Reviews of our Children's & Young-Adult Books

This is where you can find the latest reviews of our children's books and young adult literature.

• The Reading List reviews Listen to Your Diddalum 
  "Emily’s latest book and fills me with the same sense of awe and wonder as my favourite childhood stories. Children and parents will love Maria Lebedeva’s captivating illustrations and this moving story about loving yourself from the inside out. My Diddalum told me to review this book and so, I did."
• Urban Craft Magazine delves into the conception of Listen to Your Diddalum
• The Sunday Times talks about Listen to Your Diddalum on digital and in print
  "This book exists to remind us who we are."
• Mother of 7 reviews Imagnary House titles
  "This book I am definitely passing to my niece in 2 years when she turns 9. This story is about a 15 yeard old fashionista living in Rondebosch. An eye opener to the good and nasty of technology. A story about girl teen “life or death” issues like French kissing, what the future holds and how to put together a really cool outfit. "
• Herald Live reviews The New Girl Code
  "Editor Buhle Ngaba hopes SA version of 'The New Girl Code' will encourage more to go into tech careers."
• Sthembile M. reviews The New Girl Code
  "[...] this book is amazing and if you have kids encourage them to read this book. It is essential in such a time that we live in."
• CapeTalk interviews Buhle Ngaba on The New Girl Code
• LeadSA reads about The New Girl Code
  "An international book has been given some Mzansi flavour to inspire SA's young girls to dream big and occupy the tech space."
• Innovation Summit recommends The New Girl Code
  "The book’s Dutch edition under the name Project Prep was launched with the support of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, where it is a best-seller. Project Prep has become a movement in its home country and now aims to do the same in other countries to inspire and empower girls to work in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics."
• IOL News reviews The New Girl Code
• The Great Equalizer Podcast talks about What on Earth am I?
• SA Booksellers recommend The Brave Turtle
• People's Post reads The Brave Turtle
  "A new children’s book is not only sharing the wonders of the ocean, but also raising funds for those who provide essential services on it."
• IMAGINE MAG reviews The Brave Turtle
  "As one young preview reader already noted, it is a memorable story:  ‘A delightful tale of friendship in this magical oceanic adventure. The illustrations are beautiful as the words weave their way into your heart recognising bravery, friendship and forgiveness in three unforgettable characters. Perfect for together bed time reading.’"
• In conversation with author and publisher, B. D. Harris
• The Se7en Blog reviews The New Girl Code
  "Sometimes something unexpected crosses your path and you realise it is so hugely important that you have to blog about it immediately. The New Girl Code is such a pleasant surprise… a book written specifically to encourage and inspire girls to get interested in code and coding. If you have a girl of the tween/teen variety then this new book on the block is an absolute must read."
• The Se7en Blog reviews Imagnary House titles
  "We have really been trying to show case local books on our blog this year, books that will engage and inspire South African children, they are packed with a local vibe, the rainbow that is the South African nature. These three books are all that and more, they will totally appeal to local and overseas children."
• Creative Feel magazine looks into Imagnary House books
• SA Booksellers reviews The Chalk Giraffe
  "The collaboration between Kirsty Paxton and Megan Lötter has resulted in a beautifully balanced book, where illustration and text allow children to pursue their own creativity."
• IMAGINE MAG writes about Imagnary House
  "Encouraging children and young adults to use their imagination when reading, creating memorable characters, illustrations and clever story lines, rather than ‘moral compasses’, is the focus behind these entertaining and inspiring books."
• Fine Music Radio reviews The Straw Giant & The Crow 
  "Lesley Beake is stunned by Jess Bosworth Smith’s brave and marvellous The Straw Giant and the Crow."
• Coasting with Claudell visits our launch of What on Earth am I?
• Imagnary House interviews Jess Bosworth Smith
  "We spent a morning with Jess Bosworth Smith, author and illustrator of 'The Straw Giant & The Crow', to hear more about her work as an illustrator and the conception of her heartfelt children's book."
• The Cape Towner reviews The Straw Giant & The Crow
  "This book breaks that mould. The ratio of dark to cheery is heavily in favour of the dreary. Eventually, I braved taking it home to my children. My 12-year-old eldest snatched it up and read it to her sisters. 'I like this book,' she announced, to my astonishment."
• Atlantic Sun reviews The Straw Giant & The Crow
  "'It’s a strange story,' said Jess Bosworth Smith, referring to how she was inspired to write The Straw Giant and The Crow – a children’s book which publishers found too sad to print. The strange story behind the book’s inspiration began with a National Geographic photo essay."
• Between 10 and 5 reviews The Straw Giant & The Crow
  "This beautifully illustrated picture book tells a heartfelt, mysterious and off-the-wall story about an unlikely relationship between a straw giant and a crow that was born out of the curious and slightly dark imagination of its author."
• Cape Talk reviews Emily Child for Lucy and Mum's Shoes audiobook
• Anna Writer reviews Lucy and Mum's Shoes
  "I love how Warwick Kay brings the story to life with bright, beautiful colours. Even before the story became an audio book, you could almost hear the sounds of the story through his pictures. The yellows and reds and pretty, pretty blues make the story sing as little Lucy tries new things in her world!"
• Child Magazine reviews Liebetland: A Colouring Book
• Read and Seek reviews Lucy and Mum's Shoes 
  "Lucy and Mum’s Shoes is a wonderfully enjoyable book, filled with something for all the senses. It was entertaining and fun filled; but also quite relatable too. I think all of us dreamed of being adults as kids!"
• Read and Seek reviews Tina Tadpole: Witch in Training
  "Tina Tadpole: Witch in Training is a fun filled, laughter inducing storybook that gives a glimpse of what it means to be different in a world of spells and enchantments. It’s beautifully illustrated and encourages the little ones to think outside of the box."