SHORTLISTED FOR THE WEEK JUNIOR'S BEST OLDER FICTION AWARD 2024 Illustrated in vibrant full-colour, a story of dance, celebration, carnival and slavery, about a family understanding their past to change the future. Set in contemporary Notting Hill, Man-man and his friends are swept up in the exuberant preparations for carnival. But his mother is ill and even as he dances, he calls desperately to the Queen of Revels, as old as time to make her well again. Swept away with his best friend Kareem and sharp-tongued sister Panama, to a place in between, the Queen of Revels plunges Man-man into Africa's past and reveals his family's heritage. As they gather around the sacred Tree of Memories, he witnesses many slaves, captives whose pain and anguish and longing is held by the tree. Man-man understands how this is draining his mother and how he must help her back to the freedom stolen from his ancestors

The 25th anniversary edition of Baroness Floella Benjamin's classic memoir, Coming to England. With a foreword by the author and some additional historical information, this is the incredible story of Floella's journey from Trinidad to London, as part of the Windrush generation, to the House of Lords. It is gloriously illustrated throughout by Joelle Avelino, perfect for readers aged 9+. Floella Benjamin was just a young girl when she, her sister and two brothers arrived in England in 1960 to join their parents, whom they had not seen for fifteen months. They had left their island home of Trinidad to make a new life in London - part of a whole generation of West Indians who were encouraged to move to Britain and help rebuild the country after the Second World War. Reunited with her mother, Floella was too overwhelmed at first to care about the cold weather and the noise and dirt from the traffic. But, as her new life began, she was shocked and distressed by the rejection she experienced. She soon realized that the only way to survive was to work twice as hard and be twice as good as anyone else. This inspirational story is a powerful reminder of how courage and determination can overcome adversity.

A joyful exploration of family life, written by one of the most outstanding contemporary authors of our generation.

This beautiful family story follows a young girl called Chino as she plays with her mama’s sleeping scarf through the day. Running with the scarf, Chino weaves together little incidentals of home life into a glorious celebration of the power of a mother-daughter relationship, and the gentle joys that build a perfect day. Exquisitely written with compelling simplicity, this is a heartfelt homage to family love.

A compelling debut picture book from one of the most important voices in literature today, brought into glorious technicolour through the vibrant and contemporary illustrations of Joelle Avelino.

Explore the incredible history of Afro hair. The Story of Afro Hair celebrates the fashion and styles of Afro hair over the last 5,000 years. From plaits to the Gibson Girl, cornrows to locks, the hi-top fade to funki dreds, The Story of Afro Hair is the ultimate book of Afro hairstories. Kicking off with an explanation of how Afro hair type grows and why, The Story of Afro Hair then takes us right back to the politics and fashion of Ancient Egypt. Speeding forwards to modern times we experience the Kingdom of Benin, Henry VIII's court, the enslavement of African peoples, the Harlem Renaissance, the beginnings of Rastafarianism, Britain in the 1980s - and much more. With vibrant full colour illustrations by Joelle Avelino. A sparkling gold foil hardback cover - the perfect gift for anyone interested in culture, fashion and history. With profiles of inspirational key figures in the Afro hair beauty industry, such as Sara Spencer Washington, Madam CJ Walker, Viola Desmond, Lincoln Dyke, Dudley Dryden and Anthony Wade. "A brilliant read for Black History Month, [a] thought-provoking, lively & accessible guide for seven plus" - The Guardian

Collins Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds features exciting fiction and non-fiction decodable readers to enthuse and inspire children. They are fully aligned to Letters and Sounds Phases 1–6 and contain notes in the back. The Handbooks provide support in demonstration and modelling, monitoring comprehension and expanding vocabulary. When villagers refuse to share their food with a visiting boy, he decides to cook his own yummy stone soup. The secret ingredient? Sharing! See what happens in this retelling of a classic fable. Orange/Band 6 offers varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages. The focus sounds in this book are: /ai/ a, eigh /ee/ e-e, ey, e, y /ch/ tch /j/ g, ge /l/ le /w/ wh /v/ ve /z/ se /sh/ ch /oo/ u /igh/ y, ie Pages 22 and 23 allow children to re-visit the content of the book, supporting comprehension skills, vocabulary development and recall. Reading notes within the book provide practical support for reading Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds with children, including a list of all the sounds and words that the book will cover.

From former Birmingham Young Poet Laureate Nyanda Foday comes this inspirational, poetic introduction to the vital need for every child to see themselves in the books they read. What does a book mean to those who search for acceptance and understanding? A place to find friends, feel part of a family, or to be your true self. A good book takes you to new worlds, the right one shows you can exist in this one. So for all bookworms – lovers of books – the world is waiting for you.

A gorgeously illustrated compendium of 30 black luminaries who changed the world. Thirty bite-sized biographies of black thinkers, activists, and innovators with beautiful full-color illustrations throughout. Black Trailblazers is an illustrated inspiration for children that gives these important figures their due, highlighting their work to make our world a brighter, better place. An appealing blend of history, quotes from the figures themselves, and gorgeous visuals, this book will educate, entertain, and inspire. Including luminaries such as: Madam C. J. Walker James Baldwin Shirley Chisolm Dick Gregory Nina Simone Thurgood Marshall Misty Copeland ...and many more!

Inspired by her own foremothers' legacies and the friendships formed throughout her life, Rozella Kennedy centers and celebrates the stories of 100 Black, Brown, Asian, and Indigenous women--both famous and little-known--who changed the course of US history. In the beautiful pages of Our Brave Foremothers, discover an intergenerational, intercultural bouquet of Black, Brown, Asian, and Indigenous women lifted into the significance that they deserve. - From Etel Adnan to Mary Jones, Thelma Garcia Buchholdt to Pura Belpre to Zitkala-Sa, here are 100 women of color who left a lasting mark on United States history. Including both famous and little-known names, the thoughtful profiles and detailed portraits of these women herald their achievements and passions. - Following each entry is a prompt that asks you to connect your life to theirs, an inspiring way to understand their influence and the power of their stories. To consider on a deeper level the devotedness of Clara Brown, the fearlessness of Jovita Idar, the guts of Grace Lee Boggs, or the selflessness of Martha Louise Morrow Foxx. And to be as brave as we each can be--and then beyond that.

When Malola is tasked with sharing with her class what she wants to be when she grows up, she runs to the one place she knows will help her - her favourite room in her favourite museum. But when she asks her favourite paintings what she should be when she grows up, she doesn't expect them to come to life and take her on a journey to find the answer! Follow Malola as she travels through a magical exhibit of paintings and learns of the many inspirational women who came before her, paving the way for her to be anything and everything she wants to be.

From former Birmingham Young Poet Laureate Nyanda Foday comes this inspirational, poetic introduction to the vital need for every child to see themselves in the books they read. What does a book mean to those who search for acceptance and understanding? A place to find friends, feel part of a family, or to be your true self. A good book takes you to new worlds, the right one shows you can exist in this one. So for all bookworms - lovers of books - the world is waiting for you.