Author Profile
Margaret Musgrove
2 Books
Margaret Musgrove is a children's author best known for picture books that introduce young readers to African cultures, legends, and traditions. Her best-known work, Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions, presents an alphabet of African peoples and is widely recognized as a classic nonfiction picture book. She also wrote The Spider Weaver: A Legend of Kente Cloth, a retelling of a Ghanaian legend about the origins of kente cloth.
Twenty-six letters open the door to many different African peoples, places, and traditions.
Ashanti to Zulu is an alphabet book with the richness of a cultural treasury. Each letter introduces a different African group, sharing details about clothing, homes, customs, celebrations, and daily life. The text is brief enough for younger readers, but the information and artwork invite older children to look more closely and ask better questions.
With Margaret Musgrove’s clear, respectful writing and the Caldecott Medal-winning illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon, this classic picture book is both beautiful and informative. It is a strong choice for readers who enjoy nonfiction, world cultures, art, and books that reward careful observation.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
34 Pages
A shining web deep in the forest changes the way two weavers see their work.
In this retelling of a Ghanaian legend, two Ashanti weavers discover a spider spinning a pattern so delicate and beautiful that it seems almost magical. The web’s colors and design inspire them to return to their village and try something new at their looms.
The Spider Weaver brings together folklore, art, and cultural history in a graceful picture book about creativity and tradition. As you follow the weavers’ discovery, you can see how careful watching, imagination, and respect for nature help give rise to kente cloth, one of the world’s most celebrated woven textiles.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
54 Pages
