CABA Winners All-time List (Since 1991)

Best Picture Books 

Bottle Tops by Alison Goldberg and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon. (Lee & Low Books, 2022). 

Lion Lights, My Invention that Made Peace with Lions by Richard Turere and Shelly Pollock and illustrated by Sonia Possentini (Tilbury House, 2022).  

Kwame Nkrumah’s Midnight Speech by Useni Perkins and illustrated by Laura Freeman (Just Us Books, 2021).

Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker and illustrated by April Harrison (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2020).

Idia of the Benin Kingdom by  Ekiuwa Aire and illustrated by Alina Shabelnyk (Our Ancestors, 2020).

Hector: A Boy, a Protest, and the Photography that Changed Apartheid by Adrienne Wright (Page Street Kids, 2019). 

Sing to the Moon by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl and illustrated by Sandra van Doorn (Lantana, 2018).

Baby Goes to Market by Atinuke and illustrated by Angela Brooksbank (Candlewick, 2017).

Mama Africa by Kathryn Erskine and illustrated by Charly Palmer (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2017).

Grandma’s List by Portia Dery and illustrated by Toby Newsome (African Bureau Stories, 2017).

Gizo,-Gizo! A Tale from the Zongo Lagoon by Emily Williamson with the students and teachers of the Hassaniyya Quranic School in Cape Coast Ghana (Sub-Saharan Publishers, 2016).

The Storyteller by Evan Turk (Atheneum, 2016).

Chicken in the Kitchen by Nnedi Okorafor and illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini (Lantana Publishing, 2015).

Wangari Maathai : The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees by Franck Prévot and illustrated by Aurélia Front (Charlesbridge, 2015).

Desmond and the Very Mean Word: A Story of Forgiveness by Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams and illustrated by A.G. Ford (Candlewick, 2013).

 Bundle of Secrets: Savita Returns Home by Mubina Hassanali Kirmani and illustrated by Tony Siema (CreateSpace, 2013).

The Matatu by Eric Walters and illustrated Eva Campbell (Orca Book Publishers, 2012).

Ostrich and Lark by Marilyn Nelson and illustrated by the Kuru Art Project (Boyds Mills Press, 2012).

Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt’s Treasured Books by Susan Roth and Karen Leggett Abouraya and illustrated by Susan Roth (Dial Books for Young Children, 2012).

When I Get Older :The Story Behind Wavin’ Flag  by K’Naan with Sol Guy and illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez (Tundra Books, 2012).

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (Dial Books for Young Children, 2012).

Seeds of Change : Planting a Path to Peace by Jen Cullerton Johnson and illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler (Lee & Low Books, 2010).

Pharaoh’s Boat by David L. Weitzman ( Houghton Mifflin, 2009).

One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference  by Katie Smith Milway and illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes (Kids Can Press, 2008).

Ikenna goes to Nigeria  by Ifeoma Onyefulu (Frances Lincoln, 2007).

I Lost my Tooth in Africa  by Penda Diakité and illustrated by Baba Wagué Diakité (New York: Kane Miller 2006).

How the Amazon Queen Fought the Prince of Egypt written and illustrated by Tamara Bowers ( New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005).

Here Comes Our Bride! by Ifeoma Onyefulu (Frances Lincoln Children’s Book Distributed in the USA by Publishers Group West 2004).

Babu’s Song by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen illustrated by Aaron Boyd (Lee & Low Books 2003).

Fatuma’s New Cloth by Leslie Bulion and illustrated by Nicole Tadgell (Moon Mountain 2002).

What’s Cooking, Jamela by Niki Daly (Farrar, Strauss & Giroux 2001).

Africa is Not a Country by Margy Burns Knight and Mark Melnicove and illustrated by Anne Sibley O’Brien (Millbrook Press, 2000).

My Rows and Piles of Coins by Tololwa Mollel and illustrated by E. B. Lewis (Clarion Books, 1999).

The Master Weaver From Ghana by Gilbert Ahiagble and Louise Meyers with photographs by Nester Hernandez (Open Hand Publisher, 1998).

Only a Pigeon by Christopher and Jane Kurtz and illustrated by E.B. Lewis (Simon and Schuster, 1997).

The Day Gogo Went to Vote by Elinor Sisulu and illustrated by Sharon Wilson (Little, Brown 1996).

The New King by Doreen Rappaport. and illustrated by E.B. Lewis (Dial, 1995).

It Takes a Village  by Jane Cowen-Fletcher (Scholastic, 1994).

Sundiata: Lion King of Mali by David Wisniewski (Clarion Books, 1992).

The Origin of Life on Earth: An African Creation Myth by David Anderson and illustrated by Kathleen Atkins (Sights Productions, 1991).

Honor Picture Books

African Proverbs for All Ages by Johnnetta Besch Cole and illustrated by Nelda LaTeef (Roaring Brook Press, 2021).

