A round-up of 12 of the best environmental books for kids – and one for parents too! Teach your children to love nature and respect all life.
12 Great Kid’s Environmental Books
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Blog
Children try to use books like smartphones
Studies show that about one in three children instinctively try to swipe physical books as if they were smartphones or tablets. Growing up in a digital-first world, many kids are so used to touchscreens that they apply the same gestures to traditional books, expecting pages to turn with a swipe.
Young Writers’ Competition 2026
The 5th Young Writers’ Competition 2026 has launched! What happens when your imagination takes flight?
This is your chance to tell us a story that’s out of this world! There’s no limit to the ways you can interpret the topics. From cosmic adventures to powerful inner journeys, we’re looking for writing that goes beyond the ordinary. Open to all South African school children age 6-18.
Play and Storytelling Workshop
Everyone is a story teller – they just need an opportunity to play and create. The Book Tree helped facilitate a story telling and play-based workshop with the wonderful team at Bini Birdies at Alex Education Committee Saturday School.
Winners Announced: Kingsmead Young Writers’ Competition 2025
Aspiring creative writers from across South Africa once again demonstrated their talent in the annual Kingsmead Young Writers’ Competition (YWC) – the country’s premier youth writing competition for learners aged 6 to 18.
Why Fairy Tales are Good For Kids
Why are fairy tales still so powerful, thousands of years later?I am a big fan of nursery rhymes and fairy tales. Why? Because not only is this how I fell in love with reading, but their structure and story arc, filled with adventure, mystery, magic, danger and...
Jolabokaflod: ‘Christmas Book Flood’
Jolabokaflod is an Icelandic tradition that translates to “Christmas Book Flood.” It’s a much loved custom where books are exchanged as gifts on Christmas Eve and everyone spends the evening reading their new books, with a hot cocoa and a treat.
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.
Episode 1 – Nal’ibali Literacy with Lorato Trok
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.
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