English Catalogue  

(all books in English in alphabetical order of title)

 

A Lucky Man

Robert was a lucky man. His wife, Camilla, cared for him. His son did well at school. He was lucky with the lotto too. He nearly always got three correct numbers.

Then his friend, Anthony, persuaded him to try his luck at the casino for the first time. Robert started going to the casino every week. One day there was no more money for the casino and no money left to buy his son a birthday present.

Was Robert still a lucky man?

  • Author: Julie McFarlane
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 2/Grades 4-5
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-679-1

 

      

 

Against the wind: five South Africans follow their dreams

Against the wind tells the stories of five remarkable South Africans: Simon Mkhize who, year after year, ran the Comrades Marathon unofficially, ignoring its racial bans; Magema M. Fuze, who was the first black South African to publish a book in Zulu; Sibusisiwe Violet Makhanya, who was the first black woman to become a qualified social worker; K.E. Masinga, who became the first black radio announcer and Nhlumba Bertha Mkhize, who was one of the first people to champion women’s rights in South Africa, as well as being one of the first black women in Natal to have her own business.

  • Author: Lesley Lewis
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 3/Grades 6-7
  • ISBN: 978-1-874897-60-6

 

      

 

Beer, songs and quarrels

Sharing curry recipes in Glebelands before forced removals; hiding in terror from the white Valiant car; giving birth to her daughter and being discharged from the hospital on the same day — without a cent in her pocket; her husband’s drinking, girlfriends and violent ways; a very strange funeral and folk tales told to her by her mother ... Sibongile Sithole remembers “how things used to be” and tells true stories about her life as a mother, friend, wife and daughter.

  • Author: Sibongile Sithole
  • Language: English, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho
  • Level: ABET Level 3/Grades 6-7
  • ISBN: 978-0-86980-793-4

 

      

 

Evidence

After Tiego is attacked outside his shop, he lies unconscious in hospital. The detectives give up hope because they have no evidence. Tiego manages to help them.

  • Author: Sello Motete
  • Language: English and Setswana (original language)
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-8640-475-9

 

      

 

First prize

Bongi was very excited when she won R50 000. Everyone wanted money from her. Very soon, she had no money left, but she was still happy.

  • Author: Shelly Seid
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-293-9

 

      

 

Going home with chickens

Thobela, a migrant worker, sets off on a long bus journey home with a surprise for his family, but he is not the only one who is planning a surprise.

  • Author: Pauline Stanford
  • Language: English (original language), Afrikaans, isiXhosa, Sesotho
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-0-86980-849-8

 

      

 

I am fed up

Pastor Gwambe has huge problems. Finally he decides on a solution. However, things do not go according to plan.

  • Author: Seth Mudzanani
  • Language: English and Tshivenda (original language)
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 1-86840-479-7

 

      

 

I love Ohazurike

Khensani is in love with a foreigner called Ohazurike. The local men do not like foreigners. They are rude to the lovers when they get a taxi to Elim. In the end Ohazurike has a surprise for them.

  • Author: Vonani Bila
  • Language: English and Xitsonga (original language)
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-477-3

 

      

 

Locked up

Tseko is in prison for murdering his wife. He was found guilty of locking her in the house, setting fire to it and burning her to death. After five years in prison, his sister-in-law, Mandisa, comes to see him. He is very surprised to see her because she hates him for murdering her sister. Mandisa has new information about the night of the fire. Then his brother is poisoned and Tseko knows for sure who the murderer is, but he has to decide whether to give away his wife.

  • Author: Rosamund Stanford
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 2/Grades 4-5
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-680-7

 

      

 

Madevhe is coming

Gondo was crippled, but he enjoyed visiting his aunt at Mananga and playing on the mountain near the village with the herd boys. The mischievous boys did not tell him about Madevhe, the dangerous baboon who lived nearby!

  • Author: Silas Sitholimela
  • Language: English, Tshivenda (original language) and Sepedi
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-478-0

 

      

 

Mahlase's feast

Mahlase went to town to look for a job to get money to support his family. He had so many problems. Finally, he went to a Wimpy thinking it was a traditional feast.

  • Author: Cedric Xulu
  • Language: English, isiZulu (original language) and Sepedi
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-487-2

 

      

 

MaLulu's Place

Jabu is desperate to get a job with the Scorpions.  While he is waiting to hear about his application, MaLulu asks him for help. Her son and her nephew have been kidnapped so Jabu and his friends jump into action!

  • Author: Busi Chaane
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 3/Grades 6-7
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-653-1

 

      

 

Man of the house

The Sithole family moved from the Transkei to Soshanguve when Thando's father got a job at a big factory. For a while, things were better for the family.

Then his father died and his mother got sick. Thando's mother made him promise that he would look after his eight year old brother, Siswe, and his four year old sister, Neo and make sure that they all stayed together.

Thando hoped to go to university one day, but he had to stop going to school to try to get money to put food on the table. Still the children often went hungry. Thando could not ask for help because of the promise he made to his mother. Then Siswe's teacher, Mrs Gumede, decided to investigate.

  • Author: Ruth Pressler
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 2/Grades 4-5
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-677-7

 

      

 

Mandla and the bull

Saturday starts off happily for Mandla. He and his friends have a good time at MaShezi’s. Mandla has a bit too much to drink, and he is not as careful as he should be when he meets a bull on the way home.
.

