I got this ex-library hardcover at a local Savers thrift shop. It's a children's book about a 17th-century town in West Africa - based on Benin, but with details not available from the historical record. There are detailed illustrations showing a bird's-eye view of the town, buildings, and farmland, with closeup views of the Oba's palace, various craftspeople and artists, fabrics and sculptures, and more. The text explains the history, culture, and politics of the village at the time, and there are glimpses into the daily lives of the people - what they wore, what they ate, what kinds of work they did. The book closes with a "time traveler's guide," describing the region as if you were preparing to visit it yourself! (I love this kind of thing; it adds so much depth to the location and its history.)

I left this book in the Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in MA here.]

** Released for the 2023 Oh, the Places We Can Go challenge. **