The Book Tree Podcast

Butterfly Heart by Lalu Mokuku is a beautifully tender story of a young friendship between two young girls and the grief and healing that follows when one falls ill and passes away. We chat to Lalu about writing about grief and how to use books as a springboard to help children process loss. The Book Tree Website

Do you have a children's book you dream of getting published? Find out more about the publishing scene in South Africa with Brad and Alison Harris of Imagnary House Publishers, one of South Africa's most successful independent publishers. Imagnary House is an award-winning South African publishing house and media developer with a massive heart for imaginative storytelling driven by authentic chara...

How to Build Your Child's Creativity and Imagination ‘To be able to ideate, to think a fresh thought and offer it, is the only hope for our future.’ Join us for an enlightening chat with Lindi Bell, educational innovator and the founder of Small World School, the first Reggio-inspired school in South Africa. She shares how a child’s imagination and creativity are linked, and explains how reading,...

Many people say they want to write a children's book. We chatted to bestselling author Refiloe Moahloli to find out how she made it happen. From an early career in the corporate world, and a life changing trip to Mumbai, Refiloe took a chance and dedicated herself to her dream of writing children's books - with a clear plan in action. As one of South Africa's best known children's book authors wit...

It can be overwhelming deciding what to buy at the book store. So many books! So many fun, colourful covers! So much money spent, you want to be sure it's a winner! We have the best tips on how to select books for your children. Did you know there is a Five Finger Rule when it comes to deciding if a book is too easy, too hard or just right for your child? Plus we get the lowdown on all the best bo...

Literacy activist Marjorie Brown uses book quizzes to spark a love of reading and boost literacy in schools in South Africa. "Reading is just as important as sports for our general wellbeing" believes Brown and we couldn't agree more. Anti-Apartheid and literacy activist Marjorie Brown has transformed children’s lives by running the International Kids' Lit Quiz and starting her own local version,...

We know that books can make us feel better. But did you know there is a therapy that prescribes reading as a tool to improve your well-being? Bibliotherapy is the healing art of reading and it’s helping children and adults to process life events, normalise their issues, offer relatable characters and situations and find healing between the pages of a book. While it is not a cure-all, scientific st...

In this episode I interview Xolisa Guzula, author and literacy scholar about her new book Together Apart: The Story of Living in Apartheid. This is an important children's book. Yes, it’s been 30 years since Apartheid ended. And we still need to understand how it shaped South Africa in so many ways, both visible and invisible. Xolisa explains why she co-wrote this book now, with historian Athambil...

Award-winning author and illustrator Emily House shares her journey and tips on how to find your style, create a portfolio and pitch your work. Books reviewed include One More Story, a beautifully illustrated picture book about the adventure of reading, the hilarious Rabbit & Bear Series about a grumpy rabbit and a cheerful bear, and Storm Child, a young teen story following a surfer girl navigati...

Get your child hooked on creative writing. The Kingsmead Young Writers’ Competition 2025 is open to all 6-18 year olds and it opens on February 3rd and closes on March 31st 2025. Entry forms here: https://kingsmead.co.za/bookfair/young-writers-comp/ywc-2025/ For tips on how to make your writing stand out and avoid some common pitfalls, we chat to author and judge, Nicole Rimensberger. We then look...

Discover the best children’s books to buy, with Verushka Louw, Children's Sales Representative at Jonathan Ball Publishers. Find out why non-fiction books make the best gifts for kids, and get expert tips on how to get your children reading. Plus, we’re all joining the heartwarming “Jolabokaflod’ trend from Iceland where everyone cosies up with a good book on Christmas eve!

Lori-Ann Preston, author of the Trixie and Thabo series, talks about her writing process, writing competitions, rejection letters, mischievous characters and the power of self-publishing. Plus our favourite picture book of the year: Big Shoes To Fill, an exciting new debut from Upile uThixo Bongco. And The Garbage King, a moving story written by Elizabeth Laird for ages 10-15, about the power of c...

Dyslexia & Reading Skills How can you help dyslexic children with their reading skills? And how old should children be when they learn to read? Annelize Clark, Occupational Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Intervention, and Foundation Phase Teacher at Bellavista SHARE, a remedial school in Johannesburg, shares her insights. https://bellavista.org.za/ Plus two of the best new chi...

Lorato Trok, director of Nal'ibali, a national reading campaign, explains how teaching in mother tongue may improve SA’s literacy levels and why hearing stories is as important as reading them. https://nalibali.org/ Plus a few book recommendations. Best new picture book, Who Ate Steve, by Susannah Lloyd (Nosy Crow), the trending Lottie Brooks tween series by Kate Kirby (Puffin Books) and Singing f...