For centuries, the Africa continent has introduced works for children by writers who represent different cultures and world views. These works play a role in shaping minds, affecting the self-image and development of children. Being aware of this, African writers for children produce works that "decolonize" their minds, especially that this continent suffered from colonialism. The Arabian Nights and African folktales have affected children’s literature in the east and west, but western development in writing for children has also affected African writers in the north and south. The exchange happened because, on the one hand, many westerners lived in Africa during the colonial era; and on the other, Africans who were forced to go to America during the Middle Passage carried with them fresh stories that were different and captivating. Whereas Ali Baba, Sindbad, Aladdin have inspired writers for children in the west, Africans have been inspired by western ideas of freedom and equality. Africans communicate this sense of freedom to liberate their own countries. The aim of this paper is to discuss trends in writing for children in Africa to “decolonize” the African child. The three trends involve reviving the oral tradition, resisting stereotypical ideas and maintaining a sense of identity. Messages that empower children in works by Joel Chandler Harris (Uncle Remus), Tololwa Mollel (The Orphan Boy), Chinua Achebe (The Flute and The Drum) highlight the richness and beauty of Africa and the value of cultural preservation. Like them, Abdel-Tawab Youssef in Egypt wrote stories in which Sindbad meets King Kong, and prominent western figures meet their counterparts (Florence Nightingale/Rufaida Bent Saad, Newton/Alhassan Ibn Alhaytham, Wright Brothers/Abbas Ibn Firnas, Durkheim/Ibn Khaldun). He used the Socratic dialogue to enrich the imagination of children in ways that ought to be explored.