Ten books with HOME as a major theme
Jay Heale’s list of ten books that fit with CBN’s first theme – Home. [Brackets indicate language availability]
Picture Books
BONGANI’S DAY by Gisele Wulfsohn (Pan Macmillan) [E / A / Xh]
A 7-yr-old boy who lives in Westdene, Johannesburg. Photo story of his home, friends, school, food.
CINDY by Reviva Schermbrucker (ELRU) Multilingual [E, A, Xh, Sets]
Life in a flat in Johannesburg: family lifestyle, the need for security, laundry on the roof. A visit to Joubert Park.
HOME NOW by Lesley Beake (Pan Macmillan) [E / A / Xh]
Qolweni township near Plettenberg Bay. Home is needed for an orphaned girl and an orphaned elephant.
JAKE by Janet Hurst-Nicholson (Cambridge: Little Library) [E / A / Xh]
Baby Jake lives in a home that is far from safe. Humour plus home safety.
MHLANGULI by Reviva Schermbrucker (ELRU) Multilingual [E, A, Xh, Sets]
Photographic story of life in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Crowded home, restricted conditions, herbs and fruit for sale.
THE MOVE by Daphne Paizee & Kerry Saadien-Raad
(Cambridge: Little Library) [E / A / Xh]
Upheaval as a family decides to move into a brand new house. Floor plans, building site, packing up belongings, and The Move itself.
Young story books
THE BEST MEAL EVER! by Sindiwe Magona, illustrated by Paddy Bouma (Tafelberg) [E / Xh]
Siziwe is looking after her four younger brothers and sisters in Guguletu, with both parents away. There is no food in the house – nothing.
THE MAGIC FISH by Margie Orford (Jacana) [E / A / Xh]
Based on an old fairy story, the ‘home’ setting changes from fisherman’s hut to royal palace.
WAITING FOR RAIN by Lesley Beake & Megan Biesele
(Maskew Miller Longman) [E]
Reality village life on the edge of the Kalahari, given an extra dimension with folklore.
Teenage
POPS AND THE NEARLY DEAD by Edyth Bulbring
(Penguin) [E]
A teenage boy fated to live with his aging grandpa in a retirement home where people behave in extraordinary ways. Wry humour, though true to life.
Reviews by Jay Heale, Editor of Bookchat – www.bookchat.co.za where plenty more information can be found about books published in South Africa.
