East African Picture Books

Home to the gorgeous mountains of Kilimanjaro, the glorious Lake Victoria to the historic castles in Gondar. This list features books from the East African countries of Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Uganda, Tanzania and more! If you would like to add a title for inclusion in this booklist, please complete this form here.

Burundi

Comoros

 Djibouti

 Eritrea

• Hamid's Story: A Real-Life Account of His Journey from Eritrea (Seeking Refuge) by Andy Glynne (2017)

 Ethiopia

• Gloria’s Porridge by Elizabeth Laird (2021)

• Trouble: An Ethiopian Trading Adventure in Amharic and English by Jane Kutz (2020)

• Colors in Amharic With English Translations (Amharic Edition) by Gerard Aflague (2019)

• My First Book of Amharic Words by Fisame Teferra (2015)

• E Is for Ethiopia by Ashenafi Gudeta (2011)

• Omer's Favorite Place by Ifeoma Onyefulu (2011)

• New Shoes for Helen by Ifeoma Onyefulu (2011)

• Grandma's Humongous Suitcase by Elsi Abebe (2011)

• Ethiopian Voices: Tsion's Life by Stacy Bellward (2008)

• Best Beekeeper of Lalibela by Cristina Kessler (2006)

 French Southern Territories

 Kenya

• Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o (2021)

• Handa's Noisy Night by Eileen Browne (2020)

• The Yummiest Githeri by Kwame Nyong’o (2019)

• Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees by Franck Prevot (2017)

• 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy (2016)

• The Matatu by Eric Walters (2016)

• Imani’s Moon by Janay Brown-Wood (2014)

• Bundle of Secrets: Savita Returns Home by Mubina Kirmani (2013)

• I Love Ugali and Sukuma Wiki by Kwame Nyong’o (2013)

• A Tasty Maandazi by Kwame Nyong’o (2013)

• Chirchir Is Singing by Kelly Cunnane (2011)

• Only the Mountains Do Not Move: A Maasai Story of Culture and Conservation by Jan Reynolds (2011)

• Seeds of Change: Wangari's Gift to the World by Jen Johnson (2010)

• Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli (2010)

• Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai by Claire Nivola (2008)

• Mama Panya's Pancakes by Mary Chamberlin (2006)

• For You Are a Kenyan Child by Kelly Cunnane (2006)

• Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book by Muriel Feelings (1992)

• Who's in Rabbit's House? by Verna Aardema (1992)

 Madagascar

• Thank You, Baobab Tree: Madagascar by Mi-hwa Joo (2016)

 Malawi

• As Big as the Sky by Carolyn Rose (2020)

• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba (2012)

 Mauritius

 Mayotte

 Mozambique

 Reunion

 Rwanda

• Sebgugugu the Glutton: A Bantu Tale from Rwanda by Verna Aardema (1993)

 Seychelles

 Somalia

• Spirit of the Cheetah: A Somali Tale by Karen Lynn Williams (2021)

• Joseph’s Big Ride by Terry Farish (2017)

• Ready Steady Mo by Mo Farah (2017)

• When I Get Older: The Story behind "Wavin' Flag by K’Naan (2012)

• My Friend Jamal by Anna McQuinn (2008)

• Wiil Waal: A Somali Folktale by Kathleen Moriarty (2007)

• The Color of Home by Mary Hoffman (2002)

 Somaliland

 Sudan

• My Name Is Sangoel by Karen Williams (2009)

South Sudan

 Tanzania

• My Rows and Piles of Coins by Tololwa Mollel (2019)

• Bakary On Safari by Fyen (2017)

• The Royal Adventures of Princess Halima: Exploring The Wilderness of Tanzania by Jainaba Fye (2016)

• Under the Same Sun by Sharon Robinson (2014)

• Lala Salama: A Tanzanian Lullaby by Patricia Maclachlan (2011)

 Uganda

• A Good Trade by Alma Fullerton (2020)

• Sleep Well, Siba and Saba by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl (2017)

• Give Up, Gecko! by Margaret MacDonald (2013)

 Zambia

• The Elephant Keeper: Caring for Orphaned Elephants in Zambia by Margriet Ruurs (2017)

 Zimbabwe