Atinuke. Hooray for Anna Hibiscus! Lauren Tobia, Illus. Anna Hibiscus Series; bk. 3. Candlewick, 01/2023. 105pp. Fiction. GRADES 2 – 4. $16.99. 978-1-5362-2520-4. Paper $7.99. 978-1-5362-2525-9. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
In the third entry in this series, an extended Nigerian family is featured in four episodic chapters that focus on young Anna, an enthusiastic child who gets into some mischief. She sings for the President after a spell of stage fright, rebels against having her hair braided, plays games during a power outage, and poignantly visits a different neighborhood and learns about generosity. Although the text is fairly long for a transitional novel, it contains plenty of repetition, and ink drawings on every page help developing readers. A fun look at a different culture, showing similarities to family life in the U.S.
Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool