The Book Nook By Play Academy

Play Academy Africa
  • 1.0 (1)
  • STORIES FOR KIDS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A community-driven storytime show for kids. Our podcast goes beyond entertainment; it is a powerful educational tool. Each meticulously crafted episode features age-appropriate content, narrated by different people, predominantly parents, from across Africa. Coupled with immersive soundscapes, our stories transport children to magical worlds, stimulating their imagination, enhancing literacy skills, and nurturing a lifelong love for reading.

  1. EP 32 - The Portrait Challenge (A Kunda Kids Book)

    FEB 7

    EP 32 - The Portrait Challenge (A Kunda Kids Book)

    We’re so excited to be back with another amazing story voiced by children’s book author, and co- founder of Kunda Kids. Kunda Kids brings African stories to life! Award-winning books, music & media that make early learning joyful, empowering & proudly cultural. We're so grateful to Kunda Kids for so graciously sharing this story with us. ✨Credits✨ Story courtesy of: Kunda Kids Voiced By: Oladele Olafuyi Episode Production: Verge Group Sound Design: Marcus Garvey Download the Kunda Kids app to access more stories or visit kundakids.com to learn more about Kunda Kids and where you can find their books. Submit A Story We'd love to hear your little one's story or feedback. Feel free to leave us a voice note on our Spotify or DM us on Instagram. We love hearing from our little listeners! Enjoyed this story? The Booknook is a true labour of love created alongside running a small business and raising a family. If this story brought a little calm, joy, or connection into your day, you can help us keep the magic going. You’re welcome to support the podcast with a donation via M-Pesa Till 9066503, which helps us cover coordination, recording, and production behind the scenes. We’re also opening up space for community support. If you’re someone who enjoys organising, coordinating readers, sourcing stories, or even hosting an episode now and then and you’d love to be part of growing this village we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at zain@playroom.ke Thank you for listening, for sharing, and for being part of our story.

    7 min
  2. EP 31 - And Also

    08/18/2025

    EP 31 - And Also

    Thabo’s make-believe world has no room for his little sister, Keitu. But she has other ideas! If you could be something else for a day like the boy in the story, what would you choose? Let us know in the comments! ✨Credits✨ This book was created at a Book Dash event in Cape Town on 28 June 2014. It is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Licence (CC BY 4.0). Written by: Lauren Beukes Voiced By: Makena Murungi Episode Production: ⁠⁠Verge Digital ⁠⁠⁠ Sound Design: Marcus Garvey This is brought to you by Kids Clothes - An e-commerce platform for brand new quality kids clothes - delivered fast. Right in time for back to school shopping. Love the story? Read this ebook and many others on ⁠⁠bookdash.org⁠⁠  and please consider supporting our podcast to keep us going (PS there are many FREE ways to do it too!)  ✨Follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode  ✨Share your favourite stories with friends and family - this helps us rank higher for more kids to discover us  ✨Join our ⁠⁠book subscription service⁠⁠ (Kenya) to receive 2 books every month  ✨Follow us on Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠@booknook.ke⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠@playacademy.africa⁠⁠⁠ for updates on upcoming events

    2 min
  3. EP 30 - The Boy Who Only Ate Pancakes

    06/30/2025

    EP 30 - The Boy Who Only Ate Pancakes

    Rekai only loves to eat pancakes, so Mom finds a way to make them even better! ✨Credits✨ Written by: Mikhaila Crowther Voiced By: Fiona Nyongo Episode Production: ⁠⁠⁠Verge Digital ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sound Design: Marcus Garvey Created at a Book Dash event in Cape Town on 5 March 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Licence (CC BY 4.0). Read the story here. Love the story? Read this ebook and many others on ⁠⁠⁠bookdash.org⁠⁠⁠  and please consider supporting our podcast to keep us going (PS there are many FREE ways to do it too!)  ✨Follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode  ✨Share your favourite stories with friends and family - this helps us rank higher for more kids to discover us  ✨Join our ⁠⁠⁠book subscription service⁠⁠⁠ (Kenya) to receive 2 books every month  ✨Follow us on Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booknook.ke⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠@playacademy.africa⁠⁠⁠⁠ for updates on upcoming events

    2 min

  4. 04/18/2025

    EP 30 - The Martians

    Kabi and Sasha are playing outside. Kabi and Sasha are playing outside. Sasha lies down and sees a red spot among the stars. This is the start of an interesting story about Mars. The Martians is a STEM children’s book by Little Einsteins under the series STEM Adventures of Kabi and Sasha. Through the adventures of Kabi and Sasha children will learn fun facts in STEM in a book by us, for us. Little Einsteins East Africa seeks to inspire and teach students about the world of science, technology, engineering and math through entertaining hands-on activities. Their aim is to guide a new generation of young science explorers through genuine passion in learning how the world works and they have exciting programs for kids of all ages to join. Check out the Little Einsteins website   or instagram page to order the book or learn more about this amazing initiative! They've got some great programmes for the April Holidays! ✨Credits✨ Written by: Wambui Murimi Voiced by: Kavindu Mbathi, Musembi Mbathi, and their mum and Founder of Little Einsteins, Mugure Njendu. Episode Production: Verge Digital ⁠ Sound Design: Marcus Garvey Submit A Story We'd love to hear your little one's story or feedback. Feel free to leave us a voice note on our Spotify or DM us on Instagram and we may work to bring their story to life and publish it as a bonus episode. Enjoyed this story? Help us keep it going and bring more magic your way consider donating via MPESA Till 9066503 or Paypal ⁠zain@playroom.ke⁠ . More ways to support us:  ✨Follow us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and share our stories so you never miss an episode. It also helps other families find us! ✨If you’re an author and would love to share your story, reach out to us on the contacts on our Instagram page  ✨Join our book subscription service (Kenya) to receive 2 books every month  ✨Follow us on Instagram - ⁠@booknook.ke⁠ | ⁠@playacademy.africa⁠ for updates on upcoming events

