so simple and straightforward that it makes accessible even to quite young children the difficult and the profound. Beverley Naidoo (a white child) got a vaccine against diphteria, the children of the woman helping her family did not get this chance. So the pair bravely decide to walk to their mother who works as a housekeeper and nanny in the big city, Johannesburg.

Published during the height of Apartheid in the mid-1980s, this book was banned in South Africa until 1990.But at university, Naidoo became increasingly outraged at the South African government and joined Nelson Mandela’s anti-Apartheid movement, with Beverly Naido being arrested and jailed in 1964, for anti-government activities. When they come to another village, they walk quickly so as to not attract the attention of the police because policemen in this area are often corrupt.

To develop the children's understanding further, children could take part in a hot seating activity to explore the characters in depth and to gain a full perspective of living in South Africa around this time.The wealth was all in the hands of the 'Whites', while the labour was done by the 'Blacks' who worked long hours for little pay and lived under apalling conditions.

Banned by the apartheid government in South Africa, this is the story of two children’s courage and determination to find their mother and bring her home. When their baby sister suddenly becomes very sick, Naledi and Tiro know, deep down, that only one person can save her. It is a simple story line that has potential to open many discussions and topics for children to further explore in the classroom.

I actually almost have up on it because this first time I tried reading it I got confused by the characters and went to sleep! This book tells the story of two young children who travel 300 km from their small village to Johannesburg, when their baby sister falls seriously ill, to tell their mother who works there as a maid. This is the story of love, commitment and the flowering of the human spirit against the background of South Africa's apartheid.

Grace helps them find their mother’s workplace and offers them a place to spend the night in Soweto.Both the truck driver and Grace take responsibility for the children’s well being once they come in contact with them. I have loved reading this book and it has opened my eyes to how a powerful text can underpin half a term’s worth of cross curricular lessons.