Book Details

Spot’s Busy Day in the Bushveld is a sweet picture book that belongs on every nature-loving child’s bookshelf.

A WONDERFUL PICTURE BOOK FOR NATURE-LOVING KIDS:

The story is about an adorable cheetah cub with loads of personality and the animals she encounters in the African wilderness. The book follows on the heels of Tanja Nayak’s first book about African wildlife, "Stripe’s Busy Night in the Bushveld" and in this second book we see the completion of what twenty-four hours on the savannah looks like. It also includes an informative factual section with full-colour photographs.

The day begins with the sun rising behind the Lebombo Mountains and its first rays waking Spot and her family. Readers then follow Spot as she makes her way through the bushveld and meets her best friend, a honey badger, Stripe. Adventure waits as the pair stumble upon a dangerous boomslang. Do they rescue the day and chase the boomslang away and save Mrs. Weaverbird’s chicks and Mrs. Squirrel’s babies? You’ll have to read Spot’s story to find out.

The first section of the book is Spot’s story and the second looks at Africa’s famous “Big Five” animals in detail: the legendary lion, impressive elephant, stealthy leopard, skittish rhinoceros, and mighty buffalo. Complete with gorgeous photographs and natural history, including fun facts about each this book is sure to impress the most discerning of young readers (and teachers and parents will appreciate it too).

There also is a bonus feature about wildlife in peril, the vulnerable cheetah and African wild dog which has sadly landed on the Endangered Species Red List.

REVIEWS:

Elke C:

"A wonderful book for children which is sure to inspire a dream to take an African safari holiday! Beautifully illustrated and with the added bonus of fun facts!"

Alex A:

"The kids love this book! Story and pictures are so cute and keep the kids amazed while we’re reading!! And since they actually want to read it, they’re learning... win for mom and dad."

Alicia I:

"Thank you so much for gifting my son your books. He's obsessed with animals and I wish you could've seen his face light up when he opened the bag! Your stories were lovely and so educational. We haven't stopped reading both of them since you gifted us. Thank you!"

 

Book Excerpt

STORY:

"The sun rises behind the Lebombo Mountains.

It is the start of a beautiful day in Africa.
A flock of ibises fly across the clear-blue sky and give their characteristic “hadeda, hadeda” call as they greet the day.
The birds wake little Spot, a cheetah girl cub; her two older sisters, Duma and Kaya; and their mother from their quiet repose.
The cheetahs have spent the night in the safety of a small clearing in the midst of some jackalberry trees near a waterhole..."

FACTS:

"The cheetah is well-known for being the fastest animal on the African plains. These elegant cats have slender bodies, small heads, spotted fur, long tails, and unlike other cats, non-retractable claws. The cats have distinctive tear-like markings on their faces which makes them easily identifiable.

The cats produce an unusual chirping sound to communicate with one another. They also purr..."

 

About the Author

Tanja Nayak

Tanja Nayak is on a mission to raise awareness about imperiled species, and what better way to do this than through literature? The author was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and grew up spending the July holidays in the Kruger National Park where she learned a lot about Africa’s wildlife and grew to love nature. This book includes her story about a cheetah cub's day in the bushveld with delightful illustrations by Nate Myers and original full-colour photographs taken during recent safaris to the continent, as well as factual information on the natural history of the wildlife in the book. It also includes animal names in a number of local and international languages to facilitate improved communication when on an all-important safari. The book should appeal to children in a wide age range from the ages of five to ten.

Also by Tanja Nayak

Stripe’s Busy Night in the Bushveld