Blog
Guest blogs
Would you like to write a blog for us? If you have a post idea that focuses on children’s books, literacy, education or parenting, send it in and we’ll see if it’s a good fit. Check out the format here.
Substack Favourites
Substack is a growing online platform for writers, illustrators, journalists and more to share their work. Check out our best subscriptions.
Dyslexia and Reading Skills
Dyslexia impacts on literacy and the ability to process and remember information - which is why reading, writing and spelling are tricky. Dyslexic children are often bright, and may be able to explain things verbally but battle to get their ideas on paper. Here's 11 tips to help your dyslexic child's literacy journey.
The Book Tree Podcast – Episode 1
A podcast about children's books, authors, illustrators, publishers and other bookish people. And we have books for parents too! After all, if you want to raise a reader, be a reader.
Why Nursery Rhymes Are Good for Kids
Studies show that nursery rhymes, while sometimes outdated, help with building memory, vocabulary, numeracy, and speaking skills.
How to PLOT your story
A good plot is the key to a page-turning story that keeps your reader interested and helps to guide you through the writing process. Organiser of the Kingsmead Young Writers' Competition, Corinne Rosmarin, shares top tips on creating a plot for any story.
Book Ends We Love
Good book ends hold your special books together and decorate your room. They're also a great way of displaying the current reads your kids are enjoying and making it easy to reach them.
Make a Book Movie Trailer
Good book trailers really make you want to read the book and while they look very professional, anyone can make them! Follow our 5 steps and share your videos and favourite books.
Kingsmead Young Writers’ Competition 2024
It’s another year of the annual Kingsmead Young Writers’ Competition and we can’t wait to read your entries! Celebrating the talents of young writers across South Africa, the competition is open to all school children aged 6 – 18.
World Read-Aloud Day 7 Feb 2024
Celebrate World Read Aloud Day this Wednesday 7 February with a pack of activities to promote literacy and community. There is SO much fun to be had! What's it all about? World Read Aloud Day was launched by American organisation, LitWorld in 2010. They believe...
10 Books to Inspire Creative Thinking
We've rounded up 10 of the best books to inspire creative thinking for children. More than ever, we have to educate young people to think for themselves and decide what is right and wrong, what is true and false and what is good for everyone. We also have to teach them how to think 'out the box' from the very beginning.
Teens Need Comprehension Skills
With AI on the rise, being a critical thinker and reader and knowing how to read for meaning and understand how to build links between texts and ideas is vital. Reading skills are not enough and our teens are falling short in their high school years.
Book & Author Podcasts
Listen to some of your favourite authors from the Kingsmead Book Fair on the Jonathan Ball podcast Pagecast. Authors interviewed include Jo Watson, Refiloe Moahloli, Jarred Thompson, Amonge Sinxoto, and AI expert Johan Steyn.
Winners of Kingsmead Young Writers’ Competition 2023
Kingsmead College, a girls’ school in Johannesburg, recently announced the winners of their second national Young Writers’ Competition. The competition, run alongside their annual Kingsmead Book Fair, aims to build a new generation of young writers in South Africa.
Get in touch
We’d love to hear from you!
