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William Gumede Spreads the Word Among the Illiterate

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 26 Sep 2011   |   

The worst thing about growing up a bookworm in a South African squatter camp wasn’t the dearth of books.

Reading was “un-African,” William Gumede remembers. It wasn’t manly, like sports or kite-flying. So if you did get your hands on a book, you’d better have a good place to hide it, or you’d get a beating and see your book ripped up.

The day he heard that a mobile library was coming to a nearby township in Eastern Cape province, he and a friend walked miles to see it, and the library card he was given changed his life.

“It opened another world for me, a world running parallel to my own world,” says Gumede, 41. “I read about boys my age doing all kinds of things in other parts of the world. It broadened my horizons.”

But every time he went to the library, his book carefully hidden in a plastic shopping bag, he had to brave the gangs of boys he’d meet along the way.

“To be seen with a book was to be seen as sissy, so I had many fights. I remember very clearly, one of the books got torn. It was one of the boys three years older than me. He said: ‘Why have you got a book? What’s wrong with you?’ Five or six others tried to grab the book, and in the struggle a page was torn out.”

Today, Gumede is a prominent political biographer who recently began writing children’s books. He is part of a chorus of writers and educators who are wondering how South Africa can attain its dream of a successful multiracial democracy if great swaths of the population don’t read books.

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Book details

• A Kite’s Flight by William Gumede, illustrated by Maya Sereda
  EAN: 9781770098046
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African Children's Literature at the Open Book Festival

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 19 Sep 2011   |   

Nearly 10 years ago, Africa’s Best 100 Books listed only four titles for children and young readers.

One of those was Mamy Wata and the Monster, by Veronique Tadjo, from Côte d´Ivoire and currently residing in South Africa. Ms Tadjo will participate in a discussion around contemporary African children’s literature at the Open Book Festival in Cape Town this week.

The event will take place on Wednesday 21 September from 2pm to 3pm at Lobby Books at 6 Spin Street. It is hosted by the African Arts Institute.

Ms Tadjo will be joined by local writer Sindiwe Magona, whose children’s titles include The Best Meal Ever and Life is a Hard but Beautiful Thing, and Tanya Barben, who heads up the University of Cape Town Library’s Rare Books portfolio where she also keeps an impressive and ever-growing South African Children’s Literature Collection. The discussion will be moderated by independent editor of children’s titles, Glynis Lloyd.

The participants will present their own acclaimed contributions to contemporary children’s literature from Africa and discuss what other countries, regions and language groups are offering the continent’s young readers. A selection of African children’s literature will be available for sale at the event.

Moderator and independent editor Glynis Lloyd has published stories, novels, plays, short stories, poetry and non-fiction for children of all ages.

Véronique Tadjo is a writer, academic, artist and author who was born in Paris, grew up in Abidjan and has lived all over the world, including the US and Nigeria. She is currently based in Johannesburg where she heads up the French department at Wits University. Veronique’s titles for children include: Lord of the Dance, Mamy Wata and the Monster, The Lucky Grain of Corn, Grandma Nana, If I were a king, if I were a queen, Talking Drums (a selection of poetry) and Chasing the Sun (a selection of stories).

• Read complete article at Artlink

National Book Week to Mark a New Culture of Reading in SA

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 08 Sep 2011   |   

January 8 2012, the beginning of the year-long celebrations of the centenary of the ANC, is around the proverbial corner. In spite of what agenda might be brewing in some hideous crucible to attempt to destroy the ANC or besmirch its image, Africa, the diaspora and the rest of the international community are busy with preparations to celebrate the centenary in solidarity with the ANC and South Africa.

What does our National Book Week have to do with the above? It is worth noting that the first secretary-general of the ANC, Solomon T Plaatje, was a major literary figure, a prominent translator and an outstanding publicist, to name just a few of his contributions to the development of our culture. And that is an integral part of our heritage.

But even before the existence of the book, storytellers were the custodians of a people’s collective experience and memory, which informed and influenced their cultural values. In short, even before the book, literature was, and remains, a major repository of a people’s memory and cultural values, one of the most important components of a people’s heritage.

So at what point are we today in relation to literacy and the reading habits required to open “the doors of learning and culture”?

It is not a secret that reading is not anywhere near being one of our favourite national pastimes. For instance, in Soweto, the largest township in the land, there are more spots where people spend many hours and a lot of money drinking than there are libraries where people could spend time developing and recreating themselves to be more productive members of society.

Alcohol abuse is a national problem and concern for those who care about the health of the nation.

The young, and others not so young, are more familiar with, and more readily excited by, trends in fashion and the whims of celebrities than they are with books and writers. They consume more fashion than knowledge and culture, a friend and colleague of mine observes.

