Book Choices

Jay Heale's selection of six top choice children's books from South African children's literature (in English) in a number of age ranges and topics has been compiled over six years. After his retiral from action in the field of children's books, this task has been taken over by Lesley Beake - with occasional guest reviewers. We thank Jay so sincerely for all his voluntary work on this project. The reiews still stand - as a tribute to the excellence of South African children's books.

Most of the book reviewed can be ordered online - the quickest way of finding them, with second-hand copies also sometimes available there.

Kubi the Star by Lesley Beake	Hooray Thoko by Niki Daly by Niki Daly	My forever friend by Jeremy Daniel	Do NOT open this book! by Andy Lee
Surprise! Surprise! by Niki Daly	Mr Hare meets Mr Mandela by Chris van Wyk	An African Mother Christmas by Gçina Mhlophe	The Best Bear in All the World by Brian Sibley
Nicholas and the Wild Ones by Niki Daly	The African Orchestra by Joan Rankin	A child's garden by Michael Foreman

Reviews by Lesley Beake

How many ways can you say Hello?

by Refiloe Moahloli

Jay Heale's Six of the Best Dogs and Cats

Township Tales by Eefka Young	Noko And The Kool Kats by Fiona Moodie	Maggie, Mango & Scottie by Patricia Schonstein Pinnock	Katya's Hairy Tales: The Bacon Chase by Julia Richman
Jamie & the Horse Show by Helen Brain	DOGtective by Elizabeth Wasserman

Jay Heale's Six of the Best with Music

Sosu's Call by Meshack Asare	Mondi The Music Maker by Dianne Stewart	Hearing Helen by Carolyn Morton	Noko And The Kool Kats by Fiona Moodie
Jamie & the Magic Whistle by Helen Brain	The Silver Saxophone by Tyrone Appollis

Jay Heale's Six All Time Favourites

The Red Tree by Shaun Tan	Warrior Scarlet by Rosemary Sutcliff	The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White	Fly, Eagle, Fly! by Christopher Gregorowski
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf	Winnie the Pooh + The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne

Jay Heale's Six of the Best Out & About Books

Oom Kallas & the Tortoises by Claerwen Howie	Jamie & the Magic Whistle by Helen Brain	Annie Learns to Swim by Katrin Coetzer	Myrtle & Daneco by Reviva Schermbrucker
My First Book of Southern African Frogs by Jeanne Tarrant	Sam: The Toad in the Hole by Lulu & Tee

Six of the Best Primary Animal Stories

Who Is King? by Beverley Naidoo	The Pachyderm Tree by Jill Morsbach	Zeraffa Giraffa by Dianne Hofmeyr	Oom Kallas & the Tortoises by Claerwen Howie
How Crab Lost His Head by Nick Greaves	Bobby by Elizabeth Pienaar

Jay Heale's Six of the Best Picture Books You May Have Missed

Desmond and the Very Mean Word by Archbishop Tutu	Mu's Wolf Problem by Maria Lebedeva	Monkey's Wedding by Reviva Schermbrucker	Maggie, Mango & Scottie by Patricia Schonstein Pinnock
Marigold and the Faraway Tree by Alison Fast	Have you Slurped Strawberry Soup? by Nicole Levin

Jay Heale's Five of the Best African Christmas Books

Festivals of the World; South Africa by Jay Heale	Under the Raintree by Barbara Knutson	Storytime: 10 South African Stories for Children by	An African Christmas Cloth by Reviva Schermbrucker
An African Mother Christmas by Gçina Mhlophe

Jay Heale's Six of the Best Recent African Books (2014)

Zeraffa Giraffa by Dianne Hofmeyr	Noko and the Kool Kats by Fiona Moodie	Mauro and Adelaide: their lives in Quelimane, Mozambique by Reviva Schermbrucker	Jojo's Wire Car by Veronica Lamond
Jeff and George and the Totem Pole by Emily Child	Famous Dinosaurs of Africa by Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan

Jay Heale's Six of the Best Young Adult Stories

The Joining by Peter Slingsby	Sharp Edges by S A Partridge	This book betrays my brother by Kagiso Lesego Molepe	Monday evening, Thursday afternoon by Jenny Robson
Pops and the nearly Dead by Edyth Bulbring	Song of Be by Lesley Beake

Jay Heale's Six of the Best Young Teenage Stories

Hotwire by Jay Heale	Hearing Helen by Carolyn Morton	My Funny Brother by Robin Malan	Broken Promises by Ros Haden
BIG UPS! Fundza short stories No.1 by Various Authors	ARABELLA, THE MOON AND THE MAGIC MONGONGO NUT by Hamilton Wende

Jay Heale's Six of the Best Collections of Stories

The Guinea-Fowl's Spots and Other African Bird Tales by Dianne Stewart	Storytime: 10 South African Stories for Children by Various Authors	Our Story Magic by Gçina Mhlophe	In The Never-Ever Wood by Linda Rode
African Myths & Legends by Dianne Stewart	Aesop’s Fables by Beverley Naidoo

Jay Heale's Six of the Best Upper Primary Stories

Remembering Green by Lesley Beake	Shaka's Computer by Jill Morsbach	Oliver Strange and the Ghosts of Madagascar by Dianne Hofmeyr	Arabella, the Moon and the Magic Mongongo Nut by Hamilton Wende
Goblin Diaries: Apprenticed to the Red Witch by Alex D'Angelo	The Strollers by Lesley Beake

Jay Heale's Six of the Best Middle Primary Stories

Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince by	Dogtective - William and the Pirates by Elizabeth Wasserman	The Mystery of the SS Waratah and the Avocado Tree by MJ Honikman	Balaclava Boy by Jenny Robson
Some of us are Leopards, Some of us are Lions by Mike Kantey	Fly, Eagle, Fly! by Christopher Gregorowski

Jay Heale's Six of the Best for Early Solo Reading

Who's Afraid of the Dark? by Dianne Stewart	Dad, don't go to Work by Paul Benjamin	My Forever Friend by Jeremy Daniel	Ezintabeni / In the Mountains / In die Berge by
Nosipho Comes to Stay by Sarah Oosthuizen	Train to Kalk Bay by Graham Isaacs

Jay Heale's Six of the Best Junior Animal Stories

Vumile and the Dragon by Claerwen Howie	The Great Cage Escape by Louise van der Merwe	SAM, the Toad in the Hole by Lulu & Tee	My First Book of Southern African Ocean Life by Robert Griffiths
Mister Sengi's Very Big Friend by Charles de Villiers	Adventure Trails in Kirstenbosch by Daphne Mackie

Jay Heale's Six of the best read aloud picture books

We're having a Party by	The Squeaky, Creaky Bed by Pat Thomson	The Magic Fish by Margie Orford	The Queen of the Birds: An African Calendar by Beth Jeffery
Goal! by Mina Javaherbin	Ben and the Whales by Ingrid Mennen

Jay Heale's Six of the best picture books

The Ugly Duckling by Sindiwe Magona	Little Lion by Lesley Beake	Busy Baby by Carole Bloch	Moving House by Jenny Hatton
Next Stop – Zanzibar Road! by Niki Daly	Just Sisi by Wendy Hartmann