Declan Opperman, a 12-year-old Grade 6 pupil from Somerset West, South Africa, has published four children's books in his Boo’s Adventures series. The books use humorous stories about a fictional boy named Boo to teach young readers lessons about listening, honesty, hygiene and making better choices. Declan began developing his storytelling skills at school and had the four 16-page books published through Print on Demand by June 2026. 

Introduction

At just 12 years old, Declan Opperman from Somerset West, South Africa, has already achieved a milestone many aspiring writers dream about: becoming a published children's author.

The Grade 6 pupil at Laerskool De Hoop Primary School has published four books in his Boo’s Adventures series. The books are designed for young readers and combine humour, imagination and simple everyday lessons about behaviour and good habits.

Declan's journey began at school, where he developed an interest in writing and storytelling. He has credited his English teacher, Damian Baumgart, with inspiring him to explore his own creativity.

The result is a four-book series centred on Boo, a young boy who learns that ignoring advice or making poor choices can have unexpected consequences.

What Happened?

Declan started learning how to structure stories while he was in Grade 4. His interest in writing grew after watching his English teacher demonstrate how ideas could be turned into stories.

By March 2026, Declan had begun writing the Boo’s Adventures series. By June, the four books had been published as 16-page children's books by Tertius van Eeden through Print on Demand.

The four published titles are:

• Boo’s Square Eyes
• Boo’s Yellow Teeth
• Boo’s Stinky Feet
• Boo’s Long Nose

Together, the books use fictional adventures to introduce young readers to everyday lessons.

The story behind the books is particularly notable because Declan is not simply writing for his own age group. His stated goal is to encourage younger children to read while helping them think about their behaviour and choices.

Key Details

Here are the main facts about Declan's young publishing career:

• Age: 12
• Location: Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa
• School: Laerskool De Hoop Primary School
• Grade: Grade 6
• Series: Boo’s Adventures
• Published books: Four
• Book length: 16 pages each
• Publisher: Tertius van Eeden through Print on Demand
• Publication: The four books were published by June 2026.
• Main audience: Young children
• Main themes: Listening, honesty, personal hygiene and making better choices.

Who Is Declan Opperman?

Declan is a young writer from Somerset West who developed his interest in storytelling during his primary-school years.

Although he is still a student, writing has become an important creative outlet for him. He has said that he admired his English teacher's ability to write about whatever came to mind and wanted to develop that same confidence in storytelling.

His teacher, Damian Baumgart, has also praised Declan's approach to writing, particularly his willingness to learn and accept feedback. Baumgart described his student as mature, enthusiastic and committed to improving his work.

Declan's mother, Elmari Opperman, has also spoken about the family's pride in his achievement. She described him as a quiet child with a big imagination who has now stepped outside his comfort zone by becoming a published author.

What Are the Boo’s Adventures Books About?

The Boo’s Adventures books revolve around a fictional boy named Boo.

Each story takes a familiar childhood behaviour and turns it into a humorous or imaginative adventure.

For example, Boo’s Square Eyes centres on Boo ignoring his mother's advice about watching too much television. The story uses a fantastical consequence to help communicate the importance of listening and making sensible choices.

Other books focus on everyday habits.

Boo’s Yellow Teeth addresses the importance of brushing teeth, while Boo’s Stinky Feet focuses on bathing and personal hygiene. Boo’s Long Nose uses the familiar idea of a growing nose to explore the consequences of lying and the importance of telling the truth.

The approach is deliberately simple. Instead of presenting lessons as instructions, Declan puts them inside stories that younger children can follow.

Small Lessons Through Big Imagination

One of the most interesting aspects of Declan's books is the way ordinary childhood experiences become the foundation for storytelling.

Children may be told every day to brush their teeth, take a bath, listen to their parents or tell the truth. Declan's stories turn those instructions into memorable fictional situations.

That approach can make educational messages easier for younger readers to engage with because the lesson is part of the story rather than presented as a lecture.

Declan has said that he hopes children will read the books, recognize the behaviour in the stories and think about whether they should make different choices themselves.

