A Gift From Childhood – 2010
Baba Wagué is only four years old when he is sent to the tiny Malian village of Kassaro to be raised by his paternal grandparents, according to the family tradition. He is most unhappy about this at first, but under his grandmother’s patient and wise tutelage he comes to love his close-knit village community. He learns how to catch a catfish with his bare hands, flees from an army of bees, and mistakes a hungry albino cobra snake for a pink inner tube. Finally, Grandma Sabou decides that Baba is educated enough to go to school, and he moves back to the city, where his family struggles to provide him with a formal education. But he brings his village stories with him, and in the process of sharing them with his neighborhood uncovers his immense artistic and storytelling talents.
See a review at African Access here
AWARDS: USBBY Outstanding International Books Honor List 2011; Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices
Mee-An and the Magic Serpent – 2007
Beautiful Mee-An wants to get married but can’t seem to find a man who is as perfect as she is. One day, however, her sister Assa finds Mee-An the perfect mate. Mee-An is determined to marry him, even after a series of bad omens occur. Off the sisters go to live with the perfect man, only to discover he is not at all what he seems to be. Will Assa be able to save her sister from a terrible fate? Baba Wagué Diakité’s proves himself a wonderful storyteller, and his brilliant art brings village life alive.
The Magic Gourd – 2003
Coretta Scott King Honoree and author/artist Diakite tells a tale from Mali about a magic gourd that can fill itself with whatever its owner desires. Hidden within this story is a powerful lesson about generosity and friendship. The accompanying illustrations in bright ceramic plates, bowls and sculpture practically dance off of the pages.
A Kirkus review is here
AWARDS: Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2005; Volunteer State Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2006; Storytelling World Award Parent Guide to Children Media Award; Storytelling World Award; Parent Guide to Children Media Award; NCTE Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts; CCBC Choices 2004; Children’s Africana Book Awards 2004 Honor Book for Young Children; NCTE Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts CCBC Choices 2004; Africa Access Review’s Anansi Collection: Great Picture Books on Africa
The Hatseller and the Monkeys – 1999
BaMusa the hatseller travelled from town to town with his hats piled high on his head. “Hee Manum nin koi kadi sa!” he sang, which means, “What a wonderful business hat selling is!”
One day, BaMusa set out for a festival that was a day’s walk away. He was in such a hurry to leave, he didn’t eat any breakfast. Halfway there, he grew so tired and hungry, he had to stop and rest. But when he woke up, his hats were gone. Soon he discovered the monkeys high in the tree branches above him were all wearing colorful hats! How would he get them back? It wasn’t until BaMusa put some food in his stomach that he could think clearly and figure out exactly what he must do.
Master storyteller Baba Wague Diakite retells this highly entertaining, authentic African teaching tale the way it was told to him when he was a child. And his vibrant, ceramic-tile paintings bring BaMusa, the monkeys, and all the plants and creatures of the fertile African countryside vividly to life.
A Kirkus review is here
AWARDS: American Library Association Notable Books for Children (WON AWARD) 2000; Red Clover Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2001; Charlotte Zolotow Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2000; Florida Reading Association Children’s Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2001; Volunteer State Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2002; Young Hoosier Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2002; North Carolina Children’s Book Award (NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2003; An IRA Teacher’s Choice; Parenting magazine Reading Magic Award; Aesop Accolade; Africa Access Review’s Anansi Collection: Great Picture Books on Africa
The Hunterman and the Crocodile – 1997
This vibrant retelling of a traditional West African folk tale is full of twists and turns to keep storytime listeners glued to their seats. Tired after an overland journey to Mecca, Bamba the crocodile and his family need the help of a human to reach their river home. Donso the hunterman agrees to help, but only after Bamba promises not to bite him. When the hungry crocodile goes back on his word, Donso begs other creatures for help, only to find that they are unwilling — cow, horse, chicken, and mango tree alike feel too much resentment at the way they have been treated by humans in the past. Finally, trickster Rabbit comes to the rescue, and Donso heads home with a stack of crocodiles on his head, trussed and ready for a feast. But there is yet another surprise in store for the hunterman. When Donso gets home, he finds that his wife is gravely ill. The only thing that can save her? Crocodile tears! Needless to say, Bamba and his family give gladly of their tears in exchange for freedom.
Diakite, an artist and storyteller from Mali, tells this entertaining tale with a rolling cadence and impeccable sense of timing. His full-page illustrations, originally painted on ceramic tiles, feature stylized black figures on a pastel blue and orange background. Together, words and pictures convey both the exciting atmosphere of the story and the magic of the storytelling experience. The Hunterman and the Crocodile is destined to be a much-requested “read-aloud.”
A Kirkus review is here
AWARDS: American Library Association Notable Books for Children (WON AWARD) 1998; Coretta Scott King Award (Honor Book Winner) 1998; A Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
Other books illustrated by Baba Wagué Diakité:
