Burgen Thorne – illustratör

Storm has a beautiful stone that her parents gave to her when she was born. When she holds this stone and sings, everyone in the village stops to listen. But when she is tempted by an old woman to sing songs that can control the wind, waves and the entire ocean, things go wrong. With her brothers and all the other fishermen lost at sea, will she be able to undo the things that she has done?

[…] Gugu smiled. “My darling child, you are already perfect. You just have to be yourself.” She pulled Shudu closer. “Just remember one thing, my child. If you are beautiful inside,” she tapped Shudu’s chest where her heart was beating, “then you will always be beautiful outside.” In this courageous and beautiful book, Miss South Africa, Shudufhadzo Musida, tells the story of her beginnings; of a singing and dancing and chatty girl in a small village named Ha-Vhangani, surrounded by love and most especially by her mum and Gogo Gugu. But things go wrong for Shudu when she moves to a new town and she is bullied by her classmates. Read how Shudu overcomes her sadness and her challenges, and becomes a girl, and then an adult, who has learned to love herself!

In this courageous and inspiring book, Thembi Kgatlana tells the story of her beginnings in the tough streets of Mohlakeng. She always had the talent and a dream to play soccer for South Africa but she was told that ‘Girls Don’t Do That’. This is the story of her hard work, her determination and of her bravery. Read her story to find out how she came to play for Banyana Banyana and was named the greatest player on the African continent.

Shudu’s happy and carefree childhood seems very far away when she moves towns and is bullied by her new classmates for being an outsider. But her special friendships help her feel like she belongs. Deep inside, Shudu has a spark, a special kind of strength that she didn’t even know was there. She finds her voice and can be herself. I am Shudu is an empowering coming-of-age story that will inspire readers to celebrate who they are and to dream big dreams!

Inspired by traditional animal stories from Africa, find out WHY Lion roars! Once upon a time, Lion hardly made any sound at all. Until he bit off more than he could chew with a prickly porcupine and found his ROAR!A vibrant animal adventure perfect for curious little ones. Written by the award-winning Ken Wilson-Max and illustrated by the multi award-winning Chantelle and Burgen Thorne.Also available in the African Stories series: Once Upon an Elephant, Once Upon a Zebra, Once Upon a Giraffe and Once Upon a Hippo.

Inspired by traditional animal stories from Africa, find out WHY Leopard has spots!Once upon a time, Leopard didn't have a wonderfully spotty coat. Until he rescued a firebird from the flames and she left her sooty mark on his golden fur.A vibrant animal adventure perfect for curious little ones. Written by Ken Wilson-Max and illustrated by the multi award-winning Chantelle and Burgen Thorne.Also available in the African Stories series: Once Upon an Elephant, Once Upon a Zebra, Once Upon a Lion, Once Upon a Giraffe, Once Upon a Hippo, Once Upon a Hyena, Once Upon a Buffalo, Once Upon a Rhino, and Once Upon a Chameleon.

Inspired by traditional animal stories from Africa, find out WHY Buffalo has horns!Once upon a time, Buffalo didn't have big, curly horns! He had wild, fuzzy hair. Until the other animals got fed up of him charging at anything and everything and decided to teach him a lesson! A vibrant animal adventure perfect for curious little ones. Written by Ken Wilson-Max and illustrated by the mutli award-winning Chantelle and Burgen Thorne.Also available in the African Stories series: Once Upon an Elephant, Once Upon a Zebra, Once Upon a Giraffe, Once Upon a Hippo, Once Upon a Lion, Once Upon a Hyena, Once Upon a Leopard, Once Upon a Rhino, and Once Upon a Chameleon.

A tender story of love, memory, and family that helps children explore the emotions and changes that come with aging family members while celebrating the traditions that keep us connected across generations.Tali loves spending time with her grandmother, her “Nona,” especially when they prepare traditional Sephardic Jewish dishes together. But as they cook, Tali notices that her nona sometimes forgets things—calling her by her mother’s name or losing track of the meal they’re making. As Tali navigates these moments, she begins to understand Nona's "Timeless Time," where memories from the past and present come together in beautiful and complex ways. • Ideal for children ages 4-8, especially those experiencing a grandparent’s memory loss. • A heartfelt story that opens up gentle conversations about aging and family connections. • Beautiful illustrations bring to life the rich traditions and the love between a grandmother and granddaughter. Tali and the Timeless Time poignantly and sensitively tells the story of a young girl’s empathy and curiosity about her grandmother’s confusion and memory loss. Perfect for children navigating a changing relationship with an aging family member, this heartwarming tale also centers on the importance of traditions that bind us together across time and generations.

Follow Tali in this heartening tale where children are encouraged to face their fears and embrace bravery with wide-spread wings."Using magical realism and dreams, this lovely picture book shows how the main character Tali gains courage to try the things she has been too afraid to attempt." —School Library Journal "Validates children’s fears before gently encouraging them to face them." —Foreword Reviews Set against the vibrant backdrop of San Francisco, Tali and the Toucan follows a young girl whose fears hold her back from joining other kids as they tumble, swing, and play across the city—from the neighborhood park to the gymnastics studio and the aikido dojo. At night, however, Tali can soar freely in her dreams—until one evening, a surprise guest swoops into her imagination and inspires her to turn those dreams into reality.With lush, captivating illustrations that evoke the charm of San Francisco’s landscapes and Tali’s vivid inner world, Tali and the Toucan speaks to every child (or parent) whose worries stand between them and their dreams—whether that’s trying a new sport, making a friend, or conquering the jungle gym.

Ontmoet vir Wanda, met haar pragtige bos hare. Sy is dapper en sterk, maar sy is ongelukkig omdat die seuns by die skool haar genadeloos terg. Deur Makhulu se haargeheime en stories leer sy egter om haar hare as ’n kroon te sien, en iets waarop sy trots kan wees. Hierdie boek gaan oor identiteit en skoonheid, en is ’n viering van hoe kultuurtrots deur generasies heen geleer en oorgedra word.

I am Shudu, Finding my Voice, Knowing my Strength tells Shudu’s story of her as a happy, laughing child, dancing across the village and her relationship with both her grandmothers who helped raise her. It then speaks to the next phase of her life, school in Mpumalanga and Johannesburg living with her mother where she was viewed as a foreigner and was bullied. The story also tells of her special friendships and how this got her through her school years and the fairy tale ending of becoming Miss South Africa. The book covers the themes of bullying, identity, bravery, forgiveness, displaced families, and the bond of friendships. Shudu is a role model to all children, showing that anyone can succeed, particularly in how she inspires young girls to both celebrate and empower themselves. Told in Shudu’s words, this coming-of-age story is a triumph. With beautiful illustrations from the award-winning Chantelle and Burgen Thorne, this book will inspire all 6 to 10 year olds