South Africa
23
Schermbrucker, Reviva (text/illus.)
Conradie, Wayne (photogr.)
They were wrong!
Lansdowne : Early Learning Resource Unit, 2003. – [24] p.
(Mielie books)
ISBN 1-875069-43-7
South Africa – Child – Everyday life – Prejudice – Multicultural
society
This small picture book is published by the Anti-bias Project of ELRU – the
Early Learning Rescource Unit, a small organisation which aims at improving
the lives of South African children. It addresses common prejudices against
foreign people and unfamiliar situations in an amusing child-friendly way. In
a mixture of brightly-coloured bold paintings expressing the unfounded
speculations and colour-photographs depicting actual real-life scenes, the
author shows how a young boy is not intimidated by the ridiculous warnings
from some of his friends but rather sets out to discover the truth for
himself. This committed booklet encourages its readers to be open-minded and
think critically. (4+) <>
Special
Mention
24
Slingsby, Peter
Jedro’s bane
Cape Town : Tafelberg, 2002. – 159 p.
ISBN 0-624-03578-6
Grandfather – Quarrel –
Reconciliation – Friendship – Colonialism – Slavery – Rebellion –
Freedom – South Africa/1900 When Jedro is punished for getting into a fight with
the class bully and sent to stay a few days at his granddad’s place in the
countryside, the boy is prepared for a dead-boring weekend. How was he to know
that the old man would suddenly conjure up an exciting tale that was to have a
profound impact on Jedro’s life? Embedded in a moving frame story, the
author offers young readers the gripping account of the life of a courageous
black boy who decides to fight against slavery and unjust laws passed by the
white government in 19th century
South Africa. Narrated in a direct and engaging style, the tale about Koot’s
rebellion and his struggle against three banes prophesied to him by an old
medicine woman immediately captivates the (fictional and real-life) audience.
At the end, children will reluctantly surface from an enthralling read that
also offers some insight into the life of black people in South Africa a
century ago, their ancient culture, and the power of storytelling. (12+) <>