Published by Barefoot Books, 2024.

One night, Ayo, a young African American boy, tumbles into an extraordinary journey across the African diaspora, from The Bahamas to Ghana, Nigeria and Ethiopia and many places in between. Ayo’s Adventure is an A-Z introduction to the concept of the dispersion of African people across the globe and offers an engaging way to explore many diverse cultures, historical figures, nations, events, and movements within the diaspora.

It is an absolutely glorious picture book – packed full of colour and striking, eye-catching illustrations. There’s music, dance and movement and so much joie de vivre! I loved the rich variety of people and places and enjoyed the celebration of cultures and traditions and the beauty that has thrived the world over. Ayo learns about all the people who share his heritage and, as he travels from place to place, he makes links between his own life and the wider world. As readers, we begin to appreciate how the African diaspora has inspired the world, from hip-hop to kente cloth, and from Mansa Musa to revolution.

Accompanying the story are information boxes with additional factual detail while back-of-the-book resources deepen engagement with the story and further explore the topics that have been covered. There’s also a map to help children trace Ayo’s journey.

Ayo’s Adventure is a richly layered book with powerful messages about resilience and hope.

Rating: 💙💙💙💙💙

Suitable for children aged 6+

Thank you to Barefoot Books for sending me this book to review.