    3 min

  5. 04/11/2025

    EP 29 - The Brave Little Lion

    Brave Little Lion is ready for his first hunting lesson. Follow his adventure.  This is one of many stories by Kunda Kids who thoughtfully design resources for parents, educators, and children. They blend world-class storytelling with playful, research-backed learning tools. By celebrating the beauty of diversity and inspiring curiosity, they’re empowering a new generation of confident, culturally aware global citizens. ✨Credits✨ Voiced By: Oladele Olafuyi, co-founder of Kunda Kids Episode Production: Verge Digital ⁠ Sound Design: Marcus Garvey Visit the Kunda Kids website to learn more about them and where you can find their books in Kenya and worldwide. Download the Kunda Kids app on the Appstore and Playstore to access more stories like these. Enjoyed this story? Help us keep it going and bring more magic your way. Consider donating to MPESA Till 9066503 or Paypal ⁠zain@playroom.ke⁠  Other ways to support:  ✨Follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode   ✨Share your favourite stories with friends and family ✨If you’re an author and would love to share your story, reach out to us on the contacts on our instagram page  ✨Join our book subscription service (Kenya) to receive 2 books every month  ✨Follow us on Instagram - ⁠@booknook.ke⁠ | ⁠@playacademy.africa⁠ for updates on upcoming events

    3 min
  6. Ep 28 - Sleepy Mister Sloth

    04/04/2025

    Ep 28 - Sleepy Mister Sloth

    Do you know Mr Sloth? He’s quite good at climbing. He knows how to swing. But sleeping’s his favourite, favourite thing! ✨Credits✨ Written by: Corinne Lamoral Rosmarin Voiced By: Laka Waithaka Episode Production: Verge Digital ⁠ Sound Design: Marcus Garvey CC 4.0 Love the story? Read this ebook and many others on bookdash.org  Listen to LALA (Love and Lullabies Africa) on Spotify or Apple Music Submit A Story We'd love to hear your little one's story or feedback. Feel free to leave us a voice note on our Spotify or DM us on Instagram and we may work to bring their story to life and publish it as a bonus episode.  Enjoyed this story? Help us keep it going and bring more magic your way. Consider donating via MPESA Till 9066503 or Paypal ⁠zain@playroom.ke⁠  Other ways to support us:  ✨Follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode  ✨Share your favourite stories with friends and family  ✨Join our book subscription service (Kenya) to receive 2 books every month  ✨Follow us on Instagram - ⁠@booknook.ke⁠ | ⁠@playacademy.africa⁠ for updates on upcoming events

    4 min

  7. 04/24/2024

    Ep 27 - Thato's Birthday Surprise

    It is one week until Thato’s Birthday. His mama tells him he will have a big surprise. What will it be? ✨Credits✨ Written by: Corinne Lamoral Rosmarin Voiced By: ⁠Laka Waithaka⁠ Episode Production: ⁠Verge Digital ⁠⁠ Sound Design: Marcus Garvey CC 4.0 ⁠Listen to Love And Lullabies Africa, LALA⁠ The music features the undeniably brilliant talents of Laka Waithaka and Manasseh Shalom. The blend of vocal and saxophone melodies and harmonies over ethereal African guitars and percussion is the perfect soundtrack to your time with your little one. Love the story? Read this ebook and many others on ⁠bookdash.org⁠   ✨Follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode  ✨Share your favourite stories with friends and family  ✨Join our ⁠book subscription service⁠ (Kenya) to receive 2 books every month  ✨Follow us on Instagram - ⁠⁠@booknook.ke⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠@playacademy.africa⁠⁠ for updates on upcoming events

    3 min

  8. 04/17/2024

    Ep 26 - Dudu's Hat

    Hats off! Dudu and Dumisani have made up a new game. Ssh! Don’t tell Teacher. ✨Credits✨ Written by: Sarah McGregor Voiced By: Rotimi Olawale  Episode Production: Verge Digital ⁠ Sound Design: Marcus Garvey CC 4.0 Love the story? Read this ebook and many others on bookdash.org  Submit A Story We'd love to hear your little one's story or feedback. Feel free to leave us a voice note on our Spotify or DM us on Instagram and we may work to bring their story to life and publish it as a bonus episode.  Enjoyed this story? Help us keep it going and bring more magic your way. Here’s how  ✨Follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode  ✨Share your favourite stories with friends and family  ✨Join our book subscription service (Kenya) to receive 2 books every month -  ✨Follow us on Instagram - ⁠@booknook.ke⁠ | ⁠@playacademy.africa⁠ for updates on upcoming events

    3 min
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Trailer

About

A community-driven storytime show for kids. Our podcast goes beyond entertainment; it is a powerful educational tool. Each meticulously crafted episode features age-appropriate content, narrated by different people, predominantly parents, from across Africa. Coupled with immersive soundscapes, our stories transport children to magical worlds, stimulating their imagination, enhancing literacy skills, and nurturing a lifelong love for reading.

Information

  • Creator
    Play Academy Africa
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Play Academy Africa
  • Show Website
    The Book Nook By Play Academy