 MAMA’S SLEEPING SCARF CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE’S DEBUT INTO CHILDREN’S BOOKS A joyful exploration of family life, written by one of the most outstanding contemporary authors of our generation HarperCollins Children’s Books will publish Mama’s Sleeping Scarf by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, writing as Nwa Grace James. This stunning picture book was published on the 5th September and is illustrated by the brilliant Joelle Avelino. This beautiful family story follows a young girl called Chino as she plays with her mama’s sleeping scarf through the day. Running with the scarf, Chino weaves together little incidentals of home life into a glorious celebration of the power of a mother-daughter relationship, and the gentle joys that build a perfect day. Exquisitely written with compelling simplicity, this is a heartfelt homage to family love. A compelling debut picture book from one of the most important voices in literature today, brought into glorious technicolour through the vibrant and contemporary illustrations of Joelle Avelino. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote Mama’s Sleeping Scarf for her daughter, who was three years old at the time. The story, energetic and full of joy, is inspired by the Adichie family and portrays an ordinary day in Lagos. Mama’s Sleeping Scarf is a picture of family life happening, with its natural hourly rhythms, and all the miracles of the everyday, as seen through the eyes of a child. Chimamanda said, “I decided to write as ‘Nwa Grace James’ which is roughly ‘daughter of Grace and James’ because I wanted to honour my parents. I lost them both recently, I adored them, and it’s become so important to me to hold on to their beautiful memories. It is even more meaningful to write this book as a daughter, for my daughter. It feels like a metaphor for how love never dies, how we remain connected to those we love even after they are gone.”  Chimamanda Ngozi is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah – which was a New York Times Best Book of the Year – as well as such essays as We Should All Be Feminists. A recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, she divides her time between the United States and Nigeria. This is her debut children’s book.
Joelle Avelino is a Congolese and Angolan illustrator who grew up in the UK. She obtained a BA (Hons) in Illustration with Marketing from the University of Hertfordshire. Joelle has illustrated several titles, including the twenty-fifth anniversary edition of Baroness Floella Benjamin’s classic memoir Coming to England.
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 'I started reading and couldn't put it down. A fascinating, essential, inclusive dive into British history. It's the kind of book I wish was available when I was a kid' Joseph Coelho, Waterstones Children's Laureate An eye-opening story of the history of Britain, focusing on a part of our past that has mostly been left out of the history books: Black British history. From science and sport to education and law, celebrate the hard work of brilliant Black people from different backgrounds that have helped build Britain. Learn about key and complex historical topics such as the world wars, slavery, the industrial revolution, Windrush and the Black Lives Matter movement. This fascinating book will change everything you thought you knew about our green-grey isles.  Atinuke was born in Nigeria and moved to the UK when she was a child. Her first love was performing stories and she now pours her creative talents into writing children's books, such as the enchanting fiction series Anna Hibiscus (Walker). Her recent picture book, B is for Baby (Walker) was longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award. Many of her books, such as Africa, Amazing Africa (Walker), which won the 2020 School Library Association's Information Book Award, are inspired by the beautiful continent of Africa.
Kingsley Nebechi is a successful Nigerian-British artist, illustrator and graphic designer based in London. Inspired by African art, Kingsley is recognised for both his commercial and gallery work. He has worked with brands including Nike, BuzzFeed, Google and Sony and his artwork featured in Dapo Adeola's Hey You! (Puffin, 2021). Kingsley is a proud BLM activist, who has created powerful illustrations for this cause for the BBC and The Guardian.  Lil’ Muffin Drops the Mic mixes up classroom capers, relatable characters and heartfelt moments from comedy superstar Romesh Ranganathan. Lil’ Muffin Drops the Mic is inspired by Romesh’s well-known love of hip-hop, rap music and his less well-known love of baking! At the heart of this funny and heart-warming book is that everyone (just like Romesh) can - with a little help from their friends – find something they’re good at. Ever since James's dad left, he can't seem to stop worrying about everything. Luckily his favourite hobby, baking, is a fun (and delicious!) distraction. But no matter how many amazing brownies James makes, he still feels like there's a missing When James hears someone rapping in the playground one breaktime, he's completely hooked and starts writing his own raps featuring all of his favourite things – music, his giant pet rabbit Graham and of course – cake! Then he discovers that grime artist Brukka is on the hunt for new talent and James wonders if this is his chance to share his muffins, his music, and maybe even his feelings with the whole school. If he can just find the confidence… Puffin will publish Lil’ Muffin Drops the Mic on 20th July 2023 in hardback, RRP £14.99, ebook and audio. The books is now available for pre-order  About the author
Multi award-winning comedian Romesh Ranganathan is best known for fronting such series’ as The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, The Ranganation, Rob & Romesh Vs, A League Of Their Own, Asian Provocateur, and as the new presenter of BBC One’s Weakest Link. Host of his own BBC Sounds and Radio 2 show For The Love Of Hip Hop, Romesh also co-hosts hit podcast Wolf & Owl with comedy mate Tom Davis. A Sunday Times Bestseller with his autobiography Straight Outta Crawley: The Memoirs Of A Distinctly Average Human Being, Romesh had his second book As Good as It Gets: Life Lessons from a Reluctant Adult published worldwide in October 2020. Romesh’s last tour The Cynic’s Mixtape sold out across the UK including fourteen nights at London’s Eventim Apollo, culminating in a taping at his hometown venue The Hawth in Crawley, which was released as a special on Netflix in 2022 and is available to stream here now.  An accessible, engaging and essential introduction to the British empire for readers aged 9+, by the bestselling author of Empireland, Sathnam Sanghera.
