tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7756595702060487212024-03-16T00:08:01.525-07:00Sita BrahmachariSita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-50266677156698677642021-08-18T11:20:00.092-07:002021-08-19T03:22:49.595-07:0010 year anniversary copy of 'Artichoke Hearts' - An inheritance of hope on World Humanitarian Day<p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5nz1js-lpp4I4iFAd_476YPQz64A3s4E2f0ait-9V8bOZ1_PmckDAFMc9eo39HT2b4iwmj-7QytjMlNx_91xVTleh5qJ_hwg3qnc9lhf9zL5cEvq2zT4GGeu_0azAJzeW_8ohop8mU0/s640/9781529076394+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="422" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5nz1js-lpp4I4iFAd_476YPQz64A3s4E2f0ait-9V8bOZ1_PmckDAFMc9eo39HT2b4iwmj-7QytjMlNx_91xVTleh5qJ_hwg3qnc9lhf9zL5cEvq2zT4GGeu_0azAJzeW_8ohop8mU0/s320/9781529076394+%25281%2529.jpg" width="211" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNJj-peslLRVrIplrNdrXNzH2SvvYw3QBRhHStagoD_BI_3fm3WwrOxzw0eBjzNEGDUhzCL1xxLN_D9mVTHody3mbpfO7WUhLOxq9uo2UEL5l36hOUupdwi1nWh2e23R8IBtpAHhYJMU/s2048/Rose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNJj-peslLRVrIplrNdrXNzH2SvvYw3QBRhHStagoD_BI_3fm3WwrOxzw0eBjzNEGDUhzCL1xxLN_D9mVTHody3mbpfO7WUhLOxq9uo2UEL5l36hOUupdwi1nWh2e23R8IBtpAHhYJMU/s320/Rose.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'Artichoke Hearts' was written in homage to an extraordinary bohemian artist and humanitarian grandmother Rosie Harrison, pictured here exhibiting her art.</div><p></p><p> <span style="text-align: center;">10 year anniversary copy. Published August 19th 2021 on World Humanitarian Day</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thank you to two of my favourite contemporary writers and humanitarians, Onjali Q Rauf and Jasbinder Bilan for their love of 'Artichoke Hearts'. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">"Heart-healing, deeply enriching and
utterly chaotic, Mira is a heroine after our own multi-layered hearts</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: being one
perpetually teetering on the cusp of all that life throws at her, as
she confronts the whole spectrum of experiences - from deep grief, to the
blossoming of a first love to the security of lifetime-old friendships.
Who can't help but be mesmerised by the hilarious, dear characters which all
work to leave a permanent mark on both Mira and her readers - from the curt
Nana Josie to the elusive Jide to the ever-present Millie, and ultimately, not
have us fall in love with them too? A deeply unforgettable, gorgeous story. </span><span> </span><span>Be ready to have this one
stay with you."</span></i></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i>Onjali
Q Rauf<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i>‘I first
read Sita’s wonderful story when I began studying for an MA in Creative Writing.
I was at the start of my own writing journey and it had a deep impact on me as
a children’s author. The themes of family loss and coming to terms with change
resonated hugely with me on a personal level. It was also an incredible
inspiration – it wrote confidently about our diverse landscape and experience
and in this sense was breaking new ground with its very believable and
admirable characters.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i>This is
heartfelt story-telling at its best – of goodbyes and new beginnings, of fierce
family bonds and the wonder of first love. I tucked in close to Mira through
all the ups and downs, sharing every emotion as she does. A very special book
and so very excited that this celebratory 10 Year Edition will bring Sita’s
powerful story to new readers.’ <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jasbinder Bilan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">Over the
last few days I’ve been looking back and reflecting. Here I am in the cottage in Suffolk counting holey stones and years, where the real Nana <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Josie’s inspiration found
so much comfort, peace and joy. The walls are no longer painted pink but if
twelve year old Mira were in this room today she would be outraged to see the
unfolding refugee crisis in Afghanistan just as she was horrified to discover the history of her class mate Jide Jackson, a Rwandan refugee.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6D0hFwzjVq8mj7tsG5QTr4UZ0nOot8UBZpEqRgOzExQgRtbC0tIgWQp7zV3I7EjjeLGetzU1Q0F70_8v6a8upjrROznHHrCE3NormN6UenP_G31cv6f24CGdENy6JTbfKC-TkCyLIoTI/s2048/Holey+stones.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6D0hFwzjVq8mj7tsG5QTr4UZ0nOot8UBZpEqRgOzExQgRtbC0tIgWQp7zV3I7EjjeLGetzU1Q0F70_8v6a8upjrROznHHrCE3NormN6UenP_G31cv6f24CGdENy6JTbfKC-TkCyLIoTI/s320/Holey+stones.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> I’m
remembering the beautiful launch at The Halesworth Book Shop just days before,
to my amazement, ‘Artichoke Hearts’ won the Waterstone’s Children's Book Award ten years ago
and I’m wearing the charm that my wonderful husband Leo presented me with on that day.</p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvf9flsc0Y1LcZJp1wxts7bVXVxVSKMXUSimLJaRxbp7_PW-UB6MRCxONsgmkG3D4iWPwHRDSPHFK4Cm-YaP959PD6ikmV9fzwNnpAgTlu4Bx8TGe994ST4plN0GCDDljIudjEU5B6128/s499/51TXIwegIrL._SX328_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvf9flsc0Y1LcZJp1wxts7bVXVxVSKMXUSimLJaRxbp7_PW-UB6MRCxONsgmkG3D4iWPwHRDSPHFK4Cm-YaP959PD6ikmV9fzwNnpAgTlu4Bx8TGe994ST4plN0GCDDljIudjEU5B6128/s320/51TXIwegIrL._SX328_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span>We all gathered together
ten years ago in The Halesworth Bookshop and paid homage to a beautiful grandma who had stood up to the
great moments of inhumanity she had lived through and acted for change. She
left a legacy in book form in ‘Artichoke Hearts’ to so many more children than
my own. </span><span> </span><span>I could not have dreamed when I wrote this
gentle diary through the eyes of a twelve year old Mira that it would have
reached out to so many hearts.</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">It is thrilling
to think that the editor of this anniversary edition Sim Kaur Sandhu read </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Artichoke Hearts</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> for the first time as a
teenager. I’m so happy to have been given this opportunity to re-visit the
novel ten years on and am moved by Sim’s heart-felt response.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><i> 'I was at school when I first read Artichoke Hearts. It was the first
time I'd ever read a character I could really identify with as a young brown
girl. So much about Mira's honesty and vulnerability especially about the
changes her body was going through felt really familiar. Coming back to Mira
and her wonderful Nana as an editor was like coming home, and it was wonderful
to help bring Artichoke Hearts up-to-date
so another generation of readers can learn from Pat Print, fall in love with
Jide, and celebrate Nana Josie's incredible life.’ </i>Simran Kaur Sandhu<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>The charm is
passed on through this book and way beyond as the family and the world change... it can be traced forward in time to 'Jasmine Skies' and 'Tender Earth'… charging young readers with its
spirit of love of family, friends, community, empathy, justice and courage. I am so happy that it is reaching new
generations of readers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjc5E1mSXXGcop5b3s2b0vjraFL2XDv800BmaD5L2aU_eXkzj_NSSCOUQzAd5Jbz0S5o4Avz7nwNiptxRrxdfVSZv-IN-JJcd_oWWT_a5nlO1w86_sbuwdlAD1VBdugfQrJ9auMLJi_uM/s955/Collage+artichoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjc5E1mSXXGcop5b3s2b0vjraFL2XDv800BmaD5L2aU_eXkzj_NSSCOUQzAd5Jbz0S5o4Avz7nwNiptxRrxdfVSZv-IN-JJcd_oWWT_a5nlO1w86_sbuwdlAD1VBdugfQrJ9auMLJi_uM/s320/Collage+artichoke.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span>This has
been a time of great loss when so many people have not been able to say goodbye
to loved ones in the way that they would have wanted. Part of the launch ten years ago was a reading in the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead where Nana goes to spend her last days. </span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", serif;"><i> ‘Artichoke Hearts’ sits somewhere between a fairy tale and a family story. In Mira and her fabulous Nana Josie we see a beautiful counterpoint between the two distinct life processes of growing up and saying Goodbye to life. We are shown how in heartbreak and sadness, the strongest colours of communal spirit and family relationships can shine bright. A life- affirming book. </i></span></div><div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", serif; text-align: right;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", serif; text-align: right;">Sarah Jane Fenton, child psychotherapist. </span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p></p>
</div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Thank you to
Belinda Rasmussen and the whole team at Macmillan Children’s Books for
producing this beautiful ten year anniversary copy. </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">A huge thanks to Simran Kaur Sandhu who has edited
this updated edition for contemporary readers with such care and love and for remembering how
much reading it impacted on her as a young reader. Thanks to Jo Hardacre and Sabina Marharjan for their work in publicity. </span><span style="text-align: left;">I am in awe of Rachel Vale who has designed three incredibly beautiful copies of the book with illustrations, doodles, talismans and daydreams by illustrator Kate Forrester</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px; text-align: left;">Heart-felt thanks </span><span style="text-align: left;">to: an editor and friend I have worked with so creatively over the years Samantha Swinnerton who picked up the story as a junior editor and championed it and to Dominic Kingstone, publicist whom I am still hugely privileged to work with and to my agent and friend Sophie Gorell- Barnes from MBA Literary Agents with whom I have published so many books since and to Tanya Rodriquez the amazing actress who is Mira's voice.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNcvWO35jlRckShkwqYLheGZY1vrpKUcKwDwUfBfVCGAsOFT8JYhy0FtVUnk1fT-72-fDnGXKAzwD4jch5hYxm3SnpZdXea2dMNBOILnBhbF1MvVbZzI_ybjTsCXWVlis79rmQ6Q_PlU/s1005/Holey+stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="577" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNcvWO35jlRckShkwqYLheGZY1vrpKUcKwDwUfBfVCGAsOFT8JYhy0FtVUnk1fT-72-fDnGXKAzwD4jch5hYxm3SnpZdXea2dMNBOILnBhbF1MvVbZzI_ybjTsCXWVlis79rmQ6Q_PlU/s320/Holey+stone.jpg" width="184" /></a></div>Holey stone and charm.... carried still on Walberswich Beach where Pat Print walks too!</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">I'm incredibly grateful to Waterstone's for recognising this story, launching my writing journey and for Book Trust for always championing my work and making Artichoke Hearts one of their top 100 books over the last century (pinches herself!). Thanks to all the amazing teachers and librarians who have championed the book too. It's incredible that excerpts of it and now part of the Key Stage 2 curriculum. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">This copy feels like it is wrapped with
love in the purple blanket that Nana wore on her ‘schlumfy sofa.’ I hope a new generation of readers find comfort in curling up with it and the strength that Nana passes on to stand up for what they believe to me right..</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Here is a beautiful 'hearth' painting from the late Rosie Harrison, my mother in law who was the inspiration for Mira's beloved bohemian artist grandmother in 'Artichoke Hearts.' It's a source of great joy to our whole family that the essence of her courageous and human rights respecting spirit is still inspiring readers today... and is passed on to Mira's younger sister Laila the ant-racism protester in 'Tender Earth'. So the inheritance of hope passes on.... and the stories from the hearth keep their charge, needed in every age.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0BAlnWCb0DVZTKZWoH-DmUnS1iSIuqjTzl1v6a9kh8c6QaEJPNNLCcxKWmozKWqUoU4aQS8Xk0_Q2hjjEHKaa0nL6xH8JrmkDK-tAcz0OF9DCX-H3b0hGB9F-JuSMxFmOibyx0uMTuw/s2048/Dolphins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0BAlnWCb0DVZTKZWoH-DmUnS1iSIuqjTzl1v6a9kh8c6QaEJPNNLCcxKWmozKWqUoU4aQS8Xk0_Q2hjjEHKaa0nL6xH8JrmkDK-tAcz0OF9DCX-H3b0hGB9F-JuSMxFmOibyx0uMTuw/s320/Dolphins.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Rosie's hearth dolphins that captured my imagination in the story </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Sita X</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">10 year anniversary copy. Published August 19th 2021 </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">In Waterstones, Independent Bookshops and Online.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Winner of The Waterstones Book Prize 2011</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Named by Book Trust as one of the top 100 books in a hundred years. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Named by The Guardian as one of the top 50 books championing diversity in the last 50 years.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Currently under commission for theatre. (Bhuchar Boulevard)</span></p><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></div>Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-1266339185315957862021-08-18T06:05:00.001-07:002021-08-18T06:24:49.277-07:00'Follow The Swallow' story trail.<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Alegreya, serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: 0.34px;">'Brilliantly celebrating the power of community and friendship' MamaFilz</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDbO9L9rPk3YPgz2DySaiH60j0fQhAlRGueKDsI48Dk92QBOM8mGEq4NTlIQttjfV0FjsbvcboliocODWQNnMdHvZoQjVjvMlFe80wsDob-jna_U2bhfZICfN0Tys-CV1_z-e-atYow8/s1024/10-STORIES-COVERS-THMBNLS-SWALLOW-FRONT-723x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="723" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDbO9L9rPk3YPgz2DySaiH60j0fQhAlRGueKDsI48Dk92QBOM8mGEq4NTlIQttjfV0FjsbvcboliocODWQNnMdHvZoQjVjvMlFe80wsDob-jna_U2bhfZICfN0Tys-CV1_z-e-atYow8/s320/10-STORIES-COVERS-THMBNLS-SWALLOW-FRONT-723x1024.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'Swallow's Kiss' is just one of 10 stories to make a difference published by Pop Up Projects.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>What a pleasure it is to see 'Swallow's Kiss' inspiring a story trail in Islington this summer. </p><p>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.</p><p>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? </p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVp4dByEKRkysNfEhnkeUjsM0QSCNr6qQ3fBozS5X64QWFyS1uQzcq0eSEkXnimsOJ5mvnxg7Ff1Zb3QcqIc5PHIiqAOHd-uS13fV8GikBfLzLvIgAY5BciJvnXkXxDGT31C3XKNbNgo/s2048/Wish+bird+exhibiton.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVp4dByEKRkysNfEhnkeUjsM0QSCNr6qQ3fBozS5X64QWFyS1uQzcq0eSEkXnimsOJ5mvnxg7Ff1Zb3QcqIc5PHIiqAOHd-uS13fV8GikBfLzLvIgAY5BciJvnXkXxDGT31C3XKNbNgo/s320/Wish+bird+exhibiton.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And borrow a copy...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0thmRZvnMFKeA0v4ISPt0m-UdaJWy3kXThNdJtk82MN7NaxMaAQsDpYXT_Scpih0epnuuMiPEf21l7W9rppTxuJxRmUWJ-Ejlp_SX7PG4h9RFKxT0RiNvk7Us-UU_I8kSUeaKePmfwys/s2048/Islington+Library+Swallows.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0thmRZvnMFKeA0v4ISPt0m-UdaJWy3kXThNdJtk82MN7NaxMaAQsDpYXT_Scpih0epnuuMiPEf21l7W9rppTxuJxRmUWJ-Ejlp_SX7PG4h9RFKxT0RiNvk7Us-UU_I8kSUeaKePmfwys/s320/Islington+Library+Swallows.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">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! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapxB1R9pkTB_-mnXtVeWNJL6DxZ55ig6zta-Jm65COTlmQgOdSnvuHDVL-UlTLwhqFi565_5EF_dvWIRmkWV4WxOHHIuRHWNNUMBhmsgoz5DygwPRf-aaBEN2tKKCwAFGXxu4dQaAnWw/s2048/Wsh+bird+friend.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1458" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapxB1R9pkTB_-mnXtVeWNJL6DxZ55ig6zta-Jm65COTlmQgOdSnvuHDVL-UlTLwhqFi565_5EF_dvWIRmkWV4WxOHHIuRHWNNUMBhmsgoz5DygwPRf-aaBEN2tKKCwAFGXxu4dQaAnWw/s320/Wsh+bird+friend.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can't tell you where this 'Friend' bird was found... you'll have to hunt yourselves!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then make your own empathy wish bird for refugee children. like Hani and Blessing in the story. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">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! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkoZqNbzfkIGWMeJKvAAtH5-bFA6rgzNmfTfcVrw92Dw9Ds9lMptW0TpDV003HZxbwmOO5GCyNcHuJhbb34UIMFfNhdfQD8B1LQq5KeOxzQHhX5ELgXTrHuSVtFqG-H3C3GKTDxvuL6U/s2048/Swallow%2527s+Kiss.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkoZqNbzfkIGWMeJKvAAtH5-bFA6rgzNmfTfcVrw92Dw9Ds9lMptW0TpDV003HZxbwmOO5GCyNcHuJhbb34UIMFfNhdfQD8B1LQq5KeOxzQHhX5ELgXTrHuSVtFqG-H3C3GKTDxvuL6U/s320/Swallow%2527s+Kiss.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Look out for Blessing's wish birds flying to welcome Little Amal in the Autumn at the South Bank too.</p><p>To find out more about the story trail visit:</p><p><a href="https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/islington/wishbirds-take-flight-across-islington/">https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/islington/wishbirds-take-flight-across-islington/</a></p><p>To find out more about the work of Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants and how you can contribute much needed support visit: </p><p><a href="https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/">https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/</a></p><p><a href="https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/art-and-writing-class-april-to-july-2021/">https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/art-and-writing-class-april-to-july-2021/</a></p><p>National Literacy Trust Interview with Jane and Sita and how to make a wish bird!</p><p><a href="https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/islington/refugee-week-2021/">https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/islington/refugee-week-2021/</a></p><p>Interview for Swallow's Kiss:</p><p><a href="https://www.booksfortopics.com/post/q-a-sita-brahmachari-swallow-s-kiss-pop-up-festival">https://www.booksfortopics.com/post/q-a-sita-brahmachari-swallow-s-kiss-pop-up-festival</a></p><p>Reviews of Swallow's Kiss here:</p><p><a href="https://www.castofthousands.co.uk/blog/growing-new-roots-and-wings-with-swallows-kiss">https://www.castofthousands.co.uk/blog/growing-new-roots-and-wings-with-swallows-kiss</a></p><p><a href="https://mammafilz.com/2021/06/17/book-review-swallows-kiss-by-sita-brahmachari-and-jane-ray/">https://mammafilz.com/2021/06/17/book-review-swallows-kiss-by-sita-brahmachari-and-jane-ray/</a></p><p>Information on how to browse and buy all the 10 stories to make a difference are here:</p><p><a href="https://pop-up.org.uk/product/swallowskiss/">https://pop-up.org.uk/product/swallowskiss/</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-63265667215721600992021-03-04T01:00:00.001-08:002021-03-04T01:00:02.971-08:00Have a whale of a time this World Book Day!<p> <span style="font-family: "Dancing Script"; font-size: large;">Happy World Book Day 2021 from Sita and Billie! </span></p><div><p>Today find someone to read aloud to... on the phone or cuddled up on the sofa. I've been reading my new World Book Day story, <i>The River Whale</i> to my Mum over the phone and our lovely dog, curls up beside us to share in the story. Billie has been a popular visitor to quite a few book groups and libraries and he's very encouraging! He wags his tail when you read different voices for the characters! Why not show your book shares by posting a picture of what you're enjoying reading. Share in your love of stories and reading for pleasure this #worldbookday.</p><p></p><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/775659570206048721/5331836000210641048%23&source=gmail&ust=1614783140849000&usg=AFQjCNH3ECH9EM92ShGj6-X7zzps7dkHqA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/775659570206048721/5331836000210641048#" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0MLh67MZ0oPB8ZOKVek4Iea5NrIjP0yVtSlvkoLbg402YVDs0hsGs4tUV-VEQLK6DZqNiGf5vo3u57graH6d5SO4iKJA_lm23aXgE6AWiviUxXAqa7fHS9681-2qm931-JXEphzF28A/s320/IMG-6410.JPG" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I am so happy to be a World Book Day author this year, of all years, with my £1 story </span><i style="font-family: trebuchet;">The River Whale. </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet; letter-spacing: 0.8px;">It's a dream come true for me that on this day I might have written a story that begins a life-long habit of reading for pleasure. That journey led me to becoming a writer. Who knows where that journey can take you... or Immy and Cosmo in </span><i style="font-family: trebuchet; letter-spacing: 0.8px;">The River Whale.</i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.8px;">Here's Immy diving into her imagination. </span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.8px;">Have a whale of a time diving into yours.</span></span></p></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u> </p></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/775659570206048721/5331836000210641048%23&source=gmail&ust=1614783140849000&usg=AFQjCNH3ECH9EM92ShGj6-X7zzps7dkHqA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/775659570206048721/5331836000210641048#" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSy9AOO0_Y62SyCesN_ND2jYKhq2Ts5kC5NTgpV1PQeG6gYMA-XeG7DfHwwhbhuXkft35_BzI9tQqOSIeWnTwGaIxWWmi8wwFUXMPPI4OIGdkOY0rgwNVA4WUzrGnFCJ_Qz0Y90pIGRp0/s320/IMG-6453+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Poonam Mistry's beautiful illustrations float through the pages</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="font-size: small; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The River Whale is an astonishing piece of lyrical writing; powerful and deep, it questions belonging, identity and dreams for the future. Humanity and protection of the natural world are the beating heart of Brahmachari’s stories.'</span></i></h4><i style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Author Gill Lewis</span></div></i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><u></u></p></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>Where did you get the idea to write 'The River Whale?'</b></div><div><div>In the build up to World Book Day 2021 I have met many young people through virtual events who have wanted to know the answer to the above question. Authors are often asked it, but because stories flow from so many places, there is usually more than one answer. Here are five! </div><div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>1. I thought about the kind of story I would like to read at this challenging time.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I was invited to write it especially for World Book Day. It was written in lockdown and I dreamed it up from my own imaginary dreaming top deck (in reality a tent sized writing alcove.) I thought about the kind of story I would like to read at this time if I was Immy's age in year seven of secondary school. As I wrote I too was yearning to swim free, to open windows onto a wider world. Stories have that superpower. This story is written in a combination of prose and free verse because when Immy is dreaming or diving the words go diving too and when she's awake the language goes back to the way she would normally chat to her friend Cosmo at school. Warning! You might meet some strange creatures in Immy's dreams! Poonam Mistry's beautiful illustrations float through this story taking you from dream-diving to reality. </div><div><p><b>2. Watching Sir David Attenborough's Blue Planet in Lockdown.</b></p><p>Since I was a child David Attenborough has been an inspiration to me and especially during this lockdown. His life long work inspires Immy too when she dreams of swimming into 'Blue Planet, Ocean Light.' </p><p><b>3. The characters of Immy and Cosmo wanted a new adventure.</b></p><p></p><p></p><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p>I got to know Immy (Imtiaz) well from writing <i>When Secrets Set Sail </i>(published in the summer of 2020) but some characters won't be contained within the pages of one story... and Immy's one of them! So Immy and her friend Cosmo sailed right out of one story and into another! </p><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/775659570206048721/5331836000210641048%23&source=gmail&ust=1614783140849000&usg=AFQjCNH3ECH9EM92ShGj6-X7zzps7dkHqA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/775659570206048721/5331836000210641048#" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6ZuhNWBJw6Mxp3PygUvqq6gC6ssI5IvdwImG8UaQIGpC7P3M241JZ8nEBRkeEKhSBzsrs74VTWc7yJA8KYq4X2PZuFPp6J6WF7cpWimmsJ70BoRb24Bar_dooOH8SS7lAFa4ujzikcQ/s320/Secrets+Set+Sail+Inside+Illustration.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The Dreaming Room</i> by Evan Hollingdale, Illustrator of <i>When Secrets Set Sail</i></div><b><br />4. From the dreaming room in <i>When Secrets Set Sail </i>to<i> The River Whale.</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>Immy hasn't always known how to find a dreaming room and since childhood she has found it difficult to sleep. She worries about: fitting in, what school will be like, whether she'll pass her exams and how she'll get on at school without her sister Usha by her side. But staring at her much loved whale poster (spot it on the wall at the end of her bed!) and listening to whale song or to the sea in the ear of a conch shell, helps her to sleep and when she finally drifts off she goes wild-diving with whales.</div><div><p></p><p><b>5. The real world gives me stories and a twist in the gut to write.</b></p><p>Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction. The idea for <i>The River Whale </i>came from reading this newspaper article of a whale that became disorientated and swam up the Thames. Despite the light-hearted pun of the headline the poor whale was in great danger.</p><p></p><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/775659570206048721/5331836000210641048%23&source=gmail&ust=1614783140849000&usg=AFQjCNH3ECH9EM92ShGj6-X7zzps7dkHqA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/775659570206048721/5331836000210641048#" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlgPVrfAyedg_wdY-83PndxfuE8UaXE3riZhmEmP-CH37sy2lqUpp11XgzpczrxpygJVPmHtHeOqVKDV0AT4oe3vUheYQkML45VYnL-PhDui06yMhatGt_4eVDYplARO3-hqG_0RDRL4/s320/Whale+in+the+Thames.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>I remember that day so clearly because it was surreal to think that a Humpback whale should have lost its way and be swimming into London. Scientists think this may be happening more because of changes to the ocean currents due to global warming and pollution of the seas or even sound and light pollution. While this whale was swimming towards us into the city people were going about their business as if all was well with the world. That's sometimes how it feels when we are so slow to act for the good of our planet.. like we're sleepwalking. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>5. Young people inspire me. </b></div><div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGytit2QQ7rWroO63CKur19jEhDcwiC1678SdmFz_LAOntuKVV7qcH_SKkT90ID4SplAPxEdIkTtAmRPCd3tVbvwwFsUA-mON9zcZBWxaOb0TRCT6rcvns9EN7-JtwRq4Svm29-4O9YC4/s2048/IMG-6462.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1785" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGytit2QQ7rWroO63CKur19jEhDcwiC1678SdmFz_LAOntuKVV7qcH_SKkT90ID4SplAPxEdIkTtAmRPCd3tVbvwwFsUA-mON9zcZBWxaOb0TRCT6rcvns9EN7-JtwRq4Svm29-4O9YC4/s320/IMG-6462.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>My water-borne stories </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Where the River Runs Gold</i>, <i>When Secrets Set Sail</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The River Whale</i></b></div></b><br /><p></p><p>Like Shifa and Themba in <i>Where The River Runs Gold </i> Immy and Cosmo cannot sit back and be bystanders when the things that they know need to change are takiing place before their eyes, like polluting this beautiful planet and Climate Chaos. </p><p>Just as Shifa and Themba could not live with the lies and inequalities in the near-future Kairos Lands, Immy and her friend Cosmo too have to DO something, to ACT for change. Immy dives in, in her own Immy way, to see what she can do to save the whale. </p><p>It's not every day after school that you go diving in the Thames and come face to face with a river whale. But then it's not everyday that you find the confidence to face your fears and learn exactly what you're going to do with your life. In Immy's case to become a marine biologist .. but then this is not every day! </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: large;">It's World Book Day!</span></p></div>Who knows where a book you open today might lead you. It's time to dare, dream, believe and imagine in Blue Planet, startling, sparkling light! Time to pick up the book of your dreams and step through the dreaming portholes of The Globe Window! </div><div><p>I</p><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strike style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8f3XdGE0YTg0LVrRhfa-2rAtwJ0TduadTXTxjP4ZCpAYck-MoJwe6-X-Gja0nidugSjoCIikUN7S32AQJu8gVsjQ7azfEPp0QM5r1gOygnDmFn2uhqUPzMr1y5nGjSeKawviuJhtGFv4/s320/IMG-5998.JPG" /></strike></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Happy World Book Day!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Dancing Script";">Sita x</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;">Looking forward to sharing more creative inspirations with you at our event on Friday with the wonderful Katherine Rundell and Jess French hosted by Jessie Cave. