- Writer
- Born on 18 October 1968
- in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Extract from ….And one long tongue
- Shuter & Shooter; 2005.
Dark green leaves and something hiding.
A scaly skin and one long tongue.
Two big eyes and one long tongue.
Four thin legs and one long tongue.
One fast, long tongue and….
YUM!
Extract from The Magical Storybird (illustrated but not yet published).
There was once a wondrous creature known to all as the Magical Storybird. She was majestic and wise and the best storyteller that ever was. People came from far and near to hear her.
The people would call out, “Storybird, Storybird bring us a story,” and she would come. Wherever she went people would gather and her words would rain down like precious jewels.
The people would call out, “Storybird, Storybird bring us a story,” and she would come. She filled their minds with stories of faraway places and brave adventures and made even the saddest hearts happy.
The years passed.
The Magical Storybird grew older and weaker and still the people would call out, “Storybird, Storybird bring us a story,” and she would come. The stories grew even better and people would sit for days and nights listening to her.
Kerry Saadien-Raad
Kerry grew up the boss-girl of Junction Road where she regularly organised the neighbourhood children into ‘compulsory’ adventures!
It is from these adventures that she draws many of her story ideas. Ideas also grow from the children she met in her classroom as well as from time spent gazing starry-eyed at her two young girls.
She writes from a space in her home which she proudly calls ‘Mum’s office’ but that her girls think is just another space for Eeyore to gallop through with Floppy Dog on his back.
The bulk of her work has been in writing and developing materials for primary school children. She has been involved with projects in South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Botswana. These were all awesome experiences and more story fodder on which to draw.
Recently, Kerry has put more and more of the ideas and images that tumbled around in her head to paper and has published numerous children’s story-books.
In 2004 her book, Abongi’s Journey, won the First Words in Print competition (picture book category) and the following year, The Magical Storybird (not yet published), was short-listed for the same competition.
Recent Publications
Abongi’s Journey by Kerry, illus. by Tasia Rosser, MML; 2002
…And one long tongue by Kerry, illus. by Jiggs Snaddon-Wood, Shuter & Shooter; 2005
Tumble, Spray, Splash and Play by Kerry, illus. by Gavin Thomson, Shuter & Shooter; 2005
Successful Life Skills (Workbooks, Learner’s Books, Teacher’s Guides; Grades 1, 2, 3) co-authored by Kerry, Oxford University Press; 2003
Fact Finders (a range of factual books for young children) by Kerry, Oxford University Press; 2001
Extract from an unpublished story
In a dark corner, at the end of a long passage, lies a forgotten box. When Jack and Olive peep inside
- a magical world awaits! Slowly, slowly with a small creak Jack and Olive
take a peek. Surprise, surprise, what do they see? A brand new adventure . . . hurry, let’s read!
Jack and Olive had a marvellous idea. But to make the marvellous idea work they would need their friends’ help.
‘we are going to haf a consit. come to a meetin in Jacks bed room.’ Patty and Poo-Poo came and Magic Michael came too. Francis and Fran the flying twins came. And the dancing band from Cramer Street came too. And so did Luke.
Synopses
Abongi’s Journey - MML; 2002.
Abongi sets off on a journey from a quiet, remote place to a busy city where he ends up in his mother’s arms. The book explores situations where children from a variety of communities can recognise themselves and leaves plenty of room for the reader’s interpretations.
….And One Long Tongue - Shuter & Shooter; 2005.
Hiding in the pages of this early reading book is a creature with big eyes, a scaly skin, thin legs and a long tongue. The reader can also follow the story that happens ‘behind the scenes’ in the pictures.
Successful Life Skills - Oxford University Press; 2003.
One in a range of books that make up a Life Skills course for South African children in grades one, two and three, comprising Workbooks, Learner’s Books and Teacher’s Guides.
Our Environment - Oxford University Press; 2001.
A well-illustrated non-fiction book developed to help children read and understand information text. This book is one in a series of Fact Finders filled with familiar Southern African people, images and places and packed with interesting information, fun stories and activities.