Diana Ferrus's The Boy Who Loved To Dance, based on the life story of ballet icon the late Johaar Mosaval, is starting the line-up of books featured at the South African Festival of Children's Literature taking place at the University of the Western Cape's education faculty on Wednesday April 9.
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Young readers, parents, teachers and children’s literacy organisations are in for a treat at the fifth annual South African Festival of Children’s Literature, which takes place at the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) education faculty on Wednesday April 9 and Thursday April 10. Entry is free.
The festival was conceived to help raise funds for the Heartlands Baby Sanctuary in Somerset West, where it was hosted for its first three years, as part of the UWC faculty of education’s outreach programme, explains founder Darryl David.
Last year, the organisers moved it to the UWC faculty of education where it will be hosted again this week.
“It is truly a joyous event because we service the poorest of the poor schools. We are in the heart of the Cape Flats area so that should give one an indication of the joy of colourful, glossy books and songs for children who don't normally get to experience such things in their schools and homes,” Mr David said.
Pniel author Eleanor Denise Damon will be sharing her book The Mouse King on day one of the South African Festival of Children's Literature taking place at the University of the Western Cape's education faculty on Wednesday April 9 and Thursday April 10.
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Many of the books at this year’s festival are from non-mainstream publishers and authors. Day one of the festival will feature, among others, The Mouse King, written by Pniel author Eleanor Damon, Leon Govender and Raksha Chabalalsing’s debut book Langa: A Rhino Growing Up In The Wild, Louise Viljoen’s book Toevlug and Gomolemo Moagi’s Bontle’s New Wheels.
Day two will include Zihad Rahman’s Awali Comics, Miché Marian Jantjies’ Lunar Follows the Moon and Stars, Mark de Wet’s The Boy Who Loved Sweets and Chareldine van der Merwe's Huisies vir muisies and 'n Rand vir 'n tand.
Malikah The Girl Who Loves Sport, which is inspired by Cape Town sporting star Malikah Hamza and written by Darryl David and Boebie Hamza, is also on the line up of this's year's SA Festival of Children's Literature.
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Local author Alicia English’ Shanté and the Whale, which is about a Mitchell's Plain tween girl whose quest and misadventures to find whales her oupa once told her about takes her to Mnandi Beach, is among the books featured at the SA Festival of Children's Literature.
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The festival will also feature children’s books celebrating Cape Town trailblazers, namely Malikah, The Girl Who Loves Sport, inspired by sporting star Malikah Hamza and written by Mr David and Boebie Hamza, and Diana Ferrus’ The Boy Who Loved to Dance, which is based on the life story of the late South African ballet icon Johaar Mosaval.
Festival goers can also look forward to Alicia English’ Shanté and the Whale, which is about a Mitchell’s Plain tween girl’s quest and misadventures to find whales at Mnandi Beach, and sessions from children’s literacy organisation, Nal’ ibali.
While the festival is open to schools, Mr David said bookings are essential due to limited seating. For more information about the programme or school bookings, email Mr David on ddavid@uwc.ac.za.