Mansa Musa is one of the most intriguing figures of the ancient world. He is a person that I didn't learn almost anything about during my time as a high school or university student, and only heard about later via YouTube and TV Documentaries mentioning him. It presents the legendary ruler's journey in a clear, enrapturing way and is coupled with highly detailed, stylized imagery to help kids/learners through the journey. This isn't a historical accounting or a deep dive, but it does a lot to fill out the legendary king's journey to Mecca. I love the color choices and the way that the central figures are striking while the background melds a bit together. This coupled with the text make the pages flow in an easy to follow way, almost like a quick movie. 100% recommend the book to parents trying to introduce some history to their kids!
This is an easy-to-read pictorial storybook about the life of Mansa Musa, the ruler of the Mali empire in the 14th Century. Together with beautifully created illustrations, this book encapsulates the brief history of the man and relives Mansa's famous pilgrimage to Mecca and his amazing feat of destabilizing the Egyptian economy due to his generosity and untold wealth. This is a delightful book suited for children of all ages that teaches them the goodness of people without politics and religion getting in the way. A truly fun and inspirational read for the whole family.
This book presents the engaging story of Mansa Musa told in clear and concise text that is easy for school age children to read, but will appeal to readers of all ages.
Information is also presented about the expansion of the kingdom of Mali and its natural resources.
Beautifully appealing illustrations enhance the story to bring the text to life.
Highly recommended for any school or home library.
Mansa Musa, the Golden King, seems to be the stuff fairy tales are made of. Fortunately, for history, he appears to have lived. This story is important because it exposes one of the biggest lies ever: Africans have never accomplished anything. That's a sad commentary, so effective that even African Americans have embraced it. More importantly, though, Mansa Musa's rule and his journey across Africa to Mecca emphasize the king's generosity and benevolence. Imagine a leader today being one-tenth the leader Mansa Musa was. The book is wonderfully illustrated in soft and fuzzy earthly colors. I give it big stars for bringing to life one of the most important people to be written out of history.
Both The Story of Mansa Musa: The Golden King and Before Columbus: The Journey of Mansa Abu Bakr by Ja'far Asad are engaging, visually stunning, and historically rich. Perfect for young readers, these books highlight African greatness, culture, and exploration in a way that's rarely taught in schools.