Young Story Books

Remembering Green

Remembering Green

What may global warming do to our world? One possibility is that Table Mountain could become an island – and Lesley Beake envisages a community of Tekkies who live there, barricaded from the outside world. A girl who can remember the green land of Africa where she was born is a prisoner – and so […]

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Shaka’s Computer

A clever weaving of two threads of plot. A strange inventor has been strangled and young Shaka finds himself with what looks like a toy computer, though it’s a lot more than that. So we are sucked into a story of Computer Game world and murder, but also into the problems of dyslexia. The brief

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The Strollers

The Strollers

A South African classic. A lively, moving story about the street children of Cape Town which has been deservedly popular since 1987. Carefully researched, full of vivid characters, with plenty of humour and excitement in the challenge of everyday survival.

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Balaclava Boy

Balaclava Boy

A splendid school story with masses of backchat and humour, as well as a mystery. Why does the new student, Tommy, wear a balaclava – and never take it off? A delight for primary readers.

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Vumile and the Dragon

Vumile and the Dragon

Gentle storytelling about Vumile who is mostly interested in soccer and Katie who discovers a baby dragon that turns out to be a Dwarf Chameleon. With Lisa Strachan’s gorgeous colour plates, the rest of the book is a treasure hunt, trying to spot the elusive chameleons – with 14 plants and 20 insects and birds

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The Great Cage Escape

The Great Cage Escape

In a pet shop the caged creatures seem vaguely happy until a captured parrot arrives and tells them about “heaven” – which is to be free. A Great Escape is planned. But creatures from the wild are not going to find much freedom in a city. A schoolgirl suggests Rehabbers who will send creatures back

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SAM, the Toad in the Hole

SAM, the Toad in the Hole

Hurray for small creatures and small places and large-hearted people! In this case: Western Leopard Toads, the new Skilpadsvlei wetland in Kommetjie, and people like Wally Peterson. A simple, moving and vital story of how rare toads lost their home pool because new houses had to be built. So Wally and the good folk of

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Dad, don’t go to Work

An unpretentious, enjoyable collection of 23 poems about ordinary life in an ordinary family. A little cricket boy With a big cricket bat A little cricket ball And a big cricket hat Encouraging to read of normal, loving family activities. Nothing arty-crafty. Good line and colour pictures by Meg Jordi. It carries warm recommendations from

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My Forever Friend

My Forever Friend

A new writer and a newcomer to our illustrating scene (though Olivia has already won a “Best Newcomer Award” at the Bologna Book Fair). Five brief stories, although they read together as one, about an ordinary girl in an ordinary home whose best friend is Copia – the girl quite like her who lives in

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