From Teacher to Acclaimed Author: Roslynne Toerien's Literary Journey
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Ever wondered how children can learn complex facts without feeling like they're in a classroom? Roslynne Toerien has mastered this delicate balance through her captivating children's books that blend imagination with education.
In this heartwarming conversation, award-winning Durban-based author Roslynne opens up about her remarkable journey from struggling reader to celebrated writer. As a mother of three and founder of the Learn Project NGO (which has distributed over 90,000 books to 29 South African schools), Roslynne's passion for literacy runs deep. Her children's books, featuring South African wildlife and rhyming text, stem from a desire to create stories where local children can see their world reflected on the page.
Follow Roslynne on social media @roslynnewrites and @learnproject and discover how her rhyming wildlife adventures might be just what your young reader needs to fall in love with both stories and science. You can also check our Ros's author page at Penguin Random House: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/author/roslynne-toerien .
For all the information on the LEARN project go check out: https://thelearnproject.co.za/
The transcript of this episode, a list of all the books discussed here, and for any comments, visit: https://teatalesandtomes.wordpress.com/2025/06/03/episode-7-from-teacher-to-acclaimed-author-roslynne-toeriens-literary-journey/
Find us on Instagram @teatalesandtomes and don't forget to join us next time for more bookish wonder.
Podcast music by Lundstroem (Episode 1 onwards) and Audionautix (TTAT Trailer). Podcast edited by Timothy Wiggill.
Chapters
1. Meet Author Roslynne Toerien (00:00:00)
2. Roslynne's Background and Learn Project (00:02:17)
3. From Teaching to Children's Books (00:07:11)
4. Making Facts Fun in Fiction (00:11:24)
5. The Feathered Five and Nocturnal Nine (00:19:47)
6. Working With Illustrators (00:26:16)
7. Roslynne's Writing Process (00:35:20)
8. Wild Olympics Card Games (00:44:56)
9. Books That Inspired Roslynne (00:48:11)
10. What's Next for Roslynne Toerien (00:55:30)
8 episodes