National Museum of African Art To Host the 26th Annual Children’s Africana Awards and Book Festival

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art will host the 26th annual Children’s Africana Awards and Book Festival Saturday, April 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The awards and book festival are presented each year to recognize the authors and illustrators of the best children’s and young adult books on Africa published or republished in the U.S. The awards were created by the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association to encourage the publication and use of accurate, balanced children’s materials about Africa. This event is free and open to the public.

This year’s festival will offer Book to Art activities for ages 4 and up in the museum’s pavilion and the workshop from 11:00 a.m.–2 p.m. There will be a panel discussion on the Mezzanine level from 11:00 a.m.–1 p.m. An African percussion workshop inspired by 2019 book winner “Mama Africa, How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with Her Song” will take place throughout the day.

The Children’s Africana Book Awards are presented in three categories: Young Children, Older Readers, and New Adult (books marketed to adults but suitable for mature teens).

The 26th Annual CABA Winners are:

Best Books for Young Children

• Baby Goes to Market, Atinuke and Angela Brooksbank (illus). Candlewick, 2017.
• Mama Africa, How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with Her Song, Kathryn Erskine and Charly Palmer (illus.). Farrar Straus Giroux, 2017.
• Grandma’s List, Portia Dery and Toby Newsome (illus.) African Bureau Stories, 2017.

Honor Books for Young Children

• The Wooden Camel, Wanuri Kahiu and Manuela Adreani (illus). Lantana, 2017.
• Sleep Well, Siba & Saba, Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl and Sandra Van Doorn. Lantana, 2017.

Best Book for Older Readers

• When Morning Comes, Arushi Raina. Tradewinds, 2017.

Honor Books for Older Readers

• Solo, Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess. Blink, 2017.
• Akata Warrior, Nnedi Okorafor. Viking, 2017.

Notable Books for Older Readers

• One Shadow on the Wall Leah Henderson. Simon and Schuster, 2017.
• Soldier Boy, Keely Hutton. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2017.

Best Book for New Adults

• Behold the Dreamers, Imbolo Mbue. Random House, 2017.

Full biographies of each winner are available at http://africaaccessreview.org/childrens-africana-book-awards/winner-profiles-2018/ 

Book Signing

The public will have an opportunity to meet the authors and illustrators of the 2019 award-winning books during a book signing on the Mezzanine, sublevel one, from 11a.m.-1:15p.m.

About the Children’s Africana Book Awards

Established in 1991 by the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association (ASA), the Children’s Africana Book Awards are presented annually to the authors and illustrators of the best children’s and young adult books on Africa published or republished in the U.S. The awards were created to encourage the publication and use of accurate, balanced children’s materials about Africa. And to recognize literary excellence and acknowledge the research achievements of outstanding authors and illustrators.

Sponsors

Support for the Children’s Africana Awards and Book Festival is provided by Africa Access, the Center for African Studies at Howard University and the National Museum of African Art.

About the National Museum of African Art

The National Museum of African Art is the only museum in the world dedicated solely to the collection, conservation, study and exhibition of Africa’s arts across time and media. The museum’s collection of over 12,000 artworks represents the diversity of the African continent and includes a variety of media—from sculpture and painting, to photography, pottery, jewelry, textile, video and sound art. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free. The museum is located at 950 Independence Ave. S.W., near the Smithsonian Metrorail station on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines. For more information, call (202) 633-4600 or visit the National Museum of African Art’s website. For general Smithsonian information, call (202) 633-1000. Follow the museum on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook  
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