Announcing the winner of the 2026 Otto Foundation Reading Roots Award
The Otto Foundation aims to create environments where reading for joy can flourish. This supports children’s performance across the curriculum and in life. We know there are members of staff at our partner schools who go above and beyond to nurture these environments. The Reading Roots Award was established to celebrate the people who help us strengthen reading habits in our schools.
We are delighted to introduce you to the winner of the inaugral Reading Roots Award, Ms Stella Hamunakwadi (Grade R, Good Hope Seminary Junior School, home of the Rainbow Library) for her outstanding promotion of the Reading Roots to encourage a reading culture.
The award was presented to Ms Hamunakwadi on Teacher Appreciation Day (7 October) by Julia Norrish (Director: Advocacy and Special Projects) and Rainbow Library's own Teacher Sikhona and Ms Mtengwane.
Ms Humunakwadi encourages readers to read, share books and celebrate their own stories. She champions the Rainbow Library by having a well stocked reading corner in her classroom, which reflects the choice of her readers. Ms Humunakwadi loves celebrating literacy special days with her class and promotes a deeper understanding of the importance of these days with her readers. Ms Humudakwadi encourages her class to make frequent use of the library, building a beautiful foundation for a love of reading. She also takes special care to celebrate readers who win Book Review or Borrowing Champion initiatives in the library. She is an avid reader herself and makes excellent use of the teacher bookshelf at Good Hope Seminary Junior School.
We appreciate how Ms Humunakwadi goes the extra mile in fostering the connection between home, school and the Rainbow Library.
The Reading Roots offer eight approaches for encouraging children and supporting them in developing a love of reading. Where reading flourishes, so do children. This is why it is so important to celebrate teachers and other staff members at our partner schools, who embody these conditions and help our children to thrive.
Other nominees for the 2026 Reading Roots Award included:
Ms Davids from Chapel Street Primary School (home of the Sunbird Library)
Ms Davids is a fantastic reading role model and her love of reading is reflected consistently within her classroom.
Ms Ryklief from Holy Cross RC Primary School (home of Liyabona Library)
[Ms Ryklief] champions reader visits to the library and frequently makes use of library lesson activities in the Grade R classroom. I
Ms Solomons from Rahmaniyeh Primary School (home of the Rahmah Library)
[Ms Solomons] uses books to foster insight, empathy, conversation and new perspectives in her readers.
Ms Parkes from Seven Steps Academy for the Deaf (home of Sunshine Library)
Ms Parkes listens to her reader requests and interests and is passionate about connecting the right book to the right child.
Ms Alexander from St Mary's RC Primary School (home of the Happy Library)
Ms Alexander encourages her readers to make use of the Happy Library and instills a positive sense of responsibility around books and reading with her class.
Ms Steyl from Walmer Estate Primary School (home of the Protea Library)
[Ms Steyl] is passionate about supporting reading and writing skills at Walmer Estate Primary.
Ms Nyalambisa from Zonnebloem Boys' Primary School (home of the Sunflower Library).
Ms Nyalambisa champions read aloud moments and gives members of the school community opportunities to role model to readers in sharing stories.
A hearty congratulations to Ms Humunakwadi and the rest of the nominees. Thank you for encouraging reading for joy in your schools.
Julia Norrish
October 2026
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