'Follow The Swallow' story trail.

'Brilliantly celebrating the power of community and friendship' MamaFilz

'Swallow's Kiss' is just one of 10 stories to make a difference published by Pop Up Projects.

What a pleasure it is to see 'Swallow's Kiss' inspiring a story trail in Islington this summer. 

This story is dedicated the refugee and migrant people whom Jane Ray and I have worked with in the Art and Writing Class at Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants for many years as Artist and Writer in residence.

Swallow's Kiss tells the story of Blessing who finds a bag of beautiful, bright wishing birds under a table at the cafe where her mum works. The birds come alive in her empathetic hands and she knows she has to fly the wishing birds back to their makers... but how does she find them? 

Written in free verse this story was hatched on a London bus  on our way to and from the refugee centre.We are proud that it has been endorsed by Amnesty International as a book that upholds children's rights to play, learn and safety.

Now the National Literacy Trust have commissioned a story trail for August as part of Get Islington Reading. I'm proud to be working on projects over the next three years to help ignite the spirit of adventure in stories.

It starts at Islington South Library, Essex Road with an exhibition of work from the Art and Writing Class. This is where you pick up your story trail clues!

And borrow a copy...

Then set out on the trail to follow the swallows' clues in word and art collecting words from each swallow's wing on your way! 

Can't tell you where this 'Friend' bird was found... you'll have to hunt yourselves!

Then make your own empathy wish bird for refugee children. like Hani and Blessing in the story. 

Signed copies of the book are available at Children's Bookshop in Muswell Hill and through Pop Up... where Blessing welcomes you with her wishing birds! 

Look out for Blessing's wish birds flying to welcome Little Amal in the Autumn at the South Bank too.

To find out more about the story trail visit:

https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/islington/wishbirds-take-flight-across-islington/

To find out more about the work of Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants and how you can contribute much needed support visit: 

https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/

https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/art-and-writing-class-april-to-july-2021/

National Literacy Trust Interview with Jane and Sita and how to make a wish bird!

https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/islington/refugee-week-2021/

Interview for Swallow's Kiss:

https://www.booksfortopics.com/post/q-a-sita-brahmachari-swallow-s-kiss-pop-up-festival

Reviews of Swallow's Kiss here:

https://www.castofthousands.co.uk/blog/growing-new-roots-and-wings-with-swallows-kiss

https://mammafilz.com/2021/06/17/book-review-swallows-kiss-by-sita-brahmachari-and-jane-ray/

Information on how to browse and buy all the 10 stories to make a difference are here:

https://pop-up.org.uk/product/swallowskiss/

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