Text+Set+(Music+and+Videos)

= Picture Book Reviews = Author (s): Heinrichs, Ann Title: A True Book: South Africa ISBN: 0516203401 Place of publication: Connecticut Publisher: Children’s Press Date of publication: 1997 Number of pages: 48 pgs. Recommended/listed price: $25.99

Review: Learn about the features and characteristics South Africa in this non-fiction text. This book is broken into different sections containing geography, people, history, “building a new South Africa”, daily life, economy, and culture. This book will answer all of your basic questions about South Africa and the people who live there. The various customs and beliefs are explained including religious views. The different townships are described as well as the education of its students and jobs of its people. One of the most beneficial pieces in this text is the additional resources provided. In the back of the book is a section titled “to find out more” which includes more books, organizations and online sites to find out more information about South Africa. (Ages 7 and up)

Author (s): Daly, Niki Illustrator: Daly, Niki Title: Once Upon A Time ISBN: 0711219931 Place of publication: New York Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux Date of publication: 2003 Number of pages: 32 pgs. Recommended/listed price: $16.99

Review: The one thing that Sarie fears the most is reading aloud in class. As she walks to school in her South African town each day, she worries about her classmates laughing at her as she stutters and stammers though her reading. To get away from it all, on Sundays, Sarie escapes to her Auntie Anna’s. Together they sit in her old, rusty car, pretend to go for a drive while Sarie drives and share stories. Her Auntie tells her stories of “once upon a time” when she was young and her car was new and shiny. Sarie shares with her Auntie how much she hates reading aloud in class and being laughed at. When she finds a book in Auntie’s car, she reads it with her Anna. This Sunday ritual helps her find the strength to overcome her fear of reading aloud. This book tells a story about a girl who overcomes her fears through the power of imagination. (Ages 5 and up)

Author (s): Stewart, Dianne Illustrator: Daly, Jude Title: Gift of the Sun: A Tale From South Africa ISBN: 0374324255 Place of publication: New York Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux Date of publication: 1996 Number of pages: 32 pgs. Recommended/listed price: $15.00

Review: In this African folk tale, Thulani prefers to sit in the sun instead of doing his chores. Thulani is tired of milking the cow, so he trades her in for a goat. However, he has a problem with the goat when he starts to get into the corn seed and sells him for a sheep. Then, Thulani thought shearing the sheep was too much work, so he traded him in for some geese. He then realized that he needed that money for seeds to plant crops, which the goats ate last year. Thulani’s wife gets frustrated with each of his trades as he tries to reduce his workload so he can spend more time sitting in the sun. This final trade surprisingly creates fortune for Thulani and forces him to work more. This clever folktale will teach all a lesson. (Ages 4 and up)

Author (s): Beake, Lesley Illustrator: Littlewood, Karin Title: Home Now ISBN: 9781580891622 Place of publication: Watertown, MA Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing Date of publication: 2007 Number of pages: 24 pgs. Recommended/listed price: $16.95

Review: “My real home is over the mountains” Sieta thought to herself as she laid in her bed in her new home in the busy town. Everyone tells her “this is your home now”. She can’t help but feel sad when she thinks about her old home, before her mother and father died and she moved to live with her Aunty. One day, Sieta’s teacher takes her class to see the orphan elephants. Sieta instantly forms a connection with the baby elephant Satara, bonding over their sadness. She starts to visit Satara often and her sadness starts to diminish and she starts to accept her new home. At the end of the story, Sieta starts to make friends and enjoy living with her Aunty. The courage that Sieta demonstrates will inspire her young readers. (Ages 6 and up)



Author (s): Ingrid Mennen Illustrator: Niki Daly Title: Somewhere in Africa ISBN: 0525448489 Place of publication: New York Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books Date of publication: 1992 Number of pages: 30 pgs. Recommended/listed price: $13.00

Review: In South Africa, a young boy, Ashraf, lives in the bustling city. He makes it well known that he does not live in the “Africa of lions, crocodiles and zebras” but in the noisy city. The only place he has seen these animals is in his favorite book which he borrows often from the library. Ashraf shares his busy world with readers as he walks down the street of Cape Town. On his journey to the library, Ashraf passes the busy traffic, the fruit seller, flower seller, and supermarket. He enjoys listening to the drummers and watching the dancers in the street. Through this story children can see that South Africa is more than grasslands, animals and water. This story offers the perspective of Cape Town as a busy city with shopping, dancing and streets filled with people. (Ages 4 and up)

Author (s): Hartmann, Wendy Illustrator: Niki Daly Title: All The Magic In The World ISBN: 0525450920 Place of publication: New York Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books Date of publication: 1993 Number of pages: 32 pgs. Recommended/listed price: $12.99

Review: ages 3 and up Joseph is the “odd-job man” that a group of children watch as they play together every Friday night. The children make fun of him for carrying around a tin filled with junk. One day, Lena approaches Joseph and watches as he pulls trinkets from his tin. Joseph turns a string into pictures including a cup and a house. Lena is mesmerized as he gives her a shell so she can hear the sea and makes a “magic chain” out of old can tabs for her. As Lena dances around like a princess, wearing the necklace, her friends are captivated. The entire group of children begins to feel the magic and the power of imagination from the everyday objects. (Ages 3 and up)

Author (s): Isadora, Rachel Illustrator: Isadora, Rachel Title: Over The Green Hills ISBN: 0688105092 Place of publication: New York Publisher: Greenwillow Books Date of publication: 1992 Number of pages: 29 pgs. Recommended/listed price: $17.99

Review: In rural South Africa, Zolani, his mother and younger sister begin the long journey on foot to visit Grandma Zindzi. To prepare, Zolani collects a sack full of mussels and loads them on their goat. His mother gathers a box of dried fish to balance on her head and a basket of mielies to hang from their arm, and their journey begins. On their voyage they pass through the village and stop to talk with their friends outside the store. They make several stops to collect different goods and take in the different scenery’s. As they pass a house of a friend, they give Zolani his very first book. When they finally arrive, Grandma Zindzi is not home; but they are soon filled with joy as she returns home. This story presents the kindness of friends and family of the South Africa, as well as the beautiful land and animals. (Ages 4 and up)

Author (s): Javaherbin, Mina Illustrator: Ford, A.G. Title: Goal ISBN: 0763645710 Place of publication: Somerville, MA Publisher: Candlewick Press Date of publication: 2010 Number of pages: 40 pgs. Recommended/listed price: $16.99

Review: Ajani and his friends live in a township in South Africa where they love to play soccer. They had just won a brand-new federation-size soccer ball at school which they enjoy playing with every chance they get. But “the streets are not always safe” as bullies often interrupt their games and they have to take turns standing guard. However, a group of bullies can’t stop this group of friends as the game of soccer unites them; “when we play together, we are unbeatable”. An afterword following this amazing story includes some historical facts about soccer and its importance in South Africa and around the world. (Ages 6 and up)

= Chapter Book Reviews = = = Author (s): Williams, Michael Title: Now Is The Time For Running ISBN: 9780316077903 Place of publication: New York Publisher: Hachette Book Group Date of publication: 2009 Number of pages: 234 pgs. Recommended/listed price: $17.99

Review: Deo and his friends enjoy playing soccer in the nearby dusty fields in their free-time. Deo’s brother, Innocent who is mentally handicap cheers from the distances as he watches them play. Until one day when the soldiers arrive and Deo and his brother are forced to run for their lives. They must flee the wreckage of their own village to safety. Deo and Innocent are now a long journey and have to rely on the kindness of others to help them. Throughout the voyage they face many hardships including acts of prejudice and poverty. During this time of tragedy, soccer is the only thing Deo has left. This novel tells the story of two brothers who face many hardships but stay true to each other and the sport that they love. (Ages 12 and up)

Author (s): Gordon, Sheila Title: Waiting For The Rain ISBN: 0440226988 Place of publication: New York Publisher: Dell Laurel-Leaf Date of publication: 1996 Number of pages: 214 pgs. Recommended/listed price: $5.50

Review: Tengo is a young African American who lives and works on a farm but his one true dream is to learn to read. Tengo wants to have a good education like his white friend Frikkie, but his parents are too poor to pay for it. At age 14, Tengo finally gets the opportunity to go to school when he goes to live with his cousin in a township outside Johannesburg. Tengo works extremely hard studying and after three years is almost ready to go to college. However, a school boycott ruins his chances of college and he then is pulled into the fight against apartheid. Tengo and Frikkie are soon turned against each other in this apartheid. Tengo continues his struggle with his education and tries to make an impact to the treatment of blacks. This novel shows the true side to the apartheid in South Africa and the way the blacks were treated and the impact on friendships and families. (Ages 12 and up)

Author (s): Powers, J.L. Title: This Thing Called The Future ISBN: 1933693959 Place of publication: Texas Publisher: Cinco Punto Press Date of publication: 2011 Number of pages: 208 pgs. Recommended/listed price: $16.95

Review: ages 13 and up Khosi is a 14 year old girl who lives with her grandmother, Gogo and her little sister Zi in a Zulu shantytown in South Africa. Khosi’s life is very complicated as living conditions are extremely depressing and death takes AIDS victims almost every day. Her mother refuses to seek help when her health begins to worsen. This worries Khsoi, as her mother works in another city, only to come home on the weekends, and she is out of their site. Through all of this illness and other circumstances Khosi faces in her life, she grows very afraid and doesn’t know what to do. Her mother tells her the only thing that can save Khosi and her sister from poverty and help them from future conditions is their education. This novel shows the story of a teenage girl who despite the circumstances she faces is extremely strong. This book portrays the hardships of poverty and AIDS in the shantytowns of South Africa and its impacts on families. (Ages 13 and up)

Author (s): Gordon, Sheila Title: The Middle Of Somewhere: A South Africa Story ISBN: 0553159917 Place of publication: New York Publisher: Skylark Date of publication: 1992 Number of pages: 154 pgs. Recommended/listed price: $16.99

Review: Rebecca is a 9 year old girl living in South Africa during a time when the government is sending bulldozers to destroy homes to make room for “whites-only towns”. This is all anyone around the village can talk about. Rebecca is scared for her home when the government begins to force people out of their homes. Her family stands their ground and refuses to ever leave. Rebecca grows increasingly scared when he best friend’s family moves in the middle of the night. More and more people begin to disappear in her village. One day, Rebecca’s father is arrested at a protest against the forced relocations. As her father is soon released from jail, Rebecca starts to regain hope. This novel depicts the life of a young girl growing up during the apartheid in South Africa and her families fight against the prejudice acts. (Ages 9 and up)

Music from South Africa [|South African Hit Music] [|South Africa National Anthem (with translation)] Videos about South Africa [|See the Sights of South Africa] [|South Africa Wildlife and Nature] [|South African Culture and Heritage] [|South African Sports and Adventure]

Webpage Links [|Time for Kids] (with maps) [|PBS: South Africa](with maps) [|Lesson Plan Ideas: South Africa] [|South Africa Fast Facts] [|South African Timeline] [|South Africa Government Online]