Pass down the powerful teachings of African oral tradition by adding this luxe illustrated volume of over 50 cultural folktales to your home library.

In this captivating collection of folklore from African culture, discover the stories that have been passed down through generations and continue to teach valuable lessons today through their vibrant, illustrative language. With over 50 folktales, Roots and Legends celebrates the richness of African customs and life, and champions the importance of oral tradition, a practice that rose up through the dark times of slavery and oppression.

Thoughtfully curated and richly illustrated, Roots and Legends features the wonder and educational lessons of cultural stories and figures such as:

Why Spiders Are Always Found in the Corners of Ceilings
How the Tortoise Got Its Shell
Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky
How Mr. Lion Lost His Wool
Brother Bear’s Big House
Brer Rabbit and the Gold Mine
Morning Sunrise
Diddy-Wah-Diddy
Uncle Monday
A Ghost Story About an Aunt
Farmer Mybrow and the Fairies
And more!

Divided into four sections (Why Things Are the Way They Are; Morals Taught through Animals Tales; Bearing Witness; and People with Unusual Powers) covering the spiritual nature of animals, people, the land and its sometimes spooky inhabitants, and more, each page is filled with timeless tales of heroes, tricksters, and everyday wisdom, and invites you to immerse yourself in the depth and beauty of African folklore.

Featuring historic stories with a modern editorial review, this deluxe collectible edition includes original illustrations and an embellished, giftable package. A perfect choice for families interested in passing down African heritage through storytelling traditions, Roots and Legends will enchant readers of all ages through its beautifully illustrated and accessible collection of folklore.

My Take:
This is a fine entry into the African folklore canon, but it should be known that there is a conflation of African and African American folklore. I would not use it as a scholarly text, but for enjoyment purposes only.

Very interesting look at folk tales.
The writing was alright, but I would personally like some more analysis and or discussion og the stories.

I was however very happy with the storytelling. Thank you to the author and publisher for giving me access to this book as an ARC.

I will also post this review on storygraph.

I've been in a reading slump and this was the perfect antidote. Most stories in the collection are only a few pages long so it was easy to read one or two and set the book down until my brain wanted to read again.

The stories themselves are fantastic! A nice mix of African and American folklore. Some were familiar but most were new to me.

This would be a great book for adults and kids. A few of the stories might be a little creepy for really young readers but they're all what I would consider rated G.

Definitely adding this one to my physical book collection.

Thank you Wellfleet Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was really excited to come across this book as I've been after some more Anansi stories for a while. As a child I had a small story book that had one Anansi story in it and found it hard to try and find something as an adult.

This is a really great collection of stories from across Africa and America. It ranges from Brer Rabbit to Anansi and then some that I wasn't familiar with at all. The book is very nicely laid out and the illustrations were lovely.

Quick Summary: An informative, educational, inspired resource

My Review: Roots and Legends: Folktales from African Culture by Editors of Wellfleet Press is a brilliant collection of folktales and lore related African and African American history. It is scheduled to be released in January 2025.

About the Book: "In this captivating collection of folklore from African culture, discover the stories that have been passed down through generations and continue to teach valuable lessons today through their vibrant, illustrative language. With over 50 folktales, Roots and Legends celebrates the richness of African customs and life, and champions the importance of oral tradition..."

In My Own Words: This work is an awe-inspiring collection of stories and pictures rooted in the African experience. It is a treasure trove of culturally rich tales that serves as a testament to the power and beauty of oral storytelling. Filled with educational highlights, thought provoking content, grayscale illustrations, and mixed media art, it is a gem that shines brightly.

My Final Say: This book should be in every library and home. It is not just for one people; it is for all people. It is its own curriculum. As soon as I started reading, I was captivated. When I saw the collage art, I was ensnared by the magnificence. I immediately wanted to get my hands on a physical copy. I even thought that I could easily design a class around it for my students...of any age. Not only is this book a study in folktales, it is also a study in art. I cannot recommend it enough.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: G
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties-of-All-Time: Yes

Special Notations:
Special Note 1: This would be superb as an audiobook. I would love to hear these stories.
Special Note 2: This would be an enriching listening experience for any family read aloud time.
Special Note 3: This would be a fantastic book club read for elementary, middle, high school, and post high school students.
Special Note 4: Any contemporary griot could take these treasured stories and perform them in grand ways.
Special Note 5: I would go so far as to say that the material in this book would be ideal as a series of video-based lessons on African/African-American folktales. (Think PBS, Prime, Netflix, etc.)

Question: Are there any plans for additional volumes to be released? This should be a series.

A most sincere expression of gratitude is extended to the Editors of Wellfleet Press, to Quarto Publishing Group – Wellfleet Press, and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this wondrous work in exchange for an honest critique. It was an absolute pleasure to review this book. It was an entire experience that spoke on so many levels. I appreciate the opportunity and will do all I can to make others aware of this divine resource.

Any fan of folklore will love this collection and return to it repeatedly. Great for any age, to share with the kids or just to enjoy any time.