Trolls, snow, friendship, magic forests in Sweden and a whole lot of imagination makes this illustrated children’s book a delight for kids age five to 10 years old.

The idea was conjured up by an eight year old South African girl, and captured into this story by her mother. The main character in Goosala Goop is Krissy, a young girl modeled on the author’s daughter. The other key character is Goosala Goop himself, a little green being with feelers and fur. Sounding almost extra-terrestrial, Goosala seems to be more enchanted than outer space alien. He can transform himself into other things, and has the ability to transport himself and his friends to secret worlds.

In this first book, Goosala Goop takes Krissy to some snowy forests in Sweden where they meet trolls, pick berries and undertake a rescue mission, all part of an afternoon’s adventure. Goosala is Krissy’s imaginery friend, but one real enough to run wild in the pages of this descriptive book.

This is the first of Goosala’s gift of magic adventures and there is talk of the next book being set in Africa.

Originally from Gauteng, Ingrid Botha - under the author name of Si Botha Р now lives in Hampshire in the UK. Goosala Goop is available to buy as a book and audio CD on Amazon, Kalahari and more, as well as in SA shop Out of Afrika in Basingstoke.