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></p><div style="font-size: small;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"></p><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLqFkBygcVQZCOEiA2AQq32n63Vy1BQkNX_bcslHLZUfbHARaDjAtnLbaeAKgppzG297dhdIWvPtvvEr2KsxOrDMEeU29f8OtP_w2AHCITap8dgPqxyjl1HjdBjW3uEBcuXKgW7e6L6M/s1200/WBD2021%252BSASL%252B-%252Bevent%252B3%252BBooks%252Band%252Bthe%252BReal%252BWorld_Twitter.jpg&source=gmail&ust=1614783140849000&usg=AFQjCNE3yIqQ8WBrP3IzXukAGRu_ZjmkPA" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLqFkBygcVQZCOEiA2AQq32n63Vy1BQkNX_bcslHLZUfbHARaDjAtnLbaeAKgppzG297dhdIWvPtvvEr2KsxOrDMEeU29f8OtP_w2AHCITap8dgPqxyjl1HjdBjW3uEBcuXKgW7e6L6M/s1200/WBD2021+SASL+-+event+3+Books+and+the+Real+World_Twitter.jpg" style="color: #1155cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLqFkBygcVQZCOEiA2AQq32n63Vy1BQkNX_bcslHLZUfbHARaDjAtnLbaeAKgppzG297dhdIWvPtvvEr2KsxOrDMEeU29f8OtP_w2AHCITap8dgPqxyjl1HjdBjW3uEBcuXKgW7e6L6M/s320/WBD2021+SASL+-+event+3+Books+and+the+Real+World_Twitter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.worldbookday.com%252Fevents%252F%26data%3D04%257C01%257CDominic.Kingston%2540hachettechildrens.co.uk%257C754e2d277df64d855f5408d8dc92f6f7%257Cf881a2c50a89483181b1c7846c49594d%257C0%257C0%257C637501871073262697%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C1000%26sdata%3D1YCKUnbbJM7Zjc%252B4NC98Ex2hXsM4SQnHtjbZEx73ZYU%253D%26reserved%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1614783140849000&usg=AFQjCNEHRRoLxOh0M4ASr15NAhtOfr5s3g" href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldbookday.com%2Fevents%2F&data=04%7C01%7CDominic.Kingston%40hachettechildrens.co.uk%7C754e2d277df64d855f5408d8dc92f6f7%7Cf881a2c50a89483181b1c7846c49594d%7C0%7C0%7C637501871073262697%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=1YCKUnbbJM7Zjc%2B4NC98Ex2hXsM4SQnHtjbZEx73ZYU%3D&reserved=0" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://www.worldbookday.com/<wbr></wbr>events/</a></div> </h2></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Huge thanks to Poonam Mistry for the beautiful illustrations that run through this story. To the </span><span style="text-align: left;">whole team at Orion Children's Books: Tig Wallace, Senior Editor and Sam Perrett, Designer who have taken such care with this story </span><span style="text-align: left;">and to Dominic Kingston and Felicity Highet for all your work in helping it swim into the world. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Thanks to my agent Sophie Gorell Barnes of MBA Literary Agents for loving this dream-time story so much and to Dominic Kingston and Felicity Highet for all your work in helping it swim into the world. </span></p><p>Enormous thanks to The World Book Day team for working so hard to make sure that every child has the chance to hold a book in their hands and to believe that their dreams can come true. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet; letter-spacing: 0.8px;">World Book Day changes lives through a love of books and shared reading. The World Book Day mission is to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income. </span></p><p>One of the many great thing about the World Book Day stories is that they introduce you to another story and author. When you've finished <i>The River Whale</i> you can start the first chapter of Amy Raphael's compelling story T<i>he Forest Moon and Sword</i>.</p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you, like Immy, want to know more about how to help clean up the rivers and oceans visit:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.authors4oceans.org/&source=gmail&ust=1614783140849000&usg=AFQjCNHUaFfpBpHZyYwGvEb0UzI7PF3GRQ" href="https://www.authors4oceans.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.authors4oceans.<wbr></wbr>org/</a> </p></div><p><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.poonam-mistry.com/&source=gmail&ust=1614783140849000&usg=AFQjCNGIAmMjO_UW6XoqkF1cqvSdU6OtyQ" href="https://www.poonam-mistry.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.poonam-mistry.com/</a></p><p><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/775659570206048721/5331836000210641048%23&source=gmail&ust=1614783140849000&usg=AFQjCNH3ECH9EM92ShGj6-X7zzps7dkHqA" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/775659570206048721/5331836000210641048#" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.amyraphael.com/</a></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;" /></p></div></div>Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-43008713979091345152020-08-02T05:54:00.014-07:002020-09-07T06:58:00.377-07:00When Secrets Set Sail - patchwork pieces to publication<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> <i>When Secrets Set Sail</i></span></h1><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>Launch <br /></i></span><span style="text-align: left;">20th August<br /></span><span style="text-align: left;">Hachette Orion</span></h3></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmYZCyt9axDQNU6OfxxnAebW2jVcfrZAbhDBIrdqvj1mN1F8-ODjm1saBVj2hzm5gXRF5HmW2WX9JZoNcbT2gYMf30Nq886HEU1-ofqKypbxvWsP2PKrRc6GxzpNZ9CFsapi5SUi82GI/s728/IMG-4655+window.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="438" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmYZCyt9axDQNU6OfxxnAebW2jVcfrZAbhDBIrdqvj1mN1F8-ODjm1saBVj2hzm5gXRF5HmW2WX9JZoNcbT2gYMf30Nq886HEU1-ofqKypbxvWsP2PKrRc6GxzpNZ9CFsapi5SUi82GI/s640/IMG-4655+window.jpg" /></a></div>You're invited to step through the Globe Window in my story.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">This window at The Children's Bookshop Muswell Hill is painted by illustrator and author Jane Ray. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #6d6c6c; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i>‘Truly unforgettable … deserves to be read and studied by all’ </i>– Onjali Q. Rauf, bestselling author of </span><i style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #6d6c6c; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">The Boy at the Back of the Class</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-family: roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">A gorgeously timely story of heritage and belonging and ghostly voices that won’t rest until their secrets are uncovered – it had me mesmerised!’ </span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Jasbinder Bilan, Costa award winning author)</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">'A wonderful, big-hearted story that shows how history connects with the present. Multi-layered, it upholds rights to identity, justice, equality and community.'</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">(Nicky Parker, Publisher, Amnesty UK)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="font-family: roboto, robotodraft, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span><br /></span><span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: 0.48px; text-align: left;">When Secrets Set Sail</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.48px; text-align: left;"> is a scintillating adventure and a superb introduction to complex historical themes. (Waterstones says...)<br /><br /><p style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: normal;">'So much of our time and yet for all time. Sita weaves such magic in her writing. I absolutely loved it. 'When Secrets Set Sail' will be super for stimulating oral histories. It will be a gorgeous stimulus for looking at buildings, places and the history they can hold and unlock across generations.' Kate Agnew </p></span></span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><i><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"></span></i><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">'Beautifully structured, magically told, this story reflects our times as different groups demand to be heard with equal merit in our society.' </span><span style="background-color: white;"> Miriam Halahmy (Award Winning Author)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgQ_VTO9n1hl7p0x-9aSIsqRhQZJ_qrPap1J8hbBj-olSP7sAXP0vRuFoOsvPTQQnxDNnBd_n4s0qQEDw6gZSiKvhYIgFGvrwrvi7rLuYkzPq9OHju64K-K3GDHgIRI4Gv62JwxwXD0g/s1600/Ayah+and+Conch.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgQ_VTO9n1hl7p0x-9aSIsqRhQZJ_qrPap1J8hbBj-olSP7sAXP0vRuFoOsvPTQQnxDNnBd_n4s0qQEDw6gZSiKvhYIgFGvrwrvi7rLuYkzPq9OHju64K-K3GDHgIRI4Gv62JwxwXD0g/s640/Ayah+and+Conch.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">My childhood doll, conch shell and notebook on the steps of Ayahs' Home, Hackney. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">(Photo credit Farzanah Mamoojee)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: small;">Photo 1962 On arrival to work in NHS with fellow doctors. Illustration by Jane Ray from 'Gift of Time' in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: small;"> 'Book Of Hopes' Ed. Katherine Rundell </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">The dedication for this story is to my parents and their tireless work in the NHS.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>Diary to publication....</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span face=""><span face=""><span face=""><span face=""><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">In the lead up to the launch and publication day on 20th August I discussed the historical background to the story at a Webinar with </span></span></span></span><span face="" style="color: #222222;">Farhanah Mamoojee @ayahshome and Natasha Junejo founder of </span><span face="" style="color: #14171a;"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SouthAsianWriters&src=hashtag_click"><span style="color: #1b95e0;">#SouthAsianWriters</span></a> </span><span face=""><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">.</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span face="" style="color: #222222;">The conversation explored the journey from fact
to fiction </span><span face="" style="color: #222222;">followed by a Q&A, fielding
questions via twitter. Thank you to South Asian Heritage Month for hosting this event. </span><span face="" style="color: #14171a;"> </span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Look out for a<b> </b>Book Trust Blog about readers setting sail on their own local histories and research journeys during the summer holidays. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">I hope that this book will be a catalyst for young people to explore their own histories and untold stories and a generator of new diverse voices. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">Libraries and librarians are an important part of my character's Imtiaz and Usha's adventure and I'm looking forward to engaging with libraries around this story with the fantastic resources being created by Felicity Highet at Hachette.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0.48px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHsZYNd0zLBO3b9oMp1hw1TOfx0g2j5zpA2I-LsWskJRf71GpkvUKn32BGTwggJvoMkCxjHvrpbmOdS5L0BL02YZG4l_uqUefaPoIPkdM4Ajnn1YNwViFpZVssSZBj32ZU8xvlDMLk6U/s1024/Ayahs+home+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHsZYNd0zLBO3b9oMp1hw1TOfx0g2j5zpA2I-LsWskJRf71GpkvUKn32BGTwggJvoMkCxjHvrpbmOdS5L0BL02YZG4l_uqUefaPoIPkdM4Ajnn1YNwViFpZVssSZBj32ZU8xvlDMLk6U/s640/Ayahs+home+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0.48px; text-align: left;">On the steps of Ayah's Home, Hackney with Farhanah Mamoojee @ayahshome </span></div><div style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">(Photo credit Farzanah Mamoojee)</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0.48px;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">Resource:</span></h4><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">For families, libraries and school projects. Discover your own local/ global histories with this</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">downloadable #WSSSBluePlaque resource available from The Reading Agency:</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0.48px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><a href="https://readingagency.org.uk/resources/4567/#:~:text=When%20Secrets%20Set%20Sail%20is,order%20to%20save%20their%20home.">https://readingagency.org.uk/resources/4567/#:~:text=When%20Secrets%20Set%20Sail%20is,order%20to%20save%20their%20home.</a><br /></span></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><i>Thank you...</i></span></h3></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Sincere thanks to the inspiring author Rozina Visram whose lifelong research into the Ayah's Home and South Asian people in Britain I credit in my book. To Natasha Junejo at #Southasianwriters and Farhanah Mamoojee @ayahshome and Sanchita Basu De Sarkar and team at Children's Bookshop Muswell Hill and for Jane Ray for painting the beautiful launch window. For Amnesty International for endorsing this book. The Book Trust and The Reading Agency. ( There are many more friends and family thanked in the acknowledgement of the book)</span></span></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">With huge thanks to my agent Sophie Gorell Barnes </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">of MBA Literary Agents and the whole wonderful creative team at Orion in particular my editor Tig Wallace and desk editor Ruth Girmatsion, Designer Samuel Perrett Publicist Dominic Kingston and Marketing Felicity Highet. To Sam Swinnerton for our early brainstorming. So many thanks to Sarah Lambert, Ruth Alltimes, Emily Finn, Hannah Cawse, Helen Hughes, Rachel Boden, Tracy Phillips, Annabel El-Kerm, Eshara Wijetunge. It matters that you're all named... and placed in the story of the making of this book.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">Finally thank you to illustrator Evan Hollingdale for creating this beautiful top deck of the ship house... the perfect launch pad for the imagination to roam.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmSd9QlNHaa29fKppH4Xsd5UQXNVai7ABnhbLKgcLdUocV0TMztXce8EHsxBOdrUHXCjdBs9p-MXGu8vHGzxHOXs9_80JiQmzdN0HDDDZZNAXlQ0zNujfZaoulwOnIgtsG9nnPC5m5RQ/s2048/Secrets+Set+Sail+Inside+Illustration.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmSd9QlNHaa29fKppH4Xsd5UQXNVai7ABnhbLKgcLdUocV0TMztXce8EHsxBOdrUHXCjdBs9p-MXGu8vHGzxHOXs9_80JiQmzdN0HDDDZZNAXlQ0zNujfZaoulwOnIgtsG9nnPC5m5RQ/s640/Secrets+Set+Sail+Inside+Illustration.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><h2><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><i>Happy Dreaming ...</i></span></h2><h2><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><i>When Secrets Set Sail</i></span></h2><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Available in paperback, kindle and audiobook </span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><i>The first signed</i> copies at:</span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.childrensbookshoplondon.com/"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">https://www.childrensbookshoplondon.com/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span><br /></span>
<a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/when-secrets-set-sail/sita-brahmachari//9781510105430"><span>https://www.waterstones.com/book/when-secrets-set-sail/sita-brahmachari//978151105430</span></a></span></td></tr>
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-23416521279716650582020-06-14T08:37:00.002-07:002020-06-15T02:05:33.780-07:00Lockdown readings from Sita and Billie in #Refugeeweek2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH23xLgqlFYERK_GUDxajXkgWhKH3FNem1-SggdjzUqCaorI8VY7_S6SW2UAWTKH3AXLsEGqENZRLCRwSV5W9E6jOg_m1vc9vZQ6MEuZUUeh3X3U1Ovuu7YTtlkC4HuZDNSSEUvpLhGvU/s1600/Refugee+week+Billie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH23xLgqlFYERK_GUDxajXkgWhKH3FNem1-SggdjzUqCaorI8VY7_S6SW2UAWTKH3AXLsEGqENZRLCRwSV5W9E6jOg_m1vc9vZQ6MEuZUUeh3X3U1Ovuu7YTtlkC4HuZDNSSEUvpLhGvU/s320/Refugee+week+Billie.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready for storytime in #Refugeeweek2020<br />
Thanks for the serious hand from my film crew (Steady iphone cam - daughter and a patient companion here!)</td></tr>
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In #RefugeeWeek many children's and Young Adult authors who have written into the experiences of child refugees past and present, would be in schools or libraries reading and talking about their work.<br />
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In lockdown I have decided a read short extract from one of the refugee children or adult characters in my stories each day. I'm doing this in the knowledge that teachers, parents and carers home schooling children may be looking for opportunities to discover alternative stories to those they may hear in the news.<br />
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Last week was Empathy Day and many children's authors talked about the power of deep listening and the importance of facing rather than shying away from events in the real world, and that fiction provides us with a way of nagivating the world, and of growing empathy for our fellow humans.<br />
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The wonderful activist and author of 'Boy At The Back Of The Class' Onjali Q Rauf and i spoke about the power of reading stories to grow empathy and putting it in action. I'm missing the energy of meeting readers so I thought to read from refugee characters in my stories. You'll find a new one each morning on twitter..<br />
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If you enjoy them I ask you to use this as an opportunity to discover how to support groups in your area and I hope these discoveries might even lead you to see how you might help in your school or community.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I offer you..</span>.. my storytime schedule each morning on twitter and a few surprises thrown in:<br />
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<b>Monday</b> - From Baba Suli the beekeeper in 'Where The River Runs Gold (Hachette Children's Books) whose knowledge may save food production in the world.<br />
Resource:<br />
<a href="https://www.hachetteschools.co.uk/hachette-schools-resources/hachetteschools-resources-key-stage-2/2019/07/08/where-the-river-runs-gold-teaching-resources/">https://www.hachetteschools.co.uk/hachette-schools-resources/hachetteschools-resources-key-stage-2/2019/07/08/where-the-river-runs-gold-teaching-resources/</a><br />
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<b>Tuesday </b>- From the short story Amir and George - where the ghost of George Orwell comes to hear Amir speak. ( In ' A country to Call Home' Ed. Lucy Propescu , Unbound - an anthology of writing by Young adult writers First published in 'I'll be Home for Christmas.<br />
Resource:<br />
<a href="https://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/video-clips/ks3-language-laboratory-the-power-of-voice">https://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/video-clips/ks3-language-laboratory-the-power-of-voice</a><br />
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<b>Wednesday</b> - Readings for younger readers Years 2 and Upwards from 'Worry Angels' (Barrington Stoke) and short story ' Rabina's Robin' from ' One snowy night' ( Stripes)<br />
Resources:<br />
<a href="https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Worry-Angels.pdf">https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Worry-Angels.pdf</a><br />
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Animation: <a href="http://www.minervareads.com/tag/manning-grace-emily/">http://www.minervareads.com/tag/manning-grace-emily/</a><br />
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<b>Thursday </b>- Bubbe Dara - a Kindertransport refugee reflects on the treatment of child refugees today.<br />
'Tender Earth' - Macmillan Children's Books - endorsed by Amnesty UK and IBBY.<br />
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<b>Friday </b>- Aisha, a Somali Refugee survivor wishes people could understand what she's been through. Set in an ancient city wood 'Red Leaves' ( Macmillan Children's Books- endorsed by Amnesty UK Resources:<br />
<a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/resources/book-and-activities-red-leaves">https://www.amnesty.org.uk/resources/book-and-activities-red-leaves</a>)<br />
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<a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/stories-and-rights/sita-brahmachari-home-homelessness-identity-and-belief">https://www.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/stories-and-rights/sita-brahmachari-home-homelessness-identity-and-belief</a><br />
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<b>Saturday</b> - Back to my beginning as a novelist. Jide Jackson tells his story of loss during the Rwandan genocide in 'Artichoke Hearts' (Macmillan Children's Books)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My ask of you...</span></b><br />
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In return I ask you to explore these links to a few examples of Refugee Charities whose work makes such a difference to the lives of refugee people and see if and how you can affect change.<br />
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<a href="https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/">https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/</a><br />
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This centre is where the wonderful illustrator and author Jane Ray and I run an art and writing class. Currently resources are being sent through the post - you can find out more on the video from actress Juliet Stevenson and discover the beautiful poems and art by members of the group on on the website now.<br />
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<a href="https://youngroots.org.uk/">https://youngroots.org.uk/</a><br />
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<a href="https://makingherstory.org.uk/">https://makingherstory.org.uk/</a><br />
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<a href="https://counterpointsarts.org.uk/">https://counterpointsarts.org.uk/</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.safepassage.org.uk/">https://www.safepassage.org.uk/</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=book+aid+international&oq=bookaidinternational&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l7.6637j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">https://www.google.com/search?q=book+aid+international&oq=bookaidinternational&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l7.6637j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8</a><br />
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Find out about...#FamiliesTogether<br />
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And at this time when we are all missing seeing and connecting to our families - find out more about the #FamiliesTogether campaign supported by a coalition of refugee organisations.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/2018-02/Families%20Together%20toolkit%20for%20youths.pdf?S6WQM__GXdKwEvaM0VQWXsoN9dXriJQd=">https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/2018-02/Families%20Together%20toolkit%20for%20youths.pdf?S6WQM__GXdKwEvaM0VQWXsoN9dXriJQd=</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/families-together">https://www.amnesty.org.uk/families-together</a><br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-43586310637952288762020-02-08T11:34:00.000-08:002020-02-23T08:33:19.716-08:00'Where The River Runs Gold' - a forest of creative responses <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Since publication of <i>Where The River Runs Gold</i> in July 2019 I have been overwhelmed by the creativity that it's brought forth. From the beautiful window displays by Waterstones stores <span style="text-align: left;">to the incredible creations by students, librarians and teachers at festivals and in classrooms. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"> I have been asked to put together a sample pallette of activity inspired by the book.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="661" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw31bV8Hnn90FO8_rkAIun6x7HkXQPAw1bpnHbovJptbvDRf3BCevDOuoWHh4QlN8Dgf2nrLpq49OBhGdcvqSxmZkopQJPyJc4OvWMYhEgXp6uJhGQhOq29suNeZC82rL9DkrietGmG48/s320/waterstones+window.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="206" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trafalgar Square window boxes July 2019</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw31bV8Hnn90FO8_rkAIun6x7HkXQPAw1bpnHbovJptbvDRf3BCevDOuoWHh4QlN8Dgf2nrLpq49OBhGdcvqSxmZkopQJPyJc4OvWMYhEgXp6uJhGQhOq29suNeZC82rL9DkrietGmG48/s1600/waterstones+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw31bV8Hnn90FO8_rkAIun6x7HkXQPAw1bpnHbovJptbvDRf3BCevDOuoWHh4QlN8Dgf2nrLpq49OBhGdcvqSxmZkopQJPyJc4OvWMYhEgXp6uJhGQhOq29suNeZC82rL9DkrietGmG48/s1600/waterstones+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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I hope this selection of creative responses inspires readers and to feel empowered to make a difference to improving their own environments.</div>
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Shifa and Themba, the brave, bold and true young protagonists of my story, are right there with you. Warning! Once you enter the story hive the creative potential for reading, writing and art for pleasure are endless and can be far-reaching...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vlLmuIk3Ib29m9HMynn3ZnH_5Q7ehR3g2ffjX8mog7T5etuJgHREf91ruDiowEBrpxDz3v-LJtgPvocTYoSukGPtWWxg7KJis0dUynFuH_7gy97v-4oHfTtW6QWrzsSikO_S9YBd6EE/s1600/children.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vlLmuIk3Ib29m9HMynn3ZnH_5Q7ehR3g2ffjX8mog7T5etuJgHREf91ruDiowEBrpxDz3v-LJtgPvocTYoSukGPtWWxg7KJis0dUynFuH_7gy97v-4oHfTtW6QWrzsSikO_S9YBd6EE/s320/children.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Actions so far....</div>
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Bee hives set up</div>
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Banners made</div>
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School Environmental Manifestos drawn up</div>
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Seeds scattered in window boxes, gardens, allotments, railtracks, unused land and meadows </div>
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Seed packets made and used daily</div>
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For every Graffitree created in school a tree has been planted. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwx3_Im45VNzqJ1TzxtLfGjCUfxBFPBonqU2OuHvmUy75cFvH4Gf7gsBVDqiNmbj58GhYGHHNYmBKFyEbnYdmWCguylW4Sr7kFevpytzy5DvM6K8Rc9dujlTuj66p44I34N22AJUtOST0/s1600/waterstones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="643" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwx3_Im45VNzqJ1TzxtLfGjCUfxBFPBonqU2OuHvmUy75cFvH4Gf7gsBVDqiNmbj58GhYGHHNYmBKFyEbnYdmWCguylW4Sr7kFevpytzy5DvM6K8Rc9dujlTuj66p44I34N22AJUtOST0/s320/waterstones.jpg" width="128" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A hand painted tree by Waterstones artist</td></tr>
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<b>Seed Packet making</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGfGRrFVKsypl2WbotFyZoiS5xEnhQX_1OfHG8Un0R9ZFifrYA-fFaEP5n1qxyks0-J7o3B3uT6CG7Le5SBKB8qjhh1OPEtMV-6VJcujSxUbfN-iWKLTGU4YhuLUXd8PzrF6VqUw0flo/s1600/seed+enveolope.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGfGRrFVKsypl2WbotFyZoiS5xEnhQX_1OfHG8Un0R9ZFifrYA-fFaEP5n1qxyks0-J7o3B3uT6CG7Le5SBKB8qjhh1OPEtMV-6VJcujSxUbfN-iWKLTGU4YhuLUXd8PzrF6VqUw0flo/s320/seed+enveolope.JPG" width="240" /></a></b></div>
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'What Shifa loved most about the path between the warehouse and the Orbitol Bridge was that the street clearers could never keep speed with the pace at which the weeds and wildflowers grew between the cracks. There was always traces of green shoots growing among the crumbling buildings.'</div>
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Page 23 <i>Where The River Runs Gold</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxcf8VEo6a6lGXkX5v_f8tc-LS6U5BKywPKBt5ZoeIg7dpmM0C73y3e59z63AfdYwp5W0NhMgGDPqdQ3UOR6594vBJ0Vump-PrB29172wd5MIVMQlO0SaXu35QqEOZSADoc3gNvcmwfQ/s1600/hands+of+Brent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxcf8VEo6a6lGXkX5v_f8tc-LS6U5BKywPKBt5ZoeIg7dpmM0C73y3e59z63AfdYwp5W0NhMgGDPqdQ3UOR6594vBJ0Vump-PrB29172wd5MIVMQlO0SaXu35QqEOZSADoc3gNvcmwfQ/s320/hands+of+Brent.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Origami seed packet making is catching on.... these decorated with scenes from the story</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LBrnVZntUCmTTx_Q1qLVMlsZrXoHkfTeCpncfjr03S9kIImIbbgShMqft0E-SAG9cbZU7nuRRJjsnd2C9l1eJ2pTzz1ufQFw51b6IfNALwnCW9DELN1F9vtqKSJT443h-A82xiS2nYQ/s1600/seedpacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LBrnVZntUCmTTx_Q1qLVMlsZrXoHkfTeCpncfjr03S9kIImIbbgShMqft0E-SAG9cbZU7nuRRJjsnd2C9l1eJ2pTzz1ufQFw51b6IfNALwnCW9DELN1F9vtqKSJT443h-A82xiS2nYQ/s320/seedpacket.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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'From one random page she'd learned how to make a flower shaped origami envelope out of scraps of paper, When she squeezed the top the flower head opened like a mouth allowing her to place her precious seed finds inside.' </div>
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Page 57 <i>Where The River Runs Gold</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65CjtGK2U9jXoV5XxanYCCD_APzu-y6wJRw85DWojrDBLSLLgfO5iWdg0o4phHRooNBhfOWUJzDMH0jfnztu3uOGp7R5MYOegAkH9iHyJ8am8D5mf6_AYSERqOBm35IdFpkCFsIZEX0E/s1600/seed+art+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65CjtGK2U9jXoV5XxanYCCD_APzu-y6wJRw85DWojrDBLSLLgfO5iWdg0o4phHRooNBhfOWUJzDMH0jfnztu3uOGp7R5MYOegAkH9iHyJ8am8D5mf6_AYSERqOBm35IdFpkCFsIZEX0E/s320/seed+art+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Graffitree Art</b></div>
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Trees are springing up everywhere ... I'm hoping to collect them together to form the</div>
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<i>Where The River Runs Gold </i>Graffitree Forest.</div>
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'Shifa thought she understood why the artists took the risk of breaking ARK Law. These trees took up space and could be enjoyed by everyone. Except for the private parks and gardens of the paragons where her papa worked, it was ARK policy that all other land in Kairos City be turned into housing compounds or Freedom Fields allotments to grow food.'</div>
