Today Sizwe learns that a smile is something you can give away without losing it.
Featured books
Tortoise finds his home
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Damian Gibbs
Languages: English, Afrikaans
Tortoise sets off in search of his house. Along the way, he meets new friends to help him. But the sky is darkening, and lightning flashes in the distance. Will Tortoise find his house in time?
Ouma Ruby's secret
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Anneliese Voigt-Peters
Languages: English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele, Sesotho, Sesotho sa Leboa, Setswana, Sepedi, tshiVenda, xiTsonga and Portuguese
Chris loves visiting his Ouma Ruby’s house to pick mulberries in the garden and to tell jokes and sing with his cousins. Chris especially loves it when Ouma Ruby takes him into town to buy books from the second-hand bookshop. Then one day Chris learns that OumaRuby has a secret …
The jungle box
Publisher:
Languages: English
Busi and Vusi find a big cardboard box. Inside the box is a collection of coloured cloths, which their Aunt uses for sewing. But Busi imagines that there are animals in the box. She shows Busi how to imagine that there are animals by dressing up in the cloths and pretending to be the animals.
The trader and the farmer
Publisher:
Languages: English
The farmer owes 500 rupees to the moneylender, because his greatgrandfather borrowed 50 rupees and this amount has grown with interest over the years. He walks with the rich, patronising trader to the moneylender. They tell each other stories, and then the farmer tricks the trader into paying his debt to the moneylender. The trader develops a grudging respect for the farmer.
Spots
Publisher:
Languages: English
The pages show different objects each with a different number of spots on it. The spots are coloured and can easily by seen and counted. The last page has a spotted dog and the spots cannot easily be counted.
Next stop – Zanzibar Road!
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Niki Daly
Languages: English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele, Sesotho, Sesotho sa Leboa, Lesotho Sesotho, Setswana, tshiVenda, xiTsonga and Portuguese
The quirky and much-loved gang from Zanzibar Road is back for another fun-filled adventure with Mama Jumbo, Little Chico and a host of colourful and entertaining characters that will delight children and adults alike. Let the adventures continue in Zanzibar Road!
A Fish and a Gift
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Jesse Breytenbach
Languages: English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Sepedi, isiXhosa, and isiZulu
Yusuf waits on the beach while Papa pushes out his boat. Surfers, turtles and sharks come from the sea. What will Papa bring back for Yusuf?
Sleepy Mr Sloth
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Graham Paterson
Languages: English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Sepedi, isiXhosa, and isiZulu
He’s quite good at climbing. He knows how to swing. But sleeping’s his favourite, favourite thing!
Come Back, Cat!
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Sam Scarborough
Languages: English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Sepedi, isiXhosa, and isiZulu
This is a delightful tale about an independent cat who has his OWN plans.
Shorty and Billy Boy: A Tale of Two Naughty Dogs
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Gerard Sekoto
Languages: Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Sepedi, French
Shorty and Billy Boy tells the tale of two troublesome dogs whose thieving ways take them to the far-away town of Porcupine Hills. Here they meet all sorts of interesting characters, but continue their mischief until Billy Boy is caught red-handed and sent to jail. Here he dreams about the kindness of others, and comes to realise that good deeds are the true measure of freedom.
Little Hands Books for Babies: 'Look at me!'
Illustrator:
Azette Prins
Languages: English, Afrikaans, IsiXhosa, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, IsiNdebele, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, German
Little Hands Books for Babies 1 is a set of board books specially designed to promote and nurture reading from early childhood. This is the first box set of four from Jacana Media and the Little Hands Trust, with a focus on vocabulary building and reading for enjoyment. ‘Look at me’ is one of the beautifully illustrated and fun stories that will capture a child’s attention and imagination!
Refilwe
Illustrator:
Tamsin Hinrichsen
Languages: Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu
Through the Best Loved Tales for Africa, we aim to grow a love of reading. “Refilwe, Refilwe, let down your locks, So I can climb the scraggy rocks!”
In a cave high up on a craggy cliff, beautiful Refilwe is allowed to see no one but the witch who locked her away. One day, Prince Tumi hears Refilwe singing as he is riding his horse near her cave and he searches for the owner of the magical voice. Will Refilwe ever be free from the evil witch? Will she ever find true love? An African retelling of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel by one of our best loved authors, Zukiswa Wanner, with
magical illustrations by Tamsin Hinrichsen will keep all children entranced, and grow a love of reading.
I Know That!
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Shayle Bester
Languages: Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu
Continuing the Bester sisters’ beloved Cool Nguni series,'I know that!' follows Gaps, the Nguni calf, as he introduces his friend, the youngest Cattle Egret, to the library. The little Cattle Egret is anxious for Gaps to think of him as smart, and every chance he gets he claims to know almost everything about everything! But when Gaps shows him the exciting world of reading and books, the Egret discovers that there is so much
more to get from learning than just shouting “I know that!” A book that truly celebrates and encourages a love of reading – this book should be in every library.
Theo the Cat
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Joan Rankin
Languages: English, Afrikaans
Theo lives with his mother, his brother and his sister, right next to the library. The other cats in town are only interested in food, fun and fighting, but not Theo. He loves to read. When Mrs Pratt, who dislikes everything, invites the town cats to live with her, only Theo is suspicious. Can he persuade the town cats not to go?
Sonny Jim and his Sister
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Hannah Morris
Languages: English
This story of a young boy’s life in a world of women will have familiar details for some South Africans. Sonny Jim is a dreamy boy who lives in Hillbrow with his mother, sister and aunt. His father has disappeared in “The War.” Each December, the household travels by train to Cape Town to spend Christmas with more aunts. This story has lots of reference to life in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The Singing Chameleon
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Kalle Becker
Languages: English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho
“Chameleon, you’re so ugly. You’re a disgrace to us all!”
is the continual cry of the river community.
Over time, Chameleon comes to believe these cruel words. Lonely and hopeless, he dreads the dawning of each new day. But fate intervenes when he meets a lark and an old man who set in motion events that transforms him. The singing Chameleon is an inspirational and compelling retelling of a Malawian tale by internationally respected author and storyteller, Gcina Mhlope, with bright and bold illustrations by well-known artist, Kalle Becker. The insecurity of Chameleon and the unkind behavior of the river community will strike a chord with readers both young and old.
Let There Be Peace - Prayers from Around the World
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Judy Daly
Languages: English, Afrikaans
Let There Be Peace was written by adults and children affected by war and strife. It is a collection of prayers from around the world. It is thought provoking and reminds us that peace begins with each one of us. These beautifully illustrated prayers ranging from a Christian prayer by South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu to a Hindu prayer from India, from a Muslim prayer to a Native American prayer from the USA brings together the world’s major religions in one united plea for understanding. Let There Be Peace shows us that we are united in our humanity and call for peace. We all pray for peace
be it in our world, our countries or in our own homes.
Touch
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Joan Rankin
Languages: English
Touch' is written in a simple rhyming style and addresses the issues of inappropriate touches and child abuse. Without being specific, it deals with a little girl's right to decide who may touch her and how. The fact that there are good and acceptable forms of touch is highlighted in the story, but the child's right to say no to any form of touch that makes him or her feel uncomfortable is the main point of the story.
Perfectly me
Publisher:
Illustrator:
Ian Lusted
Languages: English
The main character in the story is a messy young boy who has a neat and tidy sister. She is everything that he is not, but their mother loves them both equally. One day the messy child looks in a mirror and is shocked by the monster staring back at him. He decides to mend his grubby ways and clean himself up. With some effort, he manages to become clean but still a little untidy. He decides that his sister may be perfect, but that he is perfectly himself.