(2) 4-6 Intasimi Warriors series. Mwikali is nervous about her first day of school in Nairobi--at her old school in Chicago, her friend's appendix burst after she drew a picture of it, and she was labeled a freak. But in Kenya things get even weirder when she draws her teacher as a monster, and the monster teacher then attacks her. She's rescued by a group of students, the Intasimi Warriors, descendants of Kenyan mythical figures with their own powers, who assure her that she doesn't cause events, only foresees them, and that she has the ability to detect monsters as they really are. Mwikali joins the students in a quest to stop an immortal village elder from freeing more monsters from the underworld in order to rule the world. In this mythology-minded adventure tale, Nguru provides readers with a solid introduction to Kenyan lore (including the friends' culturally specific powers, monsters called shiqq, and progenitors such as the real-life nineteenth-century Kamba medicine woman Syokimau) and culture (such as fried mandazi, the standing stones Kit Miyaki, and the game of Bao). The emotional structure of the story--Mwikali's fear of being bullied again, her resistance to relying on her friends even though her ancestor instructs her to, her eventual coming into her powers and her friendships--will resonate with many readers.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(2) 4-6 Growing up in 1970s Nairobi--and Railway Estate in particular--offers plenty for four young boys to do. Ten-year-old Lumush, whose railway-worker father has just gotten a promotion, is being sent to "snobby" Hill School, without Odush, Dado, and Mose. But the boys manage to stay best friends, hanging out by the old wrecked Zephyr car sitting up on stones behind the Estate, playing a game of chance called pata potea, wandering the neighborhood, climbing trees, stealing fruit, and watching the sprayers manage the mosquito population. They are especially drawn to the mystery of the "ghost house," where a white woman and her daughter died years before. Lumush ignores his mama's oft-repeated warning about sticking his nose in other people's business, and, indeed, spying on that "evil house" almost costs him his life. Ochieng's debut novel for young readers offers a richly realized setting, four well-drawn protagonists, and a neighborhood mystery that's also tied to the politics and economics of the time and place. Four ordinary boys, a creepy puzzle to solve, and a fumbling route to heroism add up to a rewarding read.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) K-3 When a newborn black rhinoceros is abandoned in a Kenyan rhino sanctuary in 1985, conservationist Anna Merz steps in to rescue and raise the baby she names Samia. Meisel's heartening account of their relationship--"best friends forever"--is based on a chapter from Merz's adult book Rhino: At the Brink of Extinction. The narrative focuses on Samia's early years, as Anna balances her affection for the rhino with her knowledge that Samia will eventually need to survive in the wild on her own. (A recurring refrain is a version of: "One day, thought Anna, you'll be able to live on your own. But not now.") Anna provides Samia with food, shelter, and companionship but also trains her to track other animals and find her own food outside the compound, and checks that she is able to communicate with other rhinos. Antics ensue, as the increasingly hefty (and very smart) Samia tries to join Anna in her car and home (and bathtub), once even getting stuck in a dining-room doorway. Their bond lasts beyond Samia's return to the wild. Meisel's art clearly transmits human and rhino personalities, and beautifully portrays the vast Kenyan environments with depth and layering of rocks, plants, and animals in the complex landscapes. Two pages of endnotes summarize Merz's adventurous life and provide facts about black rhinos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(2) 4-6 Photographs by Roger Wood & Logan Wood. Montgomery and readers join a group led by an eminent scientist to follow wildebeest migrations through Tanzania and Kenya. Montgomery's detailed narrative provides explanations of the science of migration and the complex relationships among life and land in the Serengeti ecosystem. The photos skillfully capture sweeping landscapes, the region's diverse species, and the people who live nearby and who study the animals. Back matter includes advice for how to support conservation efforts. Maps. Bib., ind.

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

(2) PS Illustrated by Vashti Harrison. In a story partially based on the author's childhood in Kenya, "Sulwe was born the color of midnight." So begins a journey to self-love for a little girl whose name means "star" and who, because of her dark skin, does not feel beautiful. At school she is treated differently from her lighter-complexioned sister, who is given nicknames such as "Sunshine," "Ray," and "Beauty," while Sulwe is hurtfully called "Blackie," "Darky," and "Night." Desperately attempting to make herself lighter, the despondent girl tries to remove "a layer or two of her darkness" with an eraser, eats only light-colored foods, and offers fervent prayers to God, but nothing works. Then one night a visit from a shooting star changes everything. Swooped up into the cosmos, Sulwe learns about two sisters, Night and Day, from "the beginning of Time." Through the allegorical tale the star tells her (unfolding over much of the book), Sulwe comes to understand that her ebony skin is beautiful and that darkness and light are equally necessary to the universe. Glowing illustrations capture the beauty of both light and dark; Nyong'o's text is clear and engaging. An author's note expresses the hope that "more and more children begin their lives knowing that they are beautiful."

