Australia to Zimbabwe : A Rhyming Romp Around the World to 24 Countries

1 Response

  1. Ruth says:

    Hi, I’m Ruth Fitts, author of Australia to Zimbabwe. I’d like to thank Dr. Crofts and Africa Access for reviewing my book. I particularly appreciate Dr. Crofts’ suggestion that I add information on how poorly paid black workers contributed to the wealth of white farms in Rhodesia. That’s an important part of the economic picture that I and my Zimbabwean editor failed to include. I will be adding that information to the next edition.

    The Zimbabwe chapter covers more historical eras than most countries in the book. The focus is on periods that particularly shaped the Zimbabwean cultural identity including the Monomotapa Empire (Great Zimbabwe) and Chimurenga (the struggle for black rule). It also covers land reform in the early 2000’s, describing the historical inequalities that drove the need for land redistribution in Zimbabwe.

    There are also lots of fun things in the chapter like a craft to make your own Zim-inspired sculpture, a recipe for Zimbabwean Greens (Muriwo Unedovi) and Shona proverbs. I encourage readers to check out the Zimbabwe chapter on my website: http://www.australiatozimbabwe.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Z-is-for-Zimbabwe-Sample-Chapter-from-Book.pdf

    If you are a Zimbabwean or an African studies scholar and you have suggestions for changes to “Z is for Zimbabwe,” or any other of the African countries in the book, I’d love to hear them. Each chapter in the book had many editors pre-publication (including scholars and people from the country), but there are always new insights, ideas or errors that we missed. I am currently preparing the second edition of Australia to Zimbabwe and I am always looking for ways to improve each country introduction for kids. Please email me with your suggestions at contact@australiatzimbabwe.com.

    Africa Access has been a wonderful resource and aid in improving Australia to Zimbabwe, providing important feedback and advice pre-publication. I’m delighted that they are still pushing the book further in the right direction post-publication. Africa Access’ contribution to improving children’s literature about Africa is invaluable for teachers, parents, kids and authors like myself.

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