One of the shops selling designer clothes at Maponya Mall, in Soweto, is among the more profitable ones in Gauteng, I’m told. Yet (it makes you want to holler from the rooftops), the first shop to shut down at that mall was a bookstore!

• Read Complete Article at Timeslive

Jock Gets Ready for the Red Carpet

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 12 Jul 2011   |   

Adapted from the classic South African novel, Jock of the Bushveld tells the epic, true-life story of a man and his faithful dog, Jock.

The world premiere of the film at Johannesburg’s Montecasino will be in keeping with the spirit of conservation – with all proceeds going to an anti-poaching campaign, the Rhino Action Group Effort (Rage).

Andy Rice, the head of marketing for the film, said VIP guests would include Canadian rock star Bryan Adams, who provided the voice for the hero and also wrote some music for the film.

Others include musician Johnny Clegg – whose hit Spirit of the Great Heart featured in a previous Jock film – Craig Hinds of rock group Watershed and songbird Nianell.

Other voices in the movie include those of multiple award-winner Donald Sutherland, Oscar winner Helen Hunt and TV and film star Ted Danson.

Rice said the R500 tickets for the event would ensure guests received “the full Hollywood experience”.

• Read complete article at Timeslive

Book details

• Jock of the Bushveld by Penguin Books
  Book homepage
  EAN: 9780143527589
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African 2011 Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards Winner

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 22 Jun 2011   |   

Congratulations to Maja Sereda and William Gumede. Maja Sereda has won the 2011 Crystal Kite Member Choice Award, Africa region for her illustrations of A Kite’s Flight.

The SCBWI is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural 2011 Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards.

The Crystal Kite Awards are given by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators to recognize great books from the 70 SCBWI regions around the world. Along with the SCBWI Golden Kite Awards, the Crystal Kite Awards are chosen by other children’s book writers and illustrators, making them the only peer-given awards in publishing for young readers.

This richly illustrated book tells the story of how Andile and his father make a kite. While flying the kite, its string breaks releasing the kite on an epic journey across Africa. From the thundering Victoria Falls and the snow tops of Kilimanjaro, to the Sahara Desert and ancient Egyptian Pyramids, follow the kite’s flight over some of the great landmarks of Africa!

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Book details

• A Kite’s Flight by William Gumede, illustrated by Maya Sereda
  EAN: 9781770098046
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Zambian Lubuto Library Project Realises Education Vision

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 20 Jun 2011   |   

SUB-SAHARAN Africa faces serious social and economic challenges, yet none is greater than the devastation that the HIV/AIDS pandemic brings to the continent’s children.

As adults become sick and many die, vast numbers of young people are left without able caretakers, resources and without hope.

But in the heart of Lusaka is the Fountain of Hope where the Lubuto Library projects are providing safe and beautiful refuge that opens the world of learning to Africa and to some of Zambia’s vulnerable yet valuable children.

In buildings that faithfully reflect indigenous design, the Lubuto Library is a refuge of literacy, learning, self-expression and cultural enlightenment for the orphans and vulnerable children left out of schools.

June 2, will forever be remembered with fond memories by the less privileged lads at Lusaka’s Fountain of Hope, as the day was significant to them because the Lubuto Library project president Jane Meyers launched the ‘New literacy Tools for Zambia’ at the centre.

The project would definitely open many doors for the orphans and other vulnerable children whose single door was closed.

Located in Kamwala Township, Lubuto Libraries offers young people educational opportunities, fostering their intellectual and emotional development and participation in society.

At the first library opening ceremony in Lusaka, first republican president Kenneth Kaunda declared the initiative as “a brilliant idea,” a place to help vulnerable children “grow in knowledge and power.”

He described the library as a place where “we are still holding on to humanity.” Lubuto made significant progress in 2009 towards realising its vision for the libraries projects as centres for a range of educational enrichment opportunities for vulnerable children and youths in sub Saharan Africa, in enhancing knowledge.

The first library was opened at the Kamwala Fountain of Hope Foundation while construction of the second facility at the Ngwerere School in Lusaka’s Garden Township was completed in November 2010.

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Technology in the South African Classroom

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 06 Jun 2011   |   

Teachers in a South African primary school are using Microsoft’s interactive hands-free gaming systems, Xbox Kinect, to improve English literacy among learners. Microsoft says both learners and teachers have embraced the new technology in the classroom. Victor Ngobeni, Manager of Microsoft’s Africa School Technology Innovation Centre, will present a workshop about the study, which is a world first, at the upcoming African Education Week in Johannesburg from 6-8 July.

Games used in all three learning areas
The study is taking place at the Lakeside Primary School in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and six Xbox Kinect units were installed in the school’s Grade 1, 2 and 3 classrooms in March. Says Victor Ngobeni: “Teachers integrate it into formal lessons for 2 to 3 hours three times a week. The other time spent playing is purely for enjoyment. Although the games are used in all three learning areas, it appears that numeracy (maths) is being integrated more often than the other two as all the games have scores and these are being used in lessons on counting, number concept, basic operations and data collecting. Games like Kinect Sport, Kinectimals and Joyride have also been used in lessons on road safety, transport, wild animals, pets, diminutives and good sportsmanship.”

