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When Africa Was Home (Orchard Paperbacks) Paperback – March 1, 1994

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

After returning to the United States, Peter's whole family misses the warmth and friendliness of their life in Africa; so Peter's father looks for another job there.
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Luminous artwork and a lyrical, informative text introduce Peter, an American boy who lives with his parents in an African village. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic (March 1, 1994)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0531070433
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0531070437
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 570L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 0.25 x 10.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

About the author

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Karen Lynn Williams
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
20 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2018
    Beautiful story that never ceases to touch my heart. I wish the author specified the part of Africa that was home. One of the very few books that stayed away from the "jungle"/"animal" orientation that pervades children's literature about the African Continent. Peter must be a remarkable man by now.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2011
    I used this book during a multi-culture unit in my first grade class. Each teacher chose a different country to emphasize. I chose Malawi, since I had visited there, had relatives who lived there as children, and no other teacher knew where Malawi is located. It's the story of an anglo boy raised among the Malawian people, then returned to America, and dreamed of one day returning to Africa. Good, sensitive presentation of culture.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2018
    Arrived in perfect condition. Just as described. Thank you!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2017
    Love it!
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2009
    This beautiful book is about a Caucasian American boy living in Africa with his parents (his father was working there), his experiences with his African nanny, friends and the nature arround.People: like wonderful extended family, nature: wonderful playground. There is so much warmth in human relations, warmth in nature, fun and freedom, the author and the illustrator also have strong sensitivity to toward the natural world.. When the boy's parents need to move back to US, as the work contract expires, the boy has difficulity to fit into a society and natural environment which is new to him, including snow and Winter clothes. He is missing his other mother (the nanny), and his a African siblings, is home sick for Africa.(His nanny called him "little son," his friends called him "little brother"). I don't want to tell the ending of the story, in order not to spoil it. Beautiful, realistic illustrations in pastel are capturing the beauty of the story, people and nature, and outdoor fun. I highly recommend this book.

    The only minor thing: not wearing a hat as sun protection, as was recommended tot he boy by his two mothers is of course not a good idea form the boy' s side, bu this can be easily explained to a child.

    This book will also touch the hearts of adults, specially expatriates, and will help children who encounter people who emigrated from other countries to be curious about personal experiences of living in another culture.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2012
    My son LOVED this book as a child. It is so.....refreshing to see something, ANYTHING, that shows that Africa DOES have many thriving communities.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2021
    Young Peter? Who has a black “nanny” / servant. A white family who has the opportunity to make money in and out of Africa... who is this for?
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2006
    I was given this book as a graduation present when I left Malawi, the setting of the book, to come to university in America. I adore this book. The illustrations are incredibly beautiful pastels. The colors are fantastic and the people have wonderfully expressive faces. The story is sweet. I can identify with the main character because of my upbringing as a white child in Southern Africa. However, I think that the experience of moving away from home and being homesick is a universal one. For any child, being taken from a familiar to a strange situation is difficult. The only drawback the story might have in that sense is that the main character is able to return to Malawi at the end of the story. While that is hopeful, there are children who will not be able to return to their former homes or lives. For those children, this could be a hard book.

    There are several examples of Chichewa, the national language of Malawi, in the book. All of the words are used accurately. The Chichewa words are not difficult for a parent or teacher reading the book as all of the words are pronounced phonetically.
    3 people found this helpful
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