Mother and child reading a book together
'Crocodile Tears' written in green across a white screen.
ENGLISH ISIZULU ISIXHOSA AFRIKAANS SEPEDI SETSWANA SESOTHO XITSONGA TSHIVENDA SISWATI ISINDEBELE

CROCODILE TEARS

Jabu, the youngest of three brothers, uses humour to collect tears from the largest crocodile in the land – tears needed to break the spell cast on Princess Mbali. Along the way, he discovers that being funny can be more powerful than being strong or talented.

A young boy collecting the tears of a crocodile into an empty jar.
Jaco Jacobs, a South African writer and author a children's book called 'Crocodile Tears'.

JACO JACOBS

AUTHOR

is one of the bestselling authors in South Africa and has published more than 260 books for children and young people, including picture books, collections of children's verse, and non-fiction.

In addition to this, he has translated more than 300 children's books into Afrikaans, among them books by Michael Rosen, Chris Riddell, Julia Donaldson, Dr. Seuss and Jessica Townsend. Two of his novels for teenagers have been adapted into feature films, and his work has been translated into English, Dutch, Italian, Slovenian and Spanish. In the UK two of his books were longlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal.

Jaco was awarded the Alba Bouwer Prize (twice), the Elsabé Steenberg Prize, the SATI Award for Children's Book Translation, the Tienie Holloway Medal, the Scheepers Prize, the Rapport/kykNET Prize and the C.P. Hoogenhout Medal, and he has won 34 ATKV Children's Book Awards (the only book award in Afrikaans where children get to vote for their favourite books). Jaco is also a long-distance runner who has completed the Comrades Marathon twice. He lives in Bloemfontein with his wife and two daughters, two-and-a-half dogs, a cat and a pet python.

Two women who illustrated a child's book called Crocodile Tears.

CABBLOW STUDIOS

ILLUSTRATOR

Cabblow Studios is an award-winning animation and illustration studio based in Johannesburg, South Africa. They specialise in heartfelt and charming storytelling. Their work spans animated films, episodic series, Webtoons, and children's books.

Beyond creative work, they actively engage with the animation industry through festivals and workshops.

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