Maryanne Bester offers valuable lessons about the importance
of libraries, books and the love of reading. (Review by Keith Millar)
The latest in Maryanne Bester’s series of Cool Nguni stories
is I Know That.
This time Gaps, the Nguni calf, is on his way to the
library. His mate, the youngest Cattle Egret, decides to go with him. The
trouble is the Egret does not know what a library is or what books are, or how
to use them. But he is a bit of a show-off and every time Gaps explains
anything to him, he shouts “I know that”.
Eventually Gaps reads the Egret a story about things he
never knew about. A story of magical creatures, great feasts and daring
journeys. The young Egret is entranced and wants more and more books. At last
he knows what the library is for.
Other than its entertainment and fun value, I Know That offers valuable lessons
about the importance of libraries, books and the love of reading.
Young readers are also going to have great fun pointing out
how silly the Egret is when he keeps shouting “I Know That”. They will also learn
not to be a show-off like the Egret.
The book is beautifully illustrated, with full page water
colour paintings by Maryanne Bester’s sister Shayle. The result is an
eye-catching and, attractive package.
I Know That is
published by Jacana Media (Pty). ISBN 978-1-4314-0491-9. The book is available
in English, Afrikaans, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, isiSwati and Xitsonga.
Retail price is R90. – Keith Millar
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