The Talking Baobab Tree by Nelda LaTeef (Sub-Saharan Publishers, 2020).

The Arabic Quilt, An Immigrant Story by Aya Khalil and illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan. (Tilbury House, 2020).

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o and illustrated by Vashti Harrison (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2019).

Grandpa Cacao: A Tale of Chocolate, from Farm to Family by Elizabeth Zunon (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2019).

Songs in the Shade of the Cashew and Coconut Trees:  Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes from West Africa and the Caribbean by Nathalie Soussana, Jean-Christophe Hoarau and illustrated by Judith Gueyfier (The Secret Mountain, 2019).

Animal Village by Nelda LaTeef (Sub-Saharan Publishers, 2018).

Grandad Mandela by Zazi. Zinwelene and Zindzi Mandela and illustrated by Sean Qualls (Lincoln’s Children’s books / Quarto Publishing, 2018).

Mama’s Amazing Cover Cloth by Ruby Goka and illustrated by Edmund Opare (Sub-Saharan Publishers, 2018).

Sleep Well, Siba & Saba by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl and illustrated by Sandra Van Doorn (Lantana, 2017).

The Wooden Camel by Wanuri Kahiu and illustrated by Manuela Adreani (Lantana, 2017).

Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke and illustrated by Lauren Tobias (Walker Books / Kane Miller, 2015).

Nana and Me by Kathy Knowles and illustrated by Edmund Opare (Osu Children’s Library Fund, 2015).

S is for South Africa by Beverley Naidoo and illustrated by Prodeepta Das (Frances, Lincoln, 2010)

Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai by Clair Nivola (Straus, and Giroux 2008).

The Butter Man  by Elizabeth and Ali Alalou and illustrated by Julie Klear Essakalli ( Charlesbridge Publishing, 2008).

Will Waal A Somali Folktale retold by Kathleen Moriarty, Somali translation by Jamal Adam and illustrated by Amin Amir (Minnesota Humanities Commission, 2007).

My Father’s Shop by Satomi Ichikawa (Scholastic 2006).

Circle Unbroken: the Story of a Basket and its People by Margot Theis Raven. and illustrated by E. B. Lewis (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004).

Once Upon a Time by Niki Daly (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2003).

The Magic Gourd  by Baba Wague Diakité (Scholastic 2003).

Silly Mammo by Gebregeorgis Yohannes and illustrated by Bogale Belachew (African Sun Publishing 2002).

Sosu’s Call  by Meshack Asare (Kane/Miller Books 2002).

Beatrice’s Goat by Page McBrier and illustrated by Lori Lohstoeter (An Anne Schwartz Book/Atheneum Book for Young Readers 2001).

Gugu’s House by Catherine Stock (Clarion Books 2001).

Bikes for Rent by Isaac Olaleye and illustrated by Chris Demarest (Orchard Books 2001).

My Great-Grandmother’s Gourd by Cristina Kessler and illustrated by Walter Lyon Krudop (New York: Orchard Books/Grolier, 2000).

Subira Subira by Tololwa Mollel and illustrated by Linda Saport (New York: Clarion/ Houghton Mifflin, 2000).

Jamela’s Dress  by Niki Daly (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1999).

Vacation in the Village by Pierre Yves Njeng (Boyd’s Mill Press, 1999).

Halala Means Welcome: A Book of Zulu Words by Ken Wilson-Max (Hyperion, 1998).

Boundless Grace by Mary Hoffman and illustrated by Caroline Binch (Dial, 1995).

Big Boy by Tololwa Mollel and illustrated by E.B. Lewis (Clarion, 1995).

Best Chapter Books

Home is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo (Make Me a World, 2021).

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko (Amulet Books, 2020).

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia (Disney Hyperion, 2019).

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt & Company, 2018).

When Morning Comes by Arushi Raina (Tradewinds, 2017).

Amagama Enkululeko! Words for Freedom: Writing Life Under Apartheid. Equal Education (Cover2Cover, 2016).

Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein (Disney-Hyperion, 2015).

Who is King? Ten Magical Stories from Africa. Beverely Naidoo and illustrated by  Piet Grobler (Frances Lincoln, 2015).

The Red Pencil by Andrea Pinkney and Illustrated by Shane Evans (Little Brown & Co., 2014).

Africa Is My Home : A Child of the Amistad by Monica Edinger and illustrated by Robert Byrd. (Candlewick, 2013).

Once Upon a Time in Ghana: Traditional Ewe Stories Retold in English by Anna Cottrell and Agbotadua Kumassah and illustrated by Kwabena Poku (Afram, 2013).

Abina and the Important Men of Ghana: A Graphic History by Trevor Getz and illustrated by Liz Clarke (Oxford University, 2012).

Far From Home by Na’ima Robert (Frances Lincoln / Janetta Otter-Barry Books, 2012).

Stones for My Father by Trilby Kent (Tundra, 2011).

