Description
Book Description
Uncle Steve’s Country Home invites young readers to follow ten‑year‑old Kaelo from bustling Johannesburg to the mist‑covered Catskill Mountains of New York. Told in the style of a watercolor “carnet de voyage,” the story captures Kaelo’s wide‑eyed comparisons between the wildlife he knows—giraffes, impalas, and hadedas—and the North‑American creatures he meets for the first time, such as black bears and raccoons. Along the way, Kaelo learns that “uncle” is a term of respect that can cross oceans and cultures, and he discovers how chosen family and new landscapes can feel like home. Lively field sketches, handwritten side‑notes, and simple STEM facts make this picture book a rich companion for lessons on geography, ecosystems, and multicultural family traditions.
Uncle Steve’s Country Home is also available in French, Chinese, and Arabic editions, making it an ideal title for bilingual classrooms and global libraries.
About the Author
Teboho Moja is a South African scholar, storyteller, and seasoned traveler who now calls New York City home while keeping strong ties to her birthplace. A native speaker of Setswana, she serves as Professor of Higher Education at New York University, where she champions international collaboration and inclusive learning. Drawing on her own trans‑continental life, Moja crafts stories that celebrate curiosity, respect for elders, and the joyful bridges between cultures. Uncle Steve’s Country Home is her latest offering to young explorers everywhere.
Fabrice Jaumont –
What an awesome book! I was completely taken in by the beautiful illustrations and endearingly innocent voice of the child narrator. I also appreciated the note at the end of the book about how Kaelo and Uncle Steve had been on a similar journey in real life.