Teachers go NUTs for Tamarind!
Tamarind Exhibits List at Special Educational Needs Show
Tamarind Launches Activity Pack
Tamarind List at Times Educational Supplement Show
Tamarind Shines at StarLit Festival
Launch of My Big Brother JJ
Black Stars and Silence Seeker in Willesden Library
Tamarind and Malorie Blackman Support Multicultural Resources Fair
Tamarind Attends Pre-Carnival Costume Show
Summer Reading Challenge: 'Quest Seekers'
Launch of Siddharth and Rinki
Afro Hair and Beauty Show
Verna Wilkins Addresses Reading Is Fundamental Conference
Teachers Trained with Tamarind Books
Tamarind attends London Schools and the Black Child Conference
‘Narrowing the Gap’ in Harrow Primary Schools
Building Futures: Closing the Attainment Gap for Black Children
Teachers go NUTs for Tamarind!
Tamarind Books staff were swamped at the NUT Black Teachers Conference, selling £400 worth of books in just 30 minutes. Eager teachers were three people deep around the Tamarind stand during the first break of the annual conference at Stoke Rochford Hall in Lincolnshire, with popular titles such as Barack Obama, Malorie Blackman and Benjamin Zephaniah selling out by the end of the day. All 140 delegates also received a Tamarind catalogue as part of their conference pack.
Over 100 books were sold, making it Tamarind’s most successful year as an exhibitor at the event. “Your stand was so popular I thought you were giving the books away for free!” said one teacher later in the day. A testament to the lure of Tamarind…
Tamarind Exhibits List at Special Educational Needs Show
On Friday and Saturday 16-17th October, Tamarind ran a stand at the annual Special Educational Needs Show in the Business Design Centre. The entire list was on display to the five thousand specialist teachers, carers and consultants who visited for the workshops, seminars and resources at the show.
Tamarind had a good-sized stand on the first floor very near to the main staircase, so was in a good position for attendees arriving at the show. In between the series of seminars and workshops running throughout the day, attendees were free to browse the stands.
Several Tamarind titles feature disabled characters and SEN themes, such as self esteem, inclusion and bullying, in the stories. The books provide excellent support for SEN practitioners. Sales were split between people interested in books for use with children with special educational needs such as autism, dyslexia, physical disabilities and young adults with low reading ages, and teachers and special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) wanting books reflecting the multicultural nature of the communities they were working in. Many of the picture books were sold for use with students with autism and low reading-ages.
The Silence Seeker went down particularly well. Several attendees stood round the stand, quietly reading the lyrical story. Many buyers planned to use it for assemblies and class discussions, and to use its stylish, intricate illustrations to encourage interest from reluctant readers of all ages. The friendship without words in the book has special resonance for teachers of children with little English and those focused on social inclusion.
Approximately 450 catalogues were given out on the day, with a number of attendees highlighting books that they planned to order when they got back to work. Twenty buyers signed up for the Tamarind e-newsletter.
Comments on the day included:
“My kids loved Caribbean Animals. They were asking me questions about the animals for ages!”
“I want to buy them for my own children – not just for work.”
“You’re my favourite publisher.”
“The day has been amazing and getting The Silence Seeker is the perfect end.”
Tamarind Launches Activity Pack
Tamarind’s first activity pack is now available for free in hard copy and to download. The pack includes six pages of activities with a maze, word games and quizzes, plus a double-sided poster.
Each sheet is connected to one or more Tamarind titles:
Choices, Choices… and What Will I Be? for 5+
The Silence Seeker for 7+
The Black Stars biographies for 9+
The pack is proving to be a popular resource for primary teachers, parents and librarians. Packs are also distributed at events and by Readathon, Askews Library Services and Peters Library Services.
Tamarind List at Times Educational Supplement Show
On Friday and Saturday 2nd and 3rd October, Tamarind exhibited its list at the annual Times Education Supplement Show. TES is one of the biggest shows for teachers, pre-school practitioners and education decision makers. It provides a great opportunity to get an overview of the education market and meet new buyers. Over 250 books were sold and 450 catalogues were given out. Several buyers also signed up for our newsletter. Keen buyers had travelled from as far away as Bermuda, South Africa and Saudi Arabia and expressed an interest in purchasing Tamarind books nearer to home.
