South African Stories for South African Kids! Say HELLO to Our New Storybook Section

Real South African stories are getting a magical new makeover as Good Things Guy launches a dedicated section where good news becomes storybook adventures for kids.

South Africa (19 May 2026) – Kids deserve stories that sound like home… stories about South African animals, South African people, South African adventures and all the good things that happen right here around us every single day.

That’s exactly why we’ve decided to create something brand new at Good Things Guy… a space where news and storytelling meet in a way younger readers can enjoy too.

As a child, one of my favourite things in the world was going to the library. Every single visit felt like an adventure. Every single time. I would wander through the shelves searching for books that could transport me somewhere else for a little while. Usually, I’d leave with three or four stacked in my arms. And somehow, I would manage to finish all of them before the next visit. There was one book I borrowed so often that my mom eventually bought me my own copy. It was filled with South African animal stories. Stories like Jock of the Bushveld and Huberta the Hippo. Stories that made this country feel magical and wonderfully alive.

I have no idea where that book is now. It’s probably packed away in a forgotten box somewhere or lost to time completely. But the feeling of reading it has never left me. And I think, without even realising it, that little book may have helped inspire something we’re incredibly excited to launch at Good Things Guy.

Especially after this weekend.

South Africans became completely captivated by a viral elephant story doing the rounds online. It spread across social media feeds and family WhatsApp groups. Yes, it was completely fake. But it was a reminder of something important… storytelling still connects us. It sparks imagination, curiosity, empathy and wonder. With Youth Month around the corner, it felt like the perfect time to build something meaningful around that idea.

And so… I am very excited to launch a brand-new “4 Kids” section… a dedicated space for kids, parents, teachers and readers looking for real South African stories adapted into a storybook style for younger audiences.

The new section will feature stories inspired by real events happening across South Africa. No fake elephant stories here. Some of them will be timeless stories pulled from our archives and rewritten in a way younger readers can understand and enjoy. Others will be current good news stories adapted for children as the news breaks for adults. Cause kids deserve to be “in the know” of all the good things too! It’s a way to help younger South Africans connect with the world around them through storytelling that is local and uplifting.

We’re also adding a dedicated Storybook feature to the Good Things Guy Weekly Newsletter, which means families and classrooms will receive a kid-friendly South African story directly in their inbox every week.

The goal is to make reading exciting again… to create stories children want to return to, stories they ask to hear again before bed. Stories that remind them that South Africa is filled with adventure, kindness, fascinating people and extraordinary animals.

“Reading from a young age is one of the greatest gifts we can give children. Stories shaped my imagination and my understanding of the world around me. But there’s something especially powerful about reading stories that happen right here at home. Stories about our people, our wildlife, our communities and our country. Those are the stories that matter. All the good things!”

At its heart, the 4 Kids section is about building a love for reading while creating a space where children can see themselves reflected in the stories they read. It’s about turning good news into something accessible for younger minds. It’s about inspiring curiosity, compassion and conversation. And maybe, just maybe, somewhere along the way, another little kid will discover a South African story that helps them create their own “good thing” someday.

Sources: Good Things Guy 4 Kids! 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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