School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Fans of the series will not be disappointed in these latest books about Anna Hibiscus. In the first, the African child and her family help her prepare for her first trip to Canada to visit her grandmother; the second book continues with her actual trip and the fun experiences in the snowy north for the Christmas holiday. Once again, Atinuke handles the complexity of life in Africa (and the differences between life there and in North America) with deftness and grace. Serious concepts like racism, poverty, and social activism are covered as simply and expertly as dealing with taking the blame for a sibling's misbehavior without becoming heavy-handed or unsuitable for early chapter-book audiences. Although elements of Anna's life may be foreign to some readers, her sweet nature and youthful troubles are common to children everywhere. The expressive black-and-white images that weave seamlessly through the texts enhance the stories beautifully. "Anna Hibiscus" is a lovely, rare bird of a series, providing a modern view of another culture in warm, approachable language.-Nicole Waskie-Laura, Chenango Forks Elementary, Binghamton, NY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
These linked short stories set in contemporary Africa are based loosely on Atinuke's own childhood. In Luck, harmattan winds cover the land with dust. In Fun, Anna flies to snowy Canada to visit her grandmother. Everything is on a small scale, allowing readers to easily identify with the situations. Detailed illustrations add depth and energy, showing Anna in all her emotional states. [Review covers these titles: Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus! and Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus!] (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
The amazing African world introduced in the first two Anna Hibiscus books has turned from lush to dry and dusty. It's harmattan season, when the wind blows sand from the Sahara Desert, nearly Christmas time. Soon Anna Hibiscus will travel all the way to Canada to visit her other grandmother and see snow. Four linked stories describe incidents from daily life: careful dry-season bathing with buckets, family nap time, shopping for cold-weather clothes in a modern department store and a more satisfying traditional stall and the week Anna's family seems to have forgotten heruntil they produce their going-away surprises. As in other titles in the series, these gentle stories are illustrated on nearly every page with Tobia's gray-scale sketches. Accurate cultural details will appeal to readers curious about life in an unfamiliar world. This suburban family compound in a generic sub-Saharan country reflects the author's own Nigerian childhood. The third-person narration moves briskly, with plenty of dialogue. Novice readers may find unfamiliar dialect challenging: "In dis your compound you throw water for ground," a peddler selling fruit outside the family home complains, pointing out that while Anna's family uses leftover wash water to water the plants, city children have no water at all. Once again, Anna demonstrates a growing social consciousness. Readers may begin Anna's story here; they will certainly want to go back to read earlier stories and will look forward to learning what happens next. (Fiction. 5-9)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