You've probably heard the word 'empire' before. Perhaps because of the Roman Empire Or maybe even the Star Wars films. But what about the British Empire? Why don't we learn much about this? And what even is an empire, anyway? This book will answer all the important questions about Britain's imperial history. It will explore how Britain's empire once made it the most powerful nation on earth, and how it still affects our lives in many ways today - from the words we use, to the food we eat, the sports we play and even to every grown-up's fixation with a good cup of tea. Because how can we ever make the world a kinder, better place for the future, if we don't know the truth about the past? Sathnam Sanghera was born to Punjabi immigrant parents in Wolverhampton in 1976. He entered the education system unable to speak English but went on to graduate from Christ's College, Cambridge with a first-class degree in English Language and Literature. He has been shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards twice, for his memoir The Boy With The Topknot and his novel Marriage Material. In 2022 Sanghera’s Empireland published to widespread critical acclaim, debuted at number two in the Sunday Times bestseller charts and won the British Book Awards’ Book of the Year for Non-Fiction. He lives in London. Jen Khatun is a children’s book Illustrator of Bangladeshi/Indian heritage, who grew up in the beautiful quaint city of Winchester. She has published work with Macmillan Children’s Books, Oxford University Press, Walker Books and many more. Inspired by her natural surroundings, her favourite childhood stories and the hidden magical moments found in everyday life, Jen loves nothing better than to weave colourful illustrations that dance with playfulness, hum with nostalgia and bring a sense of uplifting appreciation to life and family. She now lives quietly by the coast of East Sussex, and you will often find her walking the South Downs or by the sea with her fiancé and their dog Juno, exploring away in their new adventure!  An essential and practical guide to arguing, debating and public speaking from award-winning journalist, anchor, and expert debater, Mehdi Hasan. ‘Packed with tips and techniques, as well as insights into the historical importance of disputes, negotiations and rows. Dale Carnegie focused on friends but Hasan has written its contemporary equivalent - How to Win Arguments and Influence People’ SUSANNA REID Hasan isn’t one to avoid arguments. He relishes them, as the lifeblood of democracy and the only surefire way to establish the truth. Arguments help us solve problems, uncover new ideas we might not have considered, and nudge our disagreements toward mutual understanding. A good argument, made in good faith, has intrinsic value – and can also simply be fun. Arguments are everywhere – and especially given the fierce debates we’re all embroiled in today, everyone wants to win. In this riveting guide to the art of argument and rhetoric, Hasan shows you how. As a journalist, anchor, and interviewer who has clashed with politicians, generals, spy chiefs, and celebrities from across the world, Hasan reveals his tricks of the trade for the first time. WIN EVERY ARGUMENT shows how anyone can communicate with confidence, rise above the tit for tats on social media, and triumph in a successful and productive debate in the real world. Whether you are making a presentation at work or debating current political issues with a friend, Mehdi Hasan will teach you how to sharpen your speaking skills to make the winning case.  MEHDI HASAN is an award-winning British-American journalist, anchor and author. He is the host of The Mehdi Hasan Show, which airs on both MSNBC and NBC’s streaming channel Peacock. He has interviewed everyone from General Michael Flynn and Erik Prince, to Bernie Sanders and AOC, to Russell Brand and John Legend. Hasan is a former columnist and podcaster at The Intercept, and his op-eds have also appeared in The New York Times and The Washington Post. In Britain, he was formerly the political editor of The New Statesman. Win Every Argument is his second book.
 'Utterly charming and deeply moving . . . Maddie's journey will resonate with anyone who's had to grow up - or who's still trying to' CELESTE NG, bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere MEET MADDIE To her mostly-absent mum, she's Maame, the woman of the family. To her dad, she's his carer - even if he hardly recognises her. To her friends, she's the one who still lives at home, who never puts herself first. IT'S TIME TO BECOME THE WOMAN SHE WANTS TO BE. The kind who wears a bright yellow suit, says yes to after-work drinks and flirts with a thirty-something banker. Who doesn't have to google all her life choices. Who demands a seat at the table. BUT TO PUT OURSELVES TOGETHER, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO FALL APART... With tenderness, hilarity and raw emotion, the novel sharply depicts Maddie’s sense of being torn between two worlds as she navigates flatshares, dating apps, microaggressions at work, the shock of grief, and learning how to become the woman she wants to be – one frantic Google search at a time. MAAME is an assured debut that shines in its iridescence and range of emotion; it is a blisteringly funny and deeply heartbreaking novel for fans of Chewing Gum, Such a Fun Age and Queenie - Maddie's story stays with the reader long after turning the final page, ensuring it will be the standout debut of 2023.  JESSICA GEORGE
was born and raised in London to Ghanaian parents and studied English Literature at the University of Sheffield. After working at a literary agency and a theatre, she landed a job in the editorial department of a publishing house. She now lives in North London with an incontrovertible sweet tooth. MAAME is her deeply personal, debut novel. A high-stake YA mystery thriller that follows three boys at a Washington DC charter school who are forced to investigate their principals murder in a twenty-four-hour period, in order to clear their own names  The Urban Promise Boys Preparatory School promises to turn boys into men, to help the city’s young people avoid society’s cracks. They promise to transform roughneck boys from being at risk, to upstanding and successful young men. J.B., Ramón, and Try have inherited the program’s routine muscle memory: shirts tucked, yes sirs and no mamas, no rough-housing, no missing curfew, rigorous test prep, and more. This is what is takes to be college bound, to avoid the fates of the men in their neighbourhoods. Or so they have been told. But when their principal ends up dead and the cops come sniffing around, the trio comes face-to face with a slew of rotten secrets about their school. And they soon become the case’s prime suspects. With no one to help them, they must find out what really happened in order to avoid arrest. An exquisitely taut mystery combined with social commentary about the way American society too often fails boys of colour, Promise Boys is a Black and Latinx A Separate Peace meets One of Us is Lying.  Nick Brooks is an author and award-winning filmmaker from Washington, DC.
