New Releases by Dianne Stewart

Proverbs, and their everyday usage, are just as relevant to contemporary society as a reflection of the human condition as they were to our ancestors. Set against the struggle to save our planet and issues of environmentalism, proverbs with imagery originating from the natural world will resonate with most of us. Dianne Stewart has compiled this treasure trove of African nature proverbs sourced from isiZulu and isiXhosa, and has provided both literal translations and their figurative interpretations.

An exciting story about a group of children who discover how wonderful monkeys are!

Anele Dlamini's life has been turned upside down. In this Coming-of-Age novel set over the course of one summer in KwaZulu Natal, Anele discovers that life is full of challenges and together with her family learns to adjust to unforeseen circumstances. Like the swallows' seasonal visitation, Anele realises that time on earth is short. Little did she know how short it could be.

Joshua Finkelstein Bade does not want to go on his school camp to the nature reserve. Allergic to mosquitoes, he squirms when he sees creepy crawlies and hates to touch slimy scum-bags, called slugs. YUCK! The hate he has for critters does not run in his family. One of his grandmothers is an entomologist and his grandfather, a game ranger in a South African game park, studies dung-beetles. And believe it or not, Josh is the only one in his class to not like insects. He cannot understand why his classmates love bugs so much ... He pulls out every trick in the book to avoid going on the school trip, including faking that he has the measles. When all attempts to avoid the camp fail, Joshua has no choice but to tag along. Luckily, Josh discovers that the camp is not THAT horrible. He even learns to tolerate some of the many-legged critters ...

Was the stranger, who knocked at the city gates during a storm, really a princess? What kind of friend could a frog be? Read ‘The Frog Prince’ to find out.If you want to know why the animals were afraid of the proud elephant, Karpuratilaka, read the Indian tale in this collection to find your answer.Could the turtle really fly? A West Indian folktale reveals how the turtle took to the skies.Read about the party for the long-tailed animals in author Dianne Stewart’s original African folktale, ‘A Dance in the Moonlight’.This collection of fairy and folktales from around the world, is beautifully illustrated by Heidi-Kate Greeff and will be enjoyed by adult and child alike.

"Dianne Stewart's stories touch on the many contemporary experiences of South Africans. With a light, deft touch she illuminates these lives. Ranging from Durban to London or New York, the characters in these stories are in search: of answers, a handmade Zulu basket, a long lost son or a publishing contract"--Provided by Publisher.

The rich folklore culture of Africa has been passed down by word of mouth through countless generations. Dianne Stewart has a passion for collecting and retelling these stories, making them accessible to a whole new audience. In The Guineafowl’s Spots and Other African Bird Tales she has created a unique collection of African folktales, exclusively about birds. Drawn from across the continent, these tales often draw on human characteristics and are followed by African proverbs that illustrate various moral lessons. This fascinating collection includes classic tales such as ‘Why Flamingo Stands on One Leg’ from Nigeria, ‘The Laughing Dove’ from North Africa, and the Xhosa tale ‘The Bird That Could Make Milk’. Beautiful illustrations by Richard Mackintosh bring to life the magic of the stories and the beauty of the birds themsleves. Many of the tales include additional facts on the featured birds.

Folktales are timeless and, although they are a product of a particular culture, they have universal relevance because they give insight into the human condition. In Folktales from Africa, award-winning South African author Dianne Stewart has retold stories from the length and breadth of the African continent. Beautifully illustrated by Marjorie van Heerden, this collection of twenty stories is certain to entertain and delight the reader, as well as give insight into the countries from which the tales have been sourced.

African Myths and Legends is a spellbinding, fascinating collection of myths and legends to enliven the imagination of young readers. No-one is entirely sure whether these legends are fact or fiction, but that is where the magic lies! Each story is accompanied by snippets of information highlighted by the story. Vividly told and illustrated, the book sustains the intrigue of storytelling that has been passed on – often by word of mouth – from generation to generation. Illustrated in magnificent colour by Gina Daniel and Angus McBride, African Myths and Legends weaves fantasy and magic, and is also informative and educated.

