A great story, a moral lesson and a trip to Africa.
The story
A time-honored Nigerian folktale, retold for today’s children and beautifully illustrated.
The moral lesson
Sharing and kindness, told in a way children remember long after the story ends.
Geography and culture
A child-friendly geography lesson about Nigeria, plus fun culture cards.
How the turtle got his cracks
Questions to ask at bedtime
Turn the story into a conversation.
Why didn’t the turtle want to share?
How do you think the birds felt?
What is something you can share today?
“I am from Zambia and I was told this story growing up. I didn’t know it was a Nigerian folktale but I was so excited to read it and pass it on to my daughter. My American husband was intrigued by the story too. Will purchase more books.”
Faith C. · Verified buyerSuch a great idea!
“My niece will love this.”
Terelle J. · Verified buyer
Stories with roots.
Ada Ari’s picture books return a piece of the African legacy that was lost over centuries of migration from the continent. Each one retells a time-honored folktale and pairs it with geography and culture lessons from the country it came from.
Read her storyOne for every night of the week.
Questions parents ask
Is this story only for Nigerian families?
Not at all. These stories are designed to be shared with audiences around the world, and their universal moral lessons work for children of all backgrounds.
Is it good for reading aloud to a class?
Yes. In fact, many schools have folktale mandates as part of their curriculum, and the culture cards and geography lesson add a social studies component too.
Where does it ship from?
From whichever of our hubs is closest to you. We ship from the US, the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, South Africa, Kenya and China.
The details
For classrooms
Bring African folktales into your reading corner with a classroom set.
Shop classroom sets