An easy-to-read edition of traditional African folktales including The Tortoise and the Leopard, A Rich Man and his Goat, The Magic Crocodile, and the Contest between Fire and Rain. Illustrated by Yuko Green. 60pp, USA. DOVER, 0486405532

Dramatic tales from ancient civilizations. With text boxes and genealogies of mythic characters. Illus, 32pp, UK. EVANS PUBLISHING GROUP.

A man with a tree growing out of his head? A woman with children made of wax? A bird that can be milked? More stories from his original celebration of African folktales, ‘The Girl Who Married A Lion’, evoke a land where the bizarre is everyday and magic is real. Illus, 164pp, UK. CANONGATE.

A collection of Zulu folktales rewritten for a modern audience. 64pp, SOUTH AFRICA. DAVID PHILIP/NEW AFRICA BOOKS, 0864861052

1994 1992 1980 Paperback

Collection of classic East African folk tales. Illustrated by Karen Perrins. An afterword deals with the possible origin of the folktales. 113pp, UK. RAGGED BEARS, 1857142535

2002 Hardback

A retelling of the Yoruba myth of the coming of night and it's creatures to our world. 26pp, UK. FRANCES LINCOLN, 071121378X

Children's reader. Another story adapted from the Setswana folktale tradition, about the giant people, the Dimos, who hunted all over Botswana, terrorising living creatures including human beings and eating children. In this story, a Dimo attempts to kidnap the granddaughter of an old woman, Mama Chewelo, but finds himself in a pickle. BNS, 24pp, BOTSWANA. PYRAMID PUBLISHERS

Children's reader. There is an oral story tradition in Botswana, which tells of giant people called the Dimos. The Dimos were all-powerful, had magical powers and were capable of super-human feats. Many people were afraid of them because some of the Dimos had a reputation for eating human beings, especially children. This story, which the author has adapted from Setswana oral sources, is about Iyapane, a young boy in training to become a bush doctor. BNS, 24pp, BOTSWANA. PYRAMID PUBLISHERS.

Children's picture book. Once upon a time, there lived a donkey who wished to be a lion. He wanted to roar like a lion, but could only bray, and the other animals were not impressed. He tried dressing in a lion's skin but still the other animals do not believe that he is a lion. Suitable for ages 4-7 years old. 16pp, KENYA. EAST AFRICAN EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS. 9966251693

2004 2003 Paperback

When a young beggar finds a shiny silver coin in the dirt, he buys a gazelle. To his surprise she speaks to him and makes all his dreams come true. But when the beggar, now a wealthy prince, becomes jealous of the gazelle and dishonours her, all his riches fade away. Adapted from the Swahili. Also includes the story of Puss in Boots. 48pp, UK. FRANKLIN WATTS

2004 0749654325 Hardback

Oral tales handed down the generations by the people living near Lake Victoria. 44pp. EAST AFRICAN EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHERS.

The third in the series of East African oral tales for children. 44pp. EAST AFRICAN EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHERS.

A illustrated story for children about a gecko in Botswana. Gertie Gecko is accident-prone. Her latest problem is that her pads have no grip. This turns her into a prospective tasty dinner for Wilbur and Sally, the resident dogs. Nobody seems willing or able to help. Will Gertie escape? BNS, 32pp, BOTSWANA. PYRAMID PUBLISHERS.

2004 9991255532 Paperback

Children's Edition. First published in 1989 as Children of Wax, this collection of folktales and animal fables from Zimbabwe and Botswana. Includes the stories 'Sister of Bones', 'Hare Fools the Baboons', 'The Wife Who Could Not Work' and 'Bad Uncles'. 174pp, UK. CANONGATE.

Inspired by Paulo Coehlo's popular allegorical tale The Alchemist, this is a delightful and imaginatively illustrated story of a little acacia tress that finds itself in a cold blustery garden in Switzerland. Unable to bear the icy cold weather, the tree begs help from the personified northern wind, which carries him on a long and eventful journey back to southern Africa. Crossing deserts, seas and equatorial climates, the tree finally reaches the savannah plains of his belonging. Col illus, 29pp, ZIMBABWE. WEAVER PRESS.

Children's fiction. A long time ago, many animals lived in a beautiful, green country, with trees, and plenty of food and water. But after many years, there was little food or water left. So a clever monkey, who was more powerful than the other animals, employs a porcupine to store and protect some food for him. The other animals, a hare and a mole, try to deceive the porcupine and steal the food. They try many tricks and eventually succeed. The monkey becomes very angry, and orders his workers to shoot at porcupine with bows and arrows. But instead of dying, the porcupine remains covered in spines, and is able to protect himself. BNS, 26pp, KENYA. EAST AFRICAN EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS. 9966251685

A story intending to educate children about Uganda's cultural heritage. A long time ago, goats had beautiful, long and fat tails. They were almost as long as the cows' tails. The goats were the best dancers in the animal kingdom. But the sheep were jealous of the goats' elegant tails and succeeded in trapping them. With their beautiful tails gone, the goats were never able to win another dancing competition, and the sheep became the best dancers. And so a dispute began between the sheep and the goats, which survives until today. BNS, 19pp, UGANDA. FOUNTAIN PUBLISHERS.

2004 9970024361 Paperback

There is magic afoot in these stories in the service of good against evil... A collection of folk stories from Malawi and the Great Lakes of Africa, with colour and b/w ill, a very beautiful book. [First published in 1909 as FOLKLORE OF THE BANYANJA, by Madeleine Holland] 88pp, MALAWI. CENTRAL AFRICANA LTD.

1997 9990814090 Hardback

Stories for young readers, following the antics of Njaga, the town monkey, and his son Koki. Pp.180, KENYA. PHOENIX PUBLISHERS LTD.

2005 9966471138 Paperback

This folklore story collection offers a feast of enjoyment. Ten enchanting tales, steeped in the imaginative richness of African storytelling: Where did the first stories in the world come from? How did little Tortoise win the respect of all the other animals? Who was Nanana Bo Sele Sele and what happened when she built her house in the middle of the animals' road? Why was young Crocodile so determined to get hold of Monkey's heart? 64pp, colour illus, SOUTH AFRICA. UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL PRESS.

The ancient and extraordinary baobab tree takes centre stage in this poetic and informative story of the wildlife of Africa. Old as a volcano, the distinctive `upside down' tree plays a vital role in the lives of numerous creatures. 26pp, UK. FRANCES LINCOLN, 0711214913

2000 Paperback

Ages 5-9

A collection of beautifully illustrated myths and legends from Ethiopia. 96pp, UK. OXFORD UNIV PRESS, 0192741896

2001 Paperback Ages 9 to 11 years

Recreates and globalizes an Igbo folktale about the animals' struggle for survival and triumph in a world where the weak and poor tortoises must strive to alter their powerless condition by confronting the oppressive forces of the rich and powerful elephants, who constantly push them to the edge of power and insecurity. 168pp, USA. AFRICANA LEGACY PRESS.