A lyrical and uplifting picture book story about the impact the departure of a dad has on a young boy called Shingai, written by award-winning Zimbabwean poet Blessing Musariri and beautifully illustrated by British artist Maisie Paradise Shearring. Shingai's father has gone and Shingai and his mum are all alone and feeling lost. Shingai can’t contain the whirlwind inside any more. He needs to let his feelings out. A stunning story, beautifully illustrated, about the complex range of emotions a child experiences when a parent leaves, told from the perspective of a young boy. An important book about overcoming sadness with hope, love and empathy, that will help children understand their feelings . . . and ultimately help them find a way forward.

WINNER OF THE CHILDREN'S AFRICANA BOOK AWARDS 2024 OBSERVER BEST BOOKS OF 2023 IRISH TIMES BEST BOOKS OF 2023 SUNDAY TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK An outstanding YA novel of family love, loss, and life lived between two cultures, by an astonishing, super-stylish new voice. 'I'm going to tell you exactly how everything happened. Baba always says, Mati mwana'ngu , I love a good story but I don't have time for a long one, so make it short.' When Mati and her two siblings travel from London to Zimbabwe with their father, they are forced to confront the knotty family dynamics caused by the loss of their mother. Along for the trip is Meticais, a fabulously attired gender-neutral spirit―or ghost? Or imaginary friend?―who only Mati can see and talk to. Guided by Meticais's enigmatic advice and wisdom, Mati must come to terms with her grief and with the difficulty of a life lived between two cultures, while her family learn to forge their way in a world without their monumental mother. This is distinctive, stylish, powerful writing by a vital new voice.

When twins Afya and Aftab, along with their adopted brother Khaled, leave the shelter of a hidden valley, they are astonished by the bustle and noise of the outside world. But beneath this chaos is an order more threatening than bedlam. An army of shadows gathers, looking to break free from the navel of the world, where they have been subdued for hundreds of years. The Keepers of Truth are scattered; the once-powerful Empire is fragmented, its twelve territories now controlled by seven warlords, one of whom has taken control of the region once protected by the Keepers. Surrounded by bright, new discoveries, our innocents are lost in fascination, unprepared for the trials they will encounter, trials that will redefine who they are and what they believe. Blessing Musariri is a stunning new voice, and has created a rich universe, rooted in African landscapes, that recasts the realism of our world in an uncannily resonant new light.

‘I’m going to tell you exactly how everything happened. Baba always says, Mati mwana’ngu, I love a good story but I don’t have time for a long one, so make it short.’ When Mati and her two siblings travel from London to Zimbabwe with their father, they are forced to confront the knotty family dynamics caused by the loss of their mother. Along for the trip is Meticais, a fabulously attired gender-neutral spirit—or ghost? or imaginary friend?—who only Mati can see and talk to. Guided by Meticais’s enigmatic advice and wisdom, Mati must come to terms with her grief and with the difficulty of a life lived between two cultures, while her family learn to forge their way in a world without their monumental mother. This is distinctive, stylish, powerful writing by a vital new voice.

Mati’s family is reeling from the death of Mati’s mother. Her Baba has drawn into himself, her sister Chichi is rebelling, and her young brother Tana is desperate for love and normalcy.When Chichi pulls her worst stunt yet, Baba uproots the family from their home in England for an extended camping holiday in their native Zimbabwe. Along for the trip is Meticais, a fabulously attired gender-neutral spirit—or ghost? or imaginary friend?—who only Mati can see and converse with. Guided by Meticais’s enigmatic advice and wisdom, Mati must come to terms with her grief and with the difficulty of living between two cultures, while the family must learn to forge their way in a world without their monumental mother.Full of captivating characters and stunning plot twists, All That It Ever Meant delivers a nuanced and unforgettable story of grief, love, and family.