Windrush Child: The Tale of a Caribbean Child Who Faced a New Horizon

by Johh Agard, Sophie Bass (Illustrator)

Internationally acclaimed poet John Agard recalls the journey made by the thousands of Caribbean children and their families who traveled to Britain between 1948 and 1971 as part of the Windrush generation.

With one last hug, Windrush child says goodbye to his grandmother and the shores of his Caribbean home before embarking on an adventure across the ocean—under a sky full of promise—to an unknown horizon. With sensitivity and tender lyricism, world-renowned and multi-award-winning poet John Agard narrates the epic story of a child's voyage to England aboard Empire Windrush. Joyous illustrations by debut artist Sophie Bass richly evoke the changing landscapes and the uncertainty, courage, and hope of those who step into history—and travel far in search of home.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Immigration, Childrens, History, Nonfiction, International

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 11, 2023

Reviews

[Stace · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Agard’s Windrush Child is a children’s picture book featuring a poem from John Agard. Unless you read the back of the book first in which the term Windrush is explained, the words of the poem won’t mean a lot to a child as it is not explained within the poem.

Each page is adorned with beautiful, colourful, and bright illustrations which complement the words. Personally, I would have loved the book to teach children about the Windrush generation, why they came to the UK, what happened to them once they arrive, and also what has happened in recent years. Children deserve to know about these things, rather than making it all sound so lovely like the book does.

Some of the wording is a little strange but then this is a poem and this is often the case with poems, I’m just not sure aiming the book at children with some odd sentences will make them understand or want to read the book.

Overall, I feel it hit the mark a little and the best feature was the illustrations which really stood out.

[Elsa Leuty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a joy to read and look at generally. I do find poetry in picture book form tricky because you can't get such a good feel for the flow of the words with the page turns. I'd like it if the words were then all together at the end so you could then read it in one.

[Cat Strawberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting picture book but I’m not sure if children will understand it without adults explaining it to them. Windrush child is on a boat with his parents, saying goodbye to everyone they know. Then Windrush child is on the boat, sailing with others to a land unknown but what will they find when they get there and what experiences will Windrush child have while travelling? The book is wider than A4 in size and is filled with thick glossy pages of really colourful illustrations and some text.

The picture book is a little different to some, written by a poet it is certainly a lovely poem about Windrush Child coming from the Caribbean to start a new life in England. The story follows the child and his parents as they travel on the boat, encountering lots of different people on the boat and eventually ending up in England to start a new lives there. The words of the poem are nice for adults to read, but I’m not sure it will really engage children so much, at least not without explaining what is happening. The story is short, and nice but it doesn’t really explain the Windrush situation to children and I’m just not sure if all kids will understand or feel engaged with this book for the words alone.

There is a page at the end of the book explaining the Windrush generation and what happened. I liked this extra piece of information as I wasn’t aware of the other groups who were on the ship at the time and it made some of the illustrations seen earlier, make better sense on a second read. I do think this information could have been at the start of the book though, to make it easier for children and any adults who don’t know to understand it better.

The illustrations are so wonderful. I love the rich colours that are used. It really sucks you into every page and I adore the bold use of colours and how mesmerising each double page looks! I especially love the very colourful pages in contrast to the slightly duller images of say England and the English houses. The illustrations show the expression of the characters well too and I love how everyone looks and how some of the prejudices and grumpiness of some of the white people in the book is shown through their expressions. It’s subtle but is there and could be talked about more with some children.

Overall I think this book is nice, the illustrations are amazing and the story itself is good. But I do feel as if something is missing and it just felt like the ending, though nice, was a little flat. Maybe it’s the poem aspect of it but I just don’t know if this book is made more for children or the adults reading it as I’m not sure children will really understand what is happening, not without someone’s input to explain. Maybe slightly older children or some who’ve had it explained to them will enjoy