He is a 2020 graduate of USC's TV and Film Production program. His short film, Hoop Dreamin', earned him the George Lucas Scholar Award and was a finalist in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Film Fest. He is currently in development for his first feature film, We Were Born Kings, with Mandalay Pictures. Before becoming a filmmaker, Nick was an educator working with at-risk youth and many of his stories are colored by his experiences with the children and families of his community. Winner of the #Merky Books New Writers Prize ‘Brilliant.’ Candice Brathwaite ‘Incredible.’ Guz Khan 'Effortlessly Weaving intricate intergenerational stories across time, Jyoti has written a poignant funny debut.’Christian Adofo, author of A Quick Ting on #Afrobeats  This moving coming of age story explores what it means to be a person of colour in Britain today, discussing themes of identity and the stories that we tell ourselves to manage trauma. Nik yearns to know more about his father, who died before he was born. His mother, Avani, held hostage by her guilt surrounding his death, refuses to share any information with her son. Nik is forced to create a fragmented image of his father, pulled together from hushed whispers at family gatherings and photos stolen from his mother’s bedroom. When his grandfather dies, secrets are revealed, and everything Nik thinks he knows about his father is turned on its head. Nik makes it his mission to discover the truth about his father and the circumstances of his death, uncovering painful truths in the process. The Things That We Lost is a beautifully tender exploration of family, loss, and the lengths we go to, to protect the ones we love.  Jyoti Patel was born in Paris to British Indian parents and grew up in North West London. She is a graduate of the University of East Anglia’s Prose Fiction MA and winner of the 2021 #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize. Her writing has previously been published as part of We Present's ‘Literally’ series and in the anthology for the 2022 Bristol Short Story Prize, for which she was shortlisted. The Things That We Lost is her debut novel.
#Merky Books This year we’re excited to launch the third #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize, an annual writing competition that is open to young, underrepresented, and unpublished writers from across the UK and ROI. The winner of the New Writers’ Prize will receive a publishing contract with #Merky Books. The prize will also aim to provide all applicants with the tools, information and access they need to develop their ideas, progress their writing and set off on the path to publication.  A Book of the Year in The Observer and The Times and winner of the Visionary Honours Award. 'David Harewood writes with rare honesty and fearless self-analysis about his experiences of racism and what ultimately led to his descent into psychosis . . . This book is, in itself, a physical manifestation of that hopeful journey.' - David Olusoga, author of Black and British This powerful and provocative memoir charts critically acclaimed actor David Harewood’s life from working class Birmingham to the bright lights of Hollywood. He shares insights from his recovery after an experience of psychosis and uncovers devastating family history. Maybe I Don't Belong Here is a groundbreaking account of the impact of everyday racism on Black mental health and a rallying cry to examine the biases that shape our society. As a young actor, David had a psychotic breakdown and was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. He was physically restrained by six police officers, sedated, then hospitalized and transferred to a locked ward. Only now, thirty years later, has he been able to process what he went through. What caused this breakdown and how did David recover to become a successful actor? How did his experiences growing up contribute to a rupture in his sense of his place in the world? David’s compelling story poses the question: Is it possible to be Black and British and feel welcome and whole? 'One of the best books on mental health, race, Britain and the thrill of acting I have ever read.' – Stephen Fry  About The Author
David Harewood MBE is an actor, director, author and activist. With a career spanning almost 35 years, David has performed on stage with some of the most prestigious theatres and across TV and Film on some of the biggest networks in the world. In 2021 David wrapped the final season of Supergirl, a role that alongside DC Comics and Warner Bros saw him make his directorial debut, adding yet another string to his bow of creativity and talent. Through his exploration of important and often difficult subjects, David has become a driving force for systematic and cultural change. From his documentary ‘David Harewood: Psychosis and Me’ highlighting his battle with mental health in his twenties, to the influences and injustices that come from simply being born as a person of colour in documentaries such as Black is the New Black, Could Britain Ever Have a Black Prime Minister and Why Is Covid Killing People of Colour?, in addition to his work with UNICEF to protect children in danger – David is a true change maker in every sense of the word. He has helped raise awareness as well as millions of pounds for so many charities, organisations and individuals across our collective global communities. Introducing Lenny Henry’s hilarious new adventure  Publishing 13th October 2022 Hardback £12.99 Audio edition read by Lenny Henry is also available Recommended for readers ages 9+   The Book of Legends is the new middle grade novel from the award-winning and much-loved author, comedian and actor, Lenny Henry. Highly illustrated throughout by Keenon Ferrell. Two ordinary kids are about to go on one EXTRAORDINARY adventure! Monsters? Check. Magic portals? Check. A dangerous adventure? Check. Bran and Fran’s mum is the storyteller at Once Upon a Wow bookstore, but when she goes missing and her stories turn out to be a portal to another world, they're going to have a huge, magical adventure on their hands. Luckily, they have Wilma, the Wizard's Wife, and Zack, the wisecracking Zebracorn, to help them on their journey. And they're going to need help because there are evil princes, mud monsters and Viking armies all standing in their way... “There are very few kids of colour - and even fewer kids of colour who are also deaf - going on adventures to magical kingdoms, and I feel so privileged to be publishing this book that will make sure this generation of kids can have the experience of seeing themselves in a story that I wished for when I was their age." Lenny Henry  About the Author
Sir Lenny Henry has risen from being a star on children's television to becoming one of Britain's best known comedians, as well as a writer, philanthropist and award-winning actor. He is co-founder of Comic Relief. Lenny is a strong advocate for diversity and co-authored the book Access All Areas: The Diversity Manifesto for TV and Beyond. His first middle grade adventure story for children, The Boy With Wings, launched in 2021 and this year sees the publication of The Book of Legends. The second volume of his memoir, Rising To The Surface was published on 1st September. Twitter: @LennyHenry The magical sequel to the New York Times bestseller AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS, new for 2022! B. B. Alston is an incredible talent, with a fresh and funny voice that perfectly combines fantasy adventure, magic, monsters and relationships full of heart.  After finding her brother and saving the entire supernatural world, Amari Peters is convinced her first full summer as a Junior Agent will be a breeze.