In the words of author Dianne Stewart, 'African proverbs reflect both the past and the present, and are as relevant to contemporary society as they were to traditional society.' As with so much of African culture, proverbs have been passed on in the oral tradition so it's rare to find such a treasure trove as this; from across Africa, Dianne has compiled a fascinating collection. The text is given in the language of origin, an English translation and an explanation of the meaning. They are divided into subject groups such as human nature, family life, good fortune, time, animals and nature. Whether you're looking for that special African gift or would like to add to your own collection of reference books, Wisdom from Africa is an excellent choice.

Thirty writers, thirty views of Durban. Each piece evokes memories of the city that has shaped them. With a wide range of voices, from John van de Ruit, Glynis Horning, Ronnie Govender, Kobus Mooman, Aziz Hassim and many more, Durban in a Word is a lush collection from South Africa's often forgotten city.

Each chapter of Sea, Sand and Sky is enhanced with thoughtful quotes, reflective questions and suggestions for creative activities. Wade through the shallows with Dianne Stewart and think on the wonders of God's creation. We all need retreats in our lives. Being close to nature offers us an opportunity for such a retreat, where we can recharge our batteries and find our natural rhythms again. Nature is so generous. Time and again, it offers itself to us in many ways to refresh our tired souls and bring restoration to our jaded lives. Contents include: * The preparation * Simplicity * Solitude * The sandcastle * Slowing down * The less travelled road * The shell fragment * Perseverance * The tangled fishing line * Still no reward * The positives, not the negatives * The presence of God * Gratitude * The legend of the pansy shell

Read Write Inc. Comprehension is the next step in developing children's composition and writing skills once they have become confident readers. The programme offers 30 weekly modules, specially written to link reading and writing activities to carefully levelled texts. 16 of the modules are linked to published quality fiction and non-fiction children's books. The accompanying Read Write Inc. module offers activities which provide practice in reading, writing and spelling, and consolidate the pupils' knowledge through comprehension and guided composition. The illustrated children's books, of which this is one, that accompany 16 of the Comprehension modules can all be purchased from Oxford University Press in the same way as the module packs.

Folktales can be described as fictional prose narratives that are not confined to any particular culture. A folktale may appear in a slightly different form in a culture that is geographically nearby, or it may appear in a culture that is quite far removed from its original source. In The Zebra’s Stripes and other African Tales, Dianne Stewart has retold a collection of folk tales that have their origins all over Africa. Aimed at children and adults, these tales include legends such as ‘How Lion and Warthog became Enemies’ from the Lamba people of Togo, ‘How Giraffe Acquired his Long Neck’ from East Africa, ‘Why Hippopotamus Lives in the Water’ from Nigeria and ‘Monkey The Musician’ from South Africa. There are tales from the San, Zulu, Zambia, Congo and West Africa, et al. Each section is devoted to a type of animal, and concludes with some facts about the animal in question, adding educational to the stories. Proverbs from various cultures provide additional insight. Throughout, Kathy Pienaar’s beautiful illustrations show great attention to detail.

The Little Library Life Skills Kit (along with the Literacy and Numeracy Kits) was initially developed to respond to a need for high quality, indigenous books for the younger members of our communities. After ten years successful use in schools, the kits have now been revised to meet the changing needs of learners, schools and the new education policies. The Life Skills Kit focuses on promoting life skills to learners of five to nine years of age, as stated in the National Curriculum Statement. Remembering Grandmother gently handles the concept of death as a part of life; a sad, but in this case, natural event. Although there is real sadness, there is also comfort and support from family and friends. The story shows learners that there is a cycle to life.

This series honours the lives of southern African leaders who helped shape the history of the region. The books include activities for exploration in the classroom.