Books by Verna Aardema

Verna Aardema writes picture books and middle grade for ages 4–8, exploring themes of fairy tales & mythology, nature & outdoors, justice & fairness.

Standalone Books

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

Verna Aardema

A mosquito's tiny lie sets off a chain of events that leads to tragedy in the jungle, leaving him forever whining for fo

Ages 4–8

Oh, Kojo! How Could You! An Ashanti Tale

Verna Aardema

A clever young man named Kojo uses his wits to finally get the upper hand against the notoriously tricky Anansi in this

Ages 4–8

Bimwili & the Zimwi: A Tale from Zanzibar

Verna Aardema

A young Swahili girl must use her wits to escape after she is snatched by a Zimwi and forced to become the voice inside

Ages 4–8

Princess Gorilla and a New Kind of Water: A Mpongwe Tale

Verna Aardema

For the child who enjoys outsmarting a silly rule. This playful tale explores how cleverness and working together can ov

Ages 4–8

Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion

Verna Aardema

A nimble rabbit teams up with a bush-rat and a turtle to use his wits and outscale the slow-witted king of the forest in

Ages 4–8

Borreguita and the Coyote

Verna Aardema

A clever little lamb must use her quick wits and tricks to keep a hungry coyote from turning her into dinner.

Ages 4–8

Traveling to Tondo

Verna Aardema

A civet cat heading to his own wedding encounters a series of unexpected and humorous delays in this rhythmic folktale.

Ages 4–8

The Lonely Lioness and the Ostrich Chicks

Verna Aardema

A clever mongoose hatches a plan to outsmart a lonely lioness and return a group of stolen ostrich chicks to their right

Ages 4–8

This for that: A Tonga Tale

Verna Aardema

Rabbit uses her wits to outsmart the other animals of the African plain, trading her way to a belly full of treats in th

Ages 4–8

Anansi Does the Impossible! An Ashanti Tale

Verna Aardema

Anansi and his clever wife use their wits to trick the Sky God and reclaim the stories that belong to their people in th

Ages 4–8

By Age Range

Ages 4–7

10 books

Ages 8–11

10 books