Akiti the Hunter Series Lands on Back-to-School Reading Lists — Ranking in the Top 4% of All Books Sold on Amazon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Afrofuturist series rooted in Yoruba mythology is gaining traction with parents, teachers, and librarians as a classroom-ready pick for the new school 2026/27 year
DANVILLE, Calif. — 03 Aug 2026— As families and educators build their back-to-school reading lists, the Akiti the Hunter series — the first African superhero series in U.S. children's literature — is emerging as a standout choice for classrooms and home libraries alike, with all three books in the series ranking in the top 4% of all books sold on Amazon.
Created by Denise Mobolaji Ajayi Williams, Akiti the Hunter follows an action hero drawn from African folklore, offering young readers a superhero who reflects their own heritage, something the author found conspicuously missing from her own child's bookshelf.
"I couldn't explain to my son why none of his favorite superheroes looked like his father, his uncles, or his grandfather," said Williams. "Akiti was my answer to that question, and now it's an answer classrooms across the country are embracing as they build more inclusive reading lists."
A back-to-school must-have for inclusive classrooms
With schools nationwide prioritizing diverse, representation-driven literature as part of their required and recommended reading lists,Akiti the Hunter offers educators a curriculum-ready title. The series is cataloged on TeachingBooks.net with original classroom resources, including a Story Map lesson, a Fairy Tales and Folklore multi-leveled lesson, and vocabulary and comprehension graphic organizers, making it an easy addition to any English Language Arts lesson plan, folklore unit, or social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum for grades 1–6.
Proven demand across the full series
The series has resonated well beyond the classroom. As of this release:
Akiti the Hunter Part I ranks in the top 1.72% of all books sold on Amazon
Akiti the Hunter, Akiti Falls in Love Part II ranks in the top 4% of all books sold on Amazon
Akiti the Hunter, Akiti and the Juju Tree Part III ranks in the top 1.67% of all books sold on Amazon
Rated: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Part I:
Akiti the Hunter is an exciting story full of adventure. With bright, colorful pictures and a touching message, it invites kids to explore their imagination. Akiti has magical dust that lets him turn into any forest animal, and his uplifting song inspires young readers. The story teaches that strength alone does not always win.
Part II:
In this part, Akiti tries to win the heart of Fatima but realizes it's harder than facing jungle beasts. The King offers Akiti a chance to fight for the crown of Ife. He must face three tough battles against princes Ayo, Akin, and Ade to become king.
Part III:
Akiti marries Fatima, and they have a daughter, Nadia. A father’s love is strong, and Akiti faces a challenge from the magical Juju Tree, which makes a bet for something very valuable to him. Will he give in or fight? Discover his adventures in the final part of the series!
That consistency across three books signals sustained reader demand — not a single viral moment — making the series a lower-risk, higher-confidence pick for teachers building a classroom library or a summer-to-fall reading list transition.
The series has also drawn national media attention. Black Enterprise has covered the story behind the book's creation, and CNBC Africa has pointed to Akiti the Hunter as part of a broader movement toward more African-led hero stories in youth media. The Huffington Post has noted recognition from institutions including Harvard University Coop, the Library of Congress, and the NAACP Author's Pavilion.
A resource for parents seeking representation-driven reading
For parents assembling a back-to-school reading list at home, Akiti the Hunter offers a chance to put a culturally rooted, adventure-driven story into their child's hands — one that centers African folklore and Afrofuturist storytelling while delivering the action and excitement kids look for in a hero story.
"Every child deserves to see themselves as heroic, no matter where they come from," said Ajayi-Williams. "That's the message I hope every classroom and every family carries into this school year."
Akiti the Hunter Parts I, II, and III are available now on Amazon in print and digital formats.
About Denise Williams
Denise Williams is the creator of Akiti the Hunter and Founder & Executive Producer of BAPS Animation Studio, which is expanding the Akiti universe into animation. She is also Co-founder of SV-NED Inc. (Silicon Valley-Nigerian Economic Development), a Forbes Business Council member and contributor, a UN Peace Ambassador, and founder of Working Moms in 20s. The Akiti the Hunter series has toured internationally, with stops in Berlin and Amsterdam, and is cataloged on State of California Indie Library and TeachingBooks.net for classroom use nationwide.
Media Contact:info@svned.com or visit https://akitithehunter.com