Benjamin Zephaniah

A playful picture book that celebrates the magic of poetry, from legendary poet and performer Benjamin Zephaniah and award-winning illustrator Nila Aye.

A new playful picture book from the award-winning makers of Nature Trail and People Need People, celebrating the magic of poetry. There's a poem on your face, there's a poem in the sky There's a poem in outerspace, there are poems passing by . . . From in your head and in your dreams, to on your nose or even on your slice of toast, there are poems everywhere. In this poem and through his incredible legacy, Benjamin Zephaniah demonstrates how poetry is truly all around us. Everyone has a poem inside of them, waiting to be discovered. Written by legendary poet, Benjamin Zephaniah, one of The Times' top 50 British post-war writers, and beautifully illustrated by his 'partner in rhyme', Nila Aye. Don't miss Nature Trail and People Need People - winner of the Queen's Knickers Award 2024.

An illustrated edition of Benjamin Zephaniah's ground-breaking poem on the legacy of Stephen Lawrence - with thought-provoking illustrations and informative context provided alongside the poem, this is an essential conversation starter for discussing and understanding racism in the UK for children, teens and adults alike.

A playful, funny and thought-provoking collection from the iconic Benjamin Zephaniah. Poems packed with wisdom and laughter, poems that cherish and challenge our world, poems that delight in our differences and similarities. ‘Dere’s a Sonnet Under me bonnet Dere’s a Epic In me ear ‘Dere’s a Novel In me navel Dere’s a Classic Here somewhere’ From veggies and vocabulary to pollution and revolution, this new anthology brings together Benjamin Zephaniah’s greatest rhymes, along with a previously unpublished poem and a brand-new foreword by George the Poet. Timeless and essential, Let Dem Know is the perfect introduction to a true original – and inspiration for the young writers, speakers and thinkers of the future.

In this heart-stopping story, Benjamin Zephaniah shows us what it was like to be a child of the Windrush generation. Leonard is shocked when he arrives to the cold, grey shores of England from warm Jamaica and struggles to adjust to his new life. His parents say they moved to Great Britain in order to make a better life, so he does his best not to complain, even when the food tastes different, he struggles to make friends, and even when people hurt him with their words. How does a 10-year-old boy so far from home learn to adapt to his new life despite moving away from his grandma and everything he loves? Now adapted into graphic novel form and illustrated by Markia Jenai, this powerful story about being a child of the Windrush generation is guaranteed to make an impact. *** 'An invaluable story for any young readers who enjoy adventure and want to learn more about the Windrush generation's experience. Essential reading' – Alex Wheatle 'Zephaniah pulls no punches in his depictions of the racism that Leonard suffers both at school and in the streets in a powerful, moving account of family and fitting in' – iNews Based on real historical events of Windrush, Benjamin Zephaniah shows readers an important time in Britain Perfect for teaching children about inclusivity and diversity Illustrated by Markia Jenai.

A gorgeously illustrated picture book that celebrates our connections to nature and to each other while empowering young readers to help protect the earth, from a beloved British poet, musician, actor, and activist.In this powerful love letter to nature, a child who befriends a tree grows up and fights to protect it. With its spare, lyrical text; sumptuous illustrations; and back matter about trees, oxygen, and the carbon cycle, this inviting, inspiring call to save our planet is perfect for Earth Day, and every day.

Benjamin Zephaniah (1958-2023) was a writer and performer of extraordinary range: an oral poet, novelist, playwright, children’s writer, reggae artist, actor, television personality and political activist. Born and raised in Birmingham, he was sent to an approved school for being uncontrollable, rebellious and ‘a born failure’, ending up in jail for burglary and affray. After prison he turned from crime to music and poetry. He was later nominated for Oxford Professor of Poetry, and voted Britain’s third favourite poet of all time (after T.S. Eliot and John Donne) in a BBC poll. Benjamin was a poet who wouldn't stay silent, who didn't pull any punches, who wrote out of a sense of urgency and a commitment to social justice. Known for his performance poetry with a political edge for adults as well as his poetry with attitude for children, he had his own rap/reggae band. He was the first person to record with the Wailers after the death of Bob Marley, in a musical tribute to Nelson Mandela, which Mandela heard while in prison on Robben Island. Dis Poetry brings together all the poems from Benjamin’s three Bloodaxe collections, City Psalms (1992), Propa Propaganda (1996) and Too Black, Too Strong (2001), as well as some from The Dread Affair (1985), along with previously unpublished work and lyrics from various recordings. The book includes a QR code giving access to Pamela Robertson-Pearce's feature film To Do Wid Me originally released as a DVD-book in 2015 – enabling you to see and hear Benjamin performing in full over 20 of the poems in Dis Poetry on your phone while reading the book.

