children's books about Kenya: nonfiction

Books are a great way to see the world (if you can't visit a country in real life!) I've started a little project where I am researching books about the countries where our sponosored children live. I thought I would sharing my findings with you.

I'm on a quest to find books about Kenya this week. Here are some non-fiction books that we discovered:


Kenya in Colors by Sara Louise Kras

This is my favorite non-fiction find for preschoolers. The photographs are bright and engaging and there is just the right amount of text and information on each page. I like that it gives a diverse view of Kenya showing both rural Masai living areas and urban living areas like Nairobi. The photo of the school children in their green uniforms is especially beautiful.


Welcome to Kenya by Alison Auch

This is another great informational book about Kenya for younger children. I like that it shares about ugali--a traditional Kenyan food.


Kenya ABCs by Sarah Heiman

I love the concept of this book, but it was a bit over the head of my three-year-old. It would be perfect for elementary school aged children. I learned a lot from this book like information about traditional foods, clothing, and geography.


Letters Home from Kenya by Marcia S. Gresko

This is another good book for elementary aged children. There is a lot of text on each page, but it is formatted in a letter-style so it is fun to read. I like that this book highlights a few of the larger people groups of Kenya: the Turkana and the Samburu.


Musical Instruments by Meryl Doney

If you or your kids are feeling crafty, this book has instructions for making your own musical instruments from several countries including Kenya. The Kenyan instruments featured are drums and a thumb piano. The crafts require some skill, so I suggest this for upper elementary school students through high school.

Activity and Craft Ideas:
recipe for ugali
swahili lesson
Africa for Kids PBS website
international felt flags
Kenyan flag projects
Kenyan flag crafts
printable african maps

Do you have any non-fiction children's books or crafts/resources about Kenya to share?