An African ABC, by Jacqui Taylor

An African ABC, by Jacqui Taylor.

Young children will enjoy the sound of the words read to them by an adult, older children will be stimulated to improve and increase their vocabularies, while adults will delight in the charming alliterations and imagery. Bright, detailed illustrations in 'An African ABC' (Jacqui Taylor) highlight the flora, fauna, places and customs of Africa.

Jacqui Taylor  

Imaginatively written and colorfully illustrated by Jacqui Taylor, An African ABC (featuring Christopher, Lauren, and the Cat) is one of those rare ABC books that can be as enthusiastically recommended for readers preschool through senior citizen! Preschoolers will benefit by learning their alphabet in a poetry style context; older children will improve their vocabularies and the use of the glossary; while adults will enjoy the Africa-based rhymes and illustrations providing information and insights into African flora, fauna, places and customs. Sturdily bound for an extended shelve life, An African ABC would make an original and welcome addition to any family, school, or community library collections.

Glossary: "A"

Aardvark
Antbear or anteater. Seldom seen, the aardvark is a solitary, nocturnal and shy animal. It is usually about 1.5 m long and weighs about 50 kgs. The aardvark lives almost exclusively on ants and termites, which it catches on its long, sticky tongue. Aardvarks live in a series of excavated burrows in woodland or grassland areas.

Acacia
A large tree, the most common species being the Acacia Karroo or mimosa thorn. There are long white spines on the branches, the pods are sickle-shaped, the leaves compound and the flowers spherical, yellow and fluffy.

African adventure
When we say 'Africa', we often think of its association with adventure: expeditions through jungles, safaris across wide open plains, white water rafting, hiking through rugged mountains and much more.

Ancient art rock art
Rock art is to be found on many exposed granite rock faces and the walls of caves throughout southern Africa. Pigment used was taken from lichen and soil, and mixed with blood, tree sap or animal fat. Scenes usually depicted animals, humans with their tools, weapons and adornments, in hunting or ritual scenes.

Antlion
The antlion larvae live half-buried in conical pits in the sand, 10 to 30 mm wide. If an ant or small insect stumbles into the pit, sand is flicked at it until it falls to the bottom. The antlion then catches it and sucks it dry. The nocturnal adult has wings that resemble a dragonfly's, but it does not fly very well.

Archeological find
Many artefacts of past societies have been found and recorded on archeological digs in Africa, such as cooking pots, drinking vessels, beads, tools of rock and bone and copper ingot crosses. Also recorded are rock paintings, remains of stone walling and construction or excavation of many kinds. [...]

This is an excerpt from the book: An African ABC, by Jacqui Taylor.

Title: An African ABC
Author: Jacqui Taylor
Publisher: Random House Struik
Imprint: Lifestyle
Cape Town, South Africa 2001
ISBN 9781868727032 / ISBN 978-1-86872-703-2
Softcover, 15x22 cm, 72 pages, numerous illustrations