Welcome to The Book Tree - a South African literacy platform aimed at promoting literacy, inspiring children to read, and helping parents and caregivers on this path. Projects include facilitating reading, writing and creativity workshops, managing corporate investment literacy projects, writing children's books and running the Kingsmead Young Writers’ Competition.
We help you find the best reads for your child by chatting to authors and illustrators, publishers and book store owners, literacy experts and teachers.
We also unpack issues around literacy and writing skills, finding ways to inspire and grow young readers and creative thinkers.
Your host is Corinne Rosmarin, journalist and children’s book author. Join us in exploring the ways, big and small, in which books and stories help us navigate life.
'There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not yet found the right book.' Author Frank Serafini
www.thebooktree.co.za
Episode 15: Leo Daly's new picture book about love, loss, grieving and new beginnings.
Leo Daly, son of renown author Niki Daly, shares his new picture book, The Giant and the Olive and talks about writing a story about grief, what makes for a good book (spoiler: there's no formula) and how to follow a story idea and bring it to life.
10 Apr 2026
Episode 14: A Book About Grief and Loss with Lalu Mokuku
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.
2 Feb 2026
Episode 13: How To Get Your Book Published
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 characters. Founded in 2015 by Brad Harris and Alison Harris, they have a heartwarming and creatively vibrant array of locally produced books in their stable.
Winners of the Bologna Prize for Best Children's Book Publisher: Africa in 2025 they are currently expanding beyond books into audio, animation, and experiential retail.
2 Dec 2025
Episode 12 - How to Build Your Child's Creativity and Imagination
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, playing, boredom, open-ended time and a space to create are the keys to a child’s success. Find out how to help your children thrive!
With over 30 years of experience teaching across every age group, Lindi has become known for her fierce belief that children are strong, capable, creative and deeply intelligent—and that this should be celebrated.
Plus the best holiday book suggestions from Penguin Random House's Children's Sales Representative, Shinola Govender.
20 Oct 2025
Episode 11: Do you want to be a children's book author?
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 with the popular How Many Ways series, her story is inspiring and relatable.
We chat to her about gratitude, inspiration, how a writing course set her on her path and how she finds the time to create her stories. We also review her latest book, How Many Ways Can You Say Thank You.
Plus reviews of Salamina Mosese's latest book, Neo's Invisible Blanket and the YA thriller In The Company of Killers by Elora Cook.
Please follow and subscribe! We'd love to hear from you and find out what you'd like us to cover next.
Find out more at: www.thebooktree.co.za and instagram: @booktreetalk
7 Sept 2025
EPISODE 10: How To Choose Books For Your Children
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 books coming from Penguin Random House from now until December 2025 with Children’s Sales Representative Shinola Govender. Hint: A Taylor Swift toddler book is on the cards, a gripping new book in the Percy Jackson follow up series by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro and a book shelf of new graphic novels and fantasy books for tweens. We cannot wait!
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Apple: Follow the Book Tree Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-tree-podcast/id1768091211
5 Aug 2025
Episode 9: The Olympics of Reading: The Kids' Lit Quiz and Phendulani Quiz celebrate children with a love for reading
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, Phendulani Quiz for disadvantaged schools. She was nominated for the Global Teacher Award and embodies the passion and commitment the South African education system needs. The competitions, which focus on the top readers from Grade 5-7, connect and celebrate children with a passion and skill for reading. The international finals will be held on 13 August 2025 at St John's Prep in Johannesburg.
You can find out more about Kids Lit Quiz here and Phendulani Quiz here...
www.kidslitquiz.com and www.phendulani.com
Book Reviews this month include:
Claris the Chicest Mouse in Paris by Megan Hess ( Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing), Dance To Your Own Beat by Refiloe Moahloli and illustrated by Gabi Boy (Pan Macmillan), The Comet by Joe Todd Stanton (Flying Eye Books), Henry, Like Always by Jenn Bailey and illustrated by Mika Song (Chronicle Books) and the YA book, Uprooted by Naomi Novik (Pan Books).
Find us on Apple and Spotify. Follow us on @booktreetalk
23 Jun 2025
Episode 8: There's a book for that! Bibliotherapy is all about using books to heal
Bibliotherapist Bijal Shah discusses bibliotherapy as a healing art that uses reading to improve well-being, offering relatable characters and situations for both children and adults in this interview.
6 Apr 2025
Episode 7: Why We Need This Children’s Book About Apartheid
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 Athambile Masola (Ph.D) and how it can be shared with children to explain differences and promote caring and understanding.
I also talk about why getting children out of screens and into books is vital. With the Netflix series, Adolescence out, you need to know about the toxic Incel culture and what misogynistic voices our kids are exposed to. Let this series jolt you awake to become aware of what your children are consuming. And give them the love, support and safety they need at home to weather the truly difficult time of being a teenager in this crazy world. For support on this, contact Klik'd, a local company providing digital guidance to parents.
Finally we review three proudly South African books for your little ones, to inspire their self-belief and confidence. Brave Like Me is a true story of braveness in the face of discrimination by Zulaikha Patel, the gorgeous All That I Am – A collection Of South African Poems and Songs is edited by Refiloe Moahloli and The South African Alphabet of Affirmations has powerful kid's affirmations in all 11 languages.
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3 Mar 2025
Episode 6: How to be a Children’s Book Illustrator
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 navigating her family’s financial difficulties.
3 Feb 2025
Episode 5: Kingsmead Young Writers’ Competition and Nicole Rimensberger
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 at why we still LOVE fairy tales – and you should too - and review My First Lift the Flap Fairy Tales for ages 2-5.
Show And Tell by Marleen Lammers is a wonderful local book teaching acceptance and diversity for ages 5-7.
Finally, our parent’s pick is the bestselling Let Them by Mel Robbins. Find out why this mantra will leave you happier and less controlling.
13 Dec 2024
Episode 4: Holiday Reads for Kids – A Special from The Book Tree Podcast
Verushka Louw, Children's Sales Representative, shares expert tips on selecting the best children's non-fiction books for kids, fostering a lifelong love of reading and learning.
17 Nov 2024
Episode 3: Author Lori-Ann Preston
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 courage and friendship between two boys living on the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Have you heard about the Substack phenomenon? Everyone's on it. We share a list of great children's book authors' substacks to follow.
28 Oct 2024
Episode 2: Annelize Clark from Bellavista SHARE on Dyslexia & Reading Skills
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 children’s books:
A page-turning middle grade reader, Pinch Perkins and the Midsummer Curse by Cathy Fitzgerald (Jonathan Ball Publishers) and the perfect local early chapter book for age 6-9 year olds: Cook-Off At Gogo’s Spaza by Salamina Mosese (Human & Rousseau).
1 Sept 2024
Episode 1: Lorato Trok from Nal'ibali on why children need to hear stories out loud.
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 for Mrs Pettigrew, stories and writing inspiration from one of the world’s best loved story tellers, Michael Morpurgo. (Walker Books).
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