I am re-posting this review now following the sad news of the death of one of my great heroes, Nelson Mandela. Mandela makes an appearance in this story and inspires Malusi, the young herd boy who meets him.

The Herd Boy
Niki Daly
Frances Lincoln
Set in the Transkei region of South Africa, this longish story tells of one particular day in the life of Malusi, a young herd boy whose job it is to take care of his grandfather’s sheep and goats. This is a task that requires courage and skill but Malusi has set his sights higher; he wants to become President of his country. As he walks home with his friend Lungisa and an injured lamb from grandfather’s herd, a smart car stops and the boys are greeted by an old man who tells them he had once looked after sheep and asks them what they want to be when they grow up.

When he hears that Malusi aspires to be the country’s president, his response is “a boy who looks after his herd will make a very fine leader.” This utterance stays with Malusi as he settles down to sleep, for those words had in fact been spoken by none other than Nelson Mandela who had himself come from humble beginnings.
As well as being an unusual story, this uplifting book offers a fascinating and detailed look at a distant rural way of life. With its extended text, it is best suited to top infants and above and would be an interesting addition to any primary school library.
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