But between the fearsome new Head Minister’s strict anti-magician agenda, fierce Junior Agent rivalries, and her brother Quinton’s curse steadily worsening, Amari’s plate is full. So when the secretive League of Magicians offers her a chance to stand up for magiciankind as its new leader, she declines. She’s got enough to worry about! But her refusal allows someone else to step forward, a magician with dangerous plans for the League. This challenge sparks the start of the Great Game, a competition to decide who will become the Night Brothers’ successor and determine the future of magiciankind. The Great Game is both mysterious and deadly, but among the winner’s magical rewards is Quinton’s last hope . . . so how can Amari refuse? The stunning sequel to AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS, which was a Sunday Times Bestseller, spent 30 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and has landed 27 book deals worldwide. AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS is soon to be a major motion picture with Universal Pictures, with Black-ish's Marsai Martin producing and starring as Amari, and Don Cheadle also producing. 'As a former black girl misfit who wanted nothing more in the world than to be magical, this book is a song to my soul. Amari is the heroine we all need.' - Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin ‘An outstanding fantasy series’ – The Guardian ‘This thrilling new fantasy adventure is already set to be made into a film and it’s easy to see why.’ – The Week Junior ‘[A] beguiling debut’ – The Observer Instagram: @bb_alston  Known for her legendary baking skills, Nadiya Hussain is back with a new cookbook that will show readers how to use their oven every day of the week. The oven is a faff-free way of making delicious, easy food and Nadiya's Everyday Baking features a wide range of recipes for every meal: from simple weeknight dishes and quick-fix lunches to user- friendly bread recipes and beautiful celebratory cakes. One of Britain’s most beloved bakers, Nadiya brings all her trademark shortcuts, hacks and tips back to the table to demystify baking and make even beginners want to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in. Recipe highlights from Nadiya’s Everyday Baking include: meringue cake, surprise snickerdoodle cookies, cheats almond croissant rolls, no-knead bread, achari chicken pie, and aubergine brioche burgers - just a small selection of Nadiya’s stress-free recipes that demonstrate that anyone can bake, all you need is an oven.
Nadiya Hussain was the winner of 2015’s Great British Bake Off in a finale watched by over 15 million viewers, and she has since become a national treasure. Born in Luton to British Bangladeshi parents, Nadiya now lives in Milton Keynes with her husband, Abdal, and their three teenage children. Nadiya has presented several of her own BBC2 cookery series to great acclaim and was recently awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting and the culinary arts.
Her previous cookery titles include Nadiya’s Kitchen, Nadiya’s British Food Adventure, Nadiya’s Family Favourites, Time to Eat, Nadiya Bakes, and Nadiya’s Fast Flavours. PENGUIN Michael Joseph has revealed the cover for their highly anticipated 2022 fiction title Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean. Mika in Real Life will publish in Hardback, eBook and Audio later this year and is the debut adult novel from Jean, a New York Times bestselling author whose YA has previously been selected for Reese Witherspoon’s YA book club.  AT 35, MIKA SUZUKI IS STRUGGLING. She's been fired (again). Her last relationship went up in flames. Her mother is perpetually disappointed in her. And now, she's had a phone call from sixteen-year-old Penny Calvin: the baby she reluctantly gave up for adoption when she was just a teenager herself.
Penny has questions – and Mika is desperate to meet her girl. But she barely feels like she can take care of herself. Is she ready to show Penny who Mika Suzuki really is? Emiko Jean is the author of the New York Times bestseller Tokyo Ever After, a Reese's Book Club YA pick, as well as Empress of All Seasons, an Indie Next pick, and We'll Never Be Apart. She lives in Washington with her family. When she's not writing, she is reading. Most of her friends are imaginary. Before she became a writer she was an entomologist (fancy name for bug catcher), a candle maker, a florist, and most recently a teacher. She lives in Washington with her husband and children (unruly twins). She loves the rain. Mika in Real Life is her first adult novel. Cornish said: ‘With one of the most powerful opening scenes I’ve read in a long time, Mika in Real Life takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions as Mika, her daughter Penny, and Penny’s adopted dad discover more about each other, and themselves. A celebration of the families we’re given, and the families we choose, this book will make you laugh, make you cry and leave your heart full – proving that just because life is messy, that doesn’t mean it isn’t perfect. I fell head over heels for Mika, and can’t wait to work with her international teams to introduce her to the UK.’ @michaeljbooks @emikojeanbooks 
An exciting debut picture book from writer, musician and presenter Jordan Stephens and illustrator Beth Suzanna, this heartfelt, warm and wise story celebrates the power of family bonds, the joy of making new friends, and the importance of finding what makes you feel whole Sunny loves jigsaw puzzles – the bigger the better. When she completes one, she gets a warm, happy honeybee buzz. One day, her Gran gives her a ONE-THOUSAND-PIECE puzzle. Piece after piece, all by herself, she puts together the picture, until ... DISASTER! The final piece is missing. Sunny may be small, but she is very determined – so she sets off to find it. As the day whizzes by in a whirl of new places and friends, Sunny discovers that looking for something is every bit as finding it, and that perhaps the missing piece was there all along… Jordan Stephens is a writer and performer best known for being one half of pop duo Rizzle Kicks, achieving fame at only 19. Jordan is now a writer, performer and campaigner. He’s also passionate about books and reading. The Missing Piece is his first picture book. Having been publicly open about his own struggles surrounding mental health, Jordan has also been very active in creating awareness around the stigma attached to it and helping young people to open up about how they feel. His mental-health campaign #IAMWHOLE reached over 120 million people online and made enough of an impact to be mentioned in the Houses of Parliament. Beth Suzanna is a Bristol-based illustrator and designer with a love of bold colour and shape. She's an advocate for diverse representation, and her work often comments on recurrent issues in modern society. The Missing Piece is her first picture book. Out in Puffin Paperback 07 July 2022 Also in audiobook read by Humza Arshad  Welcome to Big School.
