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Khumo Tapfumaneyi is one of five moms on a mission to empower African children by making diverse reading materials easily accessible through their online bookstore, Ethnikids.
Here she reviews 3 of the latest beautiful children's books available to young South African readers.
Find free resources for little readers in our STORYTIME hub!
There is nothing we love more than new book releases at Ethnikids.
Here are some titles that are about to hit the shelves in South Africa and would be lovely additions for anyone looking to grow their child's existing collection or add some diversity to their home or school library.
I Have Brown Skin and Curly Hair
The first book is a rhyming picture book called 'I Have Brown Skin and Curly Hair' by Karen Theunissen.
It deals with the often-untold story of the experiences of a young girl with mixed-race heritage growing up in a family where everybody looks different. Karen studied law, is a mom and a blogger called @mumziboo.
She was the winner of Jacana Media's Pitch to Publication submission in 2018, and this is her first book. It is illustrated by Charles Gibbons – an artist who is a former recipient of the prestigious Brown Velvet Award.
The book is available in English, Afrikaans, isiZulu and isiXhosa.
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The second book, Nobody loves me, is a picture book about a little boy who feels emotionally disconnected from his family and a little bit lost.
It also deals with the thorny issue of children equating material things with love.
It's a fine offering from first-time author Zaida Harneker. It was independently published and is and a great read for both adults and children.
Astro girl
The last exciting book is Astro girl written by Ken Wilson-Max.
It tells the tale of a little girl called Astrid who fantasizes about going into space when she is older.
She and her father discuss the various elements of what being an astronaut entails, and the book has beautiful vivid illustrations and a sweet ending.
This book is available in English, isiZulu, Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
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