By Niki Daly (Frances Lincoln)

4-6 year olds

Not So Fast Songololo is about a young boy who goes into the city with his Gogo (grandmother) to help her do the shopping. Gogo walks very slowly, but Shepard likes to take his time as well, hence his nickname Songolola, which is Zulu for millipede.

When Songolola sees a bright pair of red takkies (sneakers) in the shop he is filled with longing.  His joy when his Gogo buys them as a reward for being so patient is palpable.  The bustling streets of a busy city and the hot bothered Gogo as she navigates her way around bring the story to life.  Star of the book is the sweet,caring relationship between Gogo and Songolola.

Winner of the US Parent’ Choice Award, Niki Daly’s simple and sentimental watercolors reveal our human frailties and tenderness, from Gogo’s smiling love for Songolo to his wide eyed coveting of the new shoes.  The perfect South African tale to share with young children, when this came out in 1986 it helped create a different vision of South Africa and opened the way to many more South African children’s books.

Other books to look out for by Daly include Jamela’s Dress  from the Jamela series – and Once Upon a Time.