Africa Calling, Nighttime Falling

by Daniel Adlerman

A girl imagines herself in Africa with lions, elephants, monkeys, rhinos, zebras, and other animals

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Juvenile, Geography, Africa, Poetry, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

Reviews

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Africa Calling” belongs on the shelves of elementary libraries, reading teachers, science teachers, art teachers and artists, and parents of elementary aged children. The artwork by Kim Alderman is done with a variety of techniques, including water color and collage, to create gorgeous illustrations of African animals that have depth and depict their subjects realistically. ELA teacher can use this rhythmic text to teach many aspects of poetry, vivid verbs, and numerous non-fiction text features. The realistic images and the text and maps in the back matter provides Science teachers with a great tool for instruction in areas of habitat, adaptations, and threatened species. Great addition to so many types of libraries for a wide range of ages. Highly recommended by this librarian. Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss!

[Abby Hargreaves · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though paired with interesting illustrations in mixed media, Africa Calling: Nighttime Falling creates an overly complex poem for its purpose. Alderman seemingly weaves two different styles (one more concrete, the other more abstract) that don't flow well together and would likely leave younger audiences confused. A strong rhyming scheme helps with some of the flow and makes this a possible bedtime read.

[Luvy Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This simple and beautifully illustrated story is a lullaby of all the different African animals that go to sleep. The author writes of these animals that protect the children of Africa as they sleep. Each animal has a job in the night of the jungle. The animals described are the lion, elephant, viper, buffalo, monkeys, hippo, zebra, rhino, and many more. The author describes each and what they do at night.

[Aolund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful mixed-media illustrations and simple, effective rhyming text describing various African animals. A bedtime book.

[Jane Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty book with some fun sound words.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddie liked the rhyming, but we were especially into the art, the way it used real grass and cut out paper layered on the background.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A possible book to read for summer story time. Beautiful pictures. Simple text- poetic.

[Alice]

Rhyming text

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice 3-dimensional illustrations, picture book for bedtime.

[Jen]

(1996) A rhyming bedtime story about what animals do and the sounds they make as nighttime falls in Africa.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.