African Animal Alphabet
with fun fact
By
Sipiwe Sikwila
Illustrated by Nikki Joao
Hamish received this beautiful copy of African Animal Alphabet by Sipiwe Sikwila from Hopinol Skopinol and it has quickly become a firm favourite on our bookcase.
From the moment we opened the first page, we were both captivated, not only by the concept of combining early literacy with meaningful content , but also by the beautifully illustrated pages created by Nicki Joao.
Each page feels alive with colour and character, bringing African wildlife into sharp, engaging focus for young readers.
Each letter of the alphabet introduces a different African animal, keeping the format simple and familiar, but never boring. Helping to build a love of reading for your child, whilst growing their general knowledge.
Hamish and I tried guessing what animal would come next, and it naturally turned reading into a fun, engaging and interactive experience rather than a passive one.
The addition of a bonus page featuring an extinct animal was an unexpected highlight. It sparked curiosity and led to some wonderful questions about history, conservation, and the natural world.
The writing itself is rhythmic and playful.
Using rhyme and repetition in a way that feels effortless is such an important feature for children between the ages of 3 and 8, as it helps to build phonemic awareness and early reading confidence.
I really love how rooted the content is in something our children can recognise and relate to. African animals are part of our broader environment and culture, especially here in South Africa, and that familiarity makes a noticeable difference.
Through out the pages, the book gently introduces fun nature facts which naturally encourage a child’s curiosity about wildlife and the environment. It opens the door for conversations about different animals, where they live, and why they matter.
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About Hopinol Skopinol
Hopinol Skopinol was created in 2020, with the vision to assist families to continue to educate their children during the worldwide epidemic through fun, hands on educational material.
Today their story books, worksheets and games make early learning and home schooling a breeze enabling children to build a love of learning.
This is beautifully written, and you can really feel the connection between Hamish and the book. I love how it brings learning, fun and African wildlife together in such a natural way. Definitely sounds like a special addition to any child’s bookshelf
Absolutely love that Hamish joined in and turned it into a guessing game, that is exactly the kind of reading moment we hope for. Thank you for sharing your thoughts so warmly and honestly. It’s really special to see the book become part of those everyday reading moments and little connections you build together.