Humza Khan - aka Little Badman, Eggington's greatest rapper - might have finally met his match. Evil teacher geniuses and giant killer hamsters (see previous Little Badman adventures for details) are nothing compared to starting a new school. He's already been out rap-battled by the school bully, laughed at by his classmates. Oh, and we haven't even mentioned the ancient magical orb causing havoc and very possibly leading to world destruction. At least Humza has found someone to help with his homework. It's just a shame this friend isn't exactly . . . alive. Praise for the LITTLE BADMAN series ‘Wildly over the top and satisfying’ The Observer ‘A very funny fast-paced adventure story, full of mischief.’ The Guardian ‘100% hilarious’ The Bookseller ‘If you like the laugh out loud writing of David Walliams or David Solomons, this story will be right up your street.’ The Week Junior ‘Children have been pretty much starved of highly amusing books starring Muslim characters, so let the revolution begin!’ BookTrust Humza Arshad is one of the UK’s most popular and important British Asian personalities. After graduating from Richmond Drama School Arshad wrote, directed and edited an episode called Diary of a Badman. Over 90 million views of the series later, Humza became the first British YouTuber to have his own scripted comedy series on BBC Three in the mockumentary series Coconut. Equally important to Humza has been using his influence and comedy for a greater purpose. In 2015, Humza partnered with the UK Counter Terrorism Unit and he is YouTube’s first ambassador for the Creators for Change campaign. Humza has spoken and shared the stage with the likes of Will Smith, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, Kevin Hart and Whoopi Goldberg. @HumzaProduction Henry White is a comedy writer working in television and children’s fiction. He grew up in west London and began his career in online animation. Henry went on to write and direct adverts for a number of British comedy channels, before working as a sitcom writer.  Early one morning on the shore of the Thames, DCI Samuel Owusu is called to the scene of a gruesome discovery. When Owusu sends the evidence for examination, he learns the bones are connected to a cold case that left three people dead on the kitchen floor in a Chelsea mansion thirty years ago. Rachel Rimmer has also received a shock—news that her husband, Michael, has been found dead in the cellar of his house in France. All signs point to an intruder, and the French police need her to come urgently to answer questions about Michael and his past that she very much doesn’t want to answer. After fleeing London thirty years ago in the wake of a horrific tragedy, Lucy Lamb is finally coming home. While she settles in with her children and is just about to purchase their first-ever house, her brother takes off to find the boy from their shared past whose memory haunts their present. As they all race to discover answers to these convoluted mysteries, they will come to find that they’re connected in ways they could have never imagined. In this masterful standalone sequel to her haunting New York Times bestseller, The Family Upstairs, Lisa Jewell proves she is writing at the height of her powers with another jaw-dropping, intricate, and affecting novel about the lengths we will go to protect the ones we love and uncover the truth.
An event at the Penguin Random House UK office in London for a night of Lisa Jewell, books and goodies!
