Maya Angelou herself creates a story with the stunning photographs taken by Margaret Courtney-Clarke. I wish there was an author's note describing this collaboration, especially how the photos came to be. How did they decide to focus on Kofi? Did Courtney-Clarke focus her photography on him, or did she and Angelou pick him out of a much larger set? Did Courtney-Clarke "embed" herself, following his trips? How did he really end up visiting the north and the Atlantic--was that arranged by a guardian, or by Courtney-Clarke? When did Angelou come in?

Still, as an introduction to Ghana, Kofi and His Magic definitely delivers. The story is a bit shoehorned in around the facts, but ultimately the voice that Angelou creates for Kofi is so charming that I kind of forgave the awkward/nonexistent transitions between places and ideas. Having Kofi imagine himself in different parts of the country probably helps kids realize that Africa is not the same everywhere--that even cities in the same country can look very different (painted houses vs. plain), and a boy in what looks like a town in the interior can visit the sea. Kofi shows us his Kente weaving, the table he carries to school on his head, the brightly painted buses that could take him to the city, the colorful houses up north, and the annual festival of Durbar where Kente cloth is on display. It's a whiz-bang introduction, but one many Americans will never get.

Charming and certainly a conversation starter. ( )

I didn't even glance at the author as i read this one evening to my granddaughter. It was so delightful that I quickly looked to see and of course! Maya Angelou! Of course!
Our older son was born in Kumasi, Ghana and the symbols and colors and scenes brought back all those wonderful memories of hospitality and joy. I just closed my eyes. ( )