Young Readers: Meet My Africa by Ayo Wilson
- janicedesroches
- Oct 22
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 22
We are thrilled to introduce Meet My Africa by the phenomenal storyteller and educator Ayo Wilson! This vibrant nonfiction book takes readers on a journey across the African continent—home to breathtaking landscapes, extraordinary wildlife, and a rich tapestry of languages, traditions, and communities.
Through the voices of children who proudly share their cultures, readers are invited to celebrate both the uniqueness and the shared humanity that connect us all. From the rhythms of African music to the beauty of its art, festivals, and inspiring changemakers, Meet My Africa opens hearts and minds to the continent’s rich stories, sparking curiosity, respect, and meaningful connection across cultures.
Educational Activities
Pre-Reading Questions
Connecting to the Students
What do you already know about Africa? Can you name any countries, animals, or traditions?
Have you ever experienced food, music, or art from a culture different from your own? What was it like?
What makes a place feel “special” or unique to you?
Making Predictions
Look at the cover and title of Meet My Africa. What do you think this book will teach you about the continent?
Who do you think will “speak” or share their stories in this book? What kinds of experiences might they have?
Thinking About Diversity and Perspective
Why do you think it’s important to learn about other countries, cultures, and traditions?
How might children in Africa have similar experiences to you? How might they be different?
Curiosity and Reflection
What are you most excited to learn about in this book—animals, music, festivals, people, or something else?
Post-Reading Activities
1. Cultural Story Circles
Objective: Share and celebrate diverse backgrounds.
Activity:
Students sit in a circle.
Each student shares a short story, fact, or tradition from their family or culture—like a favourite holiday, recipe, or song.
Encourage students to ask questions and find similarities and differences.
Connection to the book: Mirrors the way children in Meet My Africa share their own cultures.
2. Map and Travel Adventure
Objective: Learn geography and cultural diversity.
Activity:
Give students a blank map of Africa. (For a printable labelled version, click here)
Have them locate countries featured in the book and mark interesting facts, wildlife, or traditions.
Optional: Students “travel” to a country and write a postcard describing what they learned.
Example:
Connection to the book: Explores the continent’s diversity and landscapes.
3. Changemakers Project
Objective: Inspire leadership and global awareness.
Activity:
Students pick one inspiring African figure mentioned in the book or research another.
They create a short presentation, poster, or video about that person’s contributions.
Discuss how students can be changemakers in their own communities.
Connection to the book: Encourages students to connect with African changemakers and reflect on their own potential.
“Flags of Africa – Learn, Colour, and Explore”
Objective: Learn about African countries, their flags, and the symbolism behind them.
Materials:
Printable black-and-white African flags
Crayons, markers, or coloured pencils
World map or Africa map
Optional: fact cards about each country
Activity:
Students refer to 'Flags of Africa' in the back of the book as a reference.
Print and Colour Flags of Africa: Student are each given one of the printed flags to colour.
As a class, look up and share a fun fact or two about each country (e.g., wildlife, music, famous landmarks, or festivals).
Ayo Wilson is a Nigerian-Canadian author and seasoned Early Childhood Educator and Montessori teacher based in the Niagara Region of Canada, where she lives with her family. Her journey in education began in 2005 in Mali, marking the start of a lifelong passion for nurturing young minds.
With extensive experience in both public and private school settings, Ayo has dedicated her career to creating enriching, child-centered learning environments. Her debut book, Meet My Africa, was inspired by her students’ curiosity about the African continent and her own commitment to education through storytelling.
Beyond the classroom and her writing desk, Ayo finds joy in traveling, listening to music, and spending quality time with her family. She is deeply passionate about introducing young children to the richness of African stories, songs, and cultural traditions in ways that are engaging, meaningful, and empowering.
Author Interview Coming Soon!
Comments