Tamarind Shines at StarLit Festival
On the 5th – 9th October, the Shoreditch Trust held its first children’s literary festival in Hoxton Square. At the StarLit Festival, which coincided with National Children’s Book Week, pupils aged 5-15 from local schools participated in a week of workshops, book sales and signings. The guest authors included former children’s laureate Michael Rosen and RHCB author Catherine Johnson.
Tamarind authors and illustrators were invited to host workshops. Gillian Swordy, first-time Tamarind author, joined the festival from Gloucestershire, and was delighted to see her book, Reading between the Lions, fly off the shelves.
Karin Littlewood, illustrator of Siddharth and Rinki and The Dragon Kite, led teachers and children from Burbage Primary in drawing their own dragons on a flowing frieze. Pupils at Randal Cremer Primary each designed their own noisy city scene with Carl Pearce, illustrator of The Silence Seeker and The Night the Lights Went Out.
Specialist children’s bookseller Victoria Park Books facilitated sales, and all the Tamarind titles sold out.
Launch of My Big Brother JJ
On Wednesday 7th October, author Odette Elliott and illustrator Patrice Aggs launched their picture book My Big Brother JJ at Leopold Primary School, Willesden. Sales were organised by Willesden Bookshop and every copy of JJ sold out on the day. Willesden Bookshop have arranged a further book signing date with Odette. Fifty Tamarind catalogues were also snapped up. Photos will appear in the local press.
Black Stars and Silence Seeker in Willesden Library
On 12th October, Verna Wilkins and new Tamarind Commissioning Editor Patsy Isles ran workshops on the Black Stars biographies in Willesden Library. Year 10 pupils from Crest Boys’ Academy and Year 7 pupils from Cardinal Hinsley School participated. A PowerPoint presentation gave pupils an overview of Tamarind publishing with lots of positive images of children of colour. This was followed by a discussion about new titles, in particular The Silence Seeker. Both age groups sat enthralled as the book was read out (despite this being a book geared towards a much younger age group) and both groups asked to see the illustrations as the story was read. Pupils were keen to know what happened to the ‘Silence Seeker’ at the end of the book, with many suggesting that they could write a sequel to the book. The majority of the boys, without prompting, mentioned that the book’s ‘fantastic’ illustrations were a big draw and would make them pick up the book. Among the fourteen Year 7s there were boys from Bulgaria, Portugal, Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago, China, Nigeria, Israel and Jamaica and all were enthusiastic about all the books.
Part two of the workshops focused on the Black Stars series. Verna spoke about the process of writing biography, using anecdotes from the process of interviewing black stars such as Rudolph Walker on the set of BBC TV’s EastEnders. Both groups had a continuous stream of questions throughout. Patsy asked each boy to introduce himself and say one interesting thing about himself that no one in the group knew. The boys responded enthusiastically to the task with mentions of first kisses and scar stories in abundance. They were then asked to work in pairs and ask a number of questions they would write up as a basic biography. All were read aloud. All participants appeared to enjoy the workshop. Some of their comments are below:
‘The session was brilliant and fun’
‘The presentation was excellent’
‘Worth every second’
‘Thank you for this wonderful experience’
‘I liked how the event was organized. Fab. I liked meeting famous people’
One school helper (aged 40) who sat in on the workshop commented, "I just read the biography of Samantha Tross from front to back. It was great and only about the second or third book I’ve read in my life. Very good."
But the most touching moment of the day came when a boy wearing glasses and seated in the front row, raised his hand to say that Joe, The Silence Seeker’s main character, "looks just like me", proving that Tamarind continues to do the very thing it initially set out to over 20 years ago. That is to create books that show positive images of black children, so they can see themselves in the books they read.
The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education supports and trains teachers and parents across London. Their annual multicultural resources fair draws education professionals who stock up on books that reflect their diverse classrooms.