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Piet Grobler Draws Children to Read More

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 09 May 2011   |   

One of South Africa’s leading children’s books illustrators, Piet Grobler, recently joined forces with Marita van der Vyfer, who translated some of the best-loved Grimm fairytales into Afrikaans for her latest book, Die Mooiste Sprokies van Grimm (Human & Rousseau, R275).

“There’s lots to work with,” says this veteran in the field, who also teaches illustration in the UK. He has been suffering from a frozen shoulder for a while, not the ideal affliction for an illustrator, but these stories gave him a chance to set his mind free with some imaginative drawings.

A sense of humour is one of the most important elements when sketching embellishment to such iconic stories. It’s about using and playing with the caricatures and, for Piet, it is about a particular style. “I have developed specific tools like birds that are used to bring a message of many different kinds.” And these Grimm tales were an easy task. Because of the nature of the stories selected by Marita, the aim was to entertain the kids and not add more layers and dimensions to already well established stories.

That’s something he enjoys, though – the different demands on an illustrator. Sometimes it is simply as an illustration, but, at other times, his drawings play a much larger part in the telling of the tale.

He has teamed up with his brother, fine artist Diek Grobler, who among other things creates and produces animated movies. They use some of Piet’s illustrations, like the letters of the alphabet illustrated by the artist, to tell a particular story for kids who are taught the alphabet in a fun manner.

But when joined to the hip with someone in the sense of illustrating a book, Piet believes it is important that they have a similar vision and that one doesn’t try to outshine the other. They should be on the same page about the way the illustrations will be used. With these Grimm tales, the drawings were simply an extension of the stories.

But when you study a Piet Grobler illustration, it’s seldom that simple. His style is so unique and distinctive that when his work is used with a particular story, he can’t help slipping in a thought or two.

Through the years he has developed a very distinct style. Once you are familiar with his work, it is easy to distinguish his particular illustrations.

He has been a festival artist at the Klein Karoo Arts Festival.

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Book details

• Little Birds’ ABC by Piet Grobler
  EAN: 9781932425529
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Top 3 Books for Preschoolers from Cape Town's Child Magazine

by Chelsea on 23 Mar 2011   |   

Over the Rainbow By Eric Puybaret and Judy Collins
Eric Puybaret’s breathtaking artwork will lead readers on a magical journey over the rainbow and way up into the sky where happy little bluebirds fly and dreams really do come true. With a CD featuring an exquisite rendition of Over the Rainbow , plus two other songs performed by Grammy Award winner Judy Collins, this beautiful set is sure to delight and touch the hearts of parents and children alike.

Tractor Factory By Elinor Bagenal and Steve Augarde
Children aged four to eight can have fun with this pop-up book that follows the assembly line of a tractor factory. With tabs to pull and lots of moving parts, the book allows young readers to help to build the perfect tractor. The engine needs to be lowered onto the chassis, the front-end loader needs to be fitted, and everything must be checked to see if it’s in working order. This book will fascinate all young mechanics. Note: some of the small parts can be choking hazards for little children.

Room on the Broom Colouring Book By Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
The award-winning duo, Donaldson and Scheffler, have released this fun activity book based on the original Room on the Broom story, which was translated into 21 languages. But this is more than just a colouring-book- children can paint, draw, join the dots, complete words and copy pictures too. Scheffler’s illustrations are again a winner and your child will love the good-natured witch -warts and all- and all the quirky animals.

Book details

• Over the Rainbow by Eric Puybaret, Judy Collins, E. Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
  EAN: 9780330520492
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• Tractor Factory by Elinor Bagenal, Steve Augarde
  EAN: 9781935021001
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• Room on the Broom Colouring Book by Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler
  EAN: 9780330505925
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

Latest Release from Tafelberg

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 23 Mar 2011   |   

A Wish This Big by Ingrid Mennen and Katrien Coetzer
What Rashied wants most is something round. “Something round?” Grandpa asks at bedtime, and the following morning at breakfast. When Rashied pours milk around the porridge in his blue bowl, he suddenly sees an island in the bowl in front of him! It’s Robben Island!

Then Grandpa tells the story of his time on the island, years ago, and how their soccer games made them forget that they were imprisoned, made them feel free again like the birds hovering over the island.

This is a gentle, poetic picture book that will warm the hearts of grandparents and grandchildren alike.

• Visit NB Publishers

Book details

• A Wish This Big by Ingrid Mennen, Katrien Coetzer
  Book homepage
  EAN: 9780624048831
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