Inspired by a Teacher

Teachers can have a major influence on children's confidence, and Declan's story provides a clear example of that connection.

He specifically credits Damian Baumgart, his English teacher at De Hoop Primary School, with encouraging his interest in writing.

Declan admired Baumgart's ability to develop stories from ideas that came to mind. That example helped show him that writing could be both creative and accessible.

Baumgart has since watched Declan develop his own voice and said the young writer's willingness to learn and respond to feedback has stood out.

For children who enjoy drawing, writing or inventing stories, Declan's experience also demonstrates how a classroom interest can develop into a creative project outside school.

From Writing Stories to Publishing Books

Writing a story and publishing a book are two very different steps.

Declan reportedly completed his first book quickly, but the editing process took considerably more attention. He worked through the stories individually rather than rushing to complete all four at once.

His mother initially wanted the books printed for Declan himself. A recommendation eventually connected the family with Tertius van Eeden of Print on Demand.

According to the reporting, van Eeden saw potential in the Boo stories and became involved in publishing them.

That transformed what began as a child's creative project into a published series.

What Officials and Organizations Said

There is no indication that this is an official government education initiative or a nationally sponsored publishing programme. It is primarily a local young-author success story involving Declan, his family, his school and the publisher.

Declan's teacher Damian Baumgart has publicly praised his student's maturity, enthusiasm and willingness to improve. His mother has also described the publication achievement as a source of considerable pride for the family.

Declan himself has encouraged other aspiring young writers to keep believing in themselves and continue reading.

Why This Matters

Declan's story is significant because it shows that children's creativity does not have to remain inside the classroom.

A notebook drawing, a short story or an unusual character can become the starting point for something much larger when a child receives encouragement and takes the time to develop the idea.

His books also connect literacy with everyday learning. The stories encourage young readers to think about honesty, hygiene, listening and decision-making while also developing an interest in books.

For parents and teachers, the story offers a useful reminder: children do not always need complicated tools to begin creating. A simple idea and the opportunity to develop it can be enough to start a writing journey.

It also highlights the importance of adults taking children's creative interests seriously.

In Declan's case, support from his family and encouragement from his teacher helped turn an interest in storytelling into four published books.

What Happens Next?

Declan has said he wants to continue expanding the Boo’s Adventures series.

He has also expressed interest in eventually writing for older readers, including children around his own age and above. For now, however, his focus remains on seeing how the first four books are received.

The first print runs were reported as sold out, while the books were also being prepared for wider online availability. A later report stated that individual copies were available privately for R80, with a four-book bundle priced at R290.

Whether Boo’s Adventures grows into a longer series remains to be seen, but Declan has already accomplished something unusual for a 12-year-old: he has moved from writing stories for himself to seeing his work read by other children.

His advice to aspiring young writers is straightforward — keep believing and never stop reading.

FAQs

Who is Declan Opperman?

Declan Opperman is a 12-year-old Grade 6 pupil from Somerset West, South Africa, who has published four children's books in his Boo’s Adventures series.

How many books has Declan Opperman published?

He has published four books in the Boo’s Adventures series: Boo’s Square Eyes, Boo’s Yellow Teeth, Boo’s Stinky Feet and Boo’s Long Nose.

What are Declan Opperman's books about?

The books follow a fictional boy named Boo and use humorous adventures to teach young children lessons about listening, honesty, hygiene and making better choices.

How old was Declan when he became a published author?

Declan was 12 years old when his four books were published in 2026.

Who inspired Declan Opperman to write?

Declan has credited his English teacher, Damian Baumgart, with inspiring his interest in storytelling and encouraging him to develop his writing skills.

Who published Declan Opperman's books?

The books were published by Tertius van Eeden through Print on Demand, according to reports about Declan's publishing journey.

What are the names of the four Boo’s Adventures books?

The four published titles are Boo’s Square Eyes, Boo’s Yellow Teeth, Boo’s Stinky Feet and Boo’s Long Nose.

Does Declan plan to write more books?

Yes. Declan has expressed a desire to continue expanding Boo’s Adventures and has also said he would like to eventually write for older readers.