When Africans were brought to this country, their stories came with them. Hare became Brer Rabbit and Hyena morphed into Brer Fox. Their escapades are still being shared today. Knowing the roots of legends and folktales in our culture can increase our appreciation for the cultural diversity in our land.

Find out more about Hare and Hyena online.

Or, see one of these books:

Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales, by Nelson Mandela (New York: Norton, 2002)

The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (Puffin, 1999) and Further Tales of Uncle Remus (Dial, 1990), both by Julius Lester and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Also, here are a couple of books about drums. The first is for adults; the second is a children's book:

Sacred Drumming, by Steven Ash (Sterling, 2004)

To Be a Drum, written by Evelyn Coleman and illustrated by Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson (Morton Grove, Illinois: Albert Whitman & Company, 1998), is a beautiful book about Africa, African Americans, and drums.

Many websites offer information on drums in a variety of cultures, so you needn't limit your exploration to African drums. Part of the beauty and great significance of the drum is that it is indigenous to almost every culture that has ever existed. You might research percussion instruments native to the land of your ancestors and present this information to children, who will surely appreciate the personal connection you make with this topic.