![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/pretoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2024\/09\/Bontle-SMALL-4-282x400.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhen Bontle Ndhlovu, aka Queen B, found out that grown-ups are behind the magical world of children\u2019s books, this spunky young lady decided to give it a whirl herself. Fast forward a bit, and she already has two published books under her creative belt.<\/p>\n
And when we say young, we mean young. Bontle Ndhlovu is just 11 years old. She penned her first adventure, The Oceanic Oxy Rescue Mission, at the age of only eight, and followed up with Nyla and the Magician when she was 10. Talk about being ahead of the curve!<\/p>\n
Her passion for reading and storytelling has captured many, including some pretty big names. When H&M South Africa spotted Bontle\u2019s talent, they chose her to feature in their latest Role Models campaign which shines a spotlight on the country\u2019s literacy crisis. This campaign isn\u2019t just about highlighting amazing kids though, it\u2019s about empowering them to keep making waves in the world and giving them the tools they need to create lasting change. Which, as a matter of fact, fits perfectly into young Bontle\u2019s vision. \u2018I\u2019m all about making sure kids\u2019 voices are heard. It\u2019s super important because if we\u2019re too scared to speak up, we\u2019ll never be able to achieve what we want. Oh, and remember \u2026 always remember \u2026 readers are leaders!\u2019<\/p>\n
The cherry on top of the cake? H&M is backing Bontle\u2019s mission by funding a reprint of her latest book and translating it into isiXhosa, isiZulu, Afrikaans, and Sesotho. This means more kids across the country can dive into Bontle\u2019s world in their own languages.
\nNeedless to say, this Queen B\u2019s love affair with books started super early. Even before she could read, her mom Refilwe would read to her. Starting from when Bontle was still in her mom\u2019s belly. By the age of six, she was reading on her own, and the rest, as they say, is history.<\/p>\n
Her love for reading is so deep that last year alone, she devoured a whopping 15 books \u2026 her fave genre being adventure. Her favourite books? The World\u2019s Worst Children series and The World\u2019s Worst Teachers by David Walliams.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u2018I adore adventure stories. That\u2019s what inspired me to create my own. My stories are packed with creativity, sparked by my wild imagination and a sprinkle of everyday life.\u2019
\nWriting, though, isn\u2019t always a walk in the park. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to plan your characters well,\u201d she admits. \u2018Or else, one minute they\u2019re a school cleaner, and the next, they\u2019re hunting crocodiles \u2026 yhoooo!\u2019<\/p>\n
Speaking of yhoooo. That\u2019s Bontle\u2019s ultimate favourite word. \u2018It\u2019s just so versatile. I can use it when I\u2019m embarrassed, surprised, or even happy.\u2019<\/p>\n
And, like all writers, this young author faces her own version of writer\u2019s block \u2026 though she calls it writersptosis. But what pulls her through every time is the pure joy of being able to bring her imagination to life on a page.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/pretoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2024\/09\/Bontle-SMALL-1-FB-267x400.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Ever since she started writing, she\u2019s been crafting stories for kids aged one to 10. But next year, she\u2019s got big plans to publish something for readers aged nine and up. Her biggest dream being for every school in South Africa to have a library because she believes that\u2019s how kids will learn to love reading.<\/p>\n
Who\u2019s her biggest inspiration? Well, it\u2019s Bontle herself. Because she believes that with determination, she can achieve anything she sets her mind to. In fact, of all the characters she\u2019s created, Nyla is her favourite because, in many ways, Nyla is a reflection of Bontle herself. Brave, funny, and wildly imaginative.<\/p>\n
At school, she enjoys English and history. While English feeds her love for writing, history just fuels her love of learning. At home, she\u2019s a bundle of fun who loves playing games, dancing, and binge-watching cartoons and cool documentaries. Her friends say she\u2019s hilarious, and her parents will tell you she\u2019s a chatterbox. And so it comes as no surprise that she\u2019s even got her own YouTube channel where she not only shares her literary journey, but all kinds of super fun content.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/pretoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2024\/09\/Bontle-SMALL-2-267x400.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Bontle\u2019s journey has already racked up some impressive achievements, too. She\u2019s been nominated in the Arts and Culture and Personal Development & Motivation categories for the Stacey Fru Foundation\u2019s annual African Children\u2019s Awards, and she\u2019s even bagged an AfriCAN Honoree Author\u2019s Award. Plus, she\u2019s recorded even more stories on her mom\u2019s phone, just waiting to be published.<\/p>\n
For the big question \u2026 what does Bontle want to be when she grows up? \u201cI want to be a doctor and a soccer player. Maybe I will continue writing as well,\u201d she says with a grin.
\nOne thing\u2019s certain … dynamite sure does come in small packages. We\u2019re rooting for Bontle, and know that she\u2019s on her way to achieving some pretty big things. Watch out world. Queen B is just getting started!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/pretoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2024\/09\/Bontle-SMALL-3-267x400.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll find The Oceanic Oxy Rescue Mission and Nyla and the Magician on her website, adventureswithbontle.com for around R140.<\/p>\n
Details: Follow @ Adventures with Bontle on Insta, Facebook and Youtube<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Bontle Ndhlovu, aka Queen B, found out that grown-ups are behind the magical world of children\u2019s books, this spunky young lady decided to give it a whirl herself. Fast forward a bit, and she already has two published books under her creative belt. And when we say young, we mean young. Bontle Ndhlovu is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":21390,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[7128,2691,8678,4725,177,6153,5965,2532,8341,7001,8681,8680,8679,7356,8682],"class_list":{"0":"post-21389","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uncategorised","8":"tag-alanicka-lotriet","9":"tag-author","10":"tag-bontle-ndhlovu","11":"tag-child","12":"tag-children","13":"tag-creative","14":"tag-creativity","15":"tag-get-it-pretoria","16":"tag-inspire","17":"tag-magazine","18":"tag-nyla-and-the-magician","19":"tag-oceanic-oxy-rescue-mission","20":"tag-queen-b","21":"tag-writer","22":"tag-young-author"},"yoast_head":"\n