John Agard’s Windrush Child
£7.99
With one last hug, a child says goodbye to his grandmother and the shores of his Caribbean home, before stepping into an adventure across the ocean, to an unknown horizon and a sky full of hope. With stunning, thoughtful lyricism, internationally renowned poet, John Agard, recalls the journey made by thousands of West Indian children and families who travelled to Britain as part of the Windrush Generation between 1948 and 1971.
A BEAUTIFULLY EVOCATIVE STORY OF A CHILD’S JOURNEY TO ENGLAND ON BOARD EMPIRE WINDRUSH, FROM AN INTERNATIONALLY CELEBRATED, MULTI-AWARD-WINNING POET AND AN EXTRAORDINARY DEBUT ILLUSTRATOR.
“you’re stepping into history
bringing your Caribbean eye
to another horizon”
With one last hug, Windrush chid waves goodbye to his Caribbean home and sets sail across the ocean to Britain. In this powerful picture book, full of hope and promise, celebrated poet John Agard and illustrator Sophie Bass movingly evoke the journey made by children and their families as part of the Windrush Generation.
PRAISE FOR JOHN AGARD’S WINDRUSH CHILD:
Shortlisted for the Diverse Book Awards 2023
Shortlisted for the Spark! School Book Award 2023
Longlisted for the Jhalak Children’s & YA Prize 2023
Longlisted for the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration
Longlisted for the Children’s Literature Festivals Book Awards 2023
Longlisted for the 2023 Klaus Flugge Prize
“A gorgeous bedtime read that will reward repeat readings, deceptively simple, emotionally deep.” Joseph Coelho, Children’s Laureate
“A beautiful picture book with gorgeous illustrations … I couldn’t think of a better way for young children to learn about history and understand the world.” David Walliams
“John Agard’s hopeful poem commemorates a child’s Windrush journey from the Caribbean, and bold and vivid illustrations sing of palm trees and mangos left behind, and new experiences, including pigeons and terraced houses and snow.” ‘One to Watch’, Sunday Times (Culture)
“Debut illustrator Bass’s intricate, colourful, arresting pictures bring out all the resonances of Agard’s spare text in this story of a child, a ship, a journey, and a new life enriched by the loves and memories of the old.” Guardian
“A poetic story brought to life by Sophie Bass’s colour-popping illustrations.” Daily Mail
“A stunning picture book … with the distinctive, vibrant art of Sophie Bass.” The Bookseller
“The illustrations by Sophie Bass powerfully convey his parents’ emotions at different stages of the journey: hope, excitement, anxiety and relief are etched on to their faces in subtle ways. The child’s perspective of his adventure is the true soul of the book though and will stay in the reader’s memory for a long time.” Just Imagine
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