Sipho feels sad and ashamed.

Sad because he has no family to belong to anymore. Ashamed because he cannot write his name like other children can.

Sadness and shame turn to joy and pride in the first of this series of inspiring stories based on the real lives of AIDS orphans in southern Africa.

The Bundu Bunch Get to Write Their Names is a poignant children’s book about a group of youngsters living in Africa who have become orphans due to AIDS. They each feel like they are alone until one of them comes up with a collective name for them – The Bundu Bunch.

The story is based on the real lives of AIDS orphans in Africa and has been written by someone who has worked with people, children, and families in rural communities for decades. This first-hand insight lends authenticity and depth to the storytelling.

The story is certainly heartfelt and touching and I loved reading about the children and how they spent their days, although it wasn’t great to see so much neglect and how they were excluded from so much in society.

However, as much as I adored the storyline and the brilliant illustrations that perfectly captured each moment the book itself came across as very wordy. The large amount of text on each page may mean that the book is more suitable for older children within the 4-8-year-old picture book demographic.

Overall, the Bundu Bunch is a fascinating read. It presents a compelling exploration of the challenges faced by AIDS orphans in Africa and will make the reader aware of the realities of childhood in such circumstances.

Allan Low has worked with rural communities in Eastern and Southern Africa over a span of forty-five years. He first worked with families on improving their agricultural production. His book on how semi subsistence farm-households in the region respond to new farming technology was published by Heineman, USA; David Philip, South Africa and James Curry, UK.

Eleven years ago, Allan set up the charity SHAMBA with his late wife, Anne. SHAMBA works with communities to enable their most disadvantaged children from AIDS affected households gain access to high quality early childhood care and education through their “Bright Future” preschools. Allan now lives in Wetherby, UK, and continues to visit the charity and manage its work.