African Folktales for the Young at Heart

Hausa Tales of Wit, Wisdom, and Wonder

by Abubakar Yusuf Ibrahim

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.

Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org

*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

Pub Date Jul 06 2026 | Archive Date Sep 13 2025

Iskanchi Press

Novellas & Short Stories | OwnVoices | Parenting & Families

Talking about this book? Use #AfricanFolktalesForTheYoungAtHeart #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!

Description

African Folktales for the Young at Heart: Hausa Tales of Wit, Wisdom, and Wonder, is a captivating collection of traditional stories from the Hausa-speaking regions of Northern Nigeria. These tales, passed down through generations of oral storytelling, are imbued with moral lessons, humor, and wisdom, capturing the essence of African cultural heritage. Written in English by Abubakar Yusuf Ibrahim, and richly illustrated, these stories, reveal the enchanting world of Hausa folklore, where animals speak, cunning tricksters outwit their foes, and valuable life lessons are shared. Ideal for both young readers and adults, this book of African folktales is a must-have for anyone interested in world literature, folklore, or African culture.

A Note From the Publisher

Illustrated by Malachy Nwabuzor

Advance Praise

Authentic Representation:

The book presents traditional African folktales, which are not as widely represented in mainstream literature.

This provides an opportunity for readers to explore new cultural narratives and broaden their understanding of African folklore.

Cultural Diversity:

Carrying this book allows bookstores to support diverse voices and stories, aligning with the growing demand for inclusive literature that reflects a wide range of experiences and cultures.

Engaging Content:

The tales of wit, wisdom, and wonder will captivate readers of all ages, making the collection appealing to both young readers and adults who appreciate folklore and storytelling.

Authentic Representation:

The book presents traditional African folktales, which are not as widely represented in mainstream literature.

This provides an opportunity for readers to explore new cultural...

Available Editions

EDITION	Other Format
ISBN	9781957810263
PRICE	$15.00 (USD)
PAGES	100

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Reader (EPUB)

NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB)

Send to Kindle (EPUB)

Download (EPUB)

Additional Information

Average rating from 21 members

See all member reviews

Featured Reviews

Katherine C, Educator

The stories are great and flow really well, these are great stories to bring into your home or classroom! A needed addition for any mythology collection! The illustrations were odd and not very consistent.

Was this review helpful?

Ari D, Reviewer

African Folktales for the Young at Heart is an accessible collection of short African folktales. It's a quick and enjoyable read for children and adults alike, with morals to reflect on and nice little illustrations throughout. It was great to learn about folktales I'm not familiar with and I enjoyed my time with the stories. The book can be easily enjoyed in one sitting, but I think it's strength is with the option of reading the stories individually to a younger audience in a story-a-night kind of format.

I received this book from the publisher Iskanchi Press on NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

Blessing E, Reviewer

African Folktales For The Young At Heart by Abubakar Yusuf Ibrahim is a collection of very short folktales. As a child growing up in Nigeria, I read/heard some of the folktales in this book and I felt some nostalgia reading this. Most of the stories are aimed to provide some moral lessons, some are funny and a few are just ridiculous; but overall the book is a quick, fun and easy read.
I got the ARC from Iskanchi Press via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are mine