On September 30th, in time for Black History Month in October, Tamarind displayed and sold books at the fair. Buyers were so excited to see our varied and contemporary list. Several visitors signed up for the e-newsletter and ordered activity packs. Seventy Tamarind catalogues were distributed.
The fair was headlined by Random House Children’s Books author and Tamarind Black Star Malorie Blackman, who addressed a packed venue in conversation with Julia Eccleshare. Local schoolchildren were especially thrilled to have Malorie answer their questions. Her hilarious and informative session underscored her long and positive relationship with RHCB, and the fact that good stories written by black and Asian authors are a viable way forward in children’s books.
Tamarind Attends Pre-Carnival Costume Show
After the Afro Hair and Beauty show earlier in the year, Tamarind Books returned to Alexandra Palace. The event on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August, in the Great Hall, was the staging of the Grand Carnival Costume Splash.
In advance of the Notting Hill Carnival, 20 masquerade bands displayed an array of stunning costumes. Their themes were universal and wide ranging - from ecology to fantasy, and from Ancient Egyptian warriors to Native American chiefs on horseback. One band depicted an enormous and amazing dancing Popeye, Olive Oyl and Sweet Pea. Other bands danced the birds and plants of the Amazon, the golden city of El Dorado and encompassed emblems of the UK: swans, whirling cups of tea and even Trafalgar Square.
On Sunday, the children took the stage. The young masqueraders were beautiful and confident. The most spectacular was a family of swans where the youngest, a 3-year old 'swan' danced in time with the band. Mesmerising. Many of the costumes were amazing. The sheer creativity of design and presentation were impressive.
Publisher of Tamarind, Verna Wilkins, was on the panel of judges, who reported a difficult task indeed. You will be able to judge the floats for yourself at the upcoming Notting Hill Carnival on August 30th and 31st. More photos are also available on Tamarind's Facebook profile.
At this colourful and lively event, Tamarind displayed and sold books. Over 100 catalogues were given out and several new members joined the mailing list. The event provided a great opportunity to introduce the list to a receptive new audience.
Summer Reading Challenge: 'Quest Seekers'
For the 11th consecutive year, the Summer Reading Challenge is bringing books to life for children in the summer holidays. This year's challenge is themed 'Quest Seekers' and promotes the world of books as a place of wonder and excitement. It is running in 97% of UK libraries. We are delighted to have had three of our recent titles chosen for the initiative - Danny's Adventure Bus, Big Eyes Scary Voice and Rudolph Walker - look out for them in a library near you!
Tamarind Introduces Books at Church Convention
On Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July, Tamarind displayed and sold books at the New Testament Church of God Convention in Croydon. There were more than 1,500 attendees at the conference. Attendees bought over 100 books, took catalogues and signed up for the Tamarind e-newsletter. Many of the buyers were grandparents buying for their grandchildren. One Sunday school leader bought a copy of every Tamarind title, demonstrating how much the Tamarind range registers with the church audience.
Many churches are proactive in children's education, running supplementary schools, after school clubs and mentoring programmes as well as traditional Sunday schools. Between 33% and 50% of the black British population attend church (approximately 300,000 to 500,000 people). Tamarind aims to reach the black British audience effectively, especially through churches. This event provided a great opportunity for Tamarind to meet a cross section of the community and introduce them to our fun and positive list.
Verna Wilkins Addresses Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
On 7th July almost forty SCBWI members gathered in the upper function room of the Theodore Pub near Charing Cross. They had come to meet Verna Wilkins, founder and publisher of Tamarind Books, winner of the Decibel Award for Cultural Diversity at the British Book Industry Awards 2008. Verna held the audience rapt with the story of how she came to be an author and publisher when she realized that her own life experience, of growing up in a society whose literature neglected black children, was being repeated with her own children. Things had to change. Through hard work and determination, and buoyed up by the rewards of seeing children react to her stories, Verna set up Tamarind Books to publish fiction that gives a high positive profile to children from ethnic minorities and children with disabilities. Verna stressed that Tamarind produces wonderful, beautifully illustrated stories that any child would want to read.
