Tamarind Books Blog

Blog

Home > Blog > Obama

The Tamarind 10: Must-have titles for any library

Posted 25 May at 11:19 am in African American, EMAS, ESL, Malorie Blackman, Obama, The Silence Seeker, libraries, recommended reads

We love all our books, but if you need recommendations, here they are: 10 books every library and school must have! Click on the titles to find out more.

10
Dave and the Tooth Fairy

A classic! Former National Curriculum text celebrating over 15 years in print. Currently on Oxford Reading Tree.

Themes: jobs, losing teeth, Down’s Syndrome, wheelchair use, fairies

9
Choices, Choices…

A hilarious rhyming romp through careers for boys.

Themes: jobs, poetry, humour

8
Amina and the Shell

A tropical Thumbelina tale, highlighted in children’s book week 2009.

Themes: climate change, giants, agriculture

7
The Day the Rains Fell

Stunningly illustrated tale about saving the environment highlighted in children’s book week 2010.

Themes: environment, water, creation, animals, African jewellery and pottery

6
The Silence Seeker

An asylum seeker’s search for peace and quiet in the noisy city – a great book for discussion.

Themes: immigration, making friends, noises and silence, urban life, ESL, SEN

5
Miss Bubble’s Troubles

A clever class saves their beloved teacher in this rhyming story.

Themes: humour, poetry, school, hospital, pets

4
Ferris Fleet the Wheelchair Wizard

Space, magic and wizards! Great junior fiction for boys.

Themes: space, humour, wheelchair use, single-parent family, working mums, moving house

3
Accessible biographies of well-loved icons

Including Benjamin Zephaniah, Malorie Blackman and the Obamas. Click here to view all.

Themes: Black History Month, non-fiction, biography, careers

2
Spike and Ali Enson

A tale of alien adoption.

Themes: humour, aliens, sibling rivalry, adoption

1
The Young Chieftain

Pacey 11+ fiction where L.A. skater boy Jamie MacDoran faces up to an ancient Scottish legacy.

Themes: dual heritage, bereavement, family history, responsibility

And a little something for bed time…
The Night the Lights Went Out

A soothing, lyrical story for anyone who’s afraid of the dark.

Your Comments (1) »

Teachers Go NUTs for Tamarind!

Posted 10 November at 12:20 pm in Benjamin Zephaniah, Malorie Blackman, Obama, Where can I find Tamarind books?, news, teachers

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…