Darryl David (photo: Izak de Vries)
The SA Festival of Children’s Literature takes place online from 5 tot 7 May 2023. Festivalgoers can attend in person at the Heartlands Baby Sanctuary in Somerset West. Darryl David answers Naomi Meyer’s questions on the festival.
Darryl, congratulations on organising yet another festival: the SA Festival of Children’s Literature. Do tell our readers about the background to this festival.
The festival was born out of a request from Nikki Bower, who works at Heartlands Baby Sanctuary. Nikki and I used to organise the Midlands Literary Festival in Howick before she moved to the Cape. After seeing my Madibaland World Literary Festival, Nikki approached me to help Heartlands organise a book festival to help them raise funds for the children. She wanted an online festival like Madibaland. I felt a book festival for children was a better fit. And so the SA Festival of Children’s Literature was born in 2021.
You are known for organising festivals, mainly in the Karoo. But why organise a festival about children’s books?
Of course, it was a strategic decision on my part. I knew that a book festival focusing exclusively on children’s literature in the broadest sense of the term did not exist in South Africa. Years earlier, I had organised the UKZN Kinderboekfees – focusing mainly on Afrikaans children’s literature – when I used to be HOD of Afrikaans at UKZN. And you know, it was such a joyous festival. A part of me wanted to replicate that through such a festival. And so we chased the dream.
Another word of congratulations on writing your own book, which will showcase at the festival. Now you know how easy it is to write for children – right? 😉 Please tell our readers about this book of yours.
I feel this genre might just be for me, Naomi. It is a very difficult genre. There are so many rules that publishers have. For young readers, no more than 1 000 words. An ideal length of 34 pages for illustrated books. Yet you see publishers breaking this rule for their favourites, but holding novices to these rules. And then there is the cost; they are so expensive to produce. Illustration costs a fortune. I must take my hat off, though, to our publishers. They spare no expense, at times, to produce truly exquisite books.
My book is about an Egyptian goose. The goose is such a beloved creature in children’s literature, but rarely has there been a story about an Egyptian goose. The story is 99% autobiographical, because my family and I cared for this Egyptian goose for almost 15 years. I simply fictionalised the names. But it is a Howick story. A true story. And a story that will move you and stay with you after having read it. Of that I am certain.
Which authors can readers expect to meet at this festival – can you name and mention a few?
We have some “big hitters” at the festival. Firstly, this year’s SA Children’s Laureate Award will be presented to Joan Rankin, Alida Bothma and Dianne Stewart for their lifelong contribution to children’s literature.
We have such exciting authors, if I may say so myself. Robbie Cheadle is an illustrator like no other. She illustrates on cakes. And I will get to eat them. How wonderful.
Wendy Maartens comes to the festival with a one of a kind talk entitled, “Marie biscuits met Adam Small”.
We have Mike Bruton’s unforgettable book on the coelacanth. What a book.
There is a children’s book on Irma Stern by Katherine Graham.
André? Trantraal will be there with his Kaaps translation Spoekie, based on the unforgettable Jason Reynolds book Spoekie.
Why, we even have a Miss SA on the programme: Shudu Musida, with her book Shudu finds her magic.
Truly, there is something for every lover of children’s books. And let me say, reading children’s literature has been a great teacher for me personally on how to write a book of my own. No course could have taught me what I learned simply by reading.
From a practical point of view: how much are the tickets to the festival, where is the festival taking place and are children as well as grown-ups welcome at the events?
Tickets are R50. Children under 12 enter for free when accompanied by an adult. On Friday, schools can bring their children for free. Tickets are available at the door at Heartlands Baby Sanctuary in Somerset West. There will be plenty of fun activities for the children. Pony rides. Face painting. Pottery classes for children. The Book Bus will be there on Sunday – this I have to see. A bus converted into a bookshop.
And if you are in another province, remember you can join our talks via Zoom. But please make a donation to Heartlands. They were the best NGO in South Africa last year. But looking after orphaned and abandoned children is a costly, 24-hour-a-day project.
Kommentaar
So pleased to see you writing your own stories, Darryl!