This book is factual fiction. It introduces an imaginary school to explain the deep history in African Spirituality. Melanin Magic is jam packed with historical facts and questions to guide a child on a personal journey to discover their roots. It covers astrology, breathing, elements, gods, mantras and more.

In Forest Magic School young mystics follow the Yoruba Proverb, “Odó t'ó bá gbàgbé orísun è, á gbe." Translated it states, “A river that forgets its source is bound to dry up.” Young followers must remember where they come from.

The Forest Magic School is a place for youth to spend nine weeks learning with kids their own age. They work to understand their ancestry, culture, and history. Each week has a unique focus and goal for study. The students came from all over the world and developed unique skills and strengths. I loved the in depth details on the mythology of indigenous African people.

I recommend this book for older students. While I might classify it as middle grade it was very text dense and covered significant pieces of history. It took me time to slowly work through the book.

I loved the pictures that helped me visualize elements that were very new to me. I wish that there were more to break up the information heavy text. I think more visual representations of some of the symbols would be stunning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Running Press Kids for sending me an advanced kindle copy.

Absolutely phenomenal book. Into 129 pages it packs an enormous amount of information about so many forms of spirituality, always bringing them back to their rightful African roots but then branching out into how to use these practices in our modern lives. Every family should read this book with their children and incorporate whatever practices feel right to them into their lives. It’s an enormously helpful guidebook, filled with love and wisdom. I learned so much from it. Thank you so much to NetGalley for the absolute privilege of reading this book which I might have never found otherwise.

3.8 "deeply respectful, enlightening, a bit too packed..." stars !!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and illustrator and Running Press Kids. This will be released October 2024. I am providing an honest review.

This is a primer on African spiritual practices for children (and adults) 8 plus. The book is layed out as a didactic novel with room for developing a spiritual practice. There is so much packed in here that children would need to take this slowly along with guidance from a caregiver or spiritual practitioner.

I absolutely adored the bright illustrations (4 stars) but craved more of them. I loved the deep respect endowed in this book as well as the pride of the ancient African wisdoms and how to integrate into one's daily life. The story line was idealized and appropriate for younger children but I do not think as effective for older children or teens. Much of the information was quite detailed so spiritual guidance is imperative for the younger readers as well as patience and motivation for the many helpful exercises and reflections included. I almost feel that this should be two books...a simpler more pared down for children and a more exciting storyline for the older children and teens.
Despite this, I learned so very much about African Spiritual practices and how they tie with European, Asian and Indigenous practices.

This book was fantastic! It should be read in all elementary schools. So much depth to it, but kid appropriate. Highly recommend! Well done!