A collection of riddles from the various folk traditions of Africa, retold by the author of such popular picture books as Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, and Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, this slim volume presents forty-four questions, together with their answers. Grouped three to a page, with facing-page illustrations by artist Jerry Pinkney, who collaborated with Aardema on Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion, this is an attractively laid-out book.

I am not, generally speaking, a great fan of riddle and joke books, and probably would not have picked up Ji-Nongo-Nongo Means Riddles if I had not been in the midst of a Verna Aardema retrospective. Be that as it may, I did find it moderately enjoyable, and even (atypically) was able to answer some of the questions. Children who enjoy these sorts of puzzles are the primary target audience here though, and for them, this collection will provide an entertaining experience. ( )