19/06/2026
We are delighted to introduce you to our Picture Books Advisory Panel. These are the wonderful people who will be judging the shortlist and helping us to arrive at a winner of the Otto Foundation Children’s Book Award 2026 (Picture Books category).
Today, we are excited to introduce Thembela Mbatha-Mputamputa.
Thembela is a literary activist, book champion, and passionate advocate for early childhood literacy. She firmly believes that every child should have experienced at least 1,000 books before starting Grade 1, giving them a strong foundation for learning, language development, and lifelong curiosity.
A wife, mother, and dedicated literacy advocate, Thembela is passionate about building a reading culture in South Africa. As the founder of Thembela, Thembela set out to encourage friends, family, and fellow parents to cultivate a love of reading in their children, while also holding herself accountable to her own family’s reading journey. What began as a personal commitment has grown into a vibrant platform that celebrates books, stories, and the people who create them.
Through her popular Author Spotlight series, Thembela shines a light on South African authors and illustrators, helping connect readers with local stories and the talented creators behind them. She is also a regular contributor to BONA Magazine, where she shares thoughtful reviews of adult titles in her bi-monthly book review column.
