Kantiga Finds the Perfect Name

This endearing picture book from South Africa follows the story of a little girl who, with help from her grandmother, explores her identity and learns to appreciate her name.

"There was once a beautiful little girl with a heart as big as her name, Kantiga. But Kantiga did not like her name." Hearing this, her gogo tells her a family tale of the magical clay pot that seems to be useless because it is cracked and broken. We learn how this flaw makes it more than perfect.

Follow this beautiful tale, full of color and folklore, as Kantiga tries to find the perfect name and on the journey learns a bit more about who she is and where she is from.

Author: Mabel Mnensa
Publisher: Crocodile Books
Published: 07/25/2023
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 9.53h x 10.94w x 0.63d
ISBN: 9781623717438

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 06/05/2023

About the Author
Mabel Mnensa is an avid reader, poet, and writer. A lover of words and stories, she completed her Master's degrees with distinctions--an MA in English Literature from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (2010) and an MA in Creative Writing from University College Dublin (2022). Her published work ranges from children's picture stories to prose that explores alternate worlds and realities. Mabel's debut children's picture book, Kantiga Finds the Perfect Name was written, inspired by her niece and the stories she was told growing up.

Chantelle and Burgen Thorne are internationally published illustrators with over 20 years' experience in educational publishing. Avid bookworms themselves, they take great delight in the visual storytelling of picture books, art and text working together, every word and every image adding to the reader's experience. They also illustrated Wanda by Sihle Nontshokweni & Mathabo Tlali.