It’s HERITAGE MONTH, so let’s celebrate all that our local authors have to offer with a range of South African home-grown books for all ages and stages.
Book Dash, a local, not-for-profit publisher has put chosen a couple of books to share with you. Their aim is to flood the country with books to address South Africa’s illiteracy crisis. As a social impact publisher, they believe that every child should own a hundred books by the age of five. To achieve this, Book Dash gathers creative professionals who volunteer to create new, African storybooks that anyone can freely translate and distribute.
Find out more and download the books, visit the Book Dash website.
Bau and the Baobab 
By Lesley Beake and Ann Walton (Tafelberg, R95)
Bau’s eyes are closed. She counts. When she opens her eyes, she does not see her friends. She only sees footprints and animal spoor . . . Perfect for beginner readers, Bau’s charming adventure playing hide and seek will delight and draw readers into the game. Which animals’ spoor can they identify? And is there an elephant hiding somewhere? Ages 0 – 6. Buy the book here.
How Lion Become King Of The Animals
By Chris Venter (Tafelberg, R195)
Whether they are called creation myths or origin stories, children love these highly imaginative tales of the origins of people, animals and the natural world. This anthology features 14 such tales, with a focus on the animals, people and breathtaking natural beauty of Africa. It includes the San people of Southern Africa’s striking story of how the stars and Milky Way were formed, as well as tales explaining how hippopotamus came to live in the water, how Jackal got his black saddle and more. Great for kids age 0 – 6 years. Buy the book here.
South African home-grown books for all ages and stages
Age 10 and up
The Boy and the Poacher’s Moon
By Pamela Newham (Human & Rousseau, R160)
Billy is one of four finalists chosen in the Wild2Save competition to spend a weekend in the Kruger Park. Their hosts, Bokkie and Schalk Kriek, promise a weekend exploring the bushveld and viewing the amazing wildlife. But on their first night they come face to face with a group of ruthless poachers and land in grave danger. Who is the mysterious boy, and the anonymous “Hornblower”? Will they help the four friends expose the villains and save the rhino? Ages 10 – 14. Buy the book here.
Buy the book here.
Soar
By Despina Senatore (Blue Monkey, R150)
Soar is a guidebook for young girls, aiming to instill confidence and resilience in them so that they can grow up to be strong and confident women who have much less insecurities and experience less imposter syndrome than the generations of women before them…like us.
The author, Despina Senatore is a South African mother of three young children. She wrote Soar! aimed at young girls and parents, but also to inform, empower and motivate young girls in under-resourced communities.
Soar is available to purchase from purposefulwoman.co.za for R150 (excluding courier fees). A small price to pay for a strong and confident future of a girl.
Also read: Hooked on Books