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Page 20 <i>Where The River Runs Gold</i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXuZaw6cPJJ0GRrs_-NvDpeFU7iyMzCBOFGF7_-EEgDhCGzZlvrqVGOCp-DEy2BZNiWK_S8LvZ30mAB_s3tVg0skbZ5eb3vn_ysmb8ZH52ujg9xbXxFK-iT33o8QPVGELy1ULRwwqN1k/s1600/Beck+school+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXuZaw6cPJJ0GRrs_-NvDpeFU7iyMzCBOFGF7_-EEgDhCGzZlvrqVGOCp-DEy2BZNiWK_S8LvZ30mAB_s3tVg0skbZ5eb3vn_ysmb8ZH52ujg9xbXxFK-iT33o8QPVGELy1ULRwwqN1k/s320/Beck+school+tree.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amy Willoughby from Beck school Sheffield with the first ever school Graffitree</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH88WDHW4nx-sZhCC81wCjha5lZ8c_HZVNS74nYrbUJMzDTw8snqZvjuFR42Md0DhS1SHZhgJPnk8Nu0qPCI81EtbLA0dTKBKpNDn_IU-BBVY3Fg-ZpZyGTNt6ffovsFaHcEGB1-mPzJI/s1600/envornmental+hands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH88WDHW4nx-sZhCC81wCjha5lZ8c_HZVNS74nYrbUJMzDTw8snqZvjuFR42Md0DhS1SHZhgJPnk8Nu0qPCI81EtbLA0dTKBKpNDn_IU-BBVY3Fg-ZpZyGTNt6ffovsFaHcEGB1-mPzJI/s320/envornmental+hands.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empatree hands... children reaching out to the natural world</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuIxh_zwJE7W7sz8xCoB7MIjqSPFAKy8jxxFxPZzSMPD1G19P5aDSew9xhxsg2_txnX_XuWVsRjOBbYfER_uz7yDPrr6L_WMVSdTcERyA3mucyhGGzjcr7PUnBrc7Y8OhsYPfy-cu0rY/s1600/Jane+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuIxh_zwJE7W7sz8xCoB7MIjqSPFAKy8jxxFxPZzSMPD1G19P5aDSew9xhxsg2_txnX_XuWVsRjOBbYfER_uz7yDPrr6L_WMVSdTcERyA3mucyhGGzjcr7PUnBrc7Y8OhsYPfy-cu0rY/s320/Jane+tree.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jane Ray touring Graffitree first outing at Imagine Festival 2020</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IIe3ZGtbDHO_8VnlVSxw6zkSY6YtGY04YwB3280GqvWTwbAEb8gdZNs1rkOgtE589xKUyG-w_cyWycu5HrewJr7DcR_JN7d6N4HhUWfvkuWVDn82jueWMWskc7ZLINlPOUZ-8fRM9ik/s1600/Little+Green+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IIe3ZGtbDHO_8VnlVSxw6zkSY6YtGY04YwB3280GqvWTwbAEb8gdZNs1rkOgtE589xKUyG-w_cyWycu5HrewJr7DcR_JN7d6N4HhUWfvkuWVDn82jueWMWskc7ZLINlPOUZ-8fRM9ik/s320/Little+Green+school.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Little Green School, Buckinghamshire</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV0NuNMvO5mgJd-Oe-zdvVx3gU0jivjiL_XouRtuEptcQfu-Reiq3vvp6DakjmPlQy_VxySweOViKA5lqAUg0wePYcjxTtxc36SoyySNxCYgO5bfaNXqKJyROURG1q_tKMmmLT-f6j_4/s1600/Graffitree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV0NuNMvO5mgJd-Oe-zdvVx3gU0jivjiL_XouRtuEptcQfu-Reiq3vvp6DakjmPlQy_VxySweOViKA5lqAUg0wePYcjxTtxc36SoyySNxCYgO5bfaNXqKJyROURG1q_tKMmmLT-f6j_4/s320/Graffitree.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful golden river by Krishna in Wood Green, London</td></tr>
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Shifa had heard about an underground movement of artists breaking ARK Law by painting trees, flowers, plants and bees on walls all over the city.' </div>
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Page 19 <i>Where The River Runs Gold</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxZEzw6F3iKX9FVJj0Zd677m2XF6Ks6yXZ8AO3cFWIr5zF5J2q73DcfvgrREUJhAY3VSJgRd9x_3xP2KnaFWaBJswjE8g-VlHrTx8sarz0XTzNa3OfLmGbAMcGnlUY0rf8wOI3AC3nBs/s1600/street+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="666" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxZEzw6F3iKX9FVJj0Zd677m2XF6Ks6yXZ8AO3cFWIr5zF5J2q73DcfvgrREUJhAY3VSJgRd9x_3xP2KnaFWaBJswjE8g-VlHrTx8sarz0XTzNa3OfLmGbAMcGnlUY0rf8wOI3AC3nBs/s320/street+art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Banner Making</b></div>
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'Nabil and Lottie dropped a rainbow-coloured sheet over the ledge; on it, in deep blue paint, were written four enormous words.</div>
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DARE</div>
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DREAM</div>
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BELIEVE</div>
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IMAGINE </div>
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Pg 94 'Where The River Runs Gold' </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6xny8cu7W84mDGrDUvTIw6CnzpNPesYAZO3_IJ0YQxI2xknvizdOzGwwJHA-CUa7h3PzyUzrGeCFA3r0SIfoD9ZVef_DN52vPx_PT_dO6z5RL7FDn7auPE_IyKfnsv894ENX4S08zoE/s1600/banner+2+bee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6xny8cu7W84mDGrDUvTIw6CnzpNPesYAZO3_IJ0YQxI2xknvizdOzGwwJHA-CUa7h3PzyUzrGeCFA3r0SIfoD9ZVef_DN52vPx_PT_dO6z5RL7FDn7auPE_IyKfnsv894ENX4S08zoE/s400/banner+2+bee.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banner inspired by Where The River Runs Gold made by Friday for Future protesters.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPkvWXUMD7k5jVOz7XDXB6R9PT8iGDzEZzwvWSorJ3WrNZhLKQzEVoKmLCZd6aJvymBxMBjyr5YZF3kyqbGeScWE39a1r-jaqG729htrwxRgcwKCoddWYDr8-xXrCJt4tPccWKuNk1-4/s1600/climate+change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1425" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPkvWXUMD7k5jVOz7XDXB6R9PT8iGDzEZzwvWSorJ3WrNZhLKQzEVoKmLCZd6aJvymBxMBjyr5YZF3kyqbGeScWE39a1r-jaqG729htrwxRgcwKCoddWYDr8-xXrCJt4tPccWKuNk1-4/s320/climate+change.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Banner making.... The first banner was created by Friday For Futures Campaigners and since then many banners have been made, some of which have been carried on marches by young people and others displayed in schools. Students respond powerfully to the urgency of the environmental call for action in the book as in the real world they are inspired by the bravery of young activists like Greta Thunberg and Maya Rose Craig in villages, towns and cities all around the globe. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4gJy29qnEyfAWvV4c_fVBFDRdoaPXrn5VlYNOeDWYGbNmxCBooMInHER3D-RGaHVjhbfwFTImNEfBd4MIIAYejW3-Rg0y_z9dkVSzqNAISah4ojbQcL1dICqaa8yvat0RckQjMjGCjA/s1600/DntAhKeWkAIgWTe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4gJy29qnEyfAWvV4c_fVBFDRdoaPXrn5VlYNOeDWYGbNmxCBooMInHER3D-RGaHVjhbfwFTImNEfBd4MIIAYejW3-Rg0y_z9dkVSzqNAISah4ojbQcL1dICqaa8yvat0RckQjMjGCjA/s320/DntAhKeWkAIgWTe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful banner spied on The People's Walk for Wildlife 2019</td></tr>
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<b>Story Hive building</b></div>
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Shifa and Themba escape some of the harsh realities of their world by creating a safe storytelling haven. Students have started creating such spaces in classrooms and around the school inspired by their own beautiful imagined landscapes from stories or their own lives.<br />
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'Here they had read contraband pages that they had discovered in unlikely places around the city, and with these finds their story hive had expanded into wild deserts, alien planets, raging rivers, bird and butterfly aviaries, the tallest snow capped mountain ranges and the sweetest flowering meadows - a world away from the rules and regulations of Freedom Fields.'<br />
Pg 57 <i>Where The River Runs Gold</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq6_VpJlUDK_oXApgcZbqEZQ6W8z5oVIyEq38zw0W0rCSGZvcQGrWENTNi6glijR0N4BSXUx0hkTdT-c_uZMkvr-b3uSF7AIR2lz_A8XmkogGxJa3BfAaZE2qHLypAFVTKjLGS0YLCUE/s1600/necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1549" data-original-width="1546" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq6_VpJlUDK_oXApgcZbqEZQ6W8z5oVIyEq38zw0W0rCSGZvcQGrWENTNi6glijR0N4BSXUx0hkTdT-c_uZMkvr-b3uSF7AIR2lz_A8XmkogGxJa3BfAaZE2qHLypAFVTKjLGS0YLCUE/s200/necklace.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A necklace depicting the 'Hare in the Moon' story. The allegory told to them by their father that keeps Shifa and Themba strong throughout their perilous journey<br />
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It's been a real joy to see Story hives being created to inspire creative writing of new allegories based on the natural world.<br />
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<b>Creating a secret language/ signs</b></div>
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A skep is a small hand woven bee hive.... </div>
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In <i>Where The River Runs Gold</i> Shifa and Themba and other 'Outlanders' make the 'skep-heart' signal as part of a secret language. Readers have enjoyed inventing their own secret languages. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making the skep-heart sign of environmental protection</td></tr>
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Enjoy creating and storytelling.... in the storytelling hive. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sita</span> X</div>
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Resources:</div>
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Shapes4Schools:</div>
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<a href="https://www.hachetteschools.co.uk/hachette-schools-resources/hachetteschools-resources-key-stage-2/2019/07/08/where-the-river-runs-gold-teaching-resources/">https://www.hachetteschools.co.uk/hachette-schools-resources/hachetteschools-resources-key-stage-2/2019/07/08/where-the-river-runs-gold-teaching-resources/</a></div>
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<i>Where The River Runs Gold</i>:<br />
Longlisted for Blue Peter Book Award<br />
Nominated for Carnegie<br />
Waterstones Book of the Month ( July)<br />
Times Book of the Week<br />
<a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/childrens-book-of-the-week-where-the-river-runs-gold-by-sita-brahmachari-8q0kslsn9">https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/childrens-book-of-the-week-where-the-river-runs-gold-by-sita-brahmachari-8q0kslsn9</a><br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-84443053773017015392019-11-17T10:21:00.000-08:002020-02-23T08:28:27.552-08:00Where does the river run gold for children's rights?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: left;">In this the thirtieth anniversary year of the declaration of the Rights of The Child, I have been thinking of how central an exploration of children's rights has been to my writing journey over the past decade or so. </span></div>
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My Rites of Passage stories have one thread in common, they all explore the journeys and struggles of children and young people with diverse diaspora roots as they navigate our world. It's a search that, against the backdrop of politics today can sometimes feel like an odyssey I share with many children and YA novelists.... a seeking for commonality, empathy, fairness and humanity and doing this through the eyes and sensibility of the young ... for them.. can feel deeply charged...even urgent. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A decade of stories and contributions to YA anthologies that have grown from our times</td></tr>
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From beginning writing my first novel for young people over a decade ago, my stories have not turned away from the larger struggles we face in the world today, like racial and religious intolerance, mental health, grief, poverty inequality, homelessness, the treatment of refugee people and environmental complacency.<br />
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I have not explored these stories through the eyes of children because I set out to tackle 'issues' but because in beginning each new story I discover child characters I want to journey with... young voices whose vision and realities are struggling to be heard.<br />
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<b>A lot has changed for children's rights in the decade or so that these three stories span.</b><br />
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It was a beautiful moment for me to discover the journey-thread for Jide Jackson, from his desperate plight in the Rwandan Genocide in 'Artichoke Hearts' (2011) to his becoming a trainee doctor, re-visiting the land of his birth family in my later book 'Tender Earth' (2018).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artichoke Hearts, Jasmine Skies, Tender Earth ( Published by Macmillan Children's Books)</td></tr>
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When I began writing 'Artichoke Hearts' the politics of the world did not intrude too deeply on the Levenson family to the extent they do in my more recent novels. Rightly or wrongly, the Levenson parents wished, and were more or less able, to shield Mira and Krish and their new baby Laila from having to learn about some of the more brutal events in world history ' before they were ready'. But they were protecting their children from a story that their fellow class mate was facing.<br />
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In 'Jasmine Skies', as Mira travels to India her activist eyes are opened and the novel that completes this book-family 'Tender Earth' sees Janu, a young man who runs an orphanage in Kolkata returning to a London in which the inequality, homelessness and racism are shockingly present. Laila (the baby in 'Artichoke Hearts') becomes the narrator in 'Tender Earth' and she must navigate her story through a time in which the disruptions of the world are mirrored in her own classmates and community. She finds she cannot stand by and see hatred and discrimination grow. The racist attack that Janu experiences, or the defiling of Bubbe Dara's husband's grave with swastikas is tragically, no act of the imagination.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcC2AvycxVpLUSoTDv3UltMIf6Ok-zzr1fqKX0MKxXKCjl8scxekrleETqwA5y6N2A1F522hyphenhyphenBHK6MKNldU9CwHAsPQCMPnEy5zgiA7n3KcfwvIBjzqZHFyxPIX2LSL5yfmcOwaCYh4pI/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcC2AvycxVpLUSoTDv3UltMIf6Ok-zzr1fqKX0MKxXKCjl8scxekrleETqwA5y6N2A1F522hyphenhyphenBHK6MKNldU9CwHAsPQCMPnEy5zgiA7n3KcfwvIBjzqZHFyxPIX2LSL5yfmcOwaCYh4pI/s320/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children must find a way to grow from these tender times<br />
'Tender Earth' ( Macmillan Children's Books) </td></tr>
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A 'Tender Earth' it is for Pari, the child of Iraqi refugee parents who must every day experience the racist abuse in her substandard housing conditions (written pre-Grenfell tragedy but all too poignant now). The inequalities deepen as Pari is too proud to tell her new best friend, Laila, that she is hungry at school. In writing scenes in this book I wanted to speak to Pari and say 'it is not you who should feel ashamed.'<br />
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I am often asked where all these stories have come from... and keep coming from! It's simple... it's children who inspire me...and a deep wish to see their rights protected and respected. As the ghost of George Orwell says when I imagined him showing up to hear the story of a refugee child, notebook in hand 'Speak Amir, I came to hear you speak.' ('Amir and George', Stripes. I'll be Home for Christmas).<br />
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In 'Red Leaves' Iona, a homeless girl from Scotland has been abandoned on the streets of London and her rights are really only protected through the random kindness of a Sikh family-'The Kalsis' who attempt to guide her and offer comfort and shelter. These children, holding diaspora journeys from Somalia, America, Scotland and London... meet in ancient woods that have historically protected them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCrzhnPPIW66ingfbOXOz9r5bozG_bq5F8wskz6ts2IQHCuwq01YFMloLAAYC7DTdqPWdnDI9UAHcmq8blF90Nf0Ai1kXvayrUd9l_chl4nHdtTqP1jW3E7FXb-xqxObfIaJaIMJ-lt4/s1600/red+leaves+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="563" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCrzhnPPIW66ingfbOXOz9r5bozG_bq5F8wskz6ts2IQHCuwq01YFMloLAAYC7DTdqPWdnDI9UAHcmq8blF90Nf0Ai1kXvayrUd9l_chl4nHdtTqP1jW3E7FXb-xqxObfIaJaIMJ-lt4/s320/red+leaves+cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Leaves ( Endorsed by Amnesty) Published by Macmillan Children's Books</td></tr>
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<b>The rights of children.... holding courage keys to the story hive!</b><br />
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In writing my latest novel 'Where The River Runs Gold' (Orion) I asked myself where does the river run gold for children's rights? What kind of society can we build in which the rights of the child are truly honoured and protected. I have imagined a near future world in which environmental damage has brought forward a crisis in food production, leading to the decimation of bees, pollinators, tree and plant life..... and of course into this world children are born. Greta Thunberg is such a bright beacon in our times and, like Greta, my young characters Shifa and Themba must fight for their rights to be protected. In my story The Emergency Ark Government has suspended the laws to deal with the immediate climate and food production crisis.... and as a result the children must trust in the promises of leaders. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPotwqhtYIvx6lmxoowexeczdBNdFZClR1YCUkbRntVMedA2DEQ0rEuw67cOFJgdbdEcdUeICE4tPPiVw8IWCDJU0N-wO4sF4_ZQcSBubcew7147Eycyu2hEHhAV8vLsuZKsDvib76K6Q/s1600/daisy+book.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPotwqhtYIvx6lmxoowexeczdBNdFZClR1YCUkbRntVMedA2DEQ0rEuw67cOFJgdbdEcdUeICE4tPPiVw8IWCDJU0N-wO4sF4_ZQcSBubcew7147Eycyu2hEHhAV8vLsuZKsDvib76K6Q/s320/daisy+book.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where The River Runs Gold ( Published by Orion) Carnegie Nominated.</td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br />“It’s becoming all too clear that climate change will have a devastating impact on human rights. Where the River Runs Gold explores a not-too-distant future where children are enslaved so that their small hands can be used to pollinate plants</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;">. Their rights are multiply denied because of the greed of corporations and governments. It’s a bleak prophecy, but author Sita Brahmachari, as ever, pays tribute to the power of solidarity and friendship and this book has a warm and glowing heart.”</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Nicky Parker, Publisher. Amnesty International UK</span></div>
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Children and young adults today understand how deeply words used, the truths they hold and the narratives we tell matter in helping us face our biggest challenges. In the near future world The Ark authorities know what they are doing when they close the libraries and remove the books from the majority of 'Freedom' children, discouraging them to paint or draw, read stories, question the status quo or imagine a different future.<br />
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But stories are powerful forces indeed and Shifa refuses to stop sewing re-wilding seeds! For Shifa and Themba access to the pages they can hold is denied them and the portal to their broad education is closed, they protect their story hive because they know it holds the courage keys to their future.<br />
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In imagining the world through children's eyes, I pause long and deep to try to see what they see, feel what they feel and time and again the question that comes as I write is how are we protecting these children's rights: to have a childhood, to be safe, to have a home, to be treated fairly, with equality....the right to breathe fresh air, to access nature, to play, to express themselves, to follow their faiths and cultures and have them represented, to be included, to drink clean water, to eat, to be educated, to enter the story hives of their imaginations and to look forward to a brighter and more beautiful future?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZCaA6niIbw_ELtU2_mnMSrwy6s6ZCSUgwS9JI-DcA_lQZdUrb30TNmWp4rRbbyljPV3xAfC7Q746H1KuCnsKnlohox1Hl98tKTCifefAaxSgfUztvWICw91qIR89F4lzDp0dG-CgHtY/s1600/seed+enveolope.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZCaA6niIbw_ELtU2_mnMSrwy6s6ZCSUgwS9JI-DcA_lQZdUrb30TNmWp4rRbbyljPV3xAfC7Q746H1KuCnsKnlohox1Hl98tKTCifefAaxSgfUztvWICw91qIR89F4lzDp0dG-CgHtY/s1600/seed+enveolope.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where The River Runs Gold (Endorsed by Amnesty ) is published by Orion (Hachette Children's Books)</td></tr>
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<b>Rights of The Child Resources and Information:</b></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.amnesty.org.uk/education&source=gmail&ust=1574180974967000&usg=AFQjCNEOcEVtS1Dv3S1Qf1gfNRd7sCFnHg" href="http://www.amnesty.org.uk/education" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">www.amnesty.org.uk/education</a></div>
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'Tender Earth,' 'Corey's Rock,' 'Red Leaves' and 'Where The River Runs Gold' have been endorsed by Amnesty International.</div>
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'Tender Earth' was honoured by The International Board of Books for Young People ( 2018) commenting that this depiction of contemporary childhood resonates in the Britain of today.</div>
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<a href="https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/open-letter-to-worlds-children" style="text-align: left;">https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/open-letter-to-worlds-children</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/climate-change-school-strikes-praised-head-amnesty">https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/climate-change-school-strikes-praised-head-amnesty</a></div>
Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-79886899910922818602019-06-30T13:40:00.002-07:002019-07-01T10:56:01.906-07:00Publication Day Celebration - Waterstones Book of the Month<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dare, Dream, Believe, Imagine....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'Where The River Runs Gold' </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Orion Children's Books</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Edited by Sam Swinnerton</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Endorsed by Amnesty International </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Published July 1st 2019</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Blackwells Display pick</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u-oacfjtZoUhN-umfIlHq_Vn838Wq9YqtJJeo4XLJwokdoPImHPsqNaAhDbDMw6FsDOf2glWjYq8jRZJCvMl5hIEkDCdKdI2sjp4AP5dUuQELVslVGxIv8oiXrJ7furVr6MV4b51FTg/s1600/bee+banner+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u-oacfjtZoUhN-umfIlHq_Vn838Wq9YqtJJeo4XLJwokdoPImHPsqNaAhDbDMw6FsDOf2glWjYq8jRZJCvMl5hIEkDCdKdI2sjp4AP5dUuQELVslVGxIv8oiXrJ7furVr6MV4b51FTg/s400/bee+banner+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">How wonderful and exciting to see the beautiful displays inspired by 'Where The River Runs Gold' emerging in Waterstones Bookshops. I'm looking forward to seeing many of them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">To celebrate 'Where The River Runs Gold' publication day I am so happy to present this beautiful textile art. It is made by #FridayForFuture environmental activists in response to the story and includes patchwork pockets and origami seed envelopes full of re-wilding treasure from the book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's pictured with:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">🌻 'Where The River Runs Gold' notebook (containing world building maps/sketches)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">🌻A hessian save the bee bag (no plastic is permitted in the Kairos Lands) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">🌻A painting pallet I imagine belonging to a Forager 'Graffitree' artist </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These Publication Day patchwork pieces are scattered in my wild flower garden of daisies, lavender and golden evening primrose... On a sunny Sunday I've been imagining my character Shifa on the secret, forbidden 'Flower Tracks' making her daisy chains and turning the evening primrose and lavender into healing oils for her family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In near future Kairos Lands where I've been roaming the world is divided into 'Paragons', 'Freedoms' and 'Outlanders' and it's clear that ...</span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">'All that glitters is not gold' </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">but Shifa and Themba and their fellow environmentalists must search for what truly is...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As we approach the summer holidays I hope this story will inspire much re-wilding of wildflower tracks in the earth and in storytelling imaginations too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the landscapes I love most you are always discovering new paths. I have been lucky enough to work with great creative teams in children's publishing from the start of writing stories for young people with 'Artichoke Hearts' </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Macmillan Children's Books). Since then there are so many golden threads to this storytelling journey - all of them written from the heart and it</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> has been a great joy to work with Sam Swinnerton (Senior Editor - Orion Children's Books) once again.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJZP-yJ4txKCS5YJuUkl1tPg08JAZ0Pyy_o-vbybcZdTxM8SJ8arbcycaQz4-qStQYGSyvt-jImMfW9fFmPdQXMpKe7gIGjIk_vqPZw9_mu7FumA_0mglvZxMr4zIW32TREKoVQo7b5g/s1600/all+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="640" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJZP-yJ4txKCS5YJuUkl1tPg08JAZ0Pyy_o-vbybcZdTxM8SJ8arbcycaQz4-qStQYGSyvt-jImMfW9fFmPdQXMpKe7gIGjIk_vqPZw9_mu7FumA_0mglvZxMr4zIW32TREKoVQo7b5g/s320/all+books.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screen shot of my books created by Concord College, Shropshire</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In 'Where The River Runs Gold' I have slipped out of time present, entered the story-hive of mythical lands and discovered a new river path in my storytelling garden. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art from the Art and Writing Class run by Jane Ray and myself <br />
(As artist and writer in residence at Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants)<br />
Our artistic work together is referenced in the acknowledgements of 'Where The River Runs Gold.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Over the next few weeks I'll be touring around with the wonderful Dom Kingston </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Head of PR at Orion Children's books) and talking more about world building in the Kairos Lands ... but for now I just want to say a heartfelt (skep-heart!) thank you to the whole team at Orion Children's Books and my agent Sophie Gorell Barnes at MBA literary Agents for their great enthusiasm, creativity and care in publishing this story. I can't wait to hear how it grows in reader's imaginations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So thrilled with this publication day news. Thanks to all the wonderful staff at Waterstones for their book love.</span></div>
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-8151789054637354512019-04-27T02:51:00.000-07:002019-04-27T03:03:16.842-07:00Why calling Greta Thunberg 'a girl in pigtails' is so deeply troubling <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
All children's and YA authors will have been on the receiving end of the question 'When are you going to write an adult novel?' Maybe one day I will, maybe I won't but what I think is at the core of the question is a perception that writing for young people is somehow of a lesser quality or importance than novels written solely for adults.<br />
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I know I'm not alone in hearing from adults who have picked up my inter-generational stories that they spoke to them powerfully, but sometimes this is said with an element of surprise.<br />
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I fear that what is deeply embedded in our society is an attitude towards children and young people that denigrates their abilities and by extension those who create work for them. As an author and Amnesty Ambassador I am constantly inspired by the young people I meet, their vision, clarity and bravery. I have often written young women characters who put themselves on the line and stand up to inequality when they see it.<br />
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As Greta Thunberg has stated again and again... she has not mobilised children throughout the world to leave school to make governments of the world listen.... for fun! She has done so because time is of the essence.... she is a young woman with all her life ahead of her... and that life will be compromised by lack of action.<br />
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So for adults to denigrate a young woman who has ( unlike so many world leaders) used social media as a force for good and speaks to power with clarity, passion and wisdom.... is for me a deeply troubling sign of disrespect to young women and young people in our society.<br />
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It disrespects girls, women and childhood.<br />
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This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Rights of The Child.<br />
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I've heard people talk negatively about young people knowing their rights countering the argument by the suggestion that 'they should know their responsibilities.'<br />
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In a week where children experiencing hunger in this country spoke in Parliament of the shame of child poverty I am incredulous at some of the commentary I read by adults in relations to children and childhood.<br />
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In my mind it is the children today who are showing responsibilty with great dignity and honesty. When adults choose to respond by calling one extraordinary young woman 'a girl in pigtails'<br />
it speaks volumes to me of who needs to learn some respect... and it's not the children.<br />
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I for one am proud to be a children's and YA author....to walk side by side with them, help with the power of the imagination to speak to their humanity in these tender present times and to narrate them into a brighter future.<br />
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Links:<br />
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Greta Thunberg - ' You're never too small to make a difference'<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFkQSGyeCWg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFkQSGyeCWg</a><br />
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Greta Thunberg - Full Speech to UK Parliament<br />
