Tamarind Books Newsletter


Dear Everyone As the summer fades away, Tamarind will brighten up your days with brilliant and inspiring new reading. This month we have published our Barack Obama biography. The story is fast-paced and informative and contains 16 pages of full colour photographs from his early years to his inauguration as President of the United States of America . The author, Dawne Allette, was delighted to read a glowing review by Malorie Blackman. Nearer home, our Black Stars range of biographies features David Grant . His connection with pop music, talent shows and children's television makes this biography a very popular read. When Ben Morley sent in the Silence Seeker manuscript for our picture book range, I loved it and passed it around for others to read. This is a story of a friendship without words which starts with a simple mishearing. The consensus was that it had to be on the Tamarind list. Carl Pearce brought fresh life to this story with his amazing illustrations and I am delighted to report that the book has been chosen by librarians for Spotlight, the Reading Agency's monthly list of the best new books. I am also delighted to present, for your enjoyment, our new Activity Pack with games, quizzes and large poster. May I take this opportunity to introduce our new Commissioning Editor, Patsy Isles, whose expertise and experience will enhance the growing Tamarind list. With warm wishes, V. Wilkins Verna Wilkins - Publisher

	What's New? Barack Obama: The Making of a President By Dawne Allette Published 3^rd September 2009; ISBN 978 1 848530 225 £5.99 Children everywhere will remember where they were and how they felt when Barack Obama became the first black President of the United States. Read on... "The inspirational story of an inspirational man, very well written, presented in a really accessible manner and a real joy to read." - Malorie Blackman "A fast-paced, riveting read, offering incisive information into this modern day hero. Stunning full colour photos and snappy fact files complement this superior biography." - Letterbox Library The Silence Seeker By Ben Morley (Illustrated by Carl Pearce) Published 3^rd September 2009; ISBN 978 1 848530 034 £5.99 Selected for The Reading Agency's September Spotlight programme. When a new boy moves in next door, Joe's mum explains that the boy and his family are asylum seekers. Joe mishears and thinks they are 'silence seekers'. He decides to help the boy find peace and quiet in the chaotic city. Read on... My Big Brother JJ By Odette Elliott (Illustrated by Patrice Aggs) Published 3^rd September 2009; ISBN 978 1 848530 072 £5.99 It's not easy being a big brother. JJ has to look after little sister Jasmine for a whole week! Although Jasmine is an embarrassment to JJ, together they find ways to have fun every day. But not without a near disaster... Read on... Reading between the Lions By Gillian Swordy (Illustrated by Leighton Noyes) Published 1^st October 2009; ISBN 978 1 848530 041 £4.99 This rhyming reader offers an imaginative approach to dealing with bullying, which might even make you smile! Read on... David Grant Biography By Verna Wilkins (Illustrated by Nick Spender) Published 1^st October 2009; ISBN 978 1 848530 140 £5.99 David Grant has fulfilled a dream common to many children: success in the music business. Along with his wife Carrie, David has trained the voices of many successful pop acts such as Take That, Lemar and Will Young. Read on... North American Animals By Dawne Allette (Illustrated by Alan Baker) Published 1^st October 2009; ISBN 978 1 848530 102 £5.99 A multi-ethnic North American group of friends show readers around the vast landscape and its varied wildlife. The third in the much-loved animals series. Read on... All these books are listed in our 2009 catalogue, which is available to download (PDF 18Mb)
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	Free Activity Pack Our activities will help bring your books to life, fire up the imagination and start children writing, drawing and having fun. The new Tamarind activity pack contains six sheets of games and quizzes, and a double sided A2 poster. Activities are suited to primary school children. The pack will be available to download from the Tamarind website by the end of September, and you'll also be able to order your hard copy by emailing cochei@tamarindbooks.co.uk.


	Spotlight: Librarians Select the Best New Books Following the success of schemes such as the Summer Reading Challenge , The Reading Agency has launched a new programme in libraries called Spotlight . Books are selected each month by children's librarians, to highlight the very best that children's publishing has to offer. Spotlight introduces children to the best new books and expands their reading horizons. We are delighted that *The Silence Seeker* has been chosen for the scheme this month. Look out for it in a library near you!
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Tamarind on the Road Tamarind contributed to various great initiatives this summer. Grand Carnival Costume Splash Verna Wilkins Addresses Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Volunteer Reading Help Reception at Parliament Tamarind Introduces List at Church Conference Summer Reading Challenge Challenge and Change in Children's Books: Verna Wilkins Addresses Children's Books Ireland Conference


	Black History Month With the new school year under way and Black History Month approaching, we look forward to more exciting events. Tamarind will be exhibiting at: The Croydon Multicultural Resources Fair at Rockmount School, Croydon, on 21^st September. The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education on 30^th September. Guest speaker will be award winning author and Tamarind Black Star, Malorie Blackman. The Times Educational Supplement Show at Kensington Olympia, London, on 2^nd and 3^rd October. Visit us at Stand C10. The Special Educational Needs Show at the Business Design Centre, London, on 16^th and 17^th October. We'll be at Stand 33. The National Union of Teachers' annual Black Teachers Conference on 7^th November. Verna Wilkins will be speaking at: The Young Librarians Group conference on 17^th September. The Harrow Teacher's Centre on 22^nd September. Brent Council Black History Month events on 12^th and 16^th October. Waterstones bookshop in Islington on 27^th October. Lewisham Library Book Fair on 31^st October. Tamarind authors and illustrators will be running workshops at the new StarLit Festival in Shoreditch, East London, on 5^th - 9^th October. The festival celebrates reading in all its forms with children aged 5-15 from local schools. Verna Wilkins will be on the panel in conversation with a bookseller and writer about diversity in children's books.


	Win! The first five people to email ktapper@randomhouse.co.uk will win a copy of one of our hardback biographies - perfect for Black History Monthe are happy to present the three picture books to be published in Spring 2009:


How To Contact Us For further information about Tamarind please contact Chimaechi on cochei@tamarindbooks.co.uk. For more information about events or publicity please contact Kelly on ktapper@randomhouse.co.uk. The books can be ordered by phone, post, fax and online.