Follow a little boy's friendship and journey with one tree, in this powerful and beautiful love letter to nature. From master wordsmith, Benjamin Zephaniah, comes a breathtaking new poem and story showing how trees offer us the perspective and connection to nature we crave in our daily lives. The final scene is an honest representation of the devastating effects of deforestation and urban development, encouraging all of us, everywhere, to 'leave the trees, please'.With resplendent illustrations from bestselling Melissa Castrillon, this book is both magnificent and timely.

What is a terrorist? A shocking, moving and timely novel about the choices that shape us.Rico knows trouble. He knows the look of it and the sound of it. He also knows to stay away from it as best he can. Because if there's one thing his Romany background has taught him, it's that he will always be a suspect. Despite his efforts to stay on the right side of the law, Rico is angry and frustrated at the injustices he sees happening at home and around the world. He wants to do something - but what? When he is approached by Speech, a mysterious man who shares Rico's hacktivist interests, Rico is given the perfect opportunity to speak out. After all, what harm can a peaceful cyber protest do...?From the bestselling author of REFUGEE BOY comes a powerful novel about justice, trust and idealism gone wrong that will make you look again at your definition of a terrorist.

Winner of The Queen's Knickers Award 2024To walk toTo talk toTo cry and rely on,People will always need people . . .From the creators of Nature Trail comes an uplifting picture book about the power of people, and the importance of connecting with others. This timely poem reminds us all to be kind to one another.Written by legendary poet, Benjamin Zephaniah, one of The Times' top 50 British post-war writers. Beautifully illustrated by Nila Aye.Praise for Nature Trail:A joy to read with small children - Independent

A joy to read with small children - Independent Chunky board book edition of this joyful celebration of nature and the wonder of the world around us by legendary poet and performer Benjamin Zephaniah, one of The Times' top 50 British post-war writers.At the bottom of my garden, there's a hedgehog and a frog,And a lot of creepy-crawlies living underneath a log . . .All around us, from parks to gardens and flowerpots to pavements, there's a world of wonder just waiting to be discovered. Why not look a little closer and see what you find?This uplifting celebration of nature reminds us all to take a closer look at the world around us, and enjoy the wonder of nature wherever we find it. Packed with animals and minibeasts galore, this imaginative rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud.

A joyful celebration of nature and the wonder of the world around us by legendary poet and performer Benjamin Zephaniah, one of The Times' top 50 British post-war writers.

A powerfully moving and beautiful picture book about the voyage of HMT Empire Windrush from national treasure, Benjamin Zephaniah. The hopes, dreams and bravery of the Windrush generation are expressed in this vivid story through the real-life experiences of Trinidadian musician, Mona Baptiste. Written as a brand-new poem by Benjamin Zephaniah, the book is beautifully illustrated by the extraordinary artist, Onyinye Iwu. The arrival of the Windrush in 1948 is celebrated each year on Windrush Day, 22 June Benjamin recently won a BAFTA for his Sky Arts show, Life & Rhymes, a showcase of some of Britain's finest poets This book is perfect for teaching young children about inclusivity and diversity Praise for Windrush Child: 'An invaluable story for any young readers who enjoy adventure and want to learn more about the Windrush generation's experience. Essential reading' Alex Wheatle

An eye for an eye. It’s very simple. You choose your homeland like a hyena picking and choosing where he steals his next meal from. Scavenger. Yes you grovel to the feet of Mengistu and when his people spit at you and kick you from the bowl you scuttle across the border. Scavenger.As a violent civil war rages back home in Ethiopia, teenager Alem and his father are in a bed and breakfast in Berkshire. It's his best holiday ever. The next morning his father is gone and has left a note explaining that he and his mother want to protect Alem from the war. This strange grey country of England is now his home. On his own, and in the hands of the social services and the Refugee Council, Alem lives from letter to letter, waiting to hear something from his father. Then he meets car-obsessed Mustapha, the lovely 'out-of-your-league' Ruth and dangerous Sweeney – three unexpected allies who spur him on in his fight to be seen as more than just the Refugee Boy. Lemn Sissay's remarkable stage adaptation of Benjamin Zephaniah's bestselling novel is published here in the Methuen Drama Student Edition series, featuring commentary & notes by Professor Lynette Goddard (Royal Holloway, University of London, UK) that help the student unpack the play's themes, language, structure and production history to date.