The Tirana Book Fair of 2025 will see the launch of the Albanian translation of the first title in Constant van Graan’s exciting adventure series, Jungu Josh.

In Jungu Josh: The Golden Calabash, the 13-year-old Josh goes on an epic journey through the mystical, imagined East African valley of Kalimbula, where he searches for answers about his missing mother and discovers clues linked to a golden calabash.

Blending African mythology, magical realism and coming-of-age themes, the novel has captivated readers in South Africa since publication, with the book being a prescribed work in various South African schools.

Now, thanks to the award-winning publishing house Ombra GVG and the support of the PEN Afrikaans Translation Fund, Albanian readers can look forward to reading Jungu Josh later this year.

“The story’s universal themes of bravery, family bonds and self-discovery resonate across borders, and I am grateful to PEN Afrikaans and Ombra GVG for making the Albanian translation possible,” says the author, Constant van Graan.

Click here and here to find out more about the series.