SCBWI members were very appreciative of Verna taking time to answer questions covering issues such as how we can work towards a more inclusive society, working in schools, and details of Tamarind's submission requirements. Of the many glowing comments that came back to the organisers, illustrator Anne-Marie Perks probably summed it up best: 'I feel inspired. Tamarind is exactly the type of publisher I want to work with.'
Tamarind Attends Volunteer Reading Help Reception in Parliament
On Wednesday 1st July, literacy charity Volunteer Reading Help (VRH) held a reception for their corporate partners, public sector supporters and other children's organisations. VRH trains, places and supports volunteer reading helpers in schools to provide one-to-one support to the children that need it most.
There were several attendees from across Random House, including Verna Wilkins. Speakers included MP Barry Sheerman, an advocate on children's welfare issues; illustrator Korky Paul; and Tristan, a 10 year old reader from Kent. The event promoted the good work of VRH in primary schools. Korky Paul stressed the importance of imaginative and engaging illustration. An education adviser from Kent highlighted the position of children in care, who often have no-one to nurture consistently the self-confidence needed in learning to read. The reception provided a great opportunity to network and to reaffirm why we do what we do.
Tamarind recently donated 3,000 books to VRH branches nationwide.
"Tamarind books are fantastic. They cover great subject matter, are appealing to children from all backgrounds, and are very engaging." - Volunteer Reading Help staff member
Launch of Siddharth and Rinki
Earlier in the year, Verna Wilkins had met with the head teacher of Clifton Primary School in Southall, who explained that her children would benefit hugely from a visit. Verna offered to launch Siddarth and Rinki, a picture book, at the school. The main character, Siddharth, is an Asian boy who comes to the UK and misses the warmth of his home, India. The spectacular illustrations are by Karin Littlewood. Ninety-nine percent of the children at Clifton Primary are of Asian origin.
The head bought two copies for each class in the school. All the children in every year read the book the week before and couldn't wait to meet us.
It was a fantastic day. The main corridor was festooned with banners of the children's drawings and comments on the book. Verna did an assembly called 'What's in A Book?', an illustrated book-making workshop – from the idea to the finished product. The children enjoyed a slideshow of colourful Tamarind titles. The author Addy Farmer did workshops with the children on writing. Karin Littlewood did workshops on illustrating.
Karin brought a strip of white paper 10 feet long, with a drawing of Siddharth holding Rinki, his toy elephant, in the middle of the sheet. All the younger children drew their favourite thing or toy or pet, and stuck them on the sheet. It turned out to be a spectacular piece.
"Thank you so much for the fantastic morning. The Clifton Team, children and staff, got a lot from you and your enthusiasm." – Head teacher, Clifton Primary
Summer at the School Library Association
On 19th -21st June the members of the School Library Association met for their annual conference. Tamarind and Random House Children's books met with delegates and introduced the latest titles for summer reading. Outgoing SLA President Gervase Phinn made particular mention of the tropical Amina and the Shell.
Verna Wilkins was invited by the SLA to speak at an event in Birmingham. She unveiled to 40 members the Tamarind list for 2010, including Tamarind's first full length children's fiction novel.
The full text of Verna's Patrick Hardy Lecture, 'The Right to Be Seen', is featured in the Summer issue of The School Librarian magazine.
Tamarind Title in Children's Book Week
Booktrust chose to highlight the summery new title Amina and the Shell for Children's Book Week. Activities on Amina and other Children's Book Week titles are being distributed to teachers in advance of the special week on 5th – 11th October 2009. Resources are also available to download from Booktrust.
Afro Hair and Beauty Show
The Afro Hair and Beauty Show is a yearly event at Alexandra Palace where more than 13,000 young and not so young folk gather for the beauty products and competitions, the fashion shows and all the paraphernalia. The two-day show takes place during the late May Bank Holiday weekend. Tamarind has been exhibiting at the show for five years.
This year 300 books were sold, and 350 catalogues requested. The show provides an opportunity to do research for the list, meet parents and children and get names and faces for our forthcoming titles. Usually, the children are delighted when they find so many attractive books where they are the heroes. We are constantly asked which bookshops stock our books. Many parents comment on the fact that they can never find books like ours in any bookshops. Tamarind books are appearing more frequently in high street chains, and can be ordered through any good bookshop.