The event was to celebrate the release of her new audio book 'The Family Remains'. There was a Q&A with Lisa Jewell, a tour of the award winning Penguin Studios and even a chance to try narrating an audiobook yourself!  A LEAD NON-FICTION TITLE FOR PICADOR IN 2022
A Black Teacher, A White System, A Revolution in Education. 'Inventive, refreshing and humorous ... never fails to surprise and entertain' BERNARDINE EVARISTO 'Intense and compelling' DAVID LAMMY Before Jeffrey Boakye was a black teacher, he was a black student. Which means he has spent a lifetime navigating places of learning that are white by default. Since training to teach, he has often been the only black teacher at school. At times seen as a role model, at others a source of curiosity, Boakye’s is a journey of exploration – from the outside looking in. In the groundbreaking I Heard What You Said, he recounts how it feels to be on the margins of the British education system. As a black, male teacher – an English teacher who has had to teach problematic texts – his very existence is a provocation to the status quo, giving him a unique perspective on the UK’s classrooms. Through a series of eye-opening encounters based on the often challenging and sometimes outrageous things people have said to him or about him, Boakye reflects on what he has found out about the habits, presumptions, silences and distortions that black students and teachers experience, and which underpin British education. Thought-provoking, witty and completely unafraid to call out some of the most pressing issues of our times, Boakye offers sharp analysis, lively prose and a searing vision for how we can dismantle racism in the classroom and do better by all our students in the future. Jeffrey Boakye is an author, broadcaster, educator and journalist. Originally from Brixton in London, Jeffrey has taught secondary English for fifteen years. He is the author of Hold Tight: Black Masculinity, Millennials, and the Meaning of Grime; Black, Listed: Black British Culture Explored; What is Masculinity? Why Does it Matter? And Other Big Questions; and Musical Truth: A Musical History of Modern Black Britain. He now lives in Yorkshire with his wife and two sons. @jeffreykboakye @picadorbooks #IHeardWhatYouSaid The Most Awesome Black Britons from Yesterday to TodaY
Publishing 9th June 2022
Hiya! Alison Hammond here! I love getting to know all about different people and I'll tell you a secret ... Sometimes people we don't know much about are the most interesting of all! Which is really what this book is all about. Let me ask you a question: How many Black people can you name from our history? Mary Seacole? Ira Aldridge? George Bridgetower? Pablo Fanque? Walter Tull? Have you heard of these people? Yes? That's great! But if you haven't, don't worry, you're not alone, which is why I'm so excited to tell you all about them. Because the people in this book should be totally famous given the AMAZING things they've done! And we're not going to stop in the past, I'll introduce you to people making waves right here and now! From sportspeople to scientists, activists to musicians, politicians to writers, we're going to meet a whole bunch of AWESOME people who have helped shape the world we live in. So, are you ready for a journey Black in time?? Course you are, let's go! Join Alison Hammond on a journey throughout history as she delves into the lives of influential Black British figures with the help of Emma Norry. Through an informative and entertaining combination of fact files, narrative stories and interviews, Alison explores their impact on our society to show young readers how Black History is British history. Featuring people from the world of science, sports, the arts, politics and more, readers will meet a host of exciting Black Britons – all who have done incredible things yet remain largely unknown. The book also features interviews with Black Britons of today, with the likes of Nicola Adams and Malorie Blackman sharing views on Black British history and what we can learn from it. About Alison Hammond Known for her quick wit, outrageous presenting style and infectious laugh, Alison Hammond has been a much-loved fixture on British television for two decades. She joined This Morning in 2002 and has since secured some of the most watched - and loved - celebrity interviews ever. She's tap- danced with Renée Zellweger, rapped with Will Smith, jammed with Russell Crowe, and been serenaded by Hugh Jackman. In 2021, she became one of This Morning's main hosts, alongside Dermot O'Leary, and appeared on a new BBC Saturday-night primetime entertainment show, I Can See Your Voice, alongside fellow judges Amanda Holden and Jimmy Carr, and host Paddy McGuinness. From her rise to fame on Channel 4's Big Brother in 2002, to her appearances on I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here!, Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Great British Bake Off, Alison's warmth, honesty and joy have made her one of the most popular presenters on TV today. Moved by the murder of George Floyd and the rise of #BLM protests around the world, Alison used her platform on This Morning to speak openly about her experiences of racism and marginalisation of Black people in the UK. She then went on to present Alison Hammond: Back to School, a primetime documentary on ITV exploring important Black British figures who have been ignored by history curriculum in the UK. About Emma Norry: Emma Norry is an author who writes fiction and non-fiction for children. She is passionate about equal representation and diversity. Her first book, Son of the Circus, is part of a series that shows readers that Black and brown people have always been a part of British history. Son of the Circus, set in Victorian times, blended fact and fiction by using Pablo Fanque (the first Black circus owner) and his son Ted as inspiration. Emma has also written Amber Undercover - a fun action-adventure spy story for ages 10+. She has many short stories in anthologies: Happy Here, The Place for Me: Stories from the Windrush and The Very Merry Murder Club. Emma’s non-fiction includes biographies of Lionel Messi and Nelson Mandela. A two-book middle-grade fantasy series launches in 2023.  The star of Marvel's first Asian superhero film, Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings, tells his own origin story of being a Chinese immigrant, his battles with cultural stereotypes and his own identity, becoming a TV star, and landing the role of a lifetime.
In this honest, inspiring and relatable memoir, Simu Liu chronicles his family's journey from China to the bright lights of Hollywood with wit and humour. As a child, Simu's parents left him in the care of his grandparents, bringing him to Canada when he was four. However, Simu soon senses that his new guardians lack the gentle touch of his grandparents, resulting in harsh words and hurt feelings between him and his parents, who find their son emotionally distant and difficult to relate to. Although they are related by blood, they are separated by culture, language, and values. As Simu grows up, he plays the part of the pious child flawlessly - he gets straight As, performs exceptionally in national math competitions and makes his parents proud. However, as time passes, he grows increasingly disillusioned with the path that has been laid out for him. Less than a year out of University, he is fired from his first job and hits rock bottom. He develops a determination centred around creating his own path. This leads him to not only succeeding as an actor, but also opens the door to reconciling with his parents. We Were Dreamers is a story about growing up between cultures, finding your family, and becoming the master of your own extraordinary circumstance.  Indian Home Cooking to Nourish Your Soul... “There is something universal about food memories – they linger somewhere hidden in your soul. Just as the sounds of raindrops, the lyrics of a song, or the feel of a fabric can transport you to another world, so with food. The memories flood back. They take you home.” Asma Khan’s new book, Ammu is a delicious collection of childhood recipes that celebrates the power of home cooking and the inextricable link between food and love. Asma is a firm believer in the healing power of food. Like many of us, for the last two years she has been unable to go home to see her family, thousands of miles away in India. She began to turn more often to the food of her childhood, her Ammu’s cooking, and through this she found comfort and felt connected to loved ones far away. In Ammu, Asma shares the dishes that have nourished her life and family, with over 100 recipes to bring warmth and joy to your kitchen, whatever the occasion. From the simple comfort food of her childhood in Calcutta, including Ammu’s Chicken Biryani, and Sikandari Raan, a spiced leg of lamb her Ammu fed her before her wedding day, to Chapatis and Ma’s Prawns, dishes she craved and learned to cook when she first moved to the UK and was uprooted from her family. There are recipes for special occasions - Nine Jewel Korma and Zarda – traditional recipes passed through generations of Asma’s Rajput and Bengali families with long, rich histories and slow-cooking methods to match; and the quick recipes Asma cooks every day, now she is Ammu, Buttermilk Chicken Pakoras and Bhuna Niramish which combine seasonal British ingredients and the flavours of home.  This book is not only a celebration of the food Asma loves to cook but of the woman who nurtured her and taught her to cook. Throughout the book Asma shares personal memories and reflections on her life in food and of her Ammu.
