Meet illustrator, Moloko Mabotja, the personality behind Reap What You Sow, one of the latest additions to Mikhulu’s wordless picture book series. This beautifully illustrated book encourages counting, sparks curiosity about fruit and vegetables, and fosters meaningful discussions about emotions, making it a powerful tool for book-sharing with young children.

Growing up in Germiston, South Africa, Moloko’s path to becoming an illustrator was shaped by personal struggles, resilience, and a deep understanding of the power of visual storytelling. Starting his early years with his grandmother, Moloko was later raised by both parents and studied printmaking where he honed his artistic skills before embarking on a career in children’s wordless book illustration, an art form that holds deep personal significance for him.

Moloko was diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning challenge that made traditional reading difficult. His experience fuels his passion for helping young children – particularly those at risk of dyslexia – engage with books before they start reading.

“Parents need to be aware of this learning condition early,” he emphasises. “Wordless picture books create opportunities for children to develop essential skills – like phonological awareness and memory – before they even recognise letters.”

For Moloko, wordless books are more than just stories without text; they are a gateway to curiosity and comprehension. He recalls how, as a child, illustrations captivated him, sparking endless questions and deep engagement with images long before he could decode written words.

“A single picture in a Bible storybook stayed with me for years. I kept trying to understand it, and when my grandmother explained it to me, it finally made sense. That moment shaped my love for storytelling through art.”

His latest work, Reap What You Sow, is illustrated in watercolour—a medium he chose because of its accessibility and expressive nature. Through careful use of colour, texture, and body language, he conveys emotions that children can easily relate to.

“I want children to feel the warmth in the illustrations – to see a character smile and feel that happiness, or recognise frustration in a facial expression.” His goal is to create lasting impressions that help children connect emotionally to stories, even in the absence of words.

Moloko’s personal story highlights the importance of early intervention. He believes that by engaging children in book-sharing experiences, parents can better recognise potential learning difficulties, like dyslexia, and seek support sooner.

“I take the wordless picture book as a foundation, or a starting step to engage with children.  I think it’s very important for them, not to miss out on the wordless picture book so that children can familiarise themselves with books at a very early age. Wordless picture books might seem simple, but they are powerful tools,” he says. “They allow children to think deeply, to reason, and to build their own understanding of a story, laying the foundation for future reading success.”

As he continues his artistic journey, Moloko hopes to further integrate his work with Mikhulu Trust, raising awareness about dyslexia and advocating for the importance of wordless picture books in early childhood development. His story is a testament to the power of illustration, not just as an art form, but as a tool for unlocking a child’s potential.

We would like to thank Adrie Haese from the University of Pretoria’s Department of Information Design for her assistance in managing the illustration process.