Amazing Africa Projects You Can Build Yourself has been awarded the Gelett Burgess Children's Book Honor for 2011. Learn more at the Gelett Burgess Center for creative expressions.

School Library Journal  —"This book has an enormous amount of information, covering history, occupations, ethnic groups, daily life, geography, recreation, music, and more. The introduction includes a full-page, labeled map of Africa and the surrounding waters. Each chapter is easy to understand, with just enough facts to give readers a picture of this fascinating continent. “Words to Know” boxes appear in each chapter, resulting in more than 200 highlighted words with definitions. The book includes well-known topics (Nile River, rainforest, savanna, ancient Egypt, etc.) as well as natural wonders, minerals, wildlife, and challenges such as AIDS and hunger. Additional sidebars provide information on beadwork, Kente cloth, Adinkra printing, shantytowns, 2010 World Cup, and more. The 25 projects require easily obtainable materials and can be completed in two to seven steps. All are illustrated with black-and-white drawings. Fascinating trivia further enhances the experience, such as the double meanings of Zulu bead colors, the more than 1000 different languages spoken in Africa, and how in Ethiopia tables are covered with flatbread that diners break apart to wrap around their food. This title will be useful for assignments and/or programming ideas."

CALLIOPE Magazine—"Amazing Africa by Carla Mooney  is chock full of interesting facts, wordhelps, and sidebars that complement the great variety of activities.  Definitely a book you will use as a regular resource.  You might also consider its “sibling”: Discover the Desert, The Driest Place on Earth by Kathy Ceceri (Nomad, 20100)".

Booklist — "Casual and informative, this large, attractive, browsable paperback in the Build It Yourself series offers a view of contemporary African life that reaches far beyond the usual scenery-and-wildlife tourists’ perspective. Blending history, culture, and tradition with politics and life in both cities and rural areas, the chapters begin with a look at natural wonders and dangerous wildlife that will grab readers, then move onto historical discussions of humankind’s birthplace and early civilizations. Views of daily life today show the continent’s vast diversity: in a city apartment, a teen might surf the Internet, but most Africans live in smaller, more rural communities, where there may be no electricity or running water. The author also discusses AIDS orphans, many of whom live homeless in the streets of shantytowns. The open design includes sketches on every page. Many readers may skip the craft projects––make your own Maasai beaded necklace, kente cloth, woven basket, galimoto doll, and much more––and go straight to the facts."