The Twelfth Chick

About the Book

Join Tawanda, a curious and caring boy in this action packed story of friendship and resilience. It’s Summer holidays on Zama Farm, every day feels the same until Bitty, our brooding hen hunkers down to hatch some chicks. But one of them is not like the others, small, clumsy and rather odd Chasarira the twelfth chick has it hard. When our little chick is rejected from the brood, Tawanda, Farmer Zama and Mrs Zama take Chasarira under their wings. From an odd alliance comes a beautiful friendship filled with wacky adventures, greedy eagles and late night lullabies. Can the Zama family help Chasarira get back up to grow big and strong?

About the Author

Martha Matsvai is a storyteller, grandmother, and nurse educator who grew up during the 60s, a time of great transition in Zimbabwe. At the heart of her upbringing was her love for stories which was inherited from her father, a police officer. When she wasn’t listening to his stories she was crafting her own under the bright lights of the police camp with the other children. She went on to tell stories to her siblings, her children and now the world through the books she has written. The Twelfth Chick is Martha’s second children's book, inspired by a recent trip back to Zimbabwe. Martha is indebted to her youngest daughter, Tatenda Naomi, who edited the book.