Esi the Brave
Ages 4–8
Esi is a brave Ghanaian girl who loves monsters and ghosts and things that go bump in the night. When her family goes to the Kakamotobi Festival — a vibrant masquerade celebration in Winneba, Ghana — Esi insists she's not afraid of anything. But when the festival's masked dancers surround her and she gets separated from Mummy and Daddy, Esi must find real courage to face the swirling, twirling monsters and demand her parents back. A joyful celebration of bravery, Ghanaian festivals, and the moment a child discovers what being truly brave means.
~$13.87Signed
Prices approximate. Confirmed at checkout.
Ships to the US · £9.95 · 7–14 days
Personally signed by Bernard. Ships from the UK.
Perfect for…
Inside the Book
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★ Starred“Mensah's onomatopoeia-laced narrative is a delight… A monstrously good time.”
— Kirkus Reviews
★ Starred“This cinematic picture book about conquering fear is sure to be a favorite read aloud.”
— Shelf Awareness
“My daughter kept saying, 'Esi did it even though she was scared.' That line seemed to stick with her long after we'd finished the book.”
— Parent
“Read this with my Year 1 class. The children were desperate to talk about which parts they would have found scary.”
— Teacher
“Bought this for my granddaughter. We ended up reading it twice in one visit.”
— Grandparent
Curriculum-aligned activities for the classroom or home.
Reading Comprehension
Questions about characters, setting, and themes in Esi the Brave. Includes retrieval, inference, and prediction activities based on Esi's journey through Kejetia Market.
Creative Writing Prompts
Guided writing activities inspired by Esi's adventure. Children write about a time they were brave, describe a busy market using their senses, and create their own Ghanaian adventure story.
Kente Pattern Design
Design your own Kente cloth pattern! Learn about the meaning of Kente colours and symbols, then create a unique pattern using the template grid.
Discussion Prompts
Circle-time discussion cards exploring bravery, family, community, and Ghanaian culture. Includes 12 open-ended questions suitable for whole-class or small-group discussion.
Ghana Cultural Exploration
Discover Ghana! Fact sheets about Kejetia Market, Kente cloth, Ghanaian food, and daily life. Includes a map activity and 'compare your community' worksheet.
Esi the Brave
£10.39 £12.99