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/23/greta-thunberg-full-speech-to-mps-you-did-not-act-in-time">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/23/greta-thunberg-full-speech-to-mps-you-did-not-act-in-time</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRC/Pages/CRC30thAnniversary.aspx">https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRC/Pages/CRC30thAnniversary.aspx</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/resource_sheet_8.pdf">https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/resource_sheet_8.pdf</a><br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-58160576417069662872019-03-22T05:23:00.001-07:002019-04-27T03:30:44.911-07:00Where The River Runs Gold<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Receiving a proof copy of a story born in the wild, meandering paths of your imagination never loses its magic. I'm so looking forward to introducing readers to the 'brave and true' Shifa and Themba and their family. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The knitted bee below was a birthday present from my lovely friend Sarah and is just the sort of thing that Shifa would make because in the lands in which she lives the bees appear to have flown our world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Where The River Runs Gold</i> is published by Orion Children's Books and is to be published on 11th July 2011.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here's a snippet...</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv5Me0C1mvityxbdJ4C0JR_4e3oBd4mL-0eh47QCOh_BaK7Vk9ibqAs_hqOU96rUz-ox7IWHKWDiAaK59ZdX2xWOQZE_S12VyuZOABiVGPvDEb2ri8Z3Fs1WtQ1i_Zy5ZmZq9kTJcT-A/s1600/words+WTRRG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="640" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv5Me0C1mvityxbdJ4C0JR_4e3oBd4mL-0eh47QCOh_BaK7Vk9ibqAs_hqOU96rUz-ox7IWHKWDiAaK59ZdX2xWOQZE_S12VyuZOABiVGPvDEb2ri8Z3Fs1WtQ1i_Zy5ZmZq9kTJcT-A/s320/words+WTRRG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reading through the proof I’ve been thinking about the process of writing and the winding paths of life, time and art and loved landscapes, all central themes in this story set in the mythical Kairos Lands.. in Kairos Time regenerative possibilities still remain open...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dr Ryad Alsous world renowned bee keeper and refugee from Syria whose story inspired the character of Nabil (Shifa and Themba's father) and his ancestors and to consider the very real threat to our bees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where The River Runs Gold </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've been exploring how
we're caring for the rights of children and our environment, the
rivers, forests, the bees, the urban parks… and I've been asking what
thresholds present and future generations might have to breach to make
governments of the world protect this planet and change the way the worlds
resources and economies are organised and shared. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In writing I have been
mindful of the number of adults and children around the world (some of whom I
meet at Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants) who become refugees because
of environmental devastation due to climate change, mismanagement of land or unwillingness to share the world's resources.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stories sometimes wait to be born in you and into the right time. My
daughter (now almost fifteen years old) and her friends along with
millions of young people were inspired by amazing activists like Greta
Thunberg to strike... to leave school to show leaders of the world the urgency
of their cry. Because of generations of denial, apathy and
intransigence young people are now mobilising, as my young characters
Shifa and Themba must to pressurise governments to save their planet, to think
of new ways of living where the world's resources are shared more equally… for
in my novel as in life it is young people who pay the heaviest price…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Where The River Runs Gold </i>begins with the cry of a baby</b>....and this story is dedicated to my wonderful editor Sam Swinnerton's baby, Ada. I worked with Sam on my first novel 'Artichoke Hearts' (Macmillan Children's Books) and it has been a real joy and adventure to work with her again, exploring new tributaries in my storytelling journey. As we met for editorial meetings and Ada grew, I thought deeply about what sort of world she would be born into and about writing a story containing the wonders of the natural world, a time portal of regenerative possibilities and a cry for the urgent need to protect this planet.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For inquiries contact: <a href="mailto:Dominic.Kingston@hachettechildrens.co.uk">Dominic.Kingston@hachettechildrens.co.uk</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you have not heard Greta Thunberg's cry for action at the Extinction Rebellion Rally in London (April 2019) Here it is in full.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_2073526921"><br /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/23/greta-thunberg-full-speech-to-mps-you-did-not-act-in-time">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/23/greta-thunberg-full-speech-to-mps-you-did-not-act-in-time</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Links to things that have inspired me:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2017/12/5a26b73b4/syrian-beekeeper-tastes-sweet-success-british-honeybee"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2017/12/5a26b73b4/syrian-beekeeper-tastes-sweet-success-british-honeybee</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://birdgirluk.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://birdgirluk.blogspot.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.chrispackham.co.uk/the-peoples-walk-for-wildlife"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.chrispackham.co.uk/the-peoples-walk-for-wildlife</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-70776217775936055202018-11-22T03:50:00.000-08:002018-12-07T00:48:13.312-08:00Children's and YA Seasonal anthologies with heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today was the first properly frosty morning walking Billie who coincidentally has a Christmas day birthday. So we were both starting to feel that it was time to get in the festive spirit!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcZ_ribQSBHb23r_KlwlTPsKJz4TDa1NZjFkUxYS9-5IH5cUeYACLj_LCe9sa_CDp_HdFpNy2U7dIJ9S3UGBMJjYXq-ekWuft02VFq5KBfAEq1QNfuXYAG2sv7-4EhTDcvTRezUma34I/s1600/Billie+Christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcZ_ribQSBHb23r_KlwlTPsKJz4TDa1NZjFkUxYS9-5IH5cUeYACLj_LCe9sa_CDp_HdFpNy2U7dIJ9S3UGBMJjYXq-ekWuft02VFq5KBfAEq1QNfuXYAG2sv7-4EhTDcvTRezUma34I/s320/Billie+Christmas.JPG" width="175" /></a></div>
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I've never tired of that childish excitement of the season of candles, home fires and heartwarming gatherings. But I, like many of us, have never lost the sense of outrage that so many people in this frosty weather don't have a roof over their heads and that an increasing number of homeless people are children and young people. So as we approach the Christmas season we hold these great fissures in our minds. The disparity between plenty and poverty. comfort and crisis, love, joy and neglect.<br />
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I thought to bring together two Christmas and wintry anthologies that include wonderful stories of so many of my amazing friends and colleagues in the YA and children's publishing world. Funny, heartwarming, diverse, thought provoking, emotional, humane stories from some of the most wonderful writers today who are holding this dual sensibility of the season through young eyes - alert and all seeing to both the world's woes and wonders at this time of winter celebration.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6O7Vj9vvFAXx5QFXXNEwDJyoswcAKIXrQotTR9Z8iOoJ7QFUyfC9C60kQnpvXRcEYER-08jYUYh2iY59N-kYvgAFH3WrNGiAhshm6x6fZyp98uw_Hv41JutGTNpFYDOWBEQ0M1weO8A/s1600/I%2527ll+be+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6O7Vj9vvFAXx5QFXXNEwDJyoswcAKIXrQotTR9Z8iOoJ7QFUyfC9C60kQnpvXRcEYER-08jYUYh2iY59N-kYvgAFH3WrNGiAhshm6x6fZyp98uw_Hv41JutGTNpFYDOWBEQ0M1weO8A/s400/I%2527ll+be+home.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>'One Snowy Night'</b> is a new collection of animal tales for younger readers that captures the beauty of the wintry season through truly heartwarming tales about the animal world. It's lovingly illustrated in atmospheric black and white drawings by Alison Edgson. I was delighted to be invited to write a story for younger readers with a focus on animal tales as it moves us away from - in Wordsworth's words a period of 'getting and spending' towards seeing much 'in nature that is ours.' Animals and our connection to nature can be the link to a universal human need for a magical sense of awe at the natural world. Here is Rabina as she meets her first robin in 'Snowland' in 'One Snowy Night.'<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">'A Robin's Welcome is.a profoundly moving story that has many layers.'</span></span><br />
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<a class="twitter-timeline-link" data-expanded-url="http://www.letterpressproject.co.uk/inspiring-young-readers/2018-12-05/one-snowy-night" dir="ltr" href="https://t.co/2naZpYLHDK" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background: rgb(245, 248, 250); color: #590769; font-family: "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; outline: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank" title="http://www.letterpressproject.co.uk/inspiring-young-readers/2018-12-05/one-snowy-night"><span class="js-display-url">letterpressproject.co.uk/inspiring-youn</span><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;">g-readers/2018-12-05/one-snowy-night</span><span class="tco-ellipsis"><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;"> </span>…</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsyCqSg9XkB-Mg2ah_uymYDjiMUdhyphenhyphen-Jc8nT_6cagwFCwR1EktN4Z69wRW3RvVblA5XAI5vJ86HXDaNB0KITQhZQPTsM8HwuHmxmAYoQYTv5A2CgTRyi4-o87IScksG1qRFwb9q53Z9c/s1600/snowy+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsyCqSg9XkB-Mg2ah_uymYDjiMUdhyphenhyphen-Jc8nT_6cagwFCwR1EktN4Z69wRW3RvVblA5XAI5vJ86HXDaNB0KITQhZQPTsM8HwuHmxmAYoQYTv5A2CgTRyi4-o87IScksG1qRFwb9q53Z9c/s400/snowy+picture.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
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<b>'I'll Be Home for Christmas'</b> was published in 2016 by Crisis and Stripes, for YA and teen readers. £1 of every sale goes to Crisis.</div>
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Here are Amir's thoughts from 'Amir and George' </div>
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'Amir and George' is re-printed in:</div>
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' A Country to Call Home' Ed. A collection of stories by some of our most treasured YA writers. The focus of these stories is refugee experience Ed. by Lucy Propescu and illistrated by Chris Riddel</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvEd661fke_OpicPcqK1FHSBS9RfJq3rb4bP3rwkuEx299eMUmHvOHnEX9WD2_eO-HkaCyt8EWMLRt9HcvW5OYlg1MPV3PQ3G9evr4_2vBB5bAoullUh-L1WXRwV8tR6tl7nUm5_V6FA/s1600/A+country+to+call+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvEd661fke_OpicPcqK1FHSBS9RfJq3rb4bP3rwkuEx299eMUmHvOHnEX9WD2_eO-HkaCyt8EWMLRt9HcvW5OYlg1MPV3PQ3G9evr4_2vBB5bAoullUh-L1WXRwV8tR6tl7nUm5_V6FA/s400/A+country+to+call+home.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://unbound.com/books/a-country-to-call-home/" style="text-align: left;">https://unbound.com/books/a-country-to-call-home/</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iySRz5wgSDZ_QTB7-ywJMkJCrvo4WH6uOt9YXLF3ElS9SYSKcTzgA2wjae8Wgrl6QSBbe6c3FkvcEV-RMYzO-sSMmVHYEZB9C37Taz6FVfM6RFLBAk6pkq3R9F9ARh0ybrvwSiCeAr4/s1600/amir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iySRz5wgSDZ_QTB7-ywJMkJCrvo4WH6uOt9YXLF3ElS9SYSKcTzgA2wjae8Wgrl6QSBbe6c3FkvcEV-RMYzO-sSMmVHYEZB9C37Taz6FVfM6RFLBAk6pkq3R9F9ARh0ybrvwSiCeAr4/s320/amir.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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and - 'English and Media Centre' Publication 'The Power of Voice' with KS3 curriculum resources. </div>
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<a href="https://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/video-clips/ks3-language-laboratory-the-power-of-voice">https://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/video-clips/ks3-language-laboratory-the-power-of-voice</a></div>
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<b>Invitation from Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants hosted by Amnesty International</b></div>
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<b>30th November 6.30pm</b></div>
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If you're looking for a heartwarming celebration of poetry, art and music that finds a way to hold the disparities of the season by celebrating our common humanity - Come along to a joyful evening celebrating the work of Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrant at Amnesty HQ</div>
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<b>Tickets:</b><br />
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Wishing you a light filled festive season</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Billie and Sita X </span></i></div>
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-38286803805144823722018-09-07T10:19:00.000-07:002018-12-18T06:51:43.252-08:00'Corey's Rock' 'What! The real Jane Ray's illustrations in my book!'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Endorsed by Amnesty International for illuminating the human rights values of family, friends, home, safety and refuge.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Review Round up</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>'One of the most gloriously beautiful, gently inclusive & poignant children’s books I’ve ever read. Gorgeous!' </i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicky Parker (Publisher Amnesty International)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i><b>CLPE Books of the year</b> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://clpe.org.uk/library/booklists/clpe-staff-picks-2018&source=gmail&ust=1544891930855000&usg=AFQjCNHWq8ti704tMrOxcr0YS-2n9wXgrA" href="https://clpe.org.uk/library/booklists/clpe-staff-picks-2018" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://clpe.org.uk/<wbr></wbr>library/booklists/clpe-staff-<wbr></wbr>picks-2018</a> selected by Ann Lazim -…A beautiful collaboration between an author and illustrator which brings together themes of loss and new beginnings, friendship and cultural heritage.</i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'What makes <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Corey’s Rock</span> quite so special? Let me count the ways:</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First, we have the spiraling poetic language that gently, but insistently, nudges its characters onward, reverberating with the recent past as it echoes across the book, so that Isla and her parents edge gently forward, drawing closer to something like acceptance, something like recovery, and then something that we might tentatively describe as happiness.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Then we have the illustrations. Illustrations that work with and around that poetic language. If you are interested in picturebook codes, there is so much to linger on here. From the stunning cover, to the profoundly telling endpapers, and then slowly through the careful use of picture, symbol and space, this is an especially crafted, especially beautiful dance of word and image.'</i> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-align: center;">(Just Imagine)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #4b5055; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><i>'Brahmachari always writes with tenderness and awareness about how global and personal difficulties affect children, and Jane Ray’s soft wash illustrations hold the space beautifully for this quiet story of transformation and healing.'</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #4b5055; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;">Book Trust ( Books we love)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><i><b>'A scintillating read for children who can wholly identify with the feeling of being displaced.'</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><b>(Read it Daddy Blog)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.27px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'<i>A treasure of a book that deserves a wide audience</i>.'</span></span><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"> </span><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jill Bennett (Red Reading Hub</span></span><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: normal; white-space: normal;">) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>'Written in narrative verse with exquisite full-page colour illustrations [by Jane Ray] A lyrical and deeply moving novella about bereavement and identity, shot through with the selkie (seal folk) myth. </i>Fiona Noble (preview Bookseller)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>'A Magical tale that will bring comfort to its young readers.'</i> Sarah Crossan</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">'</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><i>Sita Brahmachari’s words and Jane Ray’s illustrations weave a heartfelt tale of longing and belonging, threaded with the magic of a selkie story. Set against the blue-green sea and sky of Orkney, Corey’s Rock is a story of grief and loss, but also one of light and hope, and ultimately love. A book to be read and read again.'t </i> Gill Lewis</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">'</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A beautiful book.I love the way the narrative flows so effortlessly between dream, myth and realism.It’s challenging without feeling overtly so. Corey's Rock is a doorway to poetry and mysticism.' Cheryl Moskowitz </span></span></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'A warmly compassionate</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> , exquisitely beautiful story of love and loss, old tales and new beginnings.'</span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Kate Agnew</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The evolution of a rich collaboration...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is such a joy to have worked with the wonderful Jane Ray on this our second story together. Our first was 'Worry Angels' for Barrington Stoke (2017) which shares a narrative of the power of art and creativity to heal and transform.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wrote 'Corey's Rock'! four years ago after reading an article about a family coming to terms with the death of their first child,born with a heart condition. It was something that the mother said about there being so few stories that she could read to her surviving daughter that could help them to re-build their lives as a family. Her words sent me to my desk. A story emerged, image by image. I found the family on a Scottish island, on a wide open beach. In my mind's eye Isla looked out to sea and saw a seal and begins to weave her love of the selkie myth together with having to come to terms with the loss of Corey..she collages myth and her love of the natural world to navigate her way in her new home and reality. In tone and style it was close to my work in theatre and the poetic co-adaptation of Shaun Tan's 'The Arrival.' As I wrote I felt it needed to be a work of image and word, that it cried out to be fully illustrated.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSAcurUrZQDWNJ8T1_fhoV8SOYjencNTXWq810IoUobXE8t97TJexktKOnP-5q8AVlnuCc6t6tkTEOphN8QCzL2xGf8Cy67Ql-CqKqQA1xgR8ePXm5xAFRVdbmcG7GaGj6V2KV2zR66Q/s320/bookshop+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Signing at The Children's Book Shop Muswell Hill where the collaboration began</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think in pictures and it has been a total joy and honour to see the world of my story illustrated with Jane Ray's beautiful brush strokes. So much so that when I saw her imagery for the first time I burst into tears! To see your words and world visualised with so much care, tenderness, mystery, beauty and magic must be a highlight of any author's career.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMKsYnJFZkCIhdaDk_Atvw3snA44-uTHGN25OujP6veT8TBeMNvtGympjOPMEzVNm_2CzOh2aMT1LyHKvYa_aYXMUoAe_6bbTKv29FmwsciqQPMfP2TVJaEpylnP7mIRwr0uckUDRaF4/s1600/Jane+Ray+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1600" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMKsYnJFZkCIhdaDk_Atvw3snA44-uTHGN25OujP6veT8TBeMNvtGympjOPMEzVNm_2CzOh2aMT1LyHKvYa_aYXMUoAe_6bbTKv29FmwsciqQPMfP2TVJaEpylnP7mIRwr0uckUDRaF4/s320/Jane+Ray+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first signing took place at The Children's Bookshop Muswell Hill</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Background to 'Corey's Rock'</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Jane Ray and I were first introduced by Kate Agnew then owner of The Children's Book Shop Muswell Hill who said that she would love to see us collaborate. I was both excited and in awe of the idea. Shortly afterwards Jane and I worked on the wonderful Pop Up Festival where we both created installations around our stories (Jane with unicorns, me with kites and owls for 'Kite Spirit'). We travelled together and were amused by how many feathers and quiltish things we carried with us! We found we did indeed have much in common.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shortly after, Jane invited me to work with her at The Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants where we have run an art and writing class together for the last three years. </span></div>
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<a href="https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/</span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Taking 'Corey's Rock' out of the drawer</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One day I plucked up courage to show Jane 'Corey's Rock' and was overwhelmed by her response to it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>‘When Sita showed me her story ‘Corey’s Rock’, I was immediately entranced. I have always loved </i></span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Selkie stories and have drawn on them for other books, such as ‘Can You Catch a Mermaid?’ (Orchard </i><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Books) and ‘Ahmed and the feather Girl’ (Frances Lincoln) The idea of a beautiful wild creature </i><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">transformed, and torn between two worlds, is a powerful one, which resonates at many levels. </i><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Sita’s lyrical writing moved me and filled my head with pictures. These are always the best stories to </i><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">work on – the ones where I can ‘see’ the illustrations immediately, not necessarily as individual </i><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">pictures, but as a feeling, an atmosphere.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I am very excited by </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Sita’s lyrical prose. Already I can see the soft greys and </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">greens of the Scottish Isle sea-scapes blossoming into warmer colour as the characters </span></i><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">in the story begin the process of healing and adapting after their loss.'</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQDOGjOFYtqsUW4M526_Y8ynRef2oazdXQ8TiWRKYPlunizHg0nIZ-bnqVYnK7RaEv8lWJx_SSfN3SpYP9M2hiBVK8xM2OqbTcZ0ahHQV6jFZLK9BHcHXxgMv7doa-Fkghbk6PcKVKkM/s1600/Library+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQDOGjOFYtqsUW4M526_Y8ynRef2oazdXQ8TiWRKYPlunizHg0nIZ-bnqVYnK7RaEv8lWJx_SSfN3SpYP9M2hiBVK8xM2OqbTcZ0ahHQV6jFZLK9BHcHXxgMv7doa-Fkghbk6PcKVKkM/s320/Library+1.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Flow between image and word</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are pictures of a diverse family in rural landscapes that remind me of those my family grew from but the like of which I never saw in pictures when I was a child. I had no idea how much I have longed to see them. I hope that they speak to children as powerfully as they speak to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The novella is now arriving in the shops. Jane and I met to celebrate the story and in the quiet of her beautiful garden she gifted me this exquisite painting of Isla in her dream world.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrNM3E6-l8htwYbVdq0m1lxtLKQCZFlEIyQfD4ko0gvt5FU0LAByWZ8H3p6xzbIjrSVcdCDLVr7WddIcdiG9RcKKsDVrAQ8asJE5uhG5ciG7Bj0nLw8KHHw5K9mBnOWOD6bDyUeBHvzQ/s1600/dream+art.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrNM3E6-l8htwYbVdq0m1lxtLKQCZFlEIyQfD4ko0gvt5FU0LAByWZ8H3p6xzbIjrSVcdCDLVr7WddIcdiG9RcKKsDVrAQ8asJE5uhG5ciG7Bj0nLw8KHHw5K9mBnOWOD6bDyUeBHvzQ/s320/dream+art.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This speaks to me not only of Isla's story but of the transformative power of dreams and storytelling that is the force that drives so many of us children's authors and illustrators.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> This refrain runs through Isla's mind throughout the story...</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Wrap yourself in selkie skin, listen to the call within.' </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope that this will be a story that will find readers snuggled on a sofa, or lying on the scatter cushions of a wonderful library, as Isla does. I delight in the idea of a child opening the book and finding in the wide horizon... an invitation to enter. Children need space and an invitation to belong in landscape only then will they begin to make their own marks on a page, and bring of themselves to be readers and writers of stories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a book I will personally treasure. I still have to pinch myself to believe it's really here!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-align: left;">We are so proud that Amnesty International have endorsed this book as a story that speaks to the values of family, friends, home, safety and refuge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With huge thanks to the wonderful publisher and champion of a diverse world of children's books Janetta Otter-Barry and the whole team at Otter-Barry Books, agents Sophie Gorell Barnes of MBA Literary Agents and Hilary Delamere for being so passionate about this story...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Corey's Rock' is available in bookshops now.</span><br />
<a href="https://www.bouncemarketing.co.uk/publisher/otter-barry-books/"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">https://www.bouncemarketing.co.uk/publisher/otter-barry-books/</span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Festivals, Assemblies, Residencies and Workshops<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Using a beautiful animated film Sita and Jane have developed a range of creative and immersive talks and workshops offering insight into how an author and illustrator work together. Participants are invited to explore the beautiful, deep and wild imagination of the selkie tale of ‘Corey’s Rock.' Using the film as a backdrop, participants will be immersed in the sounds and sights of the natural world of the novel. Activities include elements of improvisation, landscape painting and sensory poetic writing on the theme of the transformative power of the imagination. Suitable for children aged 8 - 11.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also by Sita and Jane</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Barrington Stoke</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shortlisted for Jhalak Prize and Coventry Inspiration Book Awards</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Longlisted for Carnegie</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.booktrust.org.uk/book/w/worry-angels/">https://www.booktrust.org.uk/book/w/worry-angels/</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.janeray.com/"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://www.janeray.com/</span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Related links and articles:</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2015/april/wir-what-the-real-jane-ray-in-our-house/">https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2015/april/wir-what-the-real-jane-ray-in-our-house/</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To read more about the vital work of Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants and how you can support: <b> </b></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_408668276"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></a></b></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><a href="https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/">https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2015/april/wir-what-the-real-jane-ray-in-our-house/">https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2015/april/wir-what-the-real-jane-ray-in-our-house/</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/23/childrens-books-bame-characters-stuck-monochrome"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/23/childrens-books-bame-characters-stuck-monochrome</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kite Spirit installation: Pop Up Festival</span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://graceemilymanning.co.uk/pop-up-projects-014">http://graceemilymanning.co.uk/pop-up-projects-014</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Depictions of diverse representation in the British Countryside</span><br />
<a href="http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/229/childrens-books/articles/beyond-the-secret-garden-england%E2%80%99s-white-and-pleasant-land"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/229/childrens-books/articles/beyond-the-secret-garden-england%E2%80%99s-white-and-pleasant-land</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To read more about the vital work of Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants and how you can support: <b> </b></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/our-clients-work/">https://islingtoncentre.co.uk/our-clients-work/</a></b></span><br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-43358544175569469212018-07-09T10:35:00.000-07:002018-07-09T10:46:42.457-07:00Literary Treasure: David Almond's 'Where Your Wings Were' Seven Stories Exhibition <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Diary of an inspirational day at Seven Stories 'Where Your Wings Were' Exhibition launch. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">8th June 2018.</span></b><br />
