Note from Marjorie Van Heerden

(Co-Regional Advisor; SCBWI South Africa)

This showcase of South African children’s book writers, illustrators and publishers is the first to be presented by the local chapter of the international Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). The idea is to update the showcase every year and to distribute it amongst as many interested parties as possible.

In putting this collection together an invitation was extended to as many industry professionals as we could reach across the country. Our invitation was not limited to members of the SCBWI, nor to any specific language or cultural group. We wanted to display the wonderful talent to be found here and also reflect the astonishing diversity of our country - a country with eleven official languages and a national flag that has more colours than any other on Earth!

The group of writers, illustrators and publishers showcased here are the ones who took up our invitation in 2006. We hope that they will all join us again next year and that the 2007 showcase will also embrace many more of our colleagues across the land. - June 2006