Letter from: the editor
Hello Readers
As you may already know, this is my absolute favourite time of the year. Spending time with loved ones, tucking into one too many Christmas puddings, seeing the twinkling lights everywhere you go, and soaking up the South African sunshine are some of my favourite things to do during this time.
And if those aren’t reason enough, then our range of brand-new books ought to do it! If you’re looking for some stocking fillers, look no further… from Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf to Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess, to Katie Kirby’s The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks, these are sure to put a smile on anyone’s dial. Turn to page 4 to read an exclusive extract from Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess.
On page 8, we introduce you to Mia Arderne, a Cape Townbased writer with bylines in Mail & Guardian, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and more. A thousand eyes on you is her first novel for young adults. And on page 9, we present our brand-new young adult titles with just the right amount of magic, thrills,
excitement, and adventure.
For all those budding chef’s, we’ve included an extract from Buddy Oliver’s first cookbook, Let’s Cook on page 12. Let’s Cook is all about fun, nutritious, trusted recipes that will set your kids up with those all-important everyday kitchen skills!
Two of my favourite pages to put together in this issue are on pages 16 and 17. On page 16, we’ve included the top 10 Christmas books for kids; and on page 17, we asked some of our South African authors to share their favourite Christmas memories with us.
It is my hope and wish for you that you’re able to take some time to really relax and enjoy your time with your loved ones this festive season.
And lastly, as always, if there’s anything you’d like to know, please contact us, we’d love to hear from you.
Happy reading!
Kim Peters
Get in touch
For any queries, or for more information, contact us at thehuddle@penguinrandomhouse.co.za
Johannesburg • Growthpoint Business Park, Unit 12A (ii), 162 Tonetti Street, Halfway House Ext 7, Midrand, 1685 • 011 327-3550 Cape Town • Estuaries No 4, Oxbow Crescent, Century Avenue, Century City, 7441 • 021 460 5400 © Copyright Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd. The Huddle is published by Penguin Random House South Africa. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the editor is strictly forbidden.
Jolly Good Reads
Brand new books for all ages
2
3 4 New and Noteworthy Non-Fiction
Quench your thirst for knowledge
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess
An exclusive extract!
Explore the range from Usborne 6
7 Have you met Lottie Brooks? The essential guide is now available!
8 Introducing… Mia Arderne
Our brand new YA reads Irresistible Books for Curious Kids
9 Get Wrapped Up
10 Release Radar
11 Book Math
Crafting New Adventures from Beloved Stories
12 Let’s Cook by Buddy Oliver Delicious new recipe!
14 Learning is fun with Tippie
15 Brand new picture books With an extra sprinkle of magic
Top 10 Christmas Books for Kids
16
17 A sprinkle of Christmas Memories
Our authors share their fondest Christmas memories…
19 Future Shelf Stoppers
20 Kids’ Cape Town Guidebook & Activities
18 Reader Reviews back page Win!
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY NON-FICTION
Quench your thirst for knowledge!
EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT
In Hot Mess, book 19 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney, Greg Heffley is in for a particularly awkward summer with his whole family.
Zoo-Wee Mama!
Extract taken from Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess by Jeff Kinney, published by Puffin, 2024.
IRRESISTIBLE BOOKS FOR CURIOUS KIDS
Learn through play with Usborne’s range of bestselling activity books
Introducing…
Mia Arderne is a Cape Town-based writer with bylines in New Frame, Mail & Guardian, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and more. Her debut novel, Mermaid fillet was long-listed for the Sunday Times-CNA Literary Awards.
A thousand eyes on you is her first novel for young adults.
Tell us what your inspiration for Cayla and Tyler’s story was. The idea of love that is cosmically doomed. The closer they get, the further the universe forces them apart.
Your previous book was adult fiction. How different was the process writing for young adults? I’m not the most emotionally regulated human being, so it wasn’t too hard to get into an adolescent mind/mindset. In a lot of ways, I’m still there. There was a bit of self-censorship necessary where I had to catch myself sometimes in terms of language.
You love to write about magical realism and fantasy. What draws you to the fantastic? I find it more honest than what’s real. Bending reality is when I feel most in control. I’ve been drawn to it since very young.