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David Almond is quite simply one of my inspirations as a writer. So when Sarah Lawrance Collection and Exhibitions Director at Seven Stories invited me to be in conversation with him about his work at the launch of his exhibition 'Where Your Wings Were,' it was not a hard decision to accept!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55DBHPgxI2PnFYU-V9NyByD9Ft6ubwhqti_LJ-NSqbaak9p3PBj-R-rZ9ZZQZaabaXOi_34l9rCPcSWtwAGrnokoUEJxXjH9WhSxR0TMrqyCnKggFHRg_RvBViYbirgnETu3AVBQB32g/s1600/Davd+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1600" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55DBHPgxI2PnFYU-V9NyByD9Ft6ubwhqti_LJ-NSqbaak9p3PBj-R-rZ9ZZQZaabaXOi_34l9rCPcSWtwAGrnokoUEJxXjH9WhSxR0TMrqyCnKggFHRg_RvBViYbirgnETu3AVBQB32g/s320/Davd+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">ON THAT MORNING...</span>.I arrived in Newcastle to blistering sunshine and walked along the Quayside to Seven Stories. The beautiful tidal Tyne with its monumental bridges was all of a glitter. On the opposite bank I read a sign that said 'Go with the Flow/ Swim Against The Tide'... </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I thought about the last time I'd met David at The Hay Festival and he had spoken about a seam that ran through all his stories; the power of the imagination and creativity to harness the passion of youth and help young people grow... </span></span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #1ea5a0; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We need to break away from narrow notions of learning into something more tender, more creative, more complex that explores the strangeness of the human heart, that explores the real world and real objects and the mystery of them.' </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I thought about my own journey as a writer and my own children and how important it has been for them to swim against the tide and find their own creative hearts. One of things I have always loved about David's work is it's rootedness in the North of England. In my early childhood we lived in Hull and The Lake District where my mum's family come from and the landscapes of Almond's work speak deeply in me to a place of awe and wonder at the power of the natural world and how we as human connect and impact on it through our imaginations and industry. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.03em;">As I walked past a foundry workshop I was struck by the art on the underside of a red brick arch...I was later to discover that this beautiful work is just one of the extraordinary exhibits that forms part of the ' Winged Tales of The North' art trail commissioned by Seven Stories from David Almond (words) and Kate Drummond (Visual artist) inspired by David Almond's work. It's a stunning exploration of how an imagination is formed from the landscapes out of which it grows...and it takes you </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.03em;"> through the Ouseburn Valley as part of Newcastle's Great Exhibition of The North ....</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Staring up at the beautiful owl and kingfisher - much loved birds and powerful symbols in my own stories, I felt a huge sense of anticipa</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">tion and also considerable nerves!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddCXdp15APi2hnie_c21F3zjv70b8OJHUo0J-0cTWBzJeEx6co4hJ6nu3WYwFV8C4x5cGvbE8IIajib3O4TOjbNpGvSvF9XHCWJNl3sosVlWDmDfuCKx3TlqtSatKJFWiDxkS1KGF-RA/s1600/DA+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1600" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddCXdp15APi2hnie_c21F3zjv70b8OJHUo0J-0cTWBzJeEx6co4hJ6nu3WYwFV8C4x5cGvbE8IIajib3O4TOjbNpGvSvF9XHCWJNl3sosVlWDmDfuCKx3TlqtSatKJFWiDxkS1KGF-RA/s320/DA+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">David Almond in front of the arch on which he has created his own flash fiction.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Prior to the interview I was lucky enough to tour the ' Where Your Wings Were' exhibition with David as he shared with me the experience of moving through his own work ... that what he appreciated is the space in the viewer's imagination the exhibition allowed for visitors to imagine and dream for themselves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's this space in Almond's work that I most appreciate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In keeping with this idea, the exhibition space allows you to fly around it in any way you wish. You feel as light as a bird on entering the gallery ...where dreams and imaginings of wings greet you at the door and invite you in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I chose to enter across a wide expanse to a hypnotic vision of a murmuration of starlings. There is space here to sit or lie and take in the wonder and mystery of this vision of nature, a constant theme in Almond's work. All his stories hold something of this hypnotic power and energy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After the epic contemplation of the large sky screen I bobbed around smaller more personal spaces of exploration inviting the viewer to settle and peck about! I peered into light boxes containing flames tilting and growing, leaned over the edge of a bridge where the surging energy of the river feels like it's running through you.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k0rMF-uJDeCS4jujB1x32tdLPprcR_-V7lMLEZbTXVpLaIPlB6iAWNQdGTZ172TsegwNLk1HGHtujIn0UzDldHOG8YWTkR5gK-3byBNgNCqEiOGomnndKc7tXOAeRrNOTmd8xefSB5U/s1600/Davd+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k0rMF-uJDeCS4jujB1x32tdLPprcR_-V7lMLEZbTXVpLaIPlB6iAWNQdGTZ172TsegwNLk1HGHtujIn0UzDldHOG8YWTkR5gK-3byBNgNCqEiOGomnndKc7tXOAeRrNOTmd8xefSB5U/s320/Davd+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These immersive spaces are hard to leave just as these symbols settle on the mind of a writer and recur in stories...writing themselves into your work... owls, wings, stones, pits, rivers, dreams of flying...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The viewer is invited to lose themselves in these epic natural forces and also to find themselves reflected and refracted in them. Finally pulled away from the power of the weir I came face to face with myself in a reflecting lens where faces and figures distort producing ghosts and monsters. I placed my hand in a tangled web and nest and found another's hand reaching mine from another realm!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Later in the day David and I would talk about monsters, fear, angels and flight in his work and they were all here in this exhibition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the end of this exploration of self and nature I was invited to write my own fears on an enormous chalk board... once those fears are voiced they too fly around the space.Here is an invition for everyone to experience the power of writing and stories.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXK1RixMthDMMxBlw5GEjvh0EI3FxOKiLb34KjSP-Dqk04sKj3_6UYVDOvfz880uRQILzQWKos0JdY2djkBfL4BVvJ4skzBJFeWJzpT_QugUbQsnB7xIifTVjd0brLhy9WWzaGpctwlI/s1600/DA+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXK1RixMthDMMxBlw5GEjvh0EI3FxOKiLb34KjSP-Dqk04sKj3_6UYVDOvfz880uRQILzQWKos0JdY2djkBfL4BVvJ4skzBJFeWJzpT_QugUbQsnB7xIifTVjd0brLhy9WWzaGpctwlI/s320/DA+4.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After writing on the chalk board I wandered into a walkway of Almond's beautiful illustrated notebooks revealing what Almond calls 'the messiness' and the meandering nature of storytelling (although his notebooks are creations of layered beauty). Anyone interested in the creative process will want perching tim in front of each of these notebooks!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEka0I02BCaLHCJwNTPZCsALgcovciIT1ykq_zvkqBiM-9gofau-tEZYxxx6Az4QoZY8IZgSHz-fklHsuk0zJDdeWvfGXBSdzMEgRM7gzQcZ4FG9SiIcW05Iut1EV_9Fy_7kq87gt1iY/s1600/DA+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEka0I02BCaLHCJwNTPZCsALgcovciIT1ykq_zvkqBiM-9gofau-tEZYxxx6Az4QoZY8IZgSHz-fklHsuk0zJDdeWvfGXBSdzMEgRM7gzQcZ4FG9SiIcW05Iut1EV_9Fy_7kq87gt1iY/s320/DA+1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After prizing myself away from the notebooks I discovered on a far wall the iconography of an author's childhood. His learning of the Catholic catechism, his songs of an altar boy which gave him a love of the rhythm of his voice and the mysterious power of words. His own writing inspirations discovered in the Felling Library. From these powerful objects of childhood I was pulled away by children's recorded gasps and laughter as they engaged with Almond's stories. On a large screen images mutated from Almond's work, I saw Skellig's Wings, Mina's tree, A dark pit of 'Kit's Wilderness', a reeling press from 'Heaven Eyes', a wide open tide where the teens of ' A Song for Ella Grey' escaped to... 'The Colour of the Sun,' sea and river creature, stones...a mountain tarn in the Lake District where I sang as a child. Almond's images mutate and are transformed by the watcher to enter their own wild landscape of the imagination.. the power of stories and the ancient human instinct to tell them flies with you out of this gallery .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Later Almond told me the experience of walking through the exhibition was like 'walking through my own mind.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the foyer we met some 'young producers' who helped to create the ideas and elements for the Art Trail inspired by Almond's work.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99rvnPju19qR8Ge5qnFkmHMiLUX31EO-1WL7z2jybwAP6bsg1JncbxnTpNZDLDIKwLcXrDiBjDbqIAD-D_es5zvCKw9It8kfRd3QBiirZQlusPrVLQTJmgZW3ga7b8quciHXvjhFu1r0/s1600/Da+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99rvnPju19qR8Ge5qnFkmHMiLUX31EO-1WL7z2jybwAP6bsg1JncbxnTpNZDLDIKwLcXrDiBjDbqIAD-D_es5zvCKw9It8kfRd3QBiirZQlusPrVLQTJmgZW3ga7b8quciHXvjhFu1r0/s320/Da+3.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We walked along the Ouseburn Valley together beginning with the owls and kingfishers that I had already discovered flying under the arches. We moved on to a mythophone, (perhaps the writer's ear?) distilling Almond's voices and stories, past the pigeon crees, along the canal where a derelict old den could have easily produced a skellig... From there we trailed under a railway bridge where we dared a group incantation ..'Essalamus.' Three times we spoke the word we were warned would lead us into peril... from then on we were all caught in its enchantment! On this beautiful trail David had woven new words dedicated to the places that have ignited his imagination in his stories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was hot and by the time we returned to Seven Stories I was beginning to feel nervous. The exhibition and the art trail had managed to capture the essence of Almond's magical passionate world so beautifully and following a viewing of the exhibition an audience were gathering to hear him speak about his life's work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In inteviews questions can be the barred way or the open gate that let's you find a way in to speak about the walled gardens and the wildernesses of the writer's mind...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Collection and Exhibitions director Sarah Lawrance gave me an excellent tip ... make it a conversation between authors....so i did. I asked David the questions that fly up in me when I read his work .Questions about landscape, his own childhood, about his engagement with monsters as well as angels, his capturing of voice, and he read from his beautiful most recent novel 'The Colour of The Sun'... and we got lost in the flight and flow of conversation! To hear David read his work to an audience including his own siblings was a truly moving experience. All that was left to do was thank David for sharing his mind, imagination and humanity with generations of people throughout the world through his books, films. radio plays and now through this extraordinary exhibition. I'm sure this exhibition will tour far and wide but you will never feel it's power as truly as in the place it grew.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you do one thing this summer try to get to Seven Stories to see this exhibition. </span>It will reveal to you the ways that an imaginations grows, flows, flies and roots itself in the song and sway of the written word where it finds lodging for a tide and time... until a page is turned and it takes flight again in the reader's mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next morning as I walked along the Quayside thinking about the creative writing workshop I was to hold that morning.... I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the sun dancing on the Tyne and of the glittering presence of wings and light floating in and out on the tide of all our imaginations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">P.S. I am not sure what this means! When I visited The Lake District for my cousin's wedding recently I had a little present from a pigeon deposited on my shoulder! It came seemingly out of a bright blue sky... I made my cousins laugh by instantly thanking my Dad... (the kingfisher, his favourite bird). Walking under the Tyne bridge into Newcastle... you guessed it... the same deposit on the same shoulder... well not exactly the same. I was informed that in all probability the bird that had left its present was the rare and raucous sea bird the... Kittiwake... I flew back to my nest with two new words ... Kittiwake and Cree!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you Seven Stories for the invitation and this meeting of minds, hearts and wings! Now back to the chalk board....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Articles:</span><br />
<a href="https://www.booktrust.org.uk/whats-happening/blogs/2015/june/wir-david-almond---a-humble-giant-of-a-writer/"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">https://www.booktrust.org.uk/whats-happening/blogs/2015/june/wir-david-almond---a-humble-giant-of-a-writer/</span></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/may/17/newcastle-kittiwake-gull-colony"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/may/17/newcastle-kittiwake-gull-colony</span></a><br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-90194067250778601452018-06-16T05:14:00.004-07:002018-06-17T15:23:55.447-07:00#RefugeeWeek2018 Diary: poetry, events, exhibition, publication and football! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Exhibition: 'Essence of Welcome'</b><br />
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<b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Exhibition<u></u><u></u></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Celebrating Refugee Week (<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2010110683" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">18 – 22 June</span></span>),</b> an exhibition of <span class="il">poetry</span> and images from the Art and Writing Class held at the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants. The class is run by Sita Brahmachari and Jane Ray, Writer and Artist-in-Residence at the Centre. <u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">South Library, </span><a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=115+Essex+Road,+N1+0ST&entry=gmail&source=g" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">115 Essex Road, N1 0ST</a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2010110684" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204 , 204 , 204); font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday 11 – Saturday 23 June</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Monday and Wednesday <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2010110685" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">9.30am-8pm</span></span>, Friday and Saturday <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2010110686" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">9.30am-5pm.</span></span> Closed Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Free</span></div>
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<b>#Librarieswelcomerefugees </b><br />
<br />
Through the doors of the library<br />
Into the marble foyer<br />
We come<br />
To find our poems and paintings welcoming us<br />
We sing our song of what it means to learn to speak, laugh, play, write and read in your mother<br />
tongue<br />
To sing in Lingala<br />
Lingala is the language that my heart first heard<br />
Lingala is the language that my voice first spoke<br />
Lingala is the language of my heart and soul<br />
Oh! Lingala, Lingala, Lingala<br />
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This is a good place to find our words and paintings<br />
This is a place to plant ideas<br />
Where no book is censored<br />
Where you will not be placed in prison for expressing what you think, what you believe, choosing the<br />
wrong books<br />
For painting an image that the government does not like<br />
This is place of freedom<br />
Of independence<br />
Where you can choose the books you want to read<br />
This knowledge you can reach for with your own hands, unforced<br />
Libraries are not free in all countries<br />
They are not open doors for everyone<br />
You can go, only if you have the money to pay<br />
Here you can enter<br />
On a grey winter’s day<br />
Use the computer<br />
Drink a cup of tea and read a book<br />
Here you can sit in peace and warmth<br />
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Here you can quench your thirst for knowledge<br />
Join a group<br />
Here you can paint the colour of ideas<br />
Hear a child’s laughter<br />
Here you can spend your energy reading a book,<br />
Journeying wherever you wish<br />
Not only to improve your English<br />
But to nourish your mind<br />
Here is a place<br />
To fly free in your imagination<br />
To lose and find yourself again in words<br />
Slide your mind across the marble floor<br />
Up the spiral staircase<br />
To where the sun shines through a globe window<br />
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The library is a place of light<br />
Illumination<br />
When we walk out onto the pavement<br />
We see a woman is spending her time to see our exhibition<br />
It is a good feeling<br />
To see her looking at our paintings<br />
Reading our stories<br />
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<b>Post cards of art and writing are available from: </b></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.islingtoncentre.co.uk&source=gmail&ust=1529234076320000&usg=AFQjCNHHA7hxmyDWSfUg_s_vfA62rSWzZQ" href="http://www.islingtoncentre.co.uk/" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank"><b>www.islingtoncentre.co.uk</b></a><b style="color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><u><span style="color: blue;"> @RefugeeWeek @IslingtonCentre</span></u></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;">Saturday 16th June</b></div>
Harberdasher's Girl's School Invites Islington Centre Members to a family day out incuding swimming, art, drumming and a barbecue.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Monday 18th June</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Islington Libraries school events with Jane Ray and Sita Brahmachari</span><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Workshops</span></span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sita Brahmachari and Jane Ray will be working with specially invited classes of Year 3 or Year 4 children to explore refugee experience of people living in their community. </span></span></div>
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<b>Wednesday 20th June</b><br />
Archer Academy (Patron of Reading School) Year 10 assembly. Talking of the depiction of refugee characters in my stories and how my work in community over the years feeds into writing.<br />
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<b>Sunday 24th June</b><br />
Amnesty International #Familiestogether #Footballwelcomes<br />
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/families-together-festival-tickets-46188923313">https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/families-together-festival-tickets-46188923313</a><br />
Come and have a family day and enjoy football fun and art. I'll be offering the welcome and writing a poem about why it's vital that children should have the right be reunited with their families. Enjoy a sunday with your family and lobby for people like Amal and Muhammad to do the same.# <a href="http://refugeestogether.uk/#group-muhammad-and-amals-story-4QqS4NxavA">http://refugeestogether.uk/#group-muhammad-and-amals-story-4QqS4NxavA</a><br />
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<b>Publication:</b> 'A Country To Call Home' Ed. Lucy Propescu ' Published by Unbound following June 2018 Launch. With contributions from many authors in the YA book world about the experience of refugee children.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqT37Hiq98QYxSzsLX_UosQL7Tqa_V72egroD_oG3TfShIFjY8cWxUcIg9UlBgLIC8GTemhaWdsdsX3EpFOYUf5DLZMRR-uwj_wQXsCdtwptyTbkD2S2BVnwyAmbyfku4JwnTEu7kh8g/s1600/A+country+to+call+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqT37Hiq98QYxSzsLX_UosQL7Tqa_V72egroD_oG3TfShIFjY8cWxUcIg9UlBgLIC8GTemhaWdsdsX3EpFOYUf5DLZMRR-uwj_wQXsCdtwptyTbkD2S2BVnwyAmbyfku4JwnTEu7kh8g/s320/A+country+to+call+home.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">'A Country to Call Home</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> implores us to build bridges, not walls. It is intended as a reminder of our shared humanity, seeking to challenge the negative narratives that so often cloud our view of these vulnerable young people, and prevent us giving them the empathy they deserve.'</span></span><br />
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There are so many extraordinary stories here. My contribution is 'Amir and George' (First published by Stripes/ Crisis in 'I'll Be Home for Christmas). It tells the story of Amir, a young refugee child integrating into a city school. He enters the George Orwell Public Speaking Competition and finds himself at the finals at Eton where George Orwell went to school. The story, as the title suggests, is a meeting between Amir and George Orwell. Lucy Prosescu set up a wonderful scheme in which authors could bid for Chris Riddell's wonderful illustrations. Authors were then able to select a school library to benefit by receiving copies of the book. Getting these stories into children's hands feels vital in our times. Writing this story made me think deeply about my purpose of being a writer for children and young people. Chris Riddell recalled his seminal image of Alan Kurdi captioned by the words ' Swarms' forcing David Cameron to experience his own de-humanising language. I'm proud to have Chris Riddell's wonderful portrait of George Orwell as a reminder of why so many writers for young people are carrying our notebooks with us too... and insisting that the individual stories are told. <br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-32265778454103177992018-06-08T10:05:00.002-07:002018-06-08T11:50:34.200-07:00Empathy Day 2018 #ReadforEmpathy <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'What if no one can tell if they're living in a time that's losing its heart?'</span></div>
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Laila Levenson (aged 12) Tender Earth (Macmillan Children's Books) A #ReadforEmpathy choice<br />
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Empathetic Learning is the best kind... when I think of the things I remember from my young years it is always the moments of learning where I was moved by something or someone that have stayed with me.<br />
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So too the books that made me laugh or cry, or took me on a rollercoaster of a journey, are the books from childhood that I remember still today.<br />
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For Empathy Day 2018 I'm heading to Sheffield Libraries where my day will start by asking people to share a story of a moment of learning through empathy that has had an impact on their lives.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumjwn2bXP9_LCGly6Z-_wGa2MJhtqPU2FK5q1quVkAGxODQM0jtiod4LsROKC57v5-iS_hClAQuXtsAo9rfQiySOcU94Ojeg_sfdKiK7VTDbLc4qDQ0rW-raoVXnp0AjNHIVfkwtArWI/s1600/emaothy+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="728" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumjwn2bXP9_LCGly6Z-_wGa2MJhtqPU2FK5q1quVkAGxODQM0jtiod4LsROKC57v5-iS_hClAQuXtsAo9rfQiySOcU94Ojeg_sfdKiK7VTDbLc4qDQ0rW-raoVXnp0AjNHIVfkwtArWI/s320/emaothy+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Mary Lea of Sheffield Libraries at the Empathy Cafe</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">“We’re pleased that people have come along to participate in this project and it is our hope that everyone who gets involved in our Empathy Day activities will become an Empathy Ambassador, using their empathy skills to help others.” Mary Lea (Cabinet member for Culture, parks and Leisure) </span></div>
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I've been working closely with Sheffield Libraries to look at how empathy can be increased through characters we meet in stories. The science shows that it can. The beautiful thing about empathy is that it can grow in us... and the more we step into the shoes of another who we may feel we share little empathy for at the outset of a story... the more profoundly we grow. In my experience the Empathy tree is nourished through reading and writing!<br />
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I'm often taken aback that a character I can have decided is a secondary character at the mapping out stage then become the ones I empathise with the most. This has happened to me so many times now that it reveals what we all have...unconscious bias.... why empathy is magical is because by truly exploring a character's life from the inside out, by walking in their shoes, you discover so much about the world and about your own world view, and your ability to expand both.<br />
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That's why I am delighted that 'Tender Earth' has been selected as one of this year's #ReadforEmpathy books.<br />
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Sheffield Libraries have chosen themes in 'Tender Earth ' that are key issues in their communities. Their aim, in inviting me to work with them, is to explore how reading about characters and situations that are relevant in their own community can help people to increase empathy for one another across generations, cultures and religions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MCI39NWodoyYluGJ0R5XIGRMbMRzI0ksmwpqR8MRPAaKDZ6MdZ55wRmNVguhDvVeZkBYlSfu0tw9CpWdpyMXav8nGt1raKPliejPHj79kkZQkH1z6V7K7FG-jK6Z4S7eP2If2P2aL5A/s1600/9781509812509tender+earth_3_jpg_264_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MCI39NWodoyYluGJ0R5XIGRMbMRzI0ksmwpqR8MRPAaKDZ6MdZ55wRmNVguhDvVeZkBYlSfu0tw9CpWdpyMXav8nGt1raKPliejPHj79kkZQkH1z6V7K7FG-jK6Z4S7eP2If2P2aL5A/s320/9781509812509tender+earth_3_jpg_264_400.jpg" width="209" /></a><br />
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In 'Tender Earth' young Laila Levenson asks the question<br />
'What if no one can tell if they're living in a time that's losing its heart?'<br />
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She can't stand the idea of that but at first she's overwhelmed by navigating through some of today's very present realities that impact directly on her and her friend's lives. Poverty inequality, racism and religious intolerence. Laila doesn't know how she can change things but once she starts to feel true empathy for the people around her, a portal opens that leads her to understand how her feeling for others can be transformed into empathetic action that can change her community for the better.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Published by Macmillan Children's Books 2017 </span><br />
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Articles:<br />
The Read For Empathy Titles<br />
<a href="https://literature.britishcouncil.org/blog/2018/ordinary-human-life/">https://literature.britishcouncil.org/blog/2018/ordinary-human-life/</a><br />
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Walking in Empathy Shoes<br />
<a href="http://justimagine.co.uk/2017/06/09/walking-this-tender-earth-in-empathy-shoes-by-sita-brahmachari/">http://justimagine.co.uk/2017/06/09/walking-this-tender-earth-in-empathy-shoes-by-sita-brahmachari/</a><br />
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Tender Earth nominations and awards:<br />
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Endorsed by Amnesty International UK<br />
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Chosen for the IBBY UK Honour List ( Novel) 2018</div>
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Longlisted for: Carnegie Medal 2018</div>
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Longlisted for the Shrewsbury Book Award 2018</div>
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Selected by Empathy Lab for their 2018 Read for Empathy Guide</div>
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Shortlisted for the Little Rebel Awards 2018</div>
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Shortlisted for the Haringey Book Award 2018</div>
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Shortlisted for the Southern Schools Book Award 2018</div>
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-4399369178446448602018-01-15T00:18:00.001-08:002019-06-04T04:20:13.416-07:00Zebra Crossing Soul Song - Read it with the playlist!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Published 15th January 2018</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Barrington Stoke Teen Read</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Edited by: Emma Hargrave </b></span></span></div>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b><br />
