• First published in 1992, Lesley Beake s story of a modern young San (Bushmen) girl playing hide and seek with her friends in the African veld is as appealing as ever.
• Playful beginner reader that combines number awareness with the visual clues provided by the animal tracks.
• Sensitive portrayal of the San (Bushmen) people counters stereotypes.
• Children are introduced to a wonderful mix of animals – from the porcupine to the ostrich, from the warthog to the giraffe.
• Evocative and expressive illustrations add to the sense of place and stimulates reader engagement.

Bau's eyes are closed. She counts. When she opens her eyes, she does not see her friends. She only sees footprints and animal spoor (tracks) . . . She starts following the tracks, taking the reader on a journey of exploration among birds and animals, from tiny to large, in the shadow of Africa s baobab tree. Perfect for early readers, Bau s game will delight and engage young children. Which animal footprint can they identify? And is there an elephant hiding somewhere.

Lesley Beake has published more than 85 books, from picture books for the very young to novels for teenagers. All are set in Africa and rich in African imagery. Her books have been translated into numerous languages, in Africa and beyond, and she has received multiple awards. She has also been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren and Hans Christian Andersen Awards. Much of her work involves writing for readers who are reading in English as their second, third or even fourth language.

Illustrator and author Ann Walton is known for treating children s gaze upon the world with respect and never infantilising. An award-winning illustrator, she is also known as the author of imaginative picture books such as The Tale of Sun and Moon, Tell the Moon and Here I Am.