  • Author: Wendy Annecke
  • Language:English (original language) and Afrikaans
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-86980-836-8

 

      

 

Mosima makes a plan

Mosima is a married woman. She is beautiful and loved by many men. When her husband finds a job in Johannesburg, things start to go wrong.

  • Author: Monica Rakoma
  • Language: English and Sepedi (original language)
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-292-2

 

      

 

My red cow

Bonga loved his beautiful red cow. He was very angry when it was stolen but he found a solution to his problem..

  • Author: Victus Kunene
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-292-2

 

      

 

No space to plant

Four women from Canaan tell their life stories: moving from one place to another, marrying, having children and struggling to find a home where there is space to plant.

  • Authors: Thandekile Memela, Gretta Ndukwane, Deliwe Phakathi and Thoko Qwabe
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 3/Grades 6-7
  • ISBN: 978-1-874897-58-3

 

      

 

Shoooooes! The story of Leonard Gregory

Leonard Gregory was a professional soccer player. Many goals started at his feet. He played in the central mid-field and “pulled the strings” in matches. The crowd would roar “Shoooooes!” when Leonard gathered the ball and headed for the goal posts.

Then one day everything changed. Leonard had a terrible accident and lost the use of his legs. This story is about Leonard’s faith and how he coped with his new way of life and showed that people with disabilities can participate in and contribute to their communities.

  • Author: Peter Rule
  • Language: English (original language), Afrikaans, isiXhosa and isiZulu
  • Level: ABET Level 3/Grades 6-7
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-672-2

 

      

 

The diary of Thami the truck driver

Thami, a long-distance truck driver, writes a daily diary about this travels. Through his diary we learn about the history and geography of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.

  • Author: Wendy Annecke
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 3/Grades 6-7
  • ISBN: 978-1-874897-75-0

 

         

 

The Jackpot!

Malose and Mosima are very poor. They are very excited when they win the jackpot. Then something terrible happens ...

  • Author: Edwin Komana
  • Language: English and Sepedi (original language)
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-481-0

 

      

 

The new baby

A priest and his wife are ashamed when their daughter tells them she is going to have a baby. When the baby comes, everything changes.

  • Author: Helen Brain
  • Language: English (original language) and Sepedi
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-294-6

 

      

 

The Nkosi family!

The seven members of the Nkosi family have their own likes and dislikes, hopes and dreams, just like everybody else. Let them all, from Gogo Nkosi to two year old Philile, share their feelings with you.

  • Author: Elda Lyster
  • Language: English (original language) isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sesotho
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-86980-852-5

 

      

 

The promise

Zinzi promises her mother that she will never leave her, not like her father, brothers and sisters did. When she gets a job as an assistant in Themba's corner store, her mother reminds her that her first job is to look after her.

Zinzi and Themba fall in love, but she does not tell her mother. She does not tell Themba about her promise to her mother either.

One day Themba tells her he is going out and when he gets back he will have a big surprise for her. She is very excited because she has a secret wish!

Then she gets a phone call that changes everything.

  • Author: Glenda Salmon
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 2/Grades 4-5
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-678-4

 

      

 

The sea is alive!

Tladi dreams of going to the seaside. Eventually he and his friend Pule go to Durban. Tladi knows how to swim but he is not prepared for the waves!

  • Author: Batseba Poo
  • Language: English and Setswana (original language)
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-480-3

 

      

 

The Tree Man: Robert Mazibuko's story

Robert Mazibuko, the “Tree Man”, died in July 1994 at the age of 90. He spent his life teaching people how to make the soil rich and how to plant vegetables and trees. As he said, “Without the soil, there is nothing.” This is his story and advice in his own words.

  • Editor: Joanne Bloch
  • Language: English (original language) and isiZulu
  • Level: ABET Level 3/Grades 6-7
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-653-1

 

      

 

The Trick

MaMkhize has no money to pay the rent or buy food. Her husband spends all the money on drinking at the shebeen. She asks the sangoma for help. Together they plan a clever trick to stop her husband’s drinking.

  • Author: Wendy Annecke
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-0-86840-486-5

 

      

 

Where does the money go?

Maseko’s salary was stolen from him on his way home from work. His wife, LaShongwe, decided to walk back from work with him on pay day to see if he was telling the truth.

  • Author: Moses Thwala
  • Language: English and SiSwati (original language)
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-1-86840-486-5

 

      

 

Who shall I marry?

Mmatli is confused. He cannot choose between two girls. When he goes to his father for help, the family secrets come pouring out.

  • Author: Sello Motete
  • Language: English, Sepedi and Setswana (original language)
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-0-86980-848-1

 

      

 

Why dogs chase goats

A dog, a goat, a sheep and a taxi driver go on an interesting journey. The goat tricks the dog, the dog chases the goat and the sheep is still standing in the road.

  • Authors: Mba Manqele and Wendy Annecke
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-0-86980-848-1

 

      

 

Woza Friday

Read about how someone feels on a Monday morning and how he feels on a Friday morning, and at the same time you will learn the names for different parts of the body.

  • Author: Wendy Annecke
  • Language: English
  • Level: ABET Level 1/Grades 1-3
  • ISBN: 978-0-86980-838-2

 

      

   Return to top of page

© 2022 New Readers Publishers