<b style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What inspired Zebra Crossing Soul Song?</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLSsNBebVNU_xDT592lMCcOMtpqs1bcR_XDxkZnFsW_2VUVXm34J06Mts8Ex2YVzMlRy5HRu-CMPiFVE1OgtjU_VMLEF_jppaNqDyzmr2Rg2IIbveFFeobA8RcpGpvhTCY7aq7LBa25I/s1600/dedication.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLSsNBebVNU_xDT592lMCcOMtpqs1bcR_XDxkZnFsW_2VUVXm34J06Mts8Ex2YVzMlRy5HRu-CMPiFVE1OgtjU_VMLEF_jppaNqDyzmr2Rg2IIbveFFeobA8RcpGpvhTCY7aq7LBa25I/s320/dedication.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Fifteen years ago, when my son was four years old, a zebra crossing man saved his life. I wasn't a published author then but as I have been scribbling stories and squirreling them away since well before Lenny's age(18) I wrote this in my notebook. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>'Zebra Crossing Story'</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>A story about a Zebra Crossing man who saves a boy's life.. the crossing as a place of learning, growing, philosophy, psychology music, river, life.... </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">In the story that has emerged all these years later Lenny looks back at his growing up through memories on the crossing from nursery to sixth form. As I wrote I myself was taken back to the hideous moment that every parent and carer fears of losing sight of their young child....only to find them heading for a busy road. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: right;"><b>The Zebra stripes are no longer accompanied by a crossing person but every time I walk across the zebra I thank the crossing man for saving my son's life...</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While writing I found myself listening to some of my favourite music tracks to allay the sense of panic that comes whenever I think of that moment on the road.... The tracks I played have become the accompanying sound track of 'Zebra Crossing Soul Song'. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Although I knew little about the crossing man who saved my son's life...the character of Otis came to me... his name of course borrowed from Otis Redding - after all he had and has my true 'Respect'. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Man can learn a lat about hum-man nature right here on de crossin'. Lenny... It all about de way you cross... all about de manner of crossin', Lenny son. Why else you t'ink I pass me life as a ferry man? It important work you know!" (3)</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="color: black;">I wrote ' Zebra Crossing Soul Song' to this playlist... </b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjn5kp0Mi8Wczf8KdXA0EfUSkM1HnpGI4wh52ZEN7IrdWkyAPSwnN5MsESt9A-EDzzaetmXmtaAKzziyIUtKyPzlpgbV1bKxAUUXeBNzKry6uZbXxzSg6QglqgQelRfM-DCOPv031kvT4/s1600/Zebra+scrap+book.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjn5kp0Mi8Wczf8KdXA0EfUSkM1HnpGI4wh52ZEN7IrdWkyAPSwnN5MsESt9A-EDzzaetmXmtaAKzziyIUtKyPzlpgbV1bKxAUUXeBNzKry6uZbXxzSg6QglqgQelRfM-DCOPv031kvT4/s640/Zebra+scrap+book.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">There are no chapters in Zebra Crossing Soul Song... but tracks and a playlist to listen as you read...</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Listening to 'Father and Son' by Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) gave me the idea to create a lyrical dialogue between a boy and the Zebra Crossing Man who saved his life many years before. It also prompted me to create a different kind of family unit than that song depicts. Lenny has two dads in Kwame and David. Many people have influenced Lenny's growing up but it's Otis who has had the greatest impact...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'He taught me to think of words like songs</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">in my head</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Otis was the best teacher I ever had</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And now school's ending</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No Island in the middle</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Otis is gone</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And I'm moving on</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Otis was a crossing man</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Otis was a ferry man</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Otis was a river of thought</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Otis was a river of words.'</span></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpaAZI-XTvMaij4OIodTvc7H6ha8FUP-eozvSYrfjVaFz7Uk4bgX1qX4EzajA-xYyw87otjYfblhuG6OaYm8YdkO1NjBviW-rnrZEYYneX3re-S3qYYrTNu591_3itxwTZ9xgRTKVEkU/s1600/Zebra+inserts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpaAZI-XTvMaij4OIodTvc7H6ha8FUP-eozvSYrfjVaFz7Uk4bgX1qX4EzajA-xYyw87otjYfblhuG6OaYm8YdkO1NjBviW-rnrZEYYneX3re-S3qYYrTNu591_3itxwTZ9xgRTKVEkU/s320/Zebra+inserts.JPG" width="320" /></b></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lenny is re-taking his A' Level Psychology....</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Recently I listened to a radio programme about the increase in the search for 'perfectionism' among young people and the negative impact it's having on levels of anxiety and mental health. From what I gleaned the psychiatrist said the causes had interlocking spurs but were broadly:</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Personal as public - The presence of the Selfie and the production of ourselves, and our bodies as a potential site of perfectionism targeted for improvement. What's your best angle?'</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Educational - The constant reaching for targets and A * results rather than a focus on the process of learning. </span></span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Societal - The need to bring order to a world that can seem increasingly unpredictable, insecure, fractured and chaotic... where plotting a future path may seem for many young people an impossible task</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-0BMC4SLuZ37zwGbrwEIdbpgk02mzSPQQ1a3cjSaGPdaOZ3eOsOLVe49Yy75i7Z1hncMwolZ1Sm-1jpZ0CWOeYMNpliOHJRBtPWcGxehLpD88sQXnCwRbeKKyUigSf2dSgnUd1Aq_4c/s1600/back+cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-0BMC4SLuZ37zwGbrwEIdbpgk02mzSPQQ1a3cjSaGPdaOZ3eOsOLVe49Yy75i7Z1hncMwolZ1Sm-1jpZ0CWOeYMNpliOHJRBtPWcGxehLpD88sQXnCwRbeKKyUigSf2dSgnUd1Aq_4c/s400/back+cover.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>As Lenny grows up... the pressure of life soars....</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lenny struggles with the pressures and challenges that growing up today places on all young people just stepping out into the world...He's </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">re-taking his A' Level Psychology and struggling with revision on the subject of 'memory.' There are so many questions and expectations... Why did Otis 'lose it' on the Crossing? Why has he gone away? What will Lenny do with his life after exams? He's drowning in the 'Career Fair' requirements to 'Plot his journey forward.' and he's lost the one person in the world he could really work things out with.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But Lenny, like Otis is growing into a songman... finding in music a place to be, to relax, to explore his deepest thoughts, ideas and aspirations for himself and the impact he can make on the world, but most of all Lenny is starting to find out that there is more than one way to make the crossing...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>'Listen up now, man, if you waan be a </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>musi-shan</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Tek a lyric down</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Catch dem word dat hinspire</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>listen deep inside de music</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>See what plays thru ya</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>See what plays true to ya'</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>(38)</b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiobecw2mCaOzW7hD08z2ayhcDgTW6nXKOKbCZmmOPPmZHV-Vtzpq7IVjA9GWJTt6ca06sds8zT00D_mEN1t9o7zp36elI8kokBd7q-vE6afvoAJM9MoHbGa5h1Wcnf3vKYD9XQCQWrc/s1600/music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiobecw2mCaOzW7hD08z2ayhcDgTW6nXKOKbCZmmOPPmZHV-Vtzpq7IVjA9GWJTt6ca06sds8zT00D_mEN1t9o7zp36elI8kokBd7q-vE6afvoAJM9MoHbGa5h1Wcnf3vKYD9XQCQWrc/s320/music.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Zebra Crossing Soul Song is available to buy here:<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/zebra-crossing-soul-song/">https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/zebra-crossing-soul-song/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">Poster available:</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfX4S2V9ZE5fhRttDLLF8-fA7iXQnwCP0Ce2-guE-4Tp0DDtULw6kIJ4EotdX_Pqt3LmI8unIq_lMN7GEOlNBu8j-9yHjBFOxDvuPfjRJ_XyAfx88R_UWogs3M_aNWkU5gyCNbOcQb7V8/s1600/sita_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfX4S2V9ZE5fhRttDLLF8-fA7iXQnwCP0Ce2-guE-4Tp0DDtULw6kIJ4EotdX_Pqt3LmI8unIq_lMN7GEOlNBu8j-9yHjBFOxDvuPfjRJ_XyAfx88R_UWogs3M_aNWkU5gyCNbOcQb7V8/s320/sita_poster.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Want a poster of all four Barrington Stoke titles for your class or library?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">You can download the poster here;</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"></span>https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/sita-brahmachari-poster/</span><br />
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References:<br />
<a href="https://reading-well.org.uk/books/books-on-prescription/young-people-s-mental-health/general/3872747">https://reading-well.org.uk/books/books-on-prescription/young-people-s-mental-health/general/3872747</a><br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-43373949102243571432017-12-31T09:45:00.002-08:002017-12-31T13:24:38.596-08:00Note for New Year <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFYsg_zzBlzdAJ7YMUICjj-HATDwko32nI7FoqyrY9HWMXLKgildmH5ksRjxslROU0nDRUEuVwJMyUJsEzZwHhSiJXzQquv2TcLJyn6m2vSg4h3H8AZehkxKDR8cWDwDj7EIPvtWrhcc/s1600/new+year+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFYsg_zzBlzdAJ7YMUICjj-HATDwko32nI7FoqyrY9HWMXLKgildmH5ksRjxslROU0nDRUEuVwJMyUJsEzZwHhSiJXzQquv2TcLJyn6m2vSg4h3H8AZehkxKDR8cWDwDj7EIPvtWrhcc/s640/new+year+sign.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In the time between Christmas and New Year... while walking in Queen's Wood where my novel 'Red Leaves' is set, I came across this sign. To the old signpost that used to contain directions to a frog pool and the locality have been added quotes from literature and music from creative voices singing through the woods from yesteryear.<br />
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This sign - and the jigsaw being made on our table...got me thinking about the possibilities that New Year always brings... for re-building, renovating, and creating new directions. This jigsaw map of London will soon become dated as street names, sculptures, memorials and new buildings are added...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehyjezD3K1pMgqw5QSLek5gTVALF9QvCURNqK58uJN5oTgfgWqy-BdrPZJ37YTRtUHHOJILj0NNHBlUCiCkZOBHao9rGj7JDqn3anFSbBQylVBDFTmvEhUcg00kH4Xh7bQsViE1YTLU8/s1600/jigsaw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehyjezD3K1pMgqw5QSLek5gTVALF9QvCURNqK58uJN5oTgfgWqy-BdrPZJ37YTRtUHHOJILj0NNHBlUCiCkZOBHao9rGj7JDqn3anFSbBQylVBDFTmvEhUcg00kH4Xh7bQsViE1YTLU8/s320/jigsaw.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Creativity is possibly the most underrated and difficult-to-measure force for good and change. By its nature it is fluid and flowing as a river, and the new directions in Queens Wood where ancient woodland, frog ponds, literature and music are all contained within the same signpost gives me hope that 2018 will be a year to celebrate creative thinking.<br />
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Happy New Year and go 'Dance By the Moonlight!'<br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-92183676354773204642017-12-11T10:33:00.004-08:002017-12-11T13:13:40.224-08:00Hands of Friendship #Grenfell Tower<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbx18-VfG8UX-U9rA-TjlgQs0-iQRmeDJE7ABFiYBeQ8Nmww8LeqhQBvqgSUBJWsE6HeSQTA4NJeCq8bXi-Duhmbv5dm0R9rZVGfbCyuZJg7jUTspPvP6ZNIRd2jTy0AoAliY5ssZlIM/s1600/hands+agan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbx18-VfG8UX-U9rA-TjlgQs0-iQRmeDJE7ABFiYBeQ8Nmww8LeqhQBvqgSUBJWsE6HeSQTA4NJeCq8bXi-Duhmbv5dm0R9rZVGfbCyuZJg7jUTspPvP6ZNIRd2jTy0AoAliY5ssZlIM/s320/hands+agan.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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On 8th December I attended an Authors for Grenfell visit to St Thomas More Catholic School in Wood Green. The school had bid for an author visit offered as part of the Authors for Grenfell auction that saw hundreds of authors and publishers bid for lotts to raise money for the survivors of Grenfell immediately following the tragedy.<br />
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That was over five months ago and still so many families have not yet been permanently rehoused. The spectre of Grenfell Tower looms over the West London landscape and is a constant reminder of the tragic losses faced by so many fellow Londoners and their families whose roots spread far and wide over the world.<br />
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Macmillan Children's Books offered thirty free copies of 'Tender Earth' to St Thomas More Catholic School who bid for the offer and we organised for a Christmas event based on the theme of ''Sanctuary'. Like the children in 'Tender Earth' the year seven students wanted to reach out in friendship and empathy to children in another borough who still do not have permanent homes following the fire.<br />
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A central theme of 'Tender Earth' is that Laila discovers that she is not powerless and can act together with her friends and community to show solidarity and stand up for what they believe in. In the workshop we discussed the rights of the child enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Haringey children wished their contemporaries in West London the gift that should be their right... a home. I spoke about Amnesty's Write for Rights campaigns and what impact a letter, message of support or post card can have on individuals whose rights are being threatened.<br />
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Students created hands of friendship with great care and wrote ..<br />
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' We all have the right to a stable home'<br />
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' I give you my hand to hold onto.'<br />
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' Although I haven't experienced what you are going through, I feel very strongly. I wish everyone could do something to help you this Christmas..'<br />
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In a further act of friendship, St Thomas More's Librarian Margaret Brownlie has decided to share the free copies of 'Tender Earth' with a school in Kensington and Chelsea where students have been directly affected by the tragedy.<br />
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We discussed the power of collective action. Here is a letter to Kensington and Chelsea Council. If and when the children receive a reply I will publish it here on this blog.<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dear leaders of Kensington Council,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We, year seven students are writing to you about the people of Grenfell Tower who lost their homes and everything they had six months ago in the tragic fire. It is unacceptable that they have not been given permanent new homes. How would you feel is you and your family were in this situation?</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have discussed together and the action we would like to see you take is:</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">- Make these people's lives a priority.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">- Permanent homes built to a good standard in the area of Kensington and Chelsea</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">- Compensation for people who have lost so much</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">- Therapy for young children and families experiencing trauma</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">- Give children health and safety advice about fire</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The most important thing is we are children in year seven and all children need somewhere to call home so that they can have a future.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Please can you reply to our questions,</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blessing (On behalf of Year 7)</span></i><br />
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<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Further Reading:</b><br />
<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">New human rights commission for Grenfell Fire</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/09/human-rights-commission-to-launch-own-grenfell-fire-inquiry?CMP=share_btn_tw">https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/09/human-rights-commission-to-launch-own-grenfell-fire-inquiry?CMP=share_btn_tw</a></b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">To take part in Amnesty's ' Write for Rights'</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Write a letter and make a difference</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/write-rights-2017">https://www.amnesty.org.uk/write-rights-2017</a></i></span><br />
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Background to Authors for Grenfell<br />
<span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration-line: underline;">https://authorsforgrenfelltower.com/</span><br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-53313238690489051162017-11-27T08:59:00.001-08:002017-11-27T09:09:36.417-08:00Barrington Stoke Titles - Celebrating quiet angels <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Askews & Holts Library Day - November 2017 </b><br />
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I was delighted to be able to talk about my Barrington Stoke books to librarians at Askews & Holt Library day. I joined inspirational fellow authors Robin Stevens, Anabelle Pitcher, Sally Nicholls, Jonathan Meres, Holly Bourne, Lisa Williamson and Laura Dockrill.<br />
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It was so great to meet fellow authors and wonderful librarians who have such a passion to enthuse young people to read for pleasure. I explained that these Barrington Stoke stories are dedicated to the 'quiet angels' who work with young people transiting through the often rocky seas from childhood and adolescence to adulthood.<br />
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I hope readers enjoy these diverse stories of young people's meeting with adults and elderly people (eg. Nursing home Care workers or a Zebra Crossing man) and discovering life lessons in kindness, resilience,finding a sense of purpose, and the the inspiration to follow their dreams. The lessons learned from these quiet angels stay with my characters Amy May, Rima, Hudson, Zeni and Lenny... forever. In the moments we lack confidence we can all think of and call on the quiet angels who have helped us get through some challenging moments in life.<br />
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<b>No such thing as an ordinary life...</b><br />
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Like Lenny in 'Zebra Crossing Soul Song' (to be published January 2018) young people are asked earlier and earlier to choose exam options and think about their futures. Celebrity lifestyles are very present in young people's lives but the value of less starry work may not be so understood.<br />
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In these books I set out to tell the stories of seemingly unremarkable people, doing ordinary jobs but bringing extraordinary changes to the lives of young people.<br />
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On Friday my copy of the first printing of 'Zebra Crossing Soul Song' dropped through my door. I was so delighted to see Lenny's face looking back at me along with letters from readers saying what it means to them to have diverse representation in books.<br />
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At Askews & Holts library day I spoke of the need to invite children to become readers by reaching out and welcoming them. I think the covers of these Barrington Stoke books gathered together in this one poster offer an appealing invitation to enter the worlds of these stories and through them explore wider vistas.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"> I leave you with Lenny's voice.</span></div>
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<i>'You wouldn't think you could learn so much from just crossing backwards and forwards across a road. Maybe some people would think you couldn't learn much from [a zebra crossing man] But Otis is one of the best teachers I have ever known. He taught me how to think, he taught me about life, and he taught me how to write songs.'</i><br />
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It was great to re-connect to some librarians I've met along my story writing way and to meet and chat to new ones. I guess that there is more than one writer in the world whose quiet angel was a librarian!<br />
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Thanks to Jane Walker of Barrington Stoke for inviting me to showcase these books.<br />
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<b>Poster</b><br />
Want a poster for your class or library?<br />
You can download the poster including all four books here;<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_800070505"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/sita-brahmachari-poster/">https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/sita-brahmachari-poster/</a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_800070501"><br /></a>
<b>Article</b><br />
John Bird - Founder of The Big Issue speaks out against Government Library Cuts.<br />
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/14/house-of-lords-attacks-government-library-closures-john-bird-gail-rebuck">https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/14/house-of-lords-attacks-government-library-closures-john-bird-gail-rebuck</a><br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-31206772605977769042017-09-26T07:20:00.002-07:002017-09-26T07:56:34.783-07:00Reviews and launch response for 'Worry Angels'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This papier mache angel was made for my daughter by Margaret Stowe a teacher inspiration behind 'Worry Angels' </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">'An important, tender and vital story about dealing with and overcoming worry from Sita Brahmachari (</span><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Artichoke Hearts</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">), who handles complex emotions in a pitch-perfect way for young readers. Illustrated by the legendary Jane Ray.'</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"> The Bookseller </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'It's great to have stories featuring young refugee children.' Young Roots (Supporting Young Refugees)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Year 4, 5 and 6 at the launch of 'Worry Angels' in response to the question 'Who sometimes has worries?'</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'My daughter devoured this book in one sitting.' Sally Vanderpump - parent</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'Got sent a little gem of a book. The story and characters really stayed with me.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Karen Mc Combie - author</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">'Lovely little book. Good for exploring feelings.' Empathy Lab</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqvXp_qyHVRSWVs1TFg6zIOLccA2ttPi2mTA80ExfqMJfywrVZ3HS7mkTXLzknxEQqFZNbaCOYohjU_Kbk6znK7t2-eGJXb3DxqM54HKAnD9FRSnZIb4kWTPtXDnjgZt38UhZIBcdR0I/s1600/20170920_153017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqvXp_qyHVRSWVs1TFg6zIOLccA2ttPi2mTA80ExfqMJfywrVZ3HS7mkTXLzknxEQqFZNbaCOYohjU_Kbk6znK7t2-eGJXb3DxqM54HKAnD9FRSnZIb4kWTPtXDnjgZt38UhZIBcdR0I/s320/20170920_153017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Margaret Stowe - an inspiration behind the teacher Grace in 'Worry Angels' holding her favourte childhood book about angels and Jane Ray whose beautiful illustrations grace the pages of 'Worry Angels'.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">‘A wonderfully sensitive and emotive story. Amy’s experience of anxiety provides children with an excellent opportunity to develop their own empathy skills. The journey that Amy and Rima take towards being happier , more confident girls is an important one. All children would respond to the characters and issues presented in the book, of course children with dyslexia and the learning anxieties that can bring and I would especially love to teach this book in an SEN context to a small group of children identified as having anxiety, emotional literacy and mental health needs. The teaching resources are very effective and will prompt some excellent discussion.’ </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Roseann Arrowsmith - Primary SEN Teacher</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">'I am moved by Sita's appreciation of sand play. This delightful story speaks to the heart of the lonely, worried child. I hope it is discovered by the many young people who can be gently helped by it.' </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Maggie</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Barron</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> - Sand Play Therapist</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs Alam, Rima and her family, recently arrived from a refugee camp in Syria, breathe in 'The smell of welcome' </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">'Sita Brahmachari handles the girls' emotions with a great deal of sensitivity: there's never any sense that one girl's worries are more valid than another's or that they should be able to cope.' The Book Bag</span></div>
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<div class="m_8383985620173582412aolmail_gmail_default">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">'Worry Angels </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">is a lovely, moving story, current and straightforward touching on the many facets of change, transition and upheaval that </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">affect</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> young people. It touches on so many truths about the need for greater welfare care in our school systems and the fact that there are so many young people in need of a Grace. Every school should have at least one Grace'</span></span><span style="background-color: white;">and the fact that we don't have people like her already in place makes me realize just how many students we are potentially letting down. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">If I look at my own 'box' at school it is full of students of different ages and needs </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">- they</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";"> find connections and build friendships simply by sharing a safe 'space'. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">I see the changes in my </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">students</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";"> and how their confidence grows just like Amy May. I </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">welcome the fact that ' Worry Angels ' raises the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">misconception</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";"> that if students can't make it over the threshold into school it means they are refusing and being defiant. They are not </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">strong and determined</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";"> <wbr></wbr>children - far from it! The story </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">also raises awareness of how detrimental the pace of modern living can be and how children need space to process that. I often feel sad that living in a large city means we very often don't have extended </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">family</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> near us - an aunt or granny or someone our children can just wander down the road and </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">share</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> a cup of tea with.' </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tracey Copley - Student Welfare (Highgate Wood School, London)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Teacher Resources for 'Worry Angels' are downloadable here:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/worry-angels-resources/">https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/worry-angels-resources/</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_416609919"><br /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif;">To buy the book:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/worry-angels/">https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/worry-angels/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Click this link to view this animation Book Trailer for 'Worry Angels' by Grace Emily Manning.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.minervareads.com/worry-angels/">http://www.minervareads.com/worry-angels/</a></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With book loving angels!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With thanks to the angels: Margaret Stowe, the librarian and teachers of Rhodes Avenue School, Children's Book Shop Muswell Hill, Kirstin Lamb, Emma Hargrave and Jane Walker of Barrington Stoke for a magical book launch for 'Worry Angels' </span><br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-27577679922856741942017-09-15T03:56:00.004-07:002017-09-18T07:10:19.448-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZr2Fd1bGZBzIfVD9Tmsk3nwjCYLOTK0_90I3_9_Eshr8A_4OWp2HRnH3ZiLSZkwNcwb0epQvogoxqDsvpJ9IbFd6GwT2NwTEBpkK2rkaPy4knT84hySmj6cHGm-bxJc5KTg_W9ZvEHI/s1600/IMG-3169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZr2Fd1bGZBzIfVD9Tmsk3nwjCYLOTK0_90I3_9_Eshr8A_4OWp2HRnH3ZiLSZkwNcwb0epQvogoxqDsvpJ9IbFd6GwT2NwTEBpkK2rkaPy4knT84hySmj6cHGm-bxJc5KTg_W9ZvEHI/s320/IMG-3169.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'Worry Angels'</span><br />
