Zani says NO

Publisher: Turksvy Publikasies
Price: R270 (VAT incl)
Publication date: 2026
Pages: 48
ISBN: 978-1-0492-5547-7

Maggie’s heart aches when something terrible happens to one of her friends at school. This has her teddy bear, Zani, thinking about an important word that Maggie should say to protect herself – such as when someone encourages her to take something that doesn’t belong to her; when people use bad language or watch inappropriate movies; or when a stranger wants to touch her or take a picture of her. Zani says this short word is children’s “helper” to protect themselves.

Irene Nel

Irene Nel, a born Namibian, is a schoolteacher who lives in Windhoek. Her life revolves around her faith and her family, and her passion for children has inspired the creation of her children’s book series about the wise, lovable, cuddly soft toy called Zani Bear. Zani and Maggie Discover the Planets is the seventh in the Zani Bear series. Children are her passion and she channels this enthusiasm into writing, having published several children’s books in recent years: Die wysheid van Zani-beer (2022), Zani-beer en Maggie kuier in die wildtuin (2023), Zani-beer en Maggie se seevakansie (2023), Zani sê NEE (2024), Zani and Maggie visit the Etosha National Park (2024), Zani-beer en Klein-Maggie kuier op die plaas, Zani and Maggie Discover the Planets (2026).