Do you think Cayla and Tyler’s world can be expanded, and can we look forward to a second book? Yes, both their stories aren’t over yet. There’s more to their worlds, their deities and what lies beneath and above. But for the moment, I’m just seeing how this book will do.
Why do you think teens should read this book? I wrote it for teenagers who don’t feel seen or understood. It treats teenagers with respect for what their experiences can sometimes entail. It tackles themes that this genre often shies away from, which I think they might resonate with.
Our Managing Editor for children’s, teen and young adult books, Shawna-Leze Meiring asks Mia some interesting questions…
Adding some magic, thrills, excitement, and adventure to your TBR
JOIN OUR ONLINE YA BOOK CLUB
Dive into the world of captivating YA reads with the Penguin YA Book Club on Discord!
Join us for monthly readalongs and lively discussions about the hottest releases. Let’s chat about the stories that will have everyone talking!
Book Math:
Crafting New Adventures from Beloved Stories
Explore how favourite tales and iconic characters combine to create fresh, exciting reads.
An adventurous quest with mythical elements and daring discoveries
A blend of magic and mystery that brings giants into a detective’s world
A gripping whodunit with horror vibes and high-school secrets
A quirky and clever mystery where young readers follow an extraordinary heroine solving puzzles and uncovering secrets
A heartfelt and emotional story about love, loss, and finding oneself
Extract
LET’S COOK by Buddy Oliver
Inspired by life in a food-loving family, Buddy Oliver’s first cookbook is a user-friendly resource for parents to enjoy with their children.
Easy meatballs and spaghetti
With bonus grated vegetables
Serves 6 (makes 30 meatballs)
Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes, plus cooling and chilling
1 onion
4 cloves of garlic
1 courgette
6 chestnut mushrooms
olive oil
200g lean higher-welfare minced beef
200g lean higher-welfare minced pork
50g wholemeal breadcrumbs
20g Parmesan cheese, plus extra to serve
1 large free-range egg
1 x 690g jar of passata
450g dried spaghetti
1. Peel the onion and 2 cloves of garlic, then coarsely grate on a box grater with the courgette and mushrooms. Scrape everything into a large non-stick frying pan on a medium heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook for 10 minutes, or until softened, stirring regularly.
2. Tip the cooked vegetables into a mixing bowl and leave to cool, then add the beef, pork and breadcrumbs. Finely grate in most of the Parmesan and crack in the egg, then season with black pepper.
3. Squish the mixture together to combine, then with wet hands, take tablespoons of the mixture and shape into 30 little balls. Pop them on to a tray as you go, then place in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm up.
4. Place a large non-stick frying pan on a medium heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then add the meatballs and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown all over, turning regularly.
5. Peel and finely chop the leftover garlic cloves. Create a little space in the pan between the meatballs, add the garlic for 2 minutes, then pour in the passata and give the pan a gentle shake.
6. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is thickened slightly, stirring occasionally. Taste and season with sea salt and pepper, if needed.
7. With around 10 minutes to go, cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions, then drain, reserving a mugful of starchy cooking water.
8. Tip the pasta into the meatball pan and gently toss together, loosening with a splash of pasta water, if needed. Divide between bowls, serving the meatballs on top, and finish with a grating of Parmesan.
My Dad’s Nutrition Team helped me to make sure that the recipes in Let’s Cook are the right balance between nutritious everyday foods and things to be enjoyed occasionally. The recipes can be enjoyed by your whole family, so just dish up smaller portions if you’re cooking for little siblings. Throughout the book, there are also handy tips to building positive eating habits that are easy to remember, and will help you on the path to leading a healthier, happier life.
Extract taken from Let’s Cook, published by Michael Joseph, 2024.
Let’s Cook: Fun, easy recipes for kids by Buddy Oliver is published by Penguin Michael Joseph
©Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited (2024 Let’s Cook).
Recipe photography: © David Loftus, 2024. Buddy’s new show, Cooking Buddies, airs on CBBC and iPlayer in July 2024.
“Definitely one of my favourite things to make, and everyone seems to love it!”
