Another nice story I read to my six year old granddaughter. This one opens readers' eyes to the difference between traditional family connections and those of Africans who are in a hurry to be modern. This is done very well when Anna and her relatives go shopping for clothes suitable for her visit to cold-cold Canada. ( )

Anna Hibiscus, that goodhearted girl from Africa - "Amazing Africa!" - returns in this third book devoted to her adventures. Like its two predecessors, this volume contains four short stories, each devoted to the time shortly before Anna is to leave for her much-anticipated trip to Canada, to visit her Canadian grandmother. In Harmattan Garden, Anna learns that although her family must be very careful with the water in their well, during the dry season, others in the city are far less fortunate, and don't have any water at all. In Double Trouble for Anna Hibiscus, Anna is falsely accused of getting into the sweets jar, after she tries to pry it away from her mischievous toddler twin brothers. Anna Hibiscus's New Clothes sees Anna, her cousins, and her Grandmother heading to the shops to find warm clothes for the cold Canadian winter. Finally, Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus! finds Anna convinced her family has already forgotten her, when they are all to busy to spend time with her, the week before her departure. Little does she know the surprises in store...

Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus! was an absolute delight - engaging, entertaining and ultimately heartwarming! I enjoyed it every bit as much as the first two books featuring this lovable little girl and her extended family, all living together in a compound somewhere in West Africa (most likely Nigeria, as that is where author Atinuke come from). I appreciate the family dynamics here, from the respect shown by all for the authority of Grandfather and Grandmother, to the way that everybody in the family pitches in, when facing any challenge. I also appreciate the way in which Atinuke incorporates important social lessons into her stories, without descending into any kind of tiresome preaching. The story involving the water shortage, and the way in which Anna Hibiscus' big heart leads her and her family to find a solution, really warmed my heart! I read the first two in this series some time ago, and am glad that I have returned to it. I definitely intend to track down the next installment, Have Fun, Anna Hibiscus, which chronicles Anna's time in Canada, as soon as possible. Highly recommended to all beginning chapter-book readers, and to anyone seeking children's stories with an African setting. ( )

Anna Hibiscus is back! When I first discovered these beginning chapter books, I completely fell in love with them. They are unique in the beginning chapter book genre, especially realistic stories, which is overwhelmingly full of obnoxious and/or quirky girls in school with the occasional boy-constantly-in-trouble character. Anna Hibiscus takes the reader to a whole different culture and will introduce children to the idea that books really can make you travel to a fascinating and completely different land, something which is often advertised (how many times have you seen posters for traveling with books?) but rarely fulfilled except in fantasy.

In her third book, Anna Hibiscus and her family are living through the Harmattan, when the wind blows sand over their garden and the city and water is a precious commodity. In her first story, Anna and her family are carefully guarding their water to drink, wash, and keep their most beautiful garden green. But when the girls at their gate who sell oranges tell them of the drought in the city, the family decides together to water the children of the city instead of their garden. In her second story, Anna gets in big trouble because of her twin brothers Double and Trouble. But in the end, her grandparents make everything right. Anna’s third story reminds us of her promised trip to her mother’s relatives in Canada and the fulfillment of her wish to see snow; before she can go, she needs warm clothes and we get to see the contrast between the various stores in the city and the warmth and love between Anna’s mother and her mother-in-law. Finally, Anna is having second thoughts about her trip, especially when everyone seems to have forgotten her already! How can she go away for an entire month? But then her family shows her their wonderful surprises and she knows she will take their love with her on her wonderful adventure.

Anna is a cheerful and sometimes stubborn little girl whose experiences in a family, culture, and country very different from the United States will fascinate beginning chapter readers. She tends to look very young on the covers, so you will need to do some booktalking to get kids to take a break from their usual bland fare of girls and boys like them in schools like theirs in towns like theirs.

Verdict: Although these books may not get the high volume of circulation that the obnoxious Junie B. does, (seriously, that girl is ANNOYING), they are worth buying to add some variety and balance to your collection. Do a display on children in different countries, booktalk them to chapter book readers who are getting bored, have a beginning chapter book club with them. They come in paperback and are very reasonably priced, well worth adding to your library. A fourth book, Have Fun Anna Hibiscus, is also being released, detailing Anna’s adventures in Canada.

ISBN: 9781610670074; Published March 2011; Review copy provided by Kane Miller; Fourth title purchased for my library.