illustrations bring levity to the book's more serious message, and the book-flipping and page-turns give readers a tactile, sensory experience of changing perspective. Per a brief author's note, the protagonist is based on an actual species of catfish that swims upside down in the Congo River. Julie

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) K-3 This accessible series (If Sharks Disappeared; If Polar Bears Disappeared) examines the projected impacts of removing a single prominent, vulnerable species from an ecosystem. Williams explains that the African forest elephant is a keystone species in the Congo Basin, as the distances they travel--and their poop--help spread plant seeds throughout the forests. The richly colored, cartoony illustrations on each double-page spread creatively alternate perspectives. Appended notes provide more details on threats to all elephant species, as well as steps readers can take to help. Websites. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(2) YA After her mother was murdered by mining tycoon Roland Greyhill, Tina joined a dangerous gang. But now Tina agrees to work with Mr. Greyhill's son Michael to find her mother's true killer, which leads them from Sangui City, Kenya, back to the Congo, where Tina was born. Anderson's dark thriller will appeal to readers who prefer their mysteries political and their stakes high. Glos.

Reviewer: Sarah Hannah Gomez | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2017

(4) YA Escape: Survive series. Teens face natural disasters and evildoers in standalone survival stories. Gloria braves the harsh Arizona desert after an airplane crash (Crash); two frenemies lost at sea overcome the elements and modern-day pirates (Skies); an American church youth group escapes a volcanic eruption and flees Congolese rebels (Wind). The hi-lo narratives are accessible, but the melodramas become tiresome. There are three other fall 2017 books in this series. Review covers these titles: The Evil Wind, Crash, and Red Skies.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Susan Meyer. "Spirit Child" for rebel fighters in the Congo, scarred Imara knows not to show weakness. When the rebels capture a baby gorilla for the exotic pet trade, it falls to Imara and fellow child Bobo--captured while searching for his missing park-ranger father--to keep it alive. An overwrought ending slightly mars this gripping look at the environmental and human costs of war.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(2) YA With Abigail Pesta. At ten, after seeing her sister gunned down, Congolese refugee Uwiringiyimana's family began the long process of applying for asylum in the U.S. From there, Sandra recounts her American adolescence, trying to make sense of how she fits in as an African but not an African American. The politically and culturally complex picture of Africa that the author paints is welcome.

Reviewer: Sarah Hannah Gomez | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(2) YA Vic, a Moebius syndrome–sufferer grieving his deceased father, and orphan Mad, whose abusive uncle was murdered, are being interrogated by the police. Earlier, Mad's crew--Congolese-refugee brothers Baz and Zuz and sassy eleven-year-old Coco--helped Vic scatter Dad's ashes. Arnold's prose is sharp and observant, his pacing restrained, revealing characters' backstories gradually while setting up a murder investigation that keeps readers guessing.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Claudia Dávila. This sophisticated graphic memoir is an important and accessible testimony by Chikwanine, who at age five was kidnapped by rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo and forced to be a child solider. The panels ably contrast Michel's happy early years, his horrific captivity, his escape, and the future time when his family members become political refugees. Excellent back matter includes action ideas. Websites.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) YA When Sophie, fourteen, arrives for her yearly visit to her Congolese mother's animal sanctuary, she becomes attached to a baby bonobo. So when the political situation destabilizes dangerously and she's scheduled to be airlifted back to Miami, she can't bear to leave him behind. Schrefer packs a wealth of incident into a compelling survival story set in contemporary conflict-ridden Congo.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2013

(4) K-3 Photographs by Peter Greste. The authors of Owen & Mzee and Knut tell another compelling, true wildlife story. Miza, a baby mountain gorilla in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and her mother, go missing. The rangers and Miza's father, a silverback, search for them. Miza eventually returns, although her mother does not. The text is frequently awkward, but impressive nature photographs make this story memorable.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 Ancient Fantasy series. Flyswatter is based on oral storytelling from the Nyanga people of eastern Congo; an earlier version was published in Cricket magazine. King (revised edition) is adapted from a sixteenth-century Chinese book, itself based on legend. The fairly short retellings would best be read aloud; dense, text-filled pages with no illustrations are a disappointment. Authors' notes include some background information. Review covers these Ancient Fantasy titles: The Monkey King and The Magic Flyswatter.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) YA Modern World Nations series. Geography, economy, and the political situation are emphasized in this volume dealing with the third-largest country in Africa, formerly known as Zaire. Trying to enliven the text intended for report writers, the authors overuse exclamation points and rhetorical questions (e.g., "...the nation appears to be an unpleasant place, right?"). Occasional photos help break up the dense layout. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 After their parents' disappearance, twins Marty and Grace are claimed by a previously unknown uncle, join in his search for cryptids (legendary creatures like Bigfoot and Nessie; here a dinosaur hidden in the Congo), and run afoul of the despicable collector Blackwood. Stylistically clumsy, this high-interest story exploits adventure conventions (exotic locations, fancy gizmos) to good effect.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Welcome to My Country series. Each of these two cursory series overviews provides brief information about many aspects of an African country. Topography, history, government, religion, sports, and food are some of the topics covered. While not in-depth, these books will prove useful to report writers. A map, clear photos, and lists of websites are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Welcome to My Country titles: Welcome to Nigeria and Welcome to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Countries of the World series. These tour book-like country overviews start with a summary of the country's geography, history, and a bit of culture. The remainder goes into greater detail about topics such as famous people, endangered animals, ethnic groups, relations with North America, and maps. Numerous captions and sidebars sometimes confuse the flow of the text. Varied and informative color photos illustrate the texts. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Artisans Around the World series. Each volume highlights four areas or countries, presenting basic geographic and historic facts, statistics, time lines, small photos, and a craft project intended to convey an "understanding [of] geography and history through art." While the directions are specific, the projects are extremely complex (e.g., creating felt from raw wool), making these books best suited to classroom use. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Cultures of the World series. These accessible volumes provide comprehensive profiles of four African countries. Each book features a readable text along with plenty of clear color photos and focuses on the individual country's geography, history, people, economy, and culture. Maps, a culturally representative recipe, and a page of basic facts round out these useful titles. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram