Early Literacy and Creative Expression
Early Literacy and Creative Expression
Anel Ubbink is passionate about helping children fall in love with reading. As a Foundation Phase educator and founder of Novae Books, her focus lies in creating story driven and playful experiences that spark joy and confidence in young learners. Through ReBOOT, she supports families and educators by offering early literacy resources that nurture emotional wellbeing, identity and a healthy lifelong love for reading.
Under the Novae name, Anel develops books, tools and interactive experiences that help children discover that reading can be both magical and personal. She believes every child is a reader in the making. There is no such thing as a child who does not like books, only children who have not yet found the right book.
Adults, especially parents, should be mindful of how they speak about their child’s reading habits. Saying things like “my child just does not like books” can unintentionally create limiting beliefs. Children absorb these messages and may feel discouraged or labelled. Motivation grows when a child feels seen, supported and believed in. Anel’s approach encourages exploration, imagination and meaningful connection with stories.
Reading begins with presence. Just ten minutes of reading aloud each day can boost vocabulary, strengthen relationships and help unlock a love of books. The moment does not need to be perfect or long — it just needs to be shared. These simple, shared reading moments lay a powerful foundation for language development, emotional safety and comprehension.
Reading is not something we are born knowing how to do. Unlike speaking, it must be taught. The brain needs to build new pathways to understand written language. Children need repeated exposure to sound awareness, vocabulary, print concepts and strategies to become fluent, confident readers.
During her own antenatal classes, Anel attended a session where expecting parents were encouraged to begin speaking to their unborn babies. Parents were taught that during a nappy change, holding an object above the baby’s face and slowly moving it from left to right helps build visual tracking — a skill essential for reading later.
From birth, playful oral activities like sticking out the tongue, blowing bubbles, and mimicking facial expressions support speech development and help babies begin to imitate. The more language a child hears, the larger their vocabulary becomes — giving them confidence later when they read pictures or tell stories from memory. These early oral interactions form the basis of later literacy.
This is why the ReBOOT program focuses on more than just books. Reading readiness develops through movement, music, imaginative play and rich oral interaction. Even simple actions like swinging, balancing or clapping to a rhythm support the development of directional awareness, sequencing and auditory memory — all foundational to reading.
For example, although a playground swing moves back and forth, the cross-lateral motion and balance adjustments help to integrate the left and right hemispheres of the brain, which is vital for tracking text and decoding language. In countries where reading direction differs, similar principles apply: rhythm, pattern and coordination remain essential to building the brain pathways needed for literacy.
Rhyming songs, drawing, dramatic play and sensory activities are not extra — they are essential. Children must hear that words are made up of sounds and that sentences are made up of words. An emergent reader begins by noticing the first sound in their name, clapping syllables, and counting how many words they hear in a sentence. They do not need to read the words yet — they need to play with language and develop listening skills.
ReBOOT embraces the belief that reading is a skill that must be nurtured over time through the right support, tools and encouragement.
When children play, they grow. When they laugh, they learn. And when reading feels like playing, they reach every milestone with ease, joy and pride.
Under the ReBOOT umbrella, Novae provides:
- Pippa and Pol reading series A realistic and engaging storybook series that grows with the child. Each title appears in a large A4 format for shared reading and a smaller A5 version for independent reading. The stories feature relatable characters and familiar themes. Matching illustrations in both sizes support visual memory. A5 picture cards expand vocabulary, support prediction and sequencing, and help children retell the story in their own words. These cards can be used before formal reading begins and work well with the audio stories.
- Audio stories Professionally narrated recordings that support listening skills and vocabulary development. Ideal for travel time in the car or for quiet moments at home. When combined with picture cards, children can follow the story visually while listening. These stories enhance early language learning but are designed to be used alongside, not instead of, shared reading with an adult.
- Puppet theatre Interactive shows for schools, preschools and private events. Performed by age group and limited to two hundred learners per session to ensure full engagement. If the group is larger, multiple sessions are arranged. Puppet theatre is often combined with book exhibitions, bringing stories to life in a way that children can relate to.
- Book exhibitions Interactive, child friendly displays of the Pippa and Pol series and complementary resources, often hosted at puppet theatre sessions or school literacy days.
- Mini workshops for parents One-hour sessions designed to equip parents with practical tools to support literacy at home. These informal workshops are based on a sound understanding of how children learn. They show the importance of early exposure to spoken and written language, playful interaction and meaningful engagement with books.
Workshops include:
- A warm introduction to sound awareness and the alphabet, with fun and simple activities that parents can try at home. These include clapping syllables, finding words that begin with the same sound and matching pictures to sounds.
- A clear explanation of why reading does not develop naturally and how the brain learns to recognise written language through repeated and guided practice.
- Step by step insight into how children learn to read, starting with hearing and playing with sounds, then connecting letters and sounds, and finally understanding and retelling stories. Parents learn how to support this process by modelling, encouraging and repeating key skills.
- A demonstration of how to do shared reading with story cards and picture books. This shows how pictures help children predict, sequence and retell — even before they can read the words.
- Ideas for creating a book friendly space at home, even in small homes or busy households. Suggestions include keeping a few favourite books on rotation, creating a small reading corner and using a simple daily reading chart.
- Tips on helping your child find the right book — a story that matches their interests and feels enjoyable and manageable. When children connect emotionally with a story, they are more motivated to read.
- A gentle discussion about labels. Saying things like “he is just not a reader” can become a barrier. Parents are encouraged to celebrate small steps and nurture curiosity rather than focus on what a child cannot yet do.
Workshops include:
These workshops are relaxed, supportive and interactive. Parents are given space to ask questions, share experiences and try out tools. Each session ends with a thirty-minute book display where parents can browse and purchase helpful resources from ReBOOT.
- Learn with Juffrou Lilla handwriting series A thoughtfully developed Afrikaans handwriting program that teaches correct letter formation through rhythm, rhyme and repetition while protecting children’s emotional confidence. This playful series was designed to support the natural way children learn: through play.
The series includes:
- Four beautifully illustrated handwriting books grouped by letter formation patterns
- Audio rhymes in Afrikaans with verbal instructions for each letter’s formation
- Dry wipe tracing pages to practice letters repeatedly with a whiteboard marker
- Clear examples of each letter in use
- Sensory activity suggestions to strengthen fine motor skills and build muscle memory
- Printable pattern strokes for additional practice
Instead of rushing handwriting instruction, Learn with Juffrou Lilla slows down the process and builds confidence. NOVAE has observed that the fast pace of classroom learning can create anxiety around handwriting, which negatively impacts learning in all subjects. This series helps emergent writers enjoy the journey of writing with rhythm, structure and joy.
- Creative kits These are screen free play kits that encourage learning through movement and imagination. Perfect for travel or quiet play at home, they support early literacy by connecting play to language and storytelling.
- Art boxes Separate from the creative kits, these boxes include themed art materials with step-by-step instructions. The activities support creativity, self-expression and sensory development. They also build early literacy by helping children create their own visual stories. Each artwork has a beginning, middle and end, which mirrors the structure of a story. Even though there is no book inside, the act of making decisions, sequencing ideas and expressing meaning supports skills like retelling and understanding story flow.
- Custom designed literacy materials Posters, flashcards and visual aids are created on request for teachers or parents.
- Morning reading classes for homeschool learners Weekly forty-five-minute sessions designed to meet the individual needs of each child. No screens are used. Each session is shaped by observation, experience and instinct. Reading challenges are gently supported with personalised content to build fluency, confidence and enjoyment.
- Reading corners with sheepskin mats Designed to make reading extra cozy and enjoyable, these corners can be set up in homes, classrooms or libraries. Sheepskin surfaces are soft, comforting and therapeutic — ideal for calming the senses and making reading feel safe and special.
All NOVAE materials are fully available in Afrikaans. Most learning of reading and writing should take place through play.
Conclusion
At NOVAE, we believe that reading is not just a skill but a joyful journey. It begins long before a child opens their first book and continues as they grow in confidence and curiosity. By combining movement, music, stories and play, the ReBOOT program nurtures every aspect of early literacy development. We honour the pace of childhood, celebrate each small step and offer tools that support children in becoming lifelong readers. When learning to read feels like playing, every milestone is met with excitement, wonder and pride.
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