Hooray! The gorgeous new book from Malaika Rose Stanley, Skin Deep has come into the office in its delightful finished form. Here it is, adorning Rosi’s desk in publicity (just ignore the Shrek memorabillia…) :

Doesn’t it look fabulous? The book is all about big ambitions, big problems and big bullies – and it’s out in September, so keep your eyes peeled!

We are exhibiting at The Education Show at the NEC in Birmingham this Thursday, Friday and Saturday (17th, 18th and 19th). We’ll be offering discounts on all our books and it’s a great chance to chat with the editors. There are lots of other great exhibitors to check out if you get bored of us! So please do come along and say hi if you’re in the area!

Joe

Before the hordes descended!

Tamarind Books was invited have a stand at the Essex Works ‘Time to talk about inclusion: and why it matters to every child’ conference, which was held on 7.2.2011. Joe Marriott and Louise Vallant set off for Chelmsford to represent Tamarind at a stall at the conference. There were over 100 early years child care practitioners from Essex. More than 70 Tamarind catalogues where taken by attendees… There was lots of interest for our latest titles: Sammy’s First Day and The Pink Bicycle, both available in April.

Tamarind’s most prolific author of 2010, Malaika Rose Stanley, was kind enough to come into the office and let us film her reading from two of her books published last year. The books, Miss Bubble’s Troubles and Spike and Ali Enson, were both published last year.

To see Malaika reading from Spike and Ali Enson, click on this link: YouTube S&ALE

To see Malaika reading from Miss Bubble’s Troubles, click on this link: YouTube MBT

Join celebrated Tamarind author, Malaika and her lastest character. Baby Ruby won’t stop crying. Dad gives her a bath, Mum gives her a feed, Nana takes her for a drive and Grandad walks her around the garden. But Ruby keeps on bawling… until big brother, Theo saves the day. The whole family is so tired after all of this, everyone falls asleep – all except little Ruby. A delightful story telling session for all the family.

For ages 2+

Malaika will be signing copies of her book after the event.

For more information visit the Discover Centre’s Website: http://www.discover.org.uk/whatson/event/baby_ruby_bawled_by_malaika_rose_stanley/

Finished copies of Zilombo by S. P. Gates have arrived and look great.

I’ve really enjoyed reading this fast-paced adventure story about Jin, and his Goth sister, Frankie, saving their baby brother, Smiler, from the extraordinary monster, Zilombo. With magic, adventure and the remarkable Mizz Z (who is clearly destined to return) this is a great addition to the growing list of Tamarind fiction. http://www.rbooks.co.uk/product.aspx?id=184853051X

Really enjoyed reading Malorie Blackman’s first Rant of 2011 http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=755040814and her thoughts on the recent Guardian piece on illiteracy and innumeracy. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/03/illiteracy-innumeracy-prisons.

In the perfect quiet of a last day before the office closes for the holiday, we’re thinking about plans for Tamarind in the New Year.  Some great books coming, a new editorial team starting in January, new places to go and people to meet. Looking forward to it very much.  In the meantime, we wish all our authors, illustrators and friends a very happy holiday and a jolly start to the New Year!

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November 26th kicked off with a painful 5.30am start, and a train to Manchester. As the publicists and Tamarind staff were swept northward, we were cheered about the day ahead: we had hot dates with 40 librarians!

The Reading Agency invited publishers, authors and librarians from all over the country to meet, share new titles and converse about what they have been doing. In the morning publishers and authors presented their new titles in very short slots. Ours was on why I get out of bed - especially at 5.30am! – to help put black children into books. It was all done in our allotted 45 seconds!

The afternoon was slightly more leisurely – each group of librarians had 8 minutes to speak to each publisher at their station. As the librarians circulated around the room, we had pithy and powerful conversations revealing lots of local initiatives, teen reading groups and community needs where our books could make a difference.

By the end of the day, we were looking forward to the next insanely early start. Thank you Reading Agency!