Books
by Roslynne Toerien
Ros is an award winning author of 6 children’s books which instil values, spark curiosity and create conservation awareness. Beautifully illustrated, her books are fun, engaging and informative, igniting a love for reading and learning through her rhythmic style.
The Rumbling Rhino
This book hopes to create awareness around endangered animals, to help educate and empower the next generation.
Under the Baobab Tree
On a hot summer’s day, the animals wandered, they roamed and explored, Will they find the perfect tree?
The Forgotten Four
Packed with interesting facts about African wildlife, get ready for a game drive adventure to remember.
The Speedy Six Olympics
The animals gathered competitive and strong, to find out who would win and sound the animal Olympic gong.
The Nocturnal Nine
Embark on a moonlit adventure with ‘The Nocturnal Nine’ and discover the wonders of the night!
The Feathered Five
Join ‘The Feathered Five’ on an unforgettable adventure as they navigate the cacophony of the African savanna.
Awards & Recommend Lists
About the author
Roslynne Toerien
Roslynne Toerien is a proudly South African mother, writer, speaker and philanthropist, residing in Durban, KZN. She holds a Bachelor of Education, specialising in the Foundation Phase and trained as a dancer, achieving her AIDT Solo Performers certificate.
Ros is the CEO and Founder of the South African Non-Profit Trust, The LEARN Project which stands for ‘Let’s Educate A Rainbow Nation’ and aims to equip disadvantaged schools with libraries and book corners. Ros has been a guest speaker at a number of events and schools and was awarded The Paul Harris Fellows Award by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
She lives by the motto ‘Small actions lead to big change’ and this can be seen in the number of school LEARN library doors that have been opened and minds that have been unlocked through the power of books and literacy.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Julie Smith-Belton
Julie Smith-Belton is a visual artist working in painting, sculpture, photography, illustration and graphic design. Whimsy, quirky humour and playful creativity are the themes that run throughout her work.
Julie was born and raised in South Africa and currently lives in Denmark with her family. She studied fine art
and graphic design, graduating cum laude in 2004. Julie has exhibited and sold original artworks, taught art to children and worked on a number of illustrated short stories and books.
She is a mom of 4 who loves to work on things that bring joy to others and lives with a dream of making everything around her beautiful and of impacting the world through creativity and love.
Books: The Rumbling Rhino, Under the Baobab Tree, The Forgotten Four and The Speedy Six Olympics.
About the ILLUSTRATOR
Rachel Grace Nyman
Rachel Grace Nyman is a student at the University of Pretoria, currently completing her degree in Fine Arts.
Rachel was born and raised in Durban, South Africa. She is the eldest of six siblings. Being homeschooled by her mother for the majority of her childhood allowed her the space to develop her creativity and love for illustration and the arts in a very nurturing environment. Rachel chose to complete her school career at Our Lady of Fatima, where she was blessed with the most incredible art teacher who challenged and inspired her in many ways.
Rachel has spent many hours in less privileged communities, where her heart grew in compassion for people, their struggles, and their stories. She dreams of ways to bring hope to these environments through creativity.
Rachel matriculated in 2023, receiving the Gail Baxter Trophy (Top Art Student in her year) and sharing the Humanitarian of the Year Trophy with her twin sister.
Books: The Nocturnal Nine and The Feathered Five.
Book Reading Parties
Book reading parties are a fun and engaging way to bring books to life. With an author reading, arts & crafts activities, prizes and treats — there is something for everyone!
Animal bookmarks / puppets
Watercolour paints or pencil crayons can be used to decorate animals. Use Prestik to put onto wooden stick. Google eyes can be added.
Colouring Station
Black and white colouring pages with images from the books can be decorated with crayons or coloured pencils.
Illustrations & Word Search
Older children enjoy drawing their own creations – using either an animal from the books or a plastic animal supplied as a reference. The ‘WILD Word Search’ is a fun challenge.