"In this book, I celebrate a woman who was fiercely independent in her thinking, a woman ahead of her time, who managed to gently shake the patriarchy and was unafraid to be different from those around her, becoming a female founder of a food business. Ammu’s footprints are too big for me to match them, but I am following her path and using food to celebrate my family’s culinary heritage and culture. I also use food to change the narrative of how women cooks are perceived at home and in restaurant kitchens." Asma Khan is the chef and owner of Darjeeling Express. She moved to Cambridge from Calcutta in 1991. Now residing in London with her husband and two boys, she comes from a royal background – Rajput on her father’s side and Bengali on her mother’s. After studying law, Asma went on to do a PhD in British Constitutional Law at King's College London. Cooking was always her passion and she began her food career in 2012 as a supper club in her home. In 2015, she opened a pop-up in a Soho pub to much acclaim, and Darjeeling Express the restaurant opened its doors in June 2017. A year later, her debut cookbook Asma’s Indian Kitchen was published. The book was the winner in the U.K. category for food publishing in Indian cuisine at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. Asma is the first British chef to feature in Netflix's Emmy nominated Chef's Table. Her episode also received a 2020 James Beard Award nomination. Business Insider named her number 1 on their list of "100 Coolest People in Food and Drink", and The Evening Standard listed her in The Progress 1000 as one of London’s most influential people 2019. She has been included in the eighth edition of the GG2 Power List – profiling Britain’s 101 most influential Asians and she is now the first chef to be featured on Vogue's list of 25 most influential women of the year for 2020. In 2021 Asma was shortlisted by GQ Food & Drink Awards in the Veuve Clicquot Innovator category. A beautiful cookbook showcasing how British Indian food varies around the UK depending on the migration history of the region; from Nepali influences in Kent to Punjabi cuisine in the Midlands Recipes include: Whole roast tandoori chicken dinner (Birmingham punjabis) Neeps and tatties keema pie (Glaswegian Pakistanis) Sticky mango chicken wings (Harrow’s African Indians) Fish tacos in thepla flatbread (Leicester’s Gujarati Indians) Kottu roti (London’s Sri Lankans) Carrot and kale bhajis (Mancunian Bangladeshis) Welsh rarebit with curry oil (Welsh bengalis)  Packed with recipes, stories and authentic voices from each of the communities covered, Sarah Woods, finalist of BBC One’s Britain’s Best Home Cook and herself a second-generation Punjabi, has brought together this collection of dishes and provided a rare and privileged glimpse into desi kitchens from all over modern Britain.
“The term ‘desi’ describes a person of birth or descent from the Indian subcontinent that lives abroad and Desi Kitchen seeks to tell the food story of the Indian diaspora across modern Britain. I wanted to write a book that people want to learn from, to cook from, feed and feast from – something authentic and meaningful. “Food is about past, present and future and forms part of the fabric of a person’s culture and identity. It’s about balancing preservation and evolution. There are classics alongside twists that reflect the blending of different cultures; which is what desi identity is all about. However, it’s important to provide that community-specific cultural context, too. Much like a good curry, we’ve got layers and complexity, dual regionality, diversity and storytelling. Desis are entering a period of redefinition, and my book aims to be a celebration of who we are and what we contribute.” SARAH WOODS After her TV debut on BBC One’s ‘Britain’s Best Home Cook’, Sarah Woods left her corporate role at a leading pharmaceutical company to pursue a career in food. She honed her cooking skills at Ashburton Chef’s Academy in Devon, prior to taking the leap. During the Covid lockdown she established a thriving desi food collection business, hosts regular supper clubs and pop-up restaurants in her home town of Wilmslow, in Cheshire. She has a passion for making authentic Indian home cooking accessible to all. Instagram: @myhomecookeduk  ‘Rich and powerful’ - O, The Oprah Magazine Beasts of Prey is the highly acclaimed debut from exciting new talent Ayana Gray who is taking the world, and TikTok, by storm. Spotlighted as one to watch in The New York Times, United by Pop, Bustle, Buzzfeed and POPSUGAR, it has been heralded by critics as ‘the next big thing in YA Fantasy’. Beasts of Prey has secured the coveted title of a New York Times bestseller and is soon to be adapted as a major film by Netflix. An extraordinary adventure inspired by Pan-African mythology and the first in a standout new fantasy trilogy weaving monsters, mythos and magic in one unforgettable adventure. In the broken city of Lkossa sixteen-year-old Koffi, a beast-keeper in a magical zoo, is kept against her will desperately seeking freedom. Ekon, son of a decorated hero, is a warrior in training desperately seeking honour. One night their paths cross in an unexpected way and they find themselves in the Greater Jungle, a world steeped in wild magic and untold dangers, the tentative alliance between them is tested to the extreme. The hunt begins - but are they the hunters or the hunted? Beasts of Prey will be published under the Penguin imprint.  Ayana Gray is a lover of all things monsters and magic. Originally an Atlanta native, she now lives in sunny Florida where she writes fantastical stories, follows Formula One racing, and worries over her adopted baby rhino, Apollo.
TikTok @ayanagray Twitter @AyanaGray Instagram @ayanagray_  ‘I am a bad mother, but I am learning to be good.’
‘(An) intense, unputdownable debut that will doubtless spark conversation about what makes a good or bad mother.’ Oprah Daily Frida Liu is a struggling mother. She remembers taking Harriet from her cot and changing her nappy. She remembers giving her a morning bottle. They'd been up since four am. Frida just had to finish the article in front of her. But she'd left a file on her desk at work. What would happen if she retrieved it and came back in an hour? She was so sure it would be okay. Now, the state has decided that Frida is not fit to care for her daughter. That she must be re-trained. Soon, mothers everywhere will be re-educated. Will their mistakes cost them everything? Acquired at a major auction this is a searing page-turner that is also a transgressive novel of ideas about the perils of “perfect” upper-middle class parenting; the violence enacted upon women by both the state and, at times, one another; the systems that separate families; and the boundlessness of love, The School for Good Mothers introduces, in Frida, an everywoman for the ages. Using dark wit to explore the pains and joys of the deepest ties that bind us, Chan has written a modern literary classic. For fans of Margaret Atwood and Kiley Reid’s Such A Fun Age. Jessamine Chan holds an MFA from Columbia University, where she was awarded a teaching fellowship. Her short fiction has appeared in Tin House and Epoch. Her work has also received support from Bread Loaf, the Wurlitzer Foundation, Jentel, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center, the Anderson Center, VCCA, and Ragdale. Prior to moving to Philadelphia, where she lives with her husband and daughter, she worked as a nonfiction reviews editor at Publishers Weekly. Hollywood star Jessica Chastain has optioned The School for Good Mothers through her production company Freckle Films and will be adapting it for the small screen alongside Taiwanese-born American director and writer Jude Weng (Blackish, The Good Place and Young Sheldon)  ‘THE BEST MEMOIR I’VE EVER READ… it’s so honest and packed with so many wonderful life lessons and aha moments’ - Oprah Winfrey The brave, inspiring and wildly entertaining memoir full of self-help lessons for readers, from one of the world's most charismatic and much-loved actors WILLOne of the most dynamic and globally recognized entertainment forces of our time opens up fully about his life, in a brave and inspiring book that traces his learning curve to a place where outer success, inner happiness, and human connection are aligned. Along the way, Will tells the story in full of one of the most amazing rides through the worlds of music and film that anyone has ever had. Will Smith's transformation from a fearful child in a tense West Philadelphia home to one of the biggest rap stars of his era and then one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood history, with a string of box office successes that will likely never be broken, is an epic tale of inner transformation and outer triumph, and Will tells it astonishingly well. But it's only half the story. Will Smith thought, with good reason, that he had won at life: not only was his own success unparalleled, his whole family was at the pinnacle of the entertainment world. Only they didn't see it that way: they felt more like star performers in his circus, a seven-days-a-week job they hadn't signed up for. It turned out Will Smith's education wasn't nearly over. This memoir is the product of a profound journey of self-knowledge, a reckoning with all that your will can get you and all that it can leave behind. Written with the help of Mark Manson, author of the multi-million-copy bestseller The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Will is the story of how one exceptional man mastered his own emotions, written in a way that can help everyone else do the same. Few of us will know the pressure of performing on the world's biggest stages for the highest of stakes, but we can all understand that the fuel that works for one stage of our journey might have to be changed if we want to make it all the way home. The combination of genuine wisdom of universal value and a life story that is preposterously entertaining, even astonishing, puts Will the book, like its author, in a category by itself. FURTHER PRAISE FOR WILL ‘If you read one book this year make sure it’s WILL…The gift of therapy, coaching and comedy ALL in one place. It will make you cry, it will make you laugh and it will make you change the way you think about life. If you want to transform your mindset and be entertained in the process this book will be a phenomenal guide. Read it, discuss it, dissect it. It’s going to change lives’ Jay Shetty ‘Buy And Read Dis Dope Book’ Spike Lee ‘A wild ride’ New York Times ‘Will Smith isn’t holding back in his bravely inspiring new memoir…Will provides a humane glimpse of the man behind the actor, producer and musician, as her bares all his insecurities and trauma’ USA Today ‘Raw, comedic, inspirational’ GQ "Brilliant and bonkers in equal measure." Daily Telegraph  A celebratory collection of iconic British figures chosen by Stormzy and the #Merky Books team, featuring Mo Gilligan, Candice Carty-Williams, Ian Wright, Jourdan Dunn, Riz Ahmed, Dina Asher-Smith and more In a fully illustrated, comic book style children’s book, performance poet Sophia Thakur has profiled over fifty modern day heroes from across the worlds of art, activism, sport, food, science and more. Each individual has harnessed their unique talent, passion and skill and turned it into their own superhero power, such as: · Princess K, who went from tapping her foot under the desk at school, to dancing centre stage at Glastonbury; · Dina Asher-Smith, who started out crawling at lightning speed and became the fastest British woman in history; · Reggie Yates, who used his power of empathy to connect instantly both in person and through the TV; · Riz Ahmed, whose ability to code-switch between cultures and creative outlets let him excel as a scholar, actor, activist and rapper; · Liam Charles, who followed his childhood passion in the kitchen to become a Bake Off master. Both entertaining and empowering, Superheroes will showcase the importance of positive representation in children’s books and inspire the next generation to follow and achieve their dreams. 8% of the proceeds for Superheroes will be donated to the #Merky Foundation.  @merkybooks @wearemediahive #Superheroes
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