Tippie Learning is fun with the elephant
English • Afrikaans •
Tippie’s first book of…
Board books
Babies and toddlers
Learn to read
70 Readers accross 7 Levels
Suggested Grades for literacy
Learn to do
Activity books
Age 4+
Tippie learns sounds
Activity books
Grade R+
Activity sets
Concrete activities
Linked to Level 1 and 2
Tippie does maths
Activity books
Grade R+
isiXhosa • isiZulu
Christmas is the most exciting time of year for children, so why not add that extra sprinkle of magic with these beautiful picture books? There’s something for every little reader on this list.
says:
Ed
This is the perfect bedtime book to calm your own sleepy unicorns!
A round-up of the best holidaythemed books from Penguin Random House, perfect for each age and stage.
A SPRINKLE OF CHRISTMAS MEMORIES
Christmas time always seems to bring about those memories which we cherish most… we asked our authors what their favourite Christmas memory was… read on to find out!
Charles Siboto, author of The Legend of Mamlambo Growing up poor in a Xhosa family, Christmas meant going to the rural village and getting new clothes. But one year, when I was 8, my mom surprised me with a stocking and a remote-controlled car I had always wanted. It was the best Christmas ever!
Nancy Gaylard, author of Ayen Learns to Dance One of my most treasured Christmas memories is when my sister and I got ‘big girl bikes’ from Santa. They still had our training wheels on, and our dad taught us how to ride on the street outside our house. We rode most of the day with big smiles on our faces.
Dino Martin, author of Raven and Rover
Here’s my Christmas memory from Western Kenya: A raucous, rowdy harking of the Great Blue Turacos echoed through the resonant bass thrumming of the Black-and-white Colobus monkeys. Then risen, my parents and I wandered down the trails, mist lifting from leaves as the sunshine glittered on diamond dew. Hearts Singing. Angelic joy glorious in the rainforest on Christmas morning!
Marleen Lammers, author of Do Not Feed the Monkey I didn’t grow up loving Christmas. That’s probably because I don’t get along well with cold, and all my Christmases were in the depths of Dutch winter. I’d much rather spend it barefoot, with sunshine and beach and ice cream. So, my favourite Christmas has been every Christmas spent in Cape Town.
Roslynne Toerien, author of The Forgotten Four and The Speedy Six Christmas has always been a time for family and connection, creating a collection of memories through quality time and love. Wreath making, biscuit baking, gift wrapping and decorating. Christmas lunch to carols, sharing what we value in each person at the table. After all, our biggest present to others is our presence.
Reader reviews
This month, Luzanne and Faathimah tell us what they’re currently reading…
Then There Was One Wendy Cross
Reviewed by LUZANNE WARREN
@reading_caffeinated
Then There Was One by Wendy Cross is an adrenaline-packed, debut novel that brings together the intense drama of The Hunger Games with the strategy of Survivor, all set in a sci-fi world. Picture this: a dangerous, far-off planet, a reality TV show called The Pinnacle, and contestants fighting not just against the wild environment, but against each other too. In the spotlight are Bex, Zane, and Raya –three teens with their own reasons for being there, and each one desperate to win. The story is told from their different viewpoints, making it impossible to know who to trust. Every chapter ends with a jaw-dropping twist, keeping you guessing until the very last page. With unforgettable characters, heartstopping action, and shocking surprises, Then There Was One is the perfect read for anyone who loves a fast-paced, dystopian adventure with a sci-fi edge.
The Majorly Awkward BFF Dramas of Lottie Brooks
Katie Kirby
I had the pleasure of receiving this book from Penguin and was immediately captivated by its engaging illustrations, despite it being intended for my 11-year-old. Written from Lottie’s perspective in a diary format, it provides a humorous and relatable take on the challenges of friendships and early relationships. While some of the acronyms had me turning to Google and making me feel not so in the loop anymore, the story remained engaging and light-hearted throughout. The narrative expertly addresses themes of young friendship, relationships, self-identity, LGBTQ, and family dynamics, making it both entertaining and insightful. Katie Kirby successfully captures the essence of navigating these formative experiences in a fun and accessible way. A thoroughly enjoyable read for both tweens and adults
Reviewed by FAATHIMAH
VARIAWA
@ bookmark_my-world
Make the most of day trips in Cape Town with this fun, activity-packed companion!
Extract taken from Kids’ Cape Town Guidebook & Activities, published by Struik Travel & Heritage, 2024.
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