Best Books For Class Reading: Things I Learnt in the Forest

The new Good, better, best series is aimed at providing class readers for FAL learners in grade 4 to 7 (English and Afrikaans). Each book includes contextual questions for discussion during class or at home, with further content that will be made available on our website. The first title in the series by Jayne Bauling is a feel-good story subtly covering themes of nature conservation, a family's journey with ADD, relationships and happiness.

When Thoko and her mom moves from the city to a plantation in Mpumalanga she is totally out of her comfort zone. There is no mall in sight and she has to take a taxi with the other kids from the plantation to school every morning. She feels like such an outsider. At least Pabi seems to like her enough to invite her on a bike ride with Cal, the quiet boy. Thoko is mesmerized by the beauty of the forest, but someone is hurting the animals. Could it be Vusi and his friends? But why? Perhaps they should investigate . . .