Creating Books for the Young in the New South Africa

This collection of essays analyzes the work of 29 authors and illustrators. South African children’s and youth literature has a long history. The country is the most prolific publisher of children’s books on the continent, producing perhaps the highest quality literature in Africa. Its traditions resonate within the larger world of children’s literature but are solidly grounded in African myth and archetypes. The African diaspora in the U.S. and elsewhere have stories rooted in these oral traditions.
Much has changed in South African literature for children since the 1994 transformation of the country. A field once dominated by all white and mostly female writers and illustrators has diversified, adding many new voices.

Barbara A. Lehman is a professor emerita of children’s literature at The Ohio State University. Her interests focus on multicultural and global children’s literature and child-centered literary criticism. She lives in Columbus.
Jay Heale is the long-standing editor of Bookchat, South Africa’s only periodical dedicated to children’s literature and now available on the internet. He is the author of many books for children and about children’s literature. He lives in Napier, South Africa.
Anne Hill has been involved in initial and in-service teacher development since 1989, specializing in drama, art and literature-based approaches to literacy. Retired from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, she lives in Greyton, South Africa.
Thomas van der Walt is a professor in the Department of Information Science at the University of South Africa where he teaches children’s literature, user studies and archival science. He lives in Pretoria, South Africa.
Magdel Vorster worked for several years as a children’s librarian and went on to co-own a children’s bookshop, Rapunzel, in Pretoria, South Africa. She lives in Abu Dhabi and remains active in reviewing South African children’s literature.

Edited by Barbara A. Lehman, Jay Heale, Anne Hill, Thomas van der Walt and Magdel Vorster
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 320
Bibliographic Info: appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7551-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1716-9
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Foreword (Elwyn Jenkins) 1

Preface 5

Part 1. Transition Movers

Introduction 9

Lesley Beake: Quality in Diversity (Jay Heale) 12

Alida Bothma: From Her Palette of Inspiration to Her Montage

of Expression (Magdel Vorster) 21

Paddy Bouma: Precise Pure Art at Work in the Books of Africa (Jay Heale) 31

The Writing of Dianne Case: Making Choices and Facing

Consequences (Lisa Kimble and Barbara A. Lehman) 38

The “Dual Realities” of Niki Daly: Dreaming Himself into Someone Else’s Skin (Barbara A. Lehman) 47

Native, Gone Wandering: Dianne Hofmeyr as Constant Explorer (Erin F. ­Reilly-Sanders and Andrés A. Montañés-Lleras) 55

Sindiwe Magona: Writing Oneself Out of Poverty (Tanya Barben) 64

Linda Rode: Bookmaker of the Imagination (Marianne van Loggerenberg) 73

Marita van der Vyver: Fairy Tales and Feminism (Maritha Snyman) 82

Smelling Ferdinand’s Flowers: Marjorie van Heerden’s Journey (Magdel Vorster) 91

Chris van Wyk: A Man Intent on Sharing Africa with Africa’s Children (Jay Heale) 101

Part 2. Writers and Artists of the New South Africa

Introduction 109

Inside the Books: The Life and Work of Jude Daly (Bettie Parsons Barger) 112

On a Journey with Leon de Villiers (Magdel Vorster) 120

Piet Grobler’s Little Bird Told Me (Magdel Vorster) 128

Wendy Hartmann: The Hidden Heroine (Jay Heale) 137

Jaco Jacobs Brings the Circus to Town (Magdel Vorster) 145

Ingrid Mennen: Always in Africa (Tanya Barben) 155

Gcina Mhlophe: Imbira Player (Genevieve Hart) 164

An Odyssey Through Fantasy: Fiona Moodie’s Long Journey Home (Anne Hill) 173

Martie Preller: Empowering Readers Through Stories (Maritha Snyman) 182

Changing the Colors of South Africa: ­Post-Apartheid Illustrations

of Elizabeth Pulles (Erin F. ­Reilly-Sanders) 190

Joan Rankin: Illustrator by Surprise (Jay Heale) 199

Listening to Others: Jenny Robson’s Books for Young South Africans (Judith Inggs) 207

Breaking New Ground with Reviva Schermbrucker (Ruth Stone and Barbara A. Lehman) 216

Dianne Stewart: Writer with a Sense of Purpose (Jay Heale) 226

Ann Walton: Families and Fables (Anne Hill) 234

Part 3. Noteworthy New Talent

Introduction 241

Kagiso Lesego Molope: The Caged Bird Flies and Sings (Rajendra Chetty) 243

Nokuthula K. Msimang: The Gentle Gender Warrior (Robin Malan) 250

Sally Partridge: Transitions from Outside In and Inside Out (Anne Hill) 259

Afterword (Beverley Naidoo) 267

Appendix: Literary Awards and Prizes 271

Bibliography 274

About the Contributors 289

Index 292