Niki Daly
Niki Daly was born in Cape Town in 1946. Always a keen musician, in 1970 he went to England to fulfil a recording and songwriting contract and work as a graphic designer/illustrator. He won a British Arts Council Illustration Award for The Little Girl Who Lived Down the Road (his first published work) in 1978. Since then, he has illustrated many stories of his own as well as those of other writers.
In 1980 he returned to South Africa where he worked as a teacher and freelance illustrator, and led the Graphic Design Department of Stellenbosch University until 1989. In 1988 he won a Parents Choice Award for his book, Not so Fast, Songololo. From 1989 to1992 he developed Songololo Books, a children’s book division of David Philip Publishers. During 1989-1990 Daly ran writing and illustration workshops which facilitated the work of other writer and illustrator teams. Many of these workshop projects, such as Charlie’s House, Somewhere in Africa and All the Magic in the World have been published internationally as picture books.
Books
A Song for Jamela
Author: Niki Daly
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+
Jamela is a young girl who lives with her family in South Africa. One day she goes to help out at Aunt Beauty’s hair salon.
Here Comes Lolo
Author: Niki Daly
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books
Interest age: 5-8
Reading age: 5+
Set in South Africa, this charming collection of four short stories about the everyday adventures of a young girl has broad appeal. Each tale focuses on small but significant events in the life of Lolo, who is a fun-loving, likeable character.
Jamela's Dress
Author: Niki Daly
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 7+
Jamela wraps herself up with the new material that her mother bought to make herself a dress for a wedding.
Nicholas and the Wild Ones
Author: Niki Daly
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 6+
Starting school is never easy, especially if the Wild Ones are in your class! Can Nicholas find a way to cope? Find out in this positive, humorous story.
No More Kisses for Bernard!
Author: Niki Daly
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Interest age: 3+
Lively and evocative illustrations reinforce the humour in this witty portrayal of a dilemma faced by many youngsters when relatives come to visit
On My Papa’s Shoulders
Author: Niki Daly
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books
Interest age: 4-5
A touching picture book about the special bond between fathers and sons. One little boy in South Africa narrates his routine of walking to school with different family members.
The Herd Boy
Author: Niki Daly
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 6+
Malusi lives in rural South Africa, where he spends his days tending his grandfather’s flock, and wishing for a dog to keep predators away. One day, a baboon injures a baby lamb, and as Malusi carries it home, a large car stops. The elderly man inside asks Malusi what he hopes to do in the future, and Malusi tells him that one day he will b…
What's Cooking, Jamela?
Author: Niki Daly
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 6+
Everyone is looking forward to Christmas amd Mama buys a chicken for the special meal. But Jamela calls the chicken Christmas, and grows fonder of her as she gets fatter.
Where's Jamela?
Author: Niki Daly
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 6+
Jamela is worried about moving to her new home, although her mother tries to reassure her that they will be happy there.