March could well see hordes of children abandoning their television sets and computer games, as Exclusive Books celebrates bringing the best of children’s literature to life at stores across South Africa in a nationwide festival of reading, parties, puppet shows and music .
Exclusive Books is hosting a Children’s Festival of Books in 16 of its stores every Saturday for the month of March to encourage literacy and reading among the youth and to celebrate some of South Africa’s best children’s authors.

A jam-packed programme of events sees well-known authors such as Joanne Bacon, Jaco Jacobs and Chris van Wyk enthralling children with extracts from their books.  Senior primary school readers will love Darrel Bristow-Bovey’s talk about his funny and inspiring prize-winning novel, Super Zero.

The younger ones will delight in the “Flower Fairies Tea Parties” and they will also have the opportunity to meet a human-sized Peter Rabbit.  The events also include song and dance, with Ed Jordan to entertain young and old with songs from his third CD, entitled:  “Even more beautiful creatures,” and young musicians from the Soweto Buskaid Project getting everyone’s feet tapping.  Dolinda will also be in several stores to entertain children with her wonderful “Sonnekas Poppekas” puppeteers.

“It’s an enormous project – we want children across South Africa to experience the magic of reading,” comments Exclusive Books Marketing Manager, Batya Green-Bricker.

“Children will have a chance to talk to the authors and participate in the fantasy and fun of books – It’s an invaluable experience if you want to foster a lifelong love of books in your child.”

Exclusive Books stores in Gauteng, Durban, Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth and Mpumulanga will be participating.  

Entrance is free and space is limited, so please book your place as soon as possible!  For more information about the programme of events and the participating stores, contact your nearest Exclusive Books or visit their website:  www.exclusivebooks.com