Reviewer: Monique Harris | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Nic Bishop. Montgomery and Bishop accompany zoologist Kay Holekamp and her team studying the behaviors of large clans of spotted hyenas in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Montgomery tells much of the story moment by moment, providing a deeply detailed account of life in the field. Bishop's outstanding photographs do much to elevate the reputation of hyenas, often portrayed as "conniving, cowardly" scavengers. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(4) 4-6 STEM Trailblazer Bios series. Each volume details the life of a significant person in a STEM-related field. Emphasis is placed on the individual's childhood, education, and development of a specific interest, as well as notable contributions. The prose is stilted but informative, and many photographs are included alongside sidebars of related information and "Tech Talk" quotes by the featured trailblazer. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these STEM Trailblazer Bios titles: Google Cybersecurity Expert Parisa Tabriz, Astronaut and Physicist Sally Ride, Code-Breaker and Mathematician Alan Turing, NASA Astronomer Nancy Grace Roman, Science Educator and Advocate Bill Nye, and Environmental Activist Wangari Maathai.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(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

(3) K-3 Wildlife photographer Eszterhas recounts her experience in Kenya fostering an orphaned serval kitten (spotted wildcat) named Moto. Striking photographs and useful captions enhance the chronicle of Eszterhas's journey from her first days learning to care for Moto to his bittersweet return to the wild. Brief sections and a table of contents make up for the lack of an index. Important facts about servals appended.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 Anna Merz, a conservationist working to save wildlife in Kenya, raised abandoned baby rhino Samia at her home. Samia behaved rather pet-like, but Anna also taught her skills for living in the wild when fully grown. Earth-toned pencil and Photoshop illustrations accentuate Samia's affection for Anna and effectively depict the setting of this warm story. An author's note explains more about the unlikely pair. Bib.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) 4-6 In this beautifully written, stunningly realistic novel, thirteen-year-old runner Auma dreams of becoming a doctor. But when her father comes home sick, she worries that he might have the mysterious and deadly new disease called AIDS that has been ravaging their small Kenyan village. As her family situation deteriorates rapidly, smart, strong Auma struggles to maintain her dream and keep her siblings from starving.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Photographs by Gerry Ellis. Natumi, a baby African elephant, is brought to a wildlife orphanage with seven other parentless pachyderms and eventually grows into a confident leader for her new family. This story of successful wildlife reintroduction is enhanced by Ellis's dynamic (but unlabeled) photographs of the elephants. Back matter includes additional information about elephants and conservation efforts and a detailed habitat map. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ken Daley. In his Kenyan refugee camp, Joseph lusts after older boy Daau's bicycle, which Joseph helps fix up. After moving to America, Joseph zeroes in on a bicycle outside his building; Joseph's fix-it skills facilitate a friendship and his coveted ride. Farish's child-focused text poignantly highlights the young immigrant's experience in an unfamiliar setting. Daley's bright, chunky paintings capture the story's movement and emotion.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Holly Berry. For forty years, Cynthia Moss has studied the elephants in Amboseli National Park, Kenya, and has fought against ivory poaching through lectures and fundraising. The seriousness of the realities of poaching and Moss's work and activism is undermined by the book's jarring refrain ("Cynthia Moss was not afraid of BIG things"). Colorful mixed-media illustrations are naive and charming. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) K-3 One World, Many Countries series. These serviceable overviews for report writers are liberally illustrated with sharp photos. An introductory chapter highlights apartheid (South Africa), a spring festival (Egypt), or the Mombasa Carnival and safaris (Kenya). Four chapters then focus on land, government and cities, people and cultures, and daily life. A "Global Connections" page is usually devoted to a social issue. Fast facts are appended. Maps, reading list. Glos., ind. This review covers these One World, Many Countries titles: South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Aurélia Fronty. Whimsical and enchanting paintings adorn the story of the Kenyan environmentalist's life. Double-page spreads contain elements of surrealism and use shades of green to express lush landscapes and other scenes. The story also discusses the civic turmoil she navigated: "[Wangari] wants to make democracy grow--like trees." Extensive back matter includes photos and quotations from primary sources. Timeline, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. Mutanu wakes up excited because "today is the day" at her Kenyan orphanage: a birthday party for all of the orphans, both those whose birthdays are known and those, like Mutanu, whose date is not. Presents and cake are great, but best of all is having her existence validated. Acrylic illustrations add joy and context. A note on The Creation of Hope orphanage is appended.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(2) YA After her southern Sudan village is bombed, Poni arrives at a Kenyan refugee camp, where conditions are brutal. Poni wants to finish her education, and she has a chance to do so when she escapes the refugee camp. Poni is a fully realized and sympathetic character. This fast-paced novel covers a lot of ground and incorporates a good deal of historical background.

Reviewer: Kathleen T. Horning | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2014

(3) 4-6 Berenson Schemes series. Illustrated by Ivica Stevanovic. Jack's scatterbrained parents convince him to go to Kenya for their latest moneymaking scheme: a camp in Kenya "where tourists can live like a real Maasao tribe!" (Wild). Next, they drag him to Nepal to start their own religion (Helm). Per usual, Jack survives various dangers, no thanks to his dizzy parents. Caricaturish illustrations add to the humor of these second and third series books. Review covers these Berenson Schemes titles: Jack and the Wild Life and Jack at the Helm.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) K-3 Animal Journal series. These books, framed as a traveling youngster's journals, convey information about the title animals accurately, accessibly, and freshly through clear text in handwriting-style font, photos, and skilled drawings. Native safari guides in Rwanda (Gorilla) and Kenya (Lion) locate the animals and explain their behavior. While understanding the importance of tourism to the economies, both books conclude with a plea for conservation. Glos., ind. Review includes these Animal Journal titles: Gorilla Journal and Lion Journal

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian