Wanda the Brave (English)

Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni is an author, storyteller, scholar and recently the host for The Ultimate Book Show. Her children’s story Fly, Everyone, Fly was the 2021 World Read Aloud Day story which reached upwards of 3 million children in South Africa. She has travelled to numerous countries, including Tibet, China, Australia, Finland and 25 European countries. She lived in Beijing, completing a master’s at Peking University. Her interest in schools stems from her lived experience which extends across 12 schooling institutions, including KU Leuven, University of Cape Town and Universitat de Barcelona. It is from this vast world experience that Sihle tells stories that explore how hierarchical and racialised contexts affect identity, aspirations and opportunities. Chantelle and Burgen Thorne are internationally published illustrators with over 20 years experience in educational publishing. The two are now focusing on picture books for children with several more titles being released internationally this year, because the magic of children’s books is that they’re not just for kids. Avid bookworms themselves, they take great delight in the visual storytelling of picture books, art and text working together, every word and every image adding to the reader’s experience. Both have fond memories of being read to as children and this inspires them to make their illustrations as engaging, honest and relevant to young readers as they possibly can – what a wonderful way to spend one’s working day! They are represented by Paul Moreton of the fabulous Bell Lomax Moreton agency worldwide.