Tsakani teacher Pretty Jama uses personalised books and phonics to nurture a love for reading
Qualified educator and author Pretty Jama is combining creativity and education through personalised colouring books and a phonics resource designed to help foundation phase learners build confidence in reading.
Tsakani – Pretty Jama (27) is a qualified educator and an author with a passion for helping children learn in fun and meaningful ways.
Her journey into creating books was inspired by her love for education, creativity, and seeing children grow in confidence.
She explained that she wanted to create resources that are both educational and enjoyable while also giving families something personal and memorable.
“I started creating personalised colouring books during the school holidays when I was looking for an adult colouring book but could not find one that felt personal.
“After seeing a young woman on TikTok enjoy a solo colouring date with printed colouring pages, I was inspired to create my own as a way to heal my inner child.
“What began as a project for adults quickly grew into something for everyone. My personalised colouring books have no age limit and are designed for children, teenagers, and adults to enjoy,” she explained.
“My goal is to combine creativity, self-expression, and cherished memories into a personalised keepsake that everyone can enjoy.”
The process of creating personalised books relies on the client sending her clear photographs along with a heartfelt message for each picture, as well as any special requests or themes they would like included.
“They also choose the title of their personalised colouring book, making it even more meaningful and unique.
“I then transform their photographs into colouring illustrations and carefully design each page to tell their story.
“On the back cover, I include a personalised message that reminds them of who they are, where they come from, and the people who love and support them,” she explained.
Jama said this gives the book a lasting emotional value beyond just being a colouring book. Before printing, Jama shares a preview with the client for approval, ensuring they are completely satisfied with the final design.
“Every book is created to celebrate special memories, strengthen family connections, and leave the client with a keepsake they will treasure for years to come.
“Each book is completely personalised. Instead of generic characters, the child or family becomes the main focus of the book,” cited Jama.
She further cited that the process creates a stronger emotional connection and makes the colouring experience more exciting and meaningful.
As a teacher, Jama also witnessed that many young learners struggle with reading because they do not build strong foundational skills early enough.
“I wanted to create a resource that supports children from the beginning, making reading easier, more enjoyable, and less intimidating.
“Phonics teaches children how letters and letter combinations represent sounds. Once learners understand these relationships, they can decode unfamiliar words independently,” she added.
Jama emphasised that strong phonics skills build reading fluency, confidence, spelling, and comprehension.
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She elaborated, saying that reports show many Grade Four learners struggle to read for meaning and understanding.
“Reading comprehension begins with the ability to decode words fluently. My book strengthens those early reading skills by giving learners plenty of practice with sounds, blending, and simple reading activities.
“When children become confident readers in the foundation phase, they are better prepared to understand more complex texts in higher grades,” mentioned Jama.
Her book follows a gradual learning approach, introducing sounds step by step through colourful illustrations, simple words, engaging activities, and reading practice.
She highlighted that each section builds on the previous one, helping children gain confidence without feeling overwhelmed.
“Teachers appreciate that the book reinforces classroom learning, and learners enjoy the colourful and interactive format.
“One of the biggest challenges was balancing creativity with educational accuracy. Publishing also requires patience, careful planning, and attention to detail,” she added.
Her advice to parents is to read with their child every day, even if it is only for 10 to 15 minutes.
According to Jama, this encourages children to celebrate small improvements, ask questions about the story, and make reading a fun family activity rather than a chore.
She added consistency as the key to building confident readers. Jama’s books align with the curriculum, supporting the skills taught in the foundation phase and complementing classroom instruction.
Jama concluded by encouraging parents to never underestimate the power of reading and creativity.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to discover the joy of learning. To parents and educators, continue investing in children’s literacy because it shapes their future.
“And to aspiring authors, do not wait for the perfect moment; start where you are, believe in your vision, and keep creating because your work can make a lasting difference,” she concluded.
