Hilma Weber: No child should be without books

Namibian children’s book author and early literacy advocate Hilma Weber believes that “when children grow up with books, they grow up with possibilities”.

Weber recently spent a freezing Saturday in Ombili, Katutura, handing out 50 copies of her children's book, 'Children's Picture Atlas of Africa', to children and families in the community.

"I imagine the day when every child has access to books and when every community has a library," she wrote after her visit.

"Every book placed in a child's hands is a small step towards that imagination."

Weber said while reading with the children, they were eager to tell her what they knew about Africa and the world.

“These moments always remind me why access to books matters so deeply.”

As she walked back to her car, she saw parents sitting outside their homes, paging through the same books they had just received with their children.

“Some were already covering the books with plastic so they would last longer," she recounted.

"For me, this work has never been just about writing books. It is about creating opportunities for children to experience and own books. It is about creating moments for families to enjoy stories and explore the world together."

A life-changing discovery

Weber grew up without storybooks, and that absence shaped everything.

"Growing up in a small village in northern Namibia, I did not have access to children's storybooks. It was only later in life that I discovered the joy and possibilities they hold."

In 2019, while volunteering for an NGO in Windhoek, she began reading to young children in kindergartens in informal settlements such as Goreangab, Havana and Ombili and helped distribute donated books and set up small library boxes.

"Those moments with children, together with my own childhood experiences, inspired me to start writing children's books and to advocate for reading to and with children in their early years, while also championing greater access to books for all children."

Today, thousands of copies of her books have been distributed – and continue to be distributed – free of charge to children who might otherwise grow up without them.

"Because when children grow up with books, they grow up with possibilities."

'Children's Picture Atlas of Africa' is a visual and interactive atlas for young readers wanting to explore the African continent. It covers the rich cultures and traditions, wildlife and natural wonders that make Africa a truly extraordinary place. The bustling cities, serene villages, vibrant art, and many other features that characterise the continent are beautifully illustrated by Alan Kennedy.

To contact the author and discover more of her children’s books, visit hilma-weber.com