Verna Wilkins Invited to Open Library
On 20th May, the head teacher and staff invited Verna to St Martin de Porres Primary School in Molesey, Birmingham. This request came from a meeting with teachers at our stand at the Birmingham Education Show.
On the day, pupils and staff dressed up as their favourite storybook characters. Verna did workshops with three year groups on how books are made. In the afternoon, parents and school governors came to the school and Verna cut the red ribbon to open their beautiful new library.
Drinks and cake were served in the playground.
A great day!
Challenge and Change in Children's Books
Verna Wilkins was invited by the International Board of Books for the Young to speak on Sunday May 17 at the Children's Books Ireland conference in Dublin. Verna spoke on 'Challenge and Change in Children's Books'. All 150 delegates in the audience received Tamarind catalogues. Delegates bought signed copies of Verna's books, such as Dave and the Tooth Fairy and the Black Stars biographies. Find out more on the IBBY website.
Harrow African Caribbean Association
On 6th May Tamarind was again invited to our neighbouring borough of Harrow. Verna Wilkins met with the local African Caribbean Association to share with them how she came to be a publisher. A local bookseller displayed a range of books that reflect black children.
Tamarind attend Birmingham Education Exhibition
From 26 – 28th March, Tamarind exhibited at the 19th annual Education Show in Birmingham NEC. It is the UK's largest education exhibition, drawing tens of thousands of education and childcare professionals. It was a great opportunity to introduce Tamarind to new buyers from all over the UK. We were thrilled to have two of our books chosen for a review on Teachers TV. This was broadcast as part of their show coverage on Friday 27th. Attendees took away around 600 catalogues and 100 posters.
Verna Visits Grange First School
On Tuesday 24th March, Verna Wilkins visited Grange First School in Harrow. Verna was invited to speak to the children as part of Respect Week. Across the curriculum, the focus was on self respect and aspirations, respect for others and for the wider community.
Verna ran story telling sessions with the nursery and infants classes using the children's classic Dave and The Tooth Fairy. She held a What's in a Book? workshop, which demystifies the publishing process from an idea to a finished, published book. Year 3 pupils thought about their aspirations through the accessible Black Stars biographies, thinking about what they could achieve by doing their best.
There was an overwhelmingly positive response from the day.
Comments from Year 3 children:
'Wow! reading is fun, writing is even better!''
'I like reading books and writing even more now!'
'I was interested in the colours that the printers used to make the books.'
Comments from teachers:
'Absolutely fantastic. We are doing lots of follow up work… no doubt the children will be writing to Verna!'
'Verna's sessions were very well pitched for the different age groups and really hit the mark! Thank you Verna!'
'I've enjoyed reading the books published by Tamarind. These books reflect children from so many different cultures and backgrounds.'
Parliament Meeting on The Future of Publishing
On 11th March at the House of Commons, Skillset hosted a reception with the theme 'Publishing Skills in the Digital Age'. Random House Group CEO Gail Rebuck and The Rt Hon Lord Heseltine gave keynote speeches on this topic. Members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Publishing, including Verna Wilkins, publisher of Tamarind, attended.
The occasion was held in a beautiful setting with a view over the Thames. It was a good environment for networking and meeting valuable contacts in publishing, from universities and in the arts. Lord Heseltine's speech stressed that, despite the gloomy predictions for publishing, as technology moves on, the number of books increases rather than decreases.
"The venue was stunning. The speeches were informative and positive. The speakers shed a favourable light on publishing's past, and despite the gloomy present, gave us hope for the future." – Verna Wilkins
Verna Wilkins Addresses Reading Is Fundamental Conference
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is a National Literacy Trust initiative, and is a literacy charity that operates in the poorest areas of the UK. RIF promotes a love of reading among children and young people and gives them the opportunity to choose free books to keep.
On Friday 27th February, RIF held their annual conference at the British Library. Verna Wilkins was invited to speak to librarians and teachers from all over the UK on motivation and aspiration. Verna Wilkins introduced the Tamarind list with PowerPoint slides of beautiful illustrations. She related in humorous anecdotes how she was motivated to set up the company. But when Verna shared the forthcoming picture book The Silence Seeker, listeners were moved to thoughtful silence by the powerful text. Many were impatient to use it in their classrooms before its publication in September.
Delegates left the conference enthusiastic and excited. A delighted National Literacy Trust board member encouraged Verna to join him on the board. Tamarind made a successful contribution to this event, and look forward to working with RIF in future.
“Verna rounded the day off perfectly and our delegates raved about her afterwards. They were all inspired by her talk.” – Laura Fuller, RIF
Teachers Trained with Tamarind Books
On February 10th and 13th Verna Wilkins spoke at Read to Inspire events organised by WriteAway. She addressed around 200 trainee teachers at Reading and Goldsmiths Universities. Verna introduced the Tamarind range and shared the good practice with Tamarind titles already in use in many primary schools. Local independent booksellers were on hand to sell books.
A future generation of teachers – and their students – will now be more aware of the diverse resources available from Tamarind.
Tamarind attends London Schools and the Black Child Conference
This year, MP Diane Abbott invited Mayor Boris Johnson to speak at the annual London Schools and the Black Child conference. For six years, these conferences have provided a forum for discussion of education issues such as underachievement and high school-exclusion rates. Delegates include educators, parents, students and public servants involved with the black community. The event is supported by the government and the National Union of Teachers, among others. There were 1400 attendees this year.
On Saturday 7th February, Tamarind sold books at this event. It was a great opportunity to meet parents, teachers and children. Delegates deeply appreciated seeing a wide range of books representing black children. We also took the Noughts and Crosses series to go along with our biography of Malorie Blackman. Around 250 catalogues and brochures were given out, and over 100 books were sold.
To read more about this annual conference, click through to the Greater London Assembly website.
‘Narrowing the Gap’ in Harrow Primary Schools
On January 21st Verna Wilkins gave the keynote address to a senior teachers’ conference in the neighbouring borough of Harrow. The event is part of awas focused on raising black children’s attainment level and making the school curriculum inclusive. Verna’s experience and the relevance of the Tamarind titles were greatly appreciated. After opening the day with her speech, she conducted a workshop on ‘Writing for All’. Proofs of the 2009 titles were circulated and used as examples of inclusive reading material. The teachers’ comments were enthusiastic and favourable, especially toward the Black Stars series. A local independent bookseller was on hand to take orders from teachers. The bookseller has been invited to take Tamarind books on the road to sell in Harrow schools in the coming weeks. Each of the attendees also received a Tamarind catalogue in their conference packs.
Some of the teachers’ responses to Verna’s speech:
'an outstanding speaker' , 'awe inspiring', 'fantastic', 'interesting and inspirational', 'You are the change you want to see in the world', 'funny, inspirational and touching', 'Her vision is what I would aspire to in school'.
Building Futures: Closing the Attainment Gap for Black Children
Tamarind initially contacted select members of Ealing Council’s executive board in Summer 2008 to notify them of our workshops in Ealing schools and our relocation to the borough. We followed up by inviting them to attend the Rudolph Walker events held in three Ealing schools/libraries, as well as to our October launch. We hoped to foster a good relationship from the top down, to complement the grass roots work in individual schools.
The council invited Tamarind to display and sell books at this conference, which focused on raising the achievement level of black pupils. On two occasions, senior teachers bought one copy of every Tamarind title. Several titles were also purchased by other teachers. On the day 179 books were sold during two short coffee breaks in the conference. The council also bought 120 Tamarind titles to be given as prizes to local children who had excelled in Black History Month school projects. Verna Wilkins was invited to give the prizes.
Attendees had an opportunity to:
- take catalogues and business cards
- view the entire backlist
- get free posters
- make enquiries about school visits from Verna and
- give us ideas on how better to facilitate teachers’ needs.
We had the opportunity to network with the speakers, who have good connections in the black community, in education and in government. We are confident that through events such as these we will maintain our good relationship with local schools.
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