Jafta, by Hugh Lewin (Setswana)

Meet Jafta, a little boy living in an African village sharing the universal joys and sorrows of childhood. Jafta was born after prize-winning author, Hugh Lewin, was released from prison after a seven-year sentence for his opposition to apartheid. With exquisite poignancy he describes the life of separation Jafta experiences growing up without his father. Later in the series, we learn of Jafta's experience of love for his mother and we share the tenderness and celebration of Jafta's father's homecoming.

The stories live and breathe, beautifully rendered by the lyrical artwork of Lisa Kopper.

The Jafta Series first appeared in 1981 to worldwide acclaim. It has been published in the USA, the UK, France, Japan and Spain and many more countries and has been translated into Swedish, Danish, Finish, Dutch, isiZulu, isiXhosa and Portuguese.

"When I get tired, I like lazing in the sun like a lizard, or wallowing warm like a hippo, and feeling cuddly like a lamb."

Jafta, a young boy growing up in Africa, describes some of his everyday feelings by comparing his actions to those of various African animals. The book is filled with rich illustrations and clever similes to explain all sorts of feelings and actions.

Find this book in isiXhosa