(Barrington Stoke Publishers)<br />
Published September 15th 2017<br />
<br />
<i>'Every school should have a Grace' </i><br />
(Tracey Copley - Student Welfare, Highgate Wood School - <span style="font-size: x-small;">Full review below</span>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #5c5c5c; font-size: 17px;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #5c5c5c; font-size: 17px;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">'Amy May knows about webs of worries - so many people she meets are caught in them, from her own artist dad to newly arrived refugee Rima and her family. By being brave enough to open up her worry box, Amy May helps all those around her find a way forward.' </span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #5c5c5c; font-size: 17px;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> (Super Readable - Barrington Stoke aged 8+)</span></i></span></div>
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On publication of 'Worry Angels' I have been thinking of some of the wonderful people who inspired it. This blog post is a homage to two Margarets.<br />
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<b>Sand Play</b><br />
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The first Margaret is called Maggie Barron. She is a sand play therapist and I met her about seventeen years ago while researching a theatre production and discovered what Sand Play Therapy is all about. I created pictures in the sand with her collection of miniature objects, followed thought paths of moments of my life and talked of what was on my mind.<br />
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I had young children at the time and encouraged them to play out their stories and worries in the sand. One day, when working with Maggie I placed a giant egg in the sandpit and Maggie asked me what I thought it contained... I didn't know! But I've thought a lot about the sand play over the years and how placing objects and drawing those lines in the sand hatched a creative expression that a little while later led me to do what I had always dreamed of doing... writing my own stories.<br />
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<b>Papier Mache Angels</b><br />
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A few years later I met a wonderful teacher called Margaret Stowe. She was the nursery and early years teacher for all three of my children. Like Grace in my story she is a truly creative and talented teacher who is able to engage children with her huge capacity for kindness and empathy in learning about themselves through art and play. Margaret was a maker of beautiful papier mache angels that looked like the children she taught.<br />
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I had just begun writing my first novel 'Artichoke Hearts' and I remember at the time thinking that if I did get my stories published I would one day like to write a story including a maker of papier mache angels. Such a story would need to have beautiful illustrations and it's such an honour, all these years later to have 'Worry Angels' illustrated by Jane Ray. We have worked together for several years at Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants. The art room she has created in the story feels like the one we step into each week. As Amy discovers in 'Worry Angels' it is not only children who find solace in expressing themselves through art.<br />
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<b>Impact of News</b><br />
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In the last few years there has been a growing awareness of the impact of world events on the mental health of children and young adults and a concern for how children are coping with what they hear on the news, witness or experience in their daily lives. Children are not immune to the world in which we live and in 'Worry Angels' my young characters Amy May, Rima and their families don't bury their worries in the sand, but find a space to talk across culture and language even though their stories span home lands from Syria to Manchester. In Grace's 'Sandcastle Support Centre' they find a place to play and talk together, to meet each other, to make friends and angels... As Amy May, my young narrator says...<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>'When I sit with Rima I understand that most of the things we want to build in the sand are the same.'</i><br />
<i><br /></i><b>Teacher Review - 'Every school should have at least one 'Grace'</b><br />
<div class="m_8383985620173582412aolmail_gmail_default">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">'Worry Angels </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: "arial";">is a lovely, moving story, current and straightforward touching on the many facets of change, transition and upheaval that </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">affect</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> young people. It touches on so many truths about the need for greater welfare care in our school systems and the fact that there are so many young people in need of a Grace. Every school should have at least one Grace'</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial";">and the fact that we don't have people like her already in place makes me realize just how many students we are potentially letting down. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">If I look at my own 'box' at school it is full of students of different ages and needs </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">- they</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";"> find connections and build friendships simply by sharing a safe 'space'. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">I see the changes in my </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">students</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";"> and how their confidence grows just like Amy May. I </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">welcome the fact that ' Worry Angels ' raises the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">misconception</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";"> that if students can't make it over the threshold into school it means they are refusing and being defiant. They are not </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">strong and determined</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";"> <wbr></wbr>children - far from it! The story </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: "arial";">also raises awareness of how detrimental the pace of modern living can be and how children need space to process that. I often feel sad that living in a large city means we very often don't have extended </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">family</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> near us - an aunt or granny or someone our children can just wander down the road and </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">share</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> a cup of tea with.' </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica";"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<i>Tracy Copley - Student Welfare (Highgate Wood School, London)</i><br />
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With thanks to editor Emma Hargrave and Kirstin Lamb of Barrington Stoke for producing wonderful parent and teacher resources to promote conversation around the reading of 'Worry Angels' including a beautiful animation of the story by animator Grace Emily Manning.<br />
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'Worry Angels' is available to buy in book shops and at:<br />
<a href="https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/worry-angels/">https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/worry-angels/</a><br />
Resources:<br />
<a href="https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/worry-angels-resources/">https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/books/worry-angels-resources/</a><br />
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To view the beautiful book trailer by Grace Emily Manning visit:<br />
<a href="http://www.minervareads.com/worry-angels/">http://www.minervareads.com/worry-angels/</a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1938165391"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></a>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1938165391"><br /></a>
<b>Further articles and resources that resonate with Amy and Rima's story in 'Worry Angels' ....</b><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_454045788"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.unicef.org.au/blog/news-and-insights/september-2015/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-the-refugee-crisis">https://www.unicef.org.au/blog/news-and-insights/september-2015/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-the-refugee-crisis</a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1938165391"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1938165391">https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/webfm/Documents/Education/1introduction_to_the_resource.pdf</a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1938165391"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/jun/27/stories-power-hopeful-world-sita-brahmachari-brexit">https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/jun/27/stories-power-hopeful-world-sita-brahmachari-brexit</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/jan/12/books-breed-tolerance-children-read-errorist-attacks-paris">https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/jan/12/books-breed-tolerance-children-read-errorist-attacks-paris</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-children-and-young-people">https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-children-and-young-people</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://senmagazine.co.uk/articles/articles/senarticles/the-roots-of-school-refusal">https://senmagazine.co.uk/articles/articles/senarticles/the-roots-of-school-refusal</a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1938165436"><br /></a>
<a href="https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/conditions/anxiety/">https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/conditions/anxiety/</a><br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-28960829050999085102017-06-21T09:01:00.001-07:002017-06-22T01:18:43.806-07:00 'I believe that everyone's voice deserves to be heard and everyone's big starts from small' <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yesterday, World Refugee Day, was the community launch day for 'Tender Earth.' It was full of emotion as young people from Fortismere School and Archer Academy expressed their feelings about our world.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following a moving speech about being heard and finding your voice with the wonderful Nina Mansourian Year 9 student from Archer Academy. She and her friend Avisha Patel helped with the research for the book back in year seven. Nina and Avisha were awarded their new roles as Inclusive Minds Inclusion Ambassadors. </td></tr>
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I write inter-generational stories that I hope will be read by young people and shared across the generations...The following quotes are taken from young readers, parents, grandparents, librarians, authors, teachers, editors, literary agents, directors of refugee organisations and journalists attending the Archer Academy Book Launch .. written in response to the opening quote of 'Tender Earth.' </div>
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<i>'Days are scrolls: Write on them what you want to be remembered.' Bachya </i></div>
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'In times like this,when it's so hard to make sense of painful and unjust events, truthful stories are ever more important. If these stories can give hope , meaning and agency to young people are vital.'</div>
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' Everyone should read children's and YA fiction and remember what it was like to be a child and learn what it is like for children now.' Venetia Gosling ( Editor of 'Tender Earth')<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicM9nr47aa8nl2USZLuLgfsZm0e38B1wIF3sgIiXYvuE7c-tvLkg8OnX7DSgbXRynuBGRBDS9aSLWYAHTdEOBSlyYcMrA-qzUF4Z8b6NG6RWOHE75b5TI5PTnSKKgEXxuW-uFqaOz3M-A/s1600/Fortismere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicM9nr47aa8nl2USZLuLgfsZm0e38B1wIF3sgIiXYvuE7c-tvLkg8OnX7DSgbXRynuBGRBDS9aSLWYAHTdEOBSlyYcMrA-qzUF4Z8b6NG6RWOHE75b5TI5PTnSKKgEXxuW-uFqaOz3M-A/s320/Fortismere.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">'I was very moved this evening. I can't wait to wrestle Sita's book from my daughter and have a read myself!' </span></div>
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'Roses are red</div>
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Violets are blue </div>
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Voices are many</div>
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But the heard are few!'</div>
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' I believe that everyone's voice deserves to be heard and everyone's big starts from small' </div>
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'What a very special event, seeing a wonderful inclusive book being launched and meeting one of the young people who helped inspire it.' (Alex - Inclusive Minds)<br />
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'Looking into the children's eyes and knowing that they, I and Alex as well as Sita who brought us all together will never forget tonight. Words change the world, they bring us together' # Everybodyin Joanna Sholem (Inclusive Minds)<br />
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'I've really enjoyed your books so far, they have inspired me to write...'<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvuADa7GJG4LoePSH2E9Id9PoLxU6cGjnEGdXYy9svO0nznISTo6p8pUYBH8c9hZJXSsxGbOgF-st7KoMrel8iERCg3HHeSbg0Voh25TGPByjOWxgthVgBD0VCp-KslV9zQs27wEXpZM/s1600/Fort+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvuADa7GJG4LoePSH2E9Id9PoLxU6cGjnEGdXYy9svO0nznISTo6p8pUYBH8c9hZJXSsxGbOgF-st7KoMrel8iERCg3HHeSbg0Voh25TGPByjOWxgthVgBD0VCp-KslV9zQs27wEXpZM/s320/Fort+4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">'So far the book has been powerful and flabbergasting. There's a snake in the kitchen!????'</span></div>
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'Sita's speech was very inspiring and the book is very well written with carefully thought through humour.'</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">'Everyone laughed at the part of the opening when Laila was contemplating whether a snake was all tail!' </span></div>
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'I was very moved this evening. I can't wait to wrestle Sita's book from my daughter and have a read myself!'<br />
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'At my age of over eighty I sometimes remember things I had forgotten . A shock sometimes!' Bill Tyler</div>
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'Sita's speech was very inspiring and the book is very well written with carefully thought through humour.'</div>
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' I wish humans hadn't evolved to act negatively to those who are different.'</div>
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'I wish for all the world to be happy and for everyone to love each other as equals one day.'</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjeCxRo5o-mpXOdbxn3lSQZy8eMViu8MVF5G93kTcaY6sc-0NLlLBjjgfw9-a5rtu58pKyNkE8dM3dsJ_DMlOtuaU3maiSKlfyjDp3q-VEREwFv1nFGcc_RfftaqfYWfSXCgl-YEo68g/s1600/Fort+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjeCxRo5o-mpXOdbxn3lSQZy8eMViu8MVF5G93kTcaY6sc-0NLlLBjjgfw9-a5rtu58pKyNkE8dM3dsJ_DMlOtuaU3maiSKlfyjDp3q-VEREwFv1nFGcc_RfftaqfYWfSXCgl-YEo68g/s400/Fort+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">' No one should be alone'</td></tr>
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'My grandmother came to this country in 1896 from Russia, married happily and produced nine children, her husband my grandfather died early and she raised her family under such difficult circumstances. She could not read or write. Their youngest child,who was born an uncle,became a best selling author and won a Diamond Dagger Award. How proud my grandmother would have been, and how proud of her children and grandchildren who have benefited not only from the far reaching liberal politics of this country, but also from her and my grandmother's energy, philosophy and wisdom - and their hard work.'<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhONNVxzaiu_u8UwCGhRaURT8h4wJSwzG8flnZ75EAV-9UsW_cwUX5BptGiJQI8fyDSo761yZgyy1rYgRGvodDSucQ9EeZUuI5BhB3VmDHgSuxCcGab92hxrIxNkNPAbi0vPAuQQ9xCM/s1600/Fort+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhONNVxzaiu_u8UwCGhRaURT8h4wJSwzG8flnZ75EAV-9UsW_cwUX5BptGiJQI8fyDSo761yZgyy1rYgRGvodDSucQ9EeZUuI5BhB3VmDHgSuxCcGab92hxrIxNkNPAbi0vPAuQQ9xCM/s320/Fort+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"This book fills me up with hope'<br />
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"Listen to the children" #Tender Earth @Fortisilibbie<br />
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"This books sounds serious and really funny too."<br />
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'Don't think that your individual votes don't matter because you're only one person'<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV20D5hLYGURZ6fWCz_NZHPu9dcE9icyB7CDxO0kUpgntNzwueLbgCVzFx7jY6ytswaSTBBKtOKLphejgRDdtvLaOOGcolcJjkwyfsQ9S2c9icUfhqq7Aed2u71bkyxPin0MRRfEeSPk/s1600/FORT+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV20D5hLYGURZ6fWCz_NZHPu9dcE9icyB7CDxO0kUpgntNzwueLbgCVzFx7jY6ytswaSTBBKtOKLphejgRDdtvLaOOGcolcJjkwyfsQ9S2c9icUfhqq7Aed2u71bkyxPin0MRRfEeSPk/s320/FORT+14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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'You only have one life, make it count.'<br />
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'So wonderful to bring a book ' home' to us, in our lives. Inspiring, powerful message of community in these divisive times. Thank You.'<br />
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'Both my son and I will read your books and compare our experiences.'<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDaivtb97m6gJzjExr2tY7-rxhswUTzEJSlCm2t4POZrEL9ZOu1CwEAgnsB92YTdhD-JZLVicVB0n6kfgHDz9VxeTV_BFEm9LSplq10UpdWoXOPgOWD8C7JnX4nunIrXIsBnQfiJCFFU/s1600/Fort+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDaivtb97m6gJzjExr2tY7-rxhswUTzEJSlCm2t4POZrEL9ZOu1CwEAgnsB92YTdhD-JZLVicVB0n6kfgHDz9VxeTV_BFEm9LSplq10UpdWoXOPgOWD8C7JnX4nunIrXIsBnQfiJCFFU/s320/Fort+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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'Hope for better news to have a future with peace, community in London will be re-built'<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ_df_O7BjEtAFmQFkLVysBZUndNKbk2-f57lTjfGN1yCwGtIYfO7t4C2Hy7p96Kg3_BnGeHmwxIay-t0QzpcbPKXRDEnZ4e3x0WIgT9NtKVQVtpJaO2SmMAUxBttNJIFJugvODIYNh4/s1600/IMG_2682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ_df_O7BjEtAFmQFkLVysBZUndNKbk2-f57lTjfGN1yCwGtIYfO7t4C2Hy7p96Kg3_BnGeHmwxIay-t0QzpcbPKXRDEnZ4e3x0WIgT9NtKVQVtpJaO2SmMAUxBttNJIFJugvODIYNh4/s400/IMG_2682.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Our world will never be perfect'</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">'I was very moved this evening. I can't wait to wrestle Sita's book from my daughter and have a read myself!' </span></div>
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'This has been really inspiring and it made us realize how important it is to find your voice'<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-Euc0ET7S9YTWS5lCGowr4C7ZC5w_YRi8AkhylJ6jTirZQuOmHrqEMMJ3h55QK9o72j5hVAX6ZXYYXlAr0LcuDxP0a8_0VJp08uY8uHEeUhzVlvRLfUlMIfm-2iHeGzwSZDTwkXKVLM/s1600/fORT+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-Euc0ET7S9YTWS5lCGowr4C7ZC5w_YRi8AkhylJ6jTirZQuOmHrqEMMJ3h55QK9o72j5hVAX6ZXYYXlAr0LcuDxP0a8_0VJp08uY8uHEeUhzVlvRLfUlMIfm-2iHeGzwSZDTwkXKVLM/s320/fORT+13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amnesty Banner</td></tr>
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Thank you to two inspirational librarians Gill Ward from Fortismere School (where I was Patron of Reading) and Gill Wolfe of Archer Academy (where I will be Patron of Reading from Autumn 2017) </div>
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Librarians are our national treasure. Without them young people like Pari in 'Tender Earth' who have no books at home will be all the poorer... and as a consequence the whole world will be poorer. I leave you with Pari's voice.</div>
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<i>'I'm telling you so you know this is why we're here like this. I'm going to be the best at things. I'm going to be a teacher like Mrs Latif and find somewhere good to live for my mum and dad."</i> Pari</div>
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Pari, like all the children I worked with on World Refugee Day hold banners up for a better future for all the families in their community... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLvduFQecGOIUag7F6TvmW6AGfnPtI1sqY2AnFiV8MzS3xeitl43MdAISTXEdl7fLBQJJutMabNd2PVBLxeMbk72gouxkXIxnvR2Lv9bGitCRp_KMKftQgt1m0NE7WeQIZjJU5Qqe1j8/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="727" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLvduFQecGOIUag7F6TvmW6AGfnPtI1sqY2AnFiV8MzS3xeitl43MdAISTXEdl7fLBQJJutMabNd2PVBLxeMbk72gouxkXIxnvR2Lv9bGitCRp_KMKftQgt1m0NE7WeQIZjJU5Qqe1j8/s320/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">Thanks to Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End who provided books for the workshop at Fortismere School and Children's Book Shop Muswell Hill for selling books and supporting the book launch event at Archer Academy.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Resources on 'Tender Earth' and other novels about our contemporary world published by Macmillan Children's Books are available to all schools: </span></div>
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<a href="http://the-reading-agency.theshoppad.com/#/product/look-beyond-your-world-promotional-pac">http://the-reading-agency.theshoppad.com/#/product/look-beyond-your-world-promotional-pac</a>k</div>
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Tender Earth </i></b></div>
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<i style="color: black; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14px;">'Tender Earth is a book of our time. </i><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>Sita Brahmach</i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>ari’s words offer comfort and hope and a tangible way to heal our bruised and tender earth.' </i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Gill Lewis - Author</span></div>
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<img alt="Inline image 1" height="91" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=214f90cf9e&view=fimg&th=15bb3e96115c1f07&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_15bb38c443238d40&attbid=ANGjdJ9Vk7QRIE9fpUDVIE-j14QQmFf1sdzu1Cfe_L2yl5FYyGXJyvtqHlpXqPVSXqMITSOa_IiV0DXS4RlK6ri441LEw8h1YVu1-HfmZH1fXGCzNp8vu8VzjwAPMOE&sz=w118-h182&ats=1493736248196&rm=15bb3e96115c1f07&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="59" /> <img alt="Inline image 2" height="89" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=214f90cf9e&view=fimg&th=15bb3e96115c1f07&attid=0.3&disp=emb&realattid=ii_15bb38cc5acf7129&attbid=ANGjdJ-XMkEy0KcTvinj4ZY2cgU9-SgR2TvT8HITSoC6fgq00_pPfD5I1n1ckcZBV8XAWqGhPuGmRnZ5RwOZzwhK1_S08qz4tyYTs6UKD5t-Dic5Sap1dSGkrmVV7iw&sz=w116-h178&ats=1493736248196&rm=15bb3e96115c1f07&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="58" /><img alt="Inline image 4" height="91" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=214f90cf9e&view=fimg&th=15bb3e96115c1f07&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_15bb38f905062956&attbid=ANGjdJ-RaxJGiuK-dtEXP1GN_8E6CywGzTO3Clces-381SyyWQPwhq5r956K82ovQRr2LEtkEbEmpHjYFwxMtke-i9uFp9FwP3TzCQ6LUGIVakDlEGHEHx9dxh5_77U&sz=w182-h182&ats=1493736248196&rm=15bb3e96115c1f07&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="91" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b><i>Tender Earth</i> is e</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>ndorsed by Amnesty International UK '</b></span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"></b><br />
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<b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">because it illuminates the importance of equality, </b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">friendship and solidarity, and upholds our right to </b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">protest against injustice.'</b></b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12.8px;"></b>Thanks to Pickled Pepper Books, Crouch End who provided books for the workshop at Fortismere School and Children's Book Shop Muswell Hill for selling books at the book launch at Archer Academy, and their beautiful display in the shop window.<br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-9366227330597828652017-06-16T07:27:00.000-07:002017-06-16T12:59:29.930-07:00A round trip with many tracks from despair to hope.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This article is dedicated to the late Jo Cox MP and her vision of a just, equal and more united society. Her words will always walk with me.<br />
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">'We are far more united than the things that divide us.' </span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dedication in the front of 'Tender Earth'</td></tr>
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In the world of fast reaction, tweeting, facebook and sensational headlines I find myself drawn to reading longer editorial pieces that are not sound bites, but offer a deep consideration of someone's point of view and experience. I hope that if you stay with me to the end of this article you feel it is worth the read whether you are a young person, parent, teacher, librarian, publisher or fellow writer.<br />
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One of the questions that young readers often ask me is -<br />
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'How do you keep going writing a book when it takes so long?'<br />
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The word 'motivation' always features in my answer.<br />
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It's why, when I have so much else to write I find myself HAVING to write this. For me, as with so many authors I know, writing is a compulsion. It's the way I express some deep elements of what I'm feeling and thinking, it's the way I attempt to distill and find some truths about some of the things in our world that sometimes seem to be too complex, too horrific, too painful to express in words.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken at the Vigil following the terror attacks on London Bridge</td></tr>
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Over the past months with the terror attack on Westminster Bridge, Manchester Arena, London Bridge and now the continuing horror of the fire in Grenfell Tower I have heard many people say the phrase... 'There are no words to express....' but it is a writer's work to try and find words, to offer narratives and stories that may help people find a way to move forward in their lives.<br />
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<b></b><b>A personal journey </b><br />
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<b>Journey: London to Telford as part of Pop Up National Festival </b><br />
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Yesterday, at just after sunrise I left my home and walked to the station. The local park was empty of people but full of crows. I, like so many others, felt and feel deeply troubled and saddened by the suffering taking place in Grenfell Tower.<br />
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My first employment out of university was with Kensington and Chelsea Council, in a job that spanned community work and expression through writing, I was seconded by the council to work with young people in the borough to give access to resources of The Royal Court Young People's Theatre (then located in Ladbroke Grove). I worked on community projects in youth clubs, under The Westway and in and out of school centre at the bottom of the famous high rise Trellick Towers. I remember fondly many of the young people I met there and their families. These same people and people like them are now experiencing the trauma of the hideous fire that took hold so violently in Grenfell Tower this week.<br />
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On my walk to the tube I wrote these words:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sunrise on charred dreams</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Embers float through London skies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Crow shrieks questions to the dawn</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GrenfellFire?src=hash" style="background: rgb(245, 248, 250); color: #590769; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">#GrenfellFire</a><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Hearts and prayers.</span></span></div>
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On my early morning tube journey people were reading the papers with the image of the burning tower block printed large on the front page accompanied by the words 'hell' and 'fire' as headlines. There was silence in the carriage.<br />
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I love visiting Telford normally as it's a place I lived for some years and went to sixth form college. It's where my community minded dad, who died 2008, had his GP practice working with my mum as practice nurse, but yesterday I felt heavy-hearted. Asking myself 'What would Dad have made of the world as it is today?'</div>
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In 'Tender Earth' the young people have to find a way to live with the images that they see in the news as well as what they experience day to day. Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst Carl Jung talked about the role of artists in tapping in to 'the collective unconscious' and that is what my journey with 'Tender Earth' is beginning to feel like.<br />
