Ausi Told Me

In this beautifully illustrated children’s picture book, we embark on a magical journey with Ausi, an ancient matriarchal ancestor, who shares the timeless secrets of nature with a group of little children. The children are guided by their wise Ausi and learn the connections between earth, water, fire, wind and the celestial bodies. They discover how these elements are not only vital for survival but also for nurturing a deep respect for the land. From understanding the sacredness of Mother Earth to learning how to read animal tracks and dance for rain, we learn the wisdom of living in harmony with nature. With Ausi’s guidance, the child narrator becomes a ‘magical scientist’, learning to listen to the earth’s whispers and honour her gifts. Ausi’s teachings are a celebration of life, love and the importance of preserving the world around us. Ausi Told Me invites young readers to step into a world of wonder, where nature’s secrets are passed down through generations, and every element is a treasure.

Kelly Collier is an experienced and qualified teacher of young children who taught at a Waldorf school for 15 years. She is currently a lecturer at the Centre for Creative Education in Cape Town and is enrolled in a master’s programme for transdisciplinary studies in healing education. Kelly is a mother and grandmother. In 2022, she co-founded an Ausi women’s group called Sacred Unity Circle that curates programmes to restore important traditional Khoi-San values for food security, peace and environmental sustainability in communities beset by crime and violence. June Bam M.Ed, PhD is a qualified teacher with many years of experience and a full professor in education. She is director of the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation (CERT) at the University of Johannesburg and established the first San and Khoi Research Centre at the University of Cape Town in 2020. She is a mother, grandmother and author of the award-winning Ausi Told Me: Why Cape Herstoriographies Matter. This children’s series is based on this book. Both authors grew up within the Khoi-San Ausi cultural and knowledge traditions on the Cape Flats, South Africa.