African Folktales for the Young at Heart: Hausa Tales of Wit, Wisdom, and Wonder (1) (African Folktale Series) - Hardcover

Ibrahim, Abubakar Yusuf

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1957810254 ISBN 13: 9781957810256

Publisher: Iskanchi Press, 2025

Synopsis

Twenty timeless tales where clever spiders outsmart giants, talking tails hold grudges, and wisdom travels on the wind across West Africa.

African Folktales for the Young at Heart brings together twenty captivating tales from Northern Nigeria―stories passed down through generations around evening fires, now illustrated and retold for families everywhere. Watch a tiny spider defeat the tallest man in all of Hausaland, armed with nothing but cleverness and courage. Meet a mosquito with a secret, a hungry billy goat who outsmarts a hyena, and Moyi, a boy who gathers ten life-changing lessons from the forest. For ages 8–12―perfect for family read-alouds and classroom libraries.  Drawn from the rich storytelling tradition of Hausaland, these short, satisfying tales sparkle with humor, courage, and consequence. You'll discover why dogs chase cats and goats dash from the road, how a tiny spider outwits a giant, why a horned king fears a barber's whisper, and how kindness―and its absence―can shape a destiny.

Animal adventures, trickster turns, and a touch of African mythology invite kids to think, laugh, and talk about choices, character, and community. Great for independent readers and shared reading alike, this collection fits bedtime stories and 15-minute read-alouds, supports social-emotional learning, and opens doors to Nigerian culture and West African history. For fans of classic folktale collections like The People Could Fly and Her Stories, Anansi the Spider Stories, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, and Gerald McDermott's folktales, this collection celebrates the rich oral tradition of the Hausa people while exploring universal themes of friendship, loyalty, patience, and the triumph of intelligence over brute strength.

Readers who enjoyed Verna Aardema's African tales and Baba Wagué Diakité's vibrant storytelling will treasure these adventures filled with talking animals, magical transformations, and laugh-out-loud trickster moments. Each story offers gentle moral lessons wrapped in humor and wonder―from why dogs chase cars to how the jackal earned his reputation for survival smarts. It's a lively companion on every shelf of folktales for kids and a welcoming pick for multicultural bedtime stories. By Abubakar Yusuf Ibrahim; illustrations by Malachy Nwabuzor. Ages 8–12. Published by Iskanchi Press, a US-based home for authentic African storytelling.

About this title

About the Author

Born in Northern Nigeria, Abubakar Yusuf Ibrahim is a distinguished author with a passion for storytelling. He studied law at the University of Sokoto and embarked on his writing journey in 1983 with the playbook Kaico. Known for his engaging narratives and cultural insights, Abubakar has contributed significantly to African literature with works such as Kundin Wa?o?i, a collection of poems that explore diverse themes. Abubakar's stories reflect his dedication to preserving and sharing the rich perspectives of Hausa culture with audiences young and old. He lives in Katsina, Nigeria.

Edition details

• Publisher: Iskanchi Press
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1957810254
• ISBN 13: 9781957810256
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 94