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<i>'Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will control your life and you will call it fate.'</i><br />
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Carl Jung<br />
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On the tube I was reflecting on the last time I had visited Hadley Learning Community in Telford which was just after the Brexit vote when teachers at the school had spoken of how they feared the referendum, greater division and the way leaders and those in public life speak, would impact on social cohesion and morale and the way they can teach in schools. Of course that was a whole general election away in the past!<br />
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It caught the 6.20 train from Euston carrying a bag of objects to share with young people with ' Kite Spirit' the name of one of my books embroidered on it. Much of that book is set in The Lake District where I went to Primary school.<br />
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I have practiced mindful meditation for some years and our ' homework' this week from the group is to focus on the visual world - what we see.<br />
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As part of this I was looking around the station in a way that I might not normally do. If I had not been doing my homework I would probably not have noticed the name of the train!<br />
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It cheered me because the Lake District has always been a place of great peace and comfort to me, as it is for Kite in my story ' Kite Spirit'.<br />
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I had a brief idea that I would get on the train and stay on.... I smiled to myself and in my mind's eye saw my Dad's smile. I could see him shaking his head at me! I began to focus on the children I would be meeting in Telford.<br />
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On the train I had an email correspondence with Dylan Calder, founder of Pop Up Festival - an organisation with 'a vision of a more literate, creative society where reading, writing and storytelling are widely valued, enjoyed, practiced and celebrated.' We discussed the power of stories to tap into the collective unconscious and to find something there that might serve to provide hope.<br />
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I fell asleep on the train and had a nightmare that Pari (the child of Iraqi refugees who lives in a dilapidated tower block in 'Tender Earth') was stuck in the Grenfell Tower and a woman was screaming for the child to come down. I walked towards the woman and she turned to me. She had my face.<br />
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Dreams are a big part of the creation of stories... the conscious and the unconcious and how they flow together have throughout time always been a rich seam in all forms of art, and after I awoke and started thinking about my dream I realized that what I had done was imagine myself to be one of the mothers who are searching for their lost children.<br />
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Why am I telling you this? I am not that mother. Those are not my children. I am safe. I have my family. They are safe. I have a home and garden I can walk out into, breathe and plant flowers in. I am privileged, educated, I have a voice. We all have nightmares... mine are no better or worse or more worth sharing than anyone else's.<br />
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My point is this - I am an author for young readers who tries to write stories that can help them navigate their way through this world with a sense of hope, warmth, laughter, imagination and joy. I hope my stories give young people a sense of agency, purpose and potential. I have lived a good few years on the planet. I have experienced many things, met many people. I have a safe home, a close and loving family and a voice to speak the words i want to say... and <b>I</b> am struggling to find a place of equilibrium. How then are young people coping?<br />
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There is a crisis in mental health among young people in this country and resources are woefully limited. I awoke from my nightmare with these pressing questions running through my mind.<br />
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What will be the impact of these international and national traumas on young people feeding on fears both real and imagined?<br />
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What legacy are we sowing for the future?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilij5HbHQpaZASzQZ_EcsDMslRX8HTZbwGywsPOOfrTRM7XTO4TOsUJO8lwbp8BHTnq0qH2HPwyWbt9kUVgK8AU2Wv34ipXtu0wpyMEBeoRg_7DDS2fOX9bdE0eKXx8u1zD4nVBWiB8b8/s1600/IMG_2642+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilij5HbHQpaZASzQZ_EcsDMslRX8HTZbwGywsPOOfrTRM7XTO4TOsUJO8lwbp8BHTnq0qH2HPwyWbt9kUVgK8AU2Wv34ipXtu0wpyMEBeoRg_7DDS2fOX9bdE0eKXx8u1zD4nVBWiB8b8/s320/IMG_2642+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street Wishes inspired by the children in 'Jasmine Skies' The wish words showing through are ' I wish for a home'</td></tr>
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I find working with young people a truly joyous aspect of my work. I began the session by putting on my hat and introducing them to the voice and character of Grandad Bimal in 'Jasmine Skies' and I was away on another storytelling journey.... we travelled to the orphanage in Kolkata to where Mira volunteers and the students from Hadley, Telford with their diaspora roots and tendrils from all over the world, became those children, took on their roles and parts and stepped into their shoes. They showed me the wishes of the street children encased in re-cycled rubbish, and in those wishes they expressed their own hopes for the world. We explored together reading and writing as a treasure hunt of the imagination.... and, as so often happens when working with children and young people, my sense of hope returned.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ly8Nl5-sQNcGg6vB49L0TCkBvjBm_qKA1w-xXp0HkDlbomncc-UHDX_0DRFofskCW7BojpTfyRqwwcmjO9Zf5D0RykRb3RhTIayrCV4pulOHKBnmdGLImKlFhIPzJEBCccOr-rMxODI/s1600/Kingfisher%252C+Jasmine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ly8Nl5-sQNcGg6vB49L0TCkBvjBm_qKA1w-xXp0HkDlbomncc-UHDX_0DRFofskCW7BojpTfyRqwwcmjO9Zf5D0RykRb3RhTIayrCV4pulOHKBnmdGLImKlFhIPzJEBCccOr-rMxODI/s320/Kingfisher%252C+Jasmine.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A still from the patchwork of storytelling animation by Grace Emily Manning - a creative writing resource based by<br />
Sita Brahmachari for Pop Up Festival</td></tr>
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On the way home at Wolverhampton I was feeling much more light-hearted as I remembered Diwali and Durga Puja festivals we attended there as children. My mind was full of the wonderful children and inspiring dedicated educators I had met.<br />
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I got on the train from Wolverhampton to London, found my seat and then heard the announcement that I was heading for Oxenholme and The Lake District! (I clearly by then had forgotten my mindfulness homework!)<br />
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'Perhaps you should stay on!' The woman sitting next to me suggested.<br />
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The next available stop to return me to my family, friends, safe home and community - was Crewe. Instead of giving myself a hard time for being such a day-dreamer, I looked out of the window and enjoyed the unexpected re-routing of my journey. The evening sunshine and the countryside opened up in front of me.<br />
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Eventually... back on the homeward track and the tube I read articles about how members of the multi-faith Kensington and Chelsea community had spent another day in a communal outpouring of support and common humanity as they face the still unraveling tragedy of the fire in Grenfell Tower.<br />
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I tweeted this:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Moving away from politics of immigration. What we see in #GrenfellTower humane, multi-faith community response is what makes Britain great.</span><br />
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<b>Being an Amnesty Ambassador and conscious thoughts...</b><br />
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In the schools in and around Kensington and Chelsea and Manchester educators are now having to work with young people ... to help them to cope with their unfolding trauma. I hope that some of the funds collected and most importantly - public funding - will go towards desperately needed increased resources for mental health provision in schools, and ensuring that the investigation that takes place after #GrenfellTower will address that young people, like my character Pari, will never have to live in sub-standard and unsafe housing or go hungry at school again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCTMSvv1_MXTZLtoxSlA3-Zq6iAiArrlmAX9znpa0ceRKuob0MuDgHdkohn8H7wb8Gjmnq2Rk4d5VBjydpEgnVvlRzKZ-w4-LGpQZaCMhX-U1J9fmn69sX4So54XsnQ6xhJVvhPBp7xY/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="727" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCTMSvv1_MXTZLtoxSlA3-Zq6iAiArrlmAX9znpa0ceRKuob0MuDgHdkohn8H7wb8Gjmnq2Rk4d5VBjydpEgnVvlRzKZ-w4-LGpQZaCMhX-U1J9fmn69sX4So54XsnQ6xhJVvhPBp7xY/s320/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
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I was honored to be invited to be one of the Amnesty Ambassadors and to speak up for the universal human rights of young people.<br />
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When I met with Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK and Nicky Parker, Human Rights Publisher to talk about how I might explore this role, I spoke of my wish to highlight: poverty inequality among young people and poverty of opportunity.<br />
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These are the universal human rights that the young characters in 'Tender Earth' their families and teachers are struggling to uphold in today's world. These are the hard fought for, precious rights enshrined in the United Natiions universal rights of the child that must be upheld.<br />
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<span style="color: #500050;"><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some more tracks to follow! Who knows where they will take you!</span></b></span></div>
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<b>On activism</b></div>
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<a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/rights-child-pictures">https://www.amnesty.org.uk/rights-child-pictures</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/youth-activist-toolkit">https://www.amnesty.org.uk/youth-activist-toolkit</a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_335322802"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/13/protest-persist-hope-trump-activism-anti-nuclear-movement">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/13/protest-persist-hope-trump-activism-anti-nuclear-movement</a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_335322772"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/14/local-heroes-saved-lives-helped-residents-grenfell-tower-fire/">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/14/local-heroes-saved-lives-helped-residents-grenfell-tower-fire/</a><br />
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<b><a href="https://www.channel4.com/news/david-lammy-mp-remembers-friend-grenville-tower-fire-london">https://www.channel4.com/news/david-lammy-mp-remembers-friend-grenville-tower-fire-london</a></b><br />
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<b>On empathy</b><br />
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<a href="http://justimagine.co.uk/2017/06/09/walking-this-tender-earth-in-empathy-shoes-by-sita-brahmachari/">http://justimagine.co.uk/2017/06/09/walking-this-tender-earth-in-empathy-shoes-by-sita-brahmachari/</a><br />
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<a href="https://didyoueverstoptothink.wordpress.com/2017/06/13/9859/">https://didyoueverstoptothink.wordpress.com/2017/06/13/9859/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/happiness/at-the-worlds-first-empathy-museum-visitors-walk-a-mile-in-another-persons-shoes-literally-20150821/">http://www.yesmagazine.org/happiness/at-the-worlds-first-empathy-museum-visitors-walk-a-mile-in-another-persons-shoes-literally-20150821/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.empathylab.uk/">http://www.empathylab.uk/</a><br />
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<b>In celebration of the life of the late MP Jo Cox</b><br />
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<b><a href="https://www.bing.com/news/search?q=Jo+Cox&qpvt=Jo+Cox&FORM=EWRE">https://www.bing.com/news/search?q=Jo+Cox&qpvt=Jo+Cox&FORM=EWRE</a></b><br />
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<b>Stories of hope to reach children</b><br />
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<a href="http://pop-up.org.uk/">http://pop-up.org.uk/</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/jan/12/books-breed-tolerance-children-read-errorist-attacks-paris">https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/jan/12/books-breed-tolerance-children-read-errorist-attacks-paris</a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_335322830"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/jun/27/stories-power-hopeful-world-sita-brahmachari-brexit">https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/jun/27/stories-power-hopeful-world-sita-brahmachari-brexit</a><br />
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I will speak more on this subject at The Guardian Teacher Conference.<br />
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/gnmeducationcentre/2017/apr/21/reading-for-pleasure-teacher-conference-20th-century-literature-thursday-6-july-2017?CMP=share_btn_tw">https://www.theguardian.com/gnmeducationcentre/2017/apr/21/reading-for-pleasure-teacher-conference-20th-century-literature-thursday-6-july-2017?CMP=share_btn_tw</a><br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-67506849417419169672017-06-01T01:48:00.000-07:002017-06-15T15:54:57.194-07:00June 1st - Reflections on not letting the nettles grow and Tender Earth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Writing is a lot about thinking, walking, not reacting, thinking again, imagining, dreaming, making discoveries, picking up threads of characters and story lines and finally, many days (or years!) of walks, dreams and word weaving later... a book emerges.</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tender Earth</i> published June 1st is edited by Venetia Gosling</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Tender Earth</i> is Julia Eccleshare's One of picks of the month</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">'A sharply observed and warm-hearted story about change and transition in adolescence, </span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tender Earth</span></i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><i> also carries a powerful message to all young readers about tolerance, integration and the need to stand up for what you believe in.'</i> Julia Eccleshare/ Good Reads</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>'Tender Earth is a book of our time.Sita Brahmach</i></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>ari’s words offer comfort and hope and a tangible way to heal our bruised and tender earth.' </i></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Gill Lewis - Author</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">I am lucky enough to live near a park where there is a beautiful statue of Oliver Tambo for many years Leader of The African National Congress who lived in exile in Haringey. The memorial was erected following the death of Mr Terry OBE who was the executive secretary of the British Anti-Apharteid Movement from 1975 - 1994 and also a teacher in my community at Alexandra Park School.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I love this statue and the words written there by children of Rhodes Avenue Primary School and Alexandra Park School.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXs8EIZcDxTmpZFsUwdM9APt22AddEVtRxDzoWpBtpNxzBTefW4p8Zbq_VCppMejsXmz9VO9dJHGMO0pce1yK5A99nG9fpCADWM3Lg26jmdZSbjNFynTQTjbjV0bxMXd0s13Rj1PhSlY/s1600/Oliver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXs8EIZcDxTmpZFsUwdM9APt22AddEVtRxDzoWpBtpNxzBTefW4p8Zbq_VCppMejsXmz9VO9dJHGMO0pce1yK5A99nG9fpCADWM3Lg26jmdZSbjNFynTQTjbjV0bxMXd0s13Rj1PhSlY/s320/Oliver.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Occasionally, on a dog walk I'll go out with a pair of shears and cut the nettles down so that you can read the words that young people have written.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">'There is no black or white</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Instead we fight for the deed of equality </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Which shall be written</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Upon books, upon land, upon the mind</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For all human kind are equal'</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Excerpt from a poem by Sitara Amin-Tilly - Alexandra Park School </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Sitting in the sunshine reading these words on the publication day of </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Tender Earth </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">I reflected, as I have done in writing <i>T</i></span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">ender Earth</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> on what a long walk to freedom it truly is, how hard fought for these freedoms were and are today and how proud it makes me feel to write for young people who are willing to walk that walk. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLOS-CvcCG-ng_4MoBRFayg3ZCwrAJ07LhgPzi-SLFRrUrCMN5JLPHYgwy7xizKWcI14U85SI0p8wc08JikKgZov3-duYl1n6RYM-WjbjtKTYrWx72wga-yAkkxaMOa7NJpB2LH9fCSI/s320/refugee.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the 'Refugees Welcome' march</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">For these reasons I am honoured by Amnesty's endorsement of <i>Tender Earth</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Tender Earth</i> is e</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal;">ndorsed by Amnesty International UK '</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">because it illuminates the importance of equality, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">friendship and solidarity, and upholds our right </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">protest against injustice.'</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Yesterday I was so moved to be invited to be an Amnesty Ambassador, a platform I will use to speak up for the freedoms of young people. There are many people in my life who have inspired me to do this in my stories, the spirit of these people inspire Laila Levenson and I hope that they inspire readers too. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nZp8DEbVwqAi9RANUs-ECLGEIKh-yqSKAB9ZrT3B7V23ywZRhK18WgZdYn4hSqHECu7UQlfyXZhyeXEpliSJp1E2v_-e8HI8c9R-ZknXOYrLTJLwIUcOuklkVE7xGup1uoqXf3m4W3Y/s1600/Rosie+and+Simon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nZp8DEbVwqAi9RANUs-ECLGEIKh-yqSKAB9ZrT3B7V23ywZRhK18WgZdYn4hSqHECu7UQlfyXZhyeXEpliSJp1E2v_-e8HI8c9R-ZknXOYrLTJLwIUcOuklkVE7xGup1uoqXf3m4W3Y/s320/Rosie+and+Simon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosie Harrison my bohemian artist mother in law who inspired Nana Joise in Artichoke Hearts (her Anti Apharteid membership card) and our family friend Simon Gould the inspiration behind 'Protest Simon 'who Laila meets in Tender Eatrh </td></tr>
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<i>Tender Earth</i> is a book that I offer with all the layers of my heart to young people growing up today.<br />
There are plenty of reasons why this generation may look at the world and feel disempowered, but there are also plenty of examples of where people have stood up to injustice. In <i>Tender Earth </i>twelve year old<i> </i>Laila Levenson hears the chime of an older generation of protesters calling to her across time. With their guidance she explores what it means to stand up for what you believe in.... not only on the noisy march but also through small acts of kindness, friendship and quiet vigils where we all have the power to tend the earth and stop the stinging nettles from taking over.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXPSeQzQjQ37-P_mgE1xWAm0pyT-9rOJ3CE5_xjtRl6MihFhDmi8T6-RhNY1zWkaHRgxOPXSp8d49C8CMLvhJXElCT6PGtynkb8eccEHth9ip4CFfwC_TP69AXuqTl4GU70AVA7tCHRI/s1600/nettles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXPSeQzQjQ37-P_mgE1xWAm0pyT-9rOJ3CE5_xjtRl6MihFhDmi8T6-RhNY1zWkaHRgxOPXSp8d49C8CMLvhJXElCT6PGtynkb8eccEHth9ip4CFfwC_TP69AXuqTl4GU70AVA7tCHRI/s320/nettles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I don't take for granted even for a moment what the right to speak of a young girl's freedom, the right to be educated, to dance and sing in safety and protest against injustice means to so many young people living in the world today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AN-uV2cc26SL3vGpRgQBXroWfP7GcTeutkh99SBC8oDOYOdRuMJvLMRxFkM4oT_heRm4nA3vsyFyOj1jx4gStZ5ECISAt1uu1v_aJqpHbobvC7H9HdfwTkEtVDp2RHipSSe0_Exwxgo/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AN-uV2cc26SL3vGpRgQBXroWfP7GcTeutkh99SBC8oDOYOdRuMJvLMRxFkM4oT_heRm4nA3vsyFyOj1jx4gStZ5ECISAt1uu1v_aJqpHbobvC7H9HdfwTkEtVDp2RHipSSe0_Exwxgo/s320/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Children's Book Shop Muswell Hill on Publication Day admiring the beautiful banner display by Grace Emily Manning.</td></tr>
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<b>Reviews:</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Inclusive Minds are delighted to welcome the arrival of </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Tender Earth </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">on the children’s book landscape. We embrace a book like this that has been so throughly researched and demonstrates such authentic inclusion.” </span><br />
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<span style="color: #500050; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Alexander Strick (Inclusive Minds) </span></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; color: #535353; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Julia Eccleshare's One of Picks of the Month for June 2017</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #535353;">A sharply observed and warm-hearted story about change and transition in adolescence, </span><em style="border: 0px; color: #535353; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tender Earth</em><span style="color: #535353;"> also carries a powerful message to all young readers about tolerance, integration and the need to stand up for what you believe in. Moving to secondary school coincides with big changes at home and Laila finds herself struggling with all the differences she now faces. Her best friend is striking out on her own; her new friend has secrets which Laila doesn’t know how to unlock. When Laila discovers her grandmother’s ‘Protest Book’, a listing of all the protests she attended, Laila decides it is time for her to get her own voice heard. Leila’s coming of age experiences intelligently reflect today’s society while her gradual realisation of her own opportunities will inspire others. </span><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #535353;">~ </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://blog.lovereading4kids.co.uk/2015/04/lovereading4kids-book-experts/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 3px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: 0.25s; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Julia Eccleshare</a> - Good Reads</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tender Earth - How young people will be the ones to defeat hatred through empathy & protest. Gill Ward Senior Librarian at Fortismere School.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">"Each layer in this beautifully
written book peels back to reveal another, challenging assumptions about ethnic
origins, family ties and the stories from the past which affect the present
day. Running through the book like a golden thread are Kez’s preparations for
her bat mitzvah. The ceremony in the Reform synagogue, so well-drawn and
integrated into the story by Brahmachari, is possibly the first time a bat
mitzvah has appeared in such detail in a UK children’s book. Kez has also been on an important journey and
bringing together all the parts of her life for the ceremony allows Kez and
Laila to renew their friendship on more mature terms. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A book about friendship and the
power of protest, this book will have a wide appeal across age groups in our
bewildering times. Thoroughly recommended. "</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Miriam Halahmy YA Author, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> June 2017.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"I love this big, beautiful and important book with wonderful and diverse characters at its heart. Sita explores the complexities and joy of friendship, growing up and realising how you can find your own voice in a world that is sometimes be cruel and difficult. One of the main characters, Pari, is a refugee. For young refugees to be able to see themselves in a book is so important, and encouraging empathy and understanding by others for children like Pari is crucial. Being an asylum seeker or refugee in the UK can be very hard. Many have escaped war and terrible human rights abuses. They have often had terrible journeys. Once here, there are immense practical and emotional issues to overcome. Friendship and acceptance from those in your community can really help. All young people should have the chance to get to know Pari! " </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Jo Cobley Director of Young Roots Refugee Organisaton, Croyden, London. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><b>June Events Diary:</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last week I was invited to be on a panel by the Children's Book Circle with fellow Waterstones winner Catherine Rundell at Waterstones Kensington about the place of politics in children's fiction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">June 1st ( Publication Day) I am off to the Children's Book Shop Muswell Hill to sign some copies and see the human rights window that my friend and artist Grace Emily Manning has created banners for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'll be taking part in an election month blog tour talking about my character's exploration of racism, women's marches, child poverty, refugee experience and empathy in <i>Tender Earth</i> organised by Publicist Nina Douglas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On June 13th I will raise awareness around the much needed world's first Empathy Day on 13th June in support of Empathy Lab</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.empathylab.uk/">http://www.empathylab.uk/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">20th June is World Refugee Day and I'll be at Fortismere School in the morning and The Archer Academy in the evening for a celebration of young people's contribution to the research for <i>Tender Earth.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">22nd Jun , as part of Refugee Week I will take part in a panel focusing on sanctuary and refugee experience in my stories as part of a week long programme of events.</span><br />
<a href="https://www.quaker.org.uk/events/refugee-week-sanctuary-in-fiction"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">https://www.quaker.org.uk/events/refugee-week-sanctuary-in-fiction</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Blog Posts:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">How reading can change your world</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-blogs/blogs/booktrust/1145">http://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-blogs/blogs/booktrust/1145</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On Racism and religious intolerance in Tender Earth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://daydreamersthoughts.co.uk/2017/06/">http://daydreamersthoughts.co.uk/2017/06/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the Women's Marches in Tender Earth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.neverjudgeabookbyitscover.co.uk/2017/06/blog-tour-guest-post-tender-earth-by.html">http://www.neverjudgeabookbyitscover.co.uk/2017/06/blog-tour-guest-post-tender-earth-by.html</a></span><br />
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Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775659570206048721.post-51686456528669843882017-05-25T01:00:00.000-07:002017-06-20T01:39:16.461-07:00'Let not this fill your hearts with hate' <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Let not this fill your hearts with hate<br />
Let not this stop you dancing, singing, playing<br />
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This earth on which you lay your flowers of loss<br />
is bruised and tender<br />
The willow weeps<br />
But still it grows in splendor<br />
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Underneath these concrete paths<br />
Rivers flow<br />
Entwined our branches far and wide<br />
Drawing water from deep courses<br />
All flowing to a human sea<br />
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Make it not poisoned<br />
Drink from the earth with love not hate<br />
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Let not this fill your hearts with fear<br />
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Let not this stop you dancing, singing, laughing, playing</div>
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Protest, stand up, speak out<br />
Sit together in candle light<br />
Find comfort in each other<br />
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Sita Brahmachari</div>
Sita Brahmacharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15419737959629409059noreply@blogger.com0