Nelson Mandela : The Authorized Comic Book by Nelson Mandela Foundation and Umlando Wezithombe (Norton, 2009).

Aya by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie (Drawn & Quarterly / Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2007).

Illustrator’s Notebook by Mohieddine Ellabbad (Groundwood Books, 2006).

Mzungu Boy by Meja Mwangi (Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press, 2005).

Chanda’s Secrets by Allan Stratton (Annick Press, 2004).

Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict & Hope written by Beverley Naidoo (HarperCollins 2003).

Africa: An Encyclopedia for Students edited by John Middleton (Ed.) (Charles Scribner’s Sons of Gale Group 2002).

Kings and Queens of West Africa by Sylviane Diouf (Franklin Watts, 2000).

Why Leopard Has Spots: Dan Stories from Liberia by Won-Ldy Paye and Margaret H. Lippert (Fulcrum Kids, 1998).

No Turning Back by Beverley Naidoo (HarperCollins, 1997).

Middle Passage written and illustrated by Tom Feelings (Dial, 1995).

The Captive by Joyce Hansen (Scholastic, 1994).

Honor Chapter Books

How You Grow Wings by Rimma Onoseta (Algonquin, 2022).

Children of the Quicksands  by Efua Traoré (Chicken House, 2022). 

The Kaya Girl by Mamle Wolo (Little Brown, 2022).

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen (Random House, 2021).

Crossing the Stream by Elizabeth-Irene Baite. (Norton, 2021).

Sugar Town Queens by Malla Nunn. (Putnam, 2021).

Listen Layla by Yassim Abel Magid. (Penguin Books, 2021).

When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (Dial Books, 2020).

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi. (Razorbill / Penguin Random House, 2019).

Mirage by Somaiya Daud ( Flatiron Books, 2018). 

Shaka Rising by Luhttp://africaaccessreview.org/2018/06/mirage/ke Molver and Mason O’Connor (Catalyst Press / Story Press Africa, 2018).

Solo by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess (Blink, 2017).

Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor (Viking, 2017).

Aluta by Adwoa Badoe (Walker Books / Kane Miller, 2016).

Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan (G.P. Putnam, 2016).

The Boy Who Spat in Sargrenti’s Eye by Manu Herbstein (Techmate, 2016).

May I Have This Dance. by Connie Manse Ngcaba (Cover2Cover Books, 2015).

Street Level: A Collection of Drawings and Creative Writing Inspired by Dar es Salaam by Sarah Markes ( Mkuki Na Nyota Publishers, 2011).

Burn my Heart  by Beverley Naidoo (HarperCollins / Amistad, 2009).

Trouble in Timbuktu by Cristina Kessler (Philomel Books, 2009).

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2007).

Rise of the Golden Cobra  by Henry T. Aubin (Annick Press, 2007).

The Ancient Kushites  by Liz Sonneborn. (Scholastic, Franklin Watts, 2005).

Empires of Medieval West Africa: Ghana, Mali, and Songhay  by David Conrad. (Facts on File, 2005).

The Old African by Julius Lester and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (Penguin Group (USA) Inc./ Dial Books, 2005).

The Heaven Shop by Deborah Ellis (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2004).

Talking Drums by Veronique Tadjo (Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books, 2004).

Saba: Under the Hyena’s Foot by Jane Kurtz (Pleasant Company  2003).

No More Strangers Now: Young Voices from a New South Africa by Tim McKee and Anne Blackshaw (DK Publishing, 1998).

The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali and Songhay by Patricia and Frederick McKissack (Henry Holt, 1994).

The African Mask by Janet Rupert (Clarion Books, 1994).

Apartheid: Calibrations of Color  edited by Patra McSharry and Roger Rosen (Rosen Publishers, 1991).

Notable Books

Akie & Ebuka Got into Trouble by Uzoma Ezekwudo and illustrated by Zulfikaar Rachman

(Indie Blossom, 2022).

All Rise, Resistance, Rebellion and Revolt in South Africa by Rich Conyngham(Catalyst Press, 2022).

On My Papa’s Shoulders by Niki Daly (Catalyst Press, 2022).

Too Small Tola by Atinuke and illustrated by Onyinye Iwu (Candlewick, 2021).

Imbila’s Tale / Umbila Nomsila Wakhe by Desaray Mnyandu (Zulunomics, 2021).

Osasu and the Great Wall of the Benin Empire by Tamkara Olayinka Adun ( Tamkara Olayinka Adun, 2021).

One Shadow on the Wall by Leah Henderson (Simon and Schuster, 2017).

Soldier Boy by Keely Hutton (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2017).

The World Beneath : A Novel by Janice Warman (Candlewick, 2016).

Emmanuel’s Dream : The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson and  illustrated by Sean Qualls (Random House / Schwartz & Wade, 2015). 

 One Plastic Bag : Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of The Gambia by Miranda Paul and illustrated Elizabeth Zunon (Millbrook Press, 2015).