Verna Wilkins Addresses Reading Is Fundamental Conference
Westminster Primary School Teachers
Colourful Kids
Round-up

December 2008

Westminster Primary School Teachers                     
Westminster Primary Ethnic Minority Achievement Network invited Verna Wilkins to do a workshop with 20 primary school ethnic minority achievement co-ordinators. Their aim for the session was to explore issues regarding identity, with particular reference to black Caribbean pupils in primary schools. Within this theme, they asked Verna to speak about the ethos behind Tamarind Books.

Verna began the session with a talk about the importance of books in the lives of children. This was followed by an interactive workshop on identity and belonging. Participants were given a selection of proofs of forthcoming Tamarind titles. They were asked, in groups, to go through the proofs with particular reference to learning as set out in National Curriculum requirements. They were asked to demonstrate how they could use these books in their classrooms, outside a simple ‘multicultural’ or ‘other cultures’ approach. The results were excellent.

The display of books, posters and proofs showed Tamarind’s provision of unselfconscious, inclusive materials for the National Curriculum. The event illustrated that using inclusive resources that reflect children from UK ethnic minority groups need not be an extra task for teachers. Evaluation forms completed by participants showed that they found the books to be “beautiful”, “good quality”, “excellent” and “very appropriate”. When asked for one thing they would implement following the session, almost every participant mentioned using Tamarind books.  

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November 2008

Colourful Kids                                                                                                
Donna Panton is a mother of young children and the founder of Colourful Kids. This is a company that sells books that include ‘children of colour’. Donna and many parents were unable to find books that included their children in the main book shops. She invited Verna Wilkins to speak at their pre-Christmas gathering, where Tamarind books were displayed.

On a cold November evening in a church hall, in the middle of Harrow in Middlesex, Verna expected few people to turn up. However, the hall was packed. Within a short time, there was standing room only. Parents brought babies in buggies. They brought toddlers and teenagers. Grandparents arrived, some with children, others on their own. Some would-be authors, teachers and a couple of librarians were in the audience. It was a great evening.  Verna was asked many questions, but the most repeated one was “Why aren’t these books in the bookshops?” 

There is a need. There is a market. We need to supply this market.

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Black History Month

For over 30 years, Black History Month has been celebrated across the UK every October. Black History Month is a time to highlight and celebrate the achievements of black people and uncover their hidden history in UK communities.

Although it is a time to talk about the past, Black History Month also offers a great opportunity for libraries and schools to review their resources and curriculum to ensure that they offer a diverse and multicultural view of the world.

Tamarind is enjoying an October packed with visits to meet readers in schools and libraries. We are also attending education shows to broaden the provision for teachers.

Launch of Tamarind’s Autumn list

Thursday 2nd October saw the official launch of Tamarind Books as an imprint of the publishing company Random House. The occasion was held at the South African High Commission on Trafalgar Square. The High Commissioner Lindiwe Mabuza authored Tamarind’s picture book South African Animals. Booksellers, literacy organisations, illustrators, authors and Random House staff enjoyed a presentation from Verna Wilkins, publisher of Tamarind, who shared the history of Tamarind and the vision for the future. Philippa Dickinson, the managing director of RHCB, welcomed the guests and the new imprint.

Having enjoyed this successful evening, EastEnders actor Rudolph Walker eagerly awaits the launch of his biography in late October.

Visiting schools and libraries in home borough of Ealing

Tamarind’s move to the borough of Ealing in west London has led to closer contact with the schools and newly refurbished central library in the area. On Monday 6th one of Tamarind’s Black Stars, actor Rudolph Walker, OBE, visited St John’s Primary School as part of children’s book week and Black History Month. He met EastEnders fans, signed copies of his biography and with author Verna Wilkins showed the children how to write non-fiction. It provided a rare insight for the pupils to see behind the scenes of a non-fiction text, having the author and subject there in the flesh. He later met with children from Christchurch School for another session in the central library.

On Wednesday 22nd it is the turn of the children from Montpelier Primary to meet the author and actor.

10th - 11th October – Times Education Supplement Exhibition
Two days of seminars, new ideas and educational resources for early years, primary and secondary educators took place on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th October at Kensington Olympia in west London. It was wonderful to meet all the visitors to the Tamarind stand B49 and give away posters with every purchase. Author Verna Wilkins signed books on the second day and was on hand to chat with teachers.  Click here for details.

14th October – Bromley Education Development Centre
Verna Wilkins was selected as a panellist in discussion with Julia Eccleshare (from the Guardian) and author and Tamarind Black Star Malorie Blackman. The panel addressed an audience of teachers and librarians on the subject of community cohesion through literature.

15th October – National Year of Reading in Brixton Library
The jam-packed events schedule continued when EastEnders star Rudolph Walker and Verna Wilkins visited over 60 children at Brixton library. The children had travelled from three local schools and were extremely excited about seeing the much-loved actor. They enjoyed asking Rudolph questions and talking with him about EastEnders. Verna went on to read a chapter from his biography which published last month with Tamarind. All the staff and pupils were well and truly star struck!.

17th - 18th October – Nasen Special Educational Needs Exhibition
In the Business Design Centre in Islington, North London, SEN practitioners met for seminars and to see a range of resources. Tamarind exhibited books and posters at Stand 65.  Click here for details.

25th - 26th October – Lewisham Book Fair
Lewisham Central Library in south east London will be holding a book fair from 10am – 4pm. Verna Wilkins will be leading a ‘Journey of the Book’ workshop with children on Saturday at, showing how books are made. Come and visit the Tamarind stall.

To view further information at the Lewisham website click here.

27th October - Peckham Library, south London
Southwark Libraries will host evening session for keen writers who want to know more about how to become a successful children’s author. Verna Wilkins will give an address on her work as an author and a publisher – come along at 7pm to get an insight from both sides of the book publishing process. For further information, please contact Mike Allport on 020 7525 1570.

28th October - Wandsworth, south west London
Southfields Library in south west London will host a ‘Journey of the Book’ workshop for children. See the progress of a Tamarind book from an idea through to a rough draft and drawings, and into the printer’s proofs. This event is also open to the public and starts at 2.30pm.

1st November – National Union of Black Teachers
We will be visiting the National Union of Teachers’ annual black teachers’ conference in Lincolnshire on November 1st. Attendees will have a chance to give feedback to Tamarind staff, buy books and posters, and get a preview of the 2009 titles.

On September 15th Verna Wilkins visited St John’s Primary School in Rickmansworth, just outside north west London. There she unveiled the making of Danny’s Adventure Bus, a picture book to be published in Spring 2009. With Year 6 she held a moving non-fiction writing session based on The Life of Stephen Lawrence.

Head teacher Tony Hall wrote one of several enthusiastic thank you letters from the school:
“Thank you for visiting us on what proved to be a wonderfully inspiring and special day…The children thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and went away filled with renewed enthusiasm for the printed word… Who knows, in years to come we might be inviting one of those children back to St John’s to talk about their life as a successful writer.”

“Thank you for coming in and doing your lovely speech. I can’t wait to read your new books. We are reading Benjamin Zephaniah, I can’t wait to read the end. From now on you are my favourite author. You have changed my life completely.” – Connor, Year 6.

At the British Book Industry Awards 2008 in May this year Tamarind Books won the inaugural Decibel Cultural Diversity Award. This is the first award of its kind and recognises those championing diversity in children’s books.

The Afro Hair and Beauty Show takes place every May Bank Holiday. This year, in the beautiful setting of Alexandra Palace in North London, 13,000 people attend the show. It provides a wonderful opportunity to meet readers and their parents, especially as many young mothers bring their children to the show. Despite the relentless rain keeping visitors away, the Tamarind titles went down very well at a successful show. Visitors devoured 200 books, 300 catalogues and 200 free posters.

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