Review by Jennifer Gouck Fifteen-year-old Amandla’s mother, Annalisa, has had a vision: if Amandla wears a blue bedsheet hastily fashioned into a dress to school today, its magic will bring her father, who has been missing since before she was born, home forever. Annalisa has lots of visions. She also has a broken memory that … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth Review: Sugar Town Queens
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Kariba
Originally published in 2018 as part of a Kickstarter campaign and forthcoming to a more global audience this August from Catalyst Press, Kariba is an adventurous fantasy middle grades graphic novel. As the South African-based creators note in an afterword, Kariba "draws heavily upon historical fact," taking its name from the real life Kariba Dam … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Kariba
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Pearl of the Sea
Set in South Africa, Pearl of the Sea* is a beautifully illustrated coming-of-age graphic novel for upper middle grade and YA readers. Pearl, whose mother abandoned the family long before the start of the story, lives with her father, Vernon—a restaurant owner and chef who is sinking deeper and deeper into financial trouble—and her beloved … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Pearl of the Sea
#INTLYALITMONTH: Crooks and Straights by Masha du Toit
Review by: John Kurtenbach Crooks and Straights by Masha du Toit The story at first sounds like the typical struggle between those with magic (Crooks) and those without (Straights). The plot follows young Gia as she learns about the abilities and special qualities of her younger brother, Nico. Cape Town had been a haven for … Continue reading #INTLYALITMONTH: Crooks and Straights by Masha du Toit
#INTLYALITMONTH: Spud by John Van de Ruit
Review by: John Kurtenbach Spud by John van de Ruit Spud is perhaps the most successful South African Young Adult title. Written in diary style, the story follows John “Spud” Milton and his adventures at a private school in 1990 South Africa. The book is a bildungsroman of sorts as Spud offers hilarious stories of … Continue reading #INTLYALITMONTH: Spud by John Van de Ruit
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: !Qhoi n|a Tjhoi. Skilpad en Volstruis. Tortoise and Ostrich
Long ago, animals and people from different clans lived together in the Kalahari. One of the clans was the San. The San men hunted with bows and arrows, while the women cooked food in clay pots that they made themselves. One day, a huge sandstorm came from the sky, and when it was over everything … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: !Qhoi n|a Tjhoi. Skilpad en Volstruis. Tortoise and Ostrich
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Mpumi’s Magic Beads and Mpumi and Jabu’s Magical Day
Mpumi is a young, fun-loving, warm-hearted South African girl who lives in Johannesburg. In these two delightful picture books, aimed at children ages 5-10, we discover more about her, her city and her friends. Both titles are available in all of South Africa's 11 languages; Mpumi and Jabu's Magical Day is also available in French. … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Mpumi’s Magic Beads and Mpumi and Jabu’s Magical Day
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Wanda
In two days, South Africa will observe Heritage Day, an annual reminder of the diversity of our people beyond our 11 official languages and ethnic groups. On this public holiday, people are encouraged to take pride in their roots and celebrate their ethnocultural heritage. In Wanda, a picture book for ages 4-8 by Sihle Nontshokweni … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Wanda
#WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Black Pimpernel: Nelson Mandela on the Run
A belated happy birthday, President Rolihlala "Nelson" Mandela! Pushkin Press has commemorated his life by publishing The Black Pimpernel: Nelson Mandela on the Run, a chapter book by Zukiswa Wanner with captivating black and white, comic book style illustrations by Amerigo Pinelli. This is the latest installment of the publisher's True Adventures series of historical … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Black Pimpernel: Nelson Mandela on the Run
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 