Price: £9.99
Publisher: BC Books
Genre: Fiction
Age Range: 8-10 Junior/Middle
Length: 96pp
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Precious and the Zebra Necklace
Illustrator: Iain McIntoshThis is McCall Smith back where I first read his books, strong simple reading for emergent readers. He is also back with his most famous character, Precious Ramotswe.
Precious as a girl is like her adult self, very kind and very curious. When a new girl comes to her school she soon takes her under her wing. But there is a mystery about Nancy, all she has of her mother is a photograph and a necklace made with zebra charms.
With a little help they trace where Nancy’s mother’s village must be and go to find it. They almost immediately get lost in the bush and are rescued by a San boy. All turns out well in the end.
It is a lovely story with a very distinctive voice, just like the adult Precious Ramotswe books, and beautifully illustrated by Iain McIntosh in three coloured prints. I think any child would love the adventure of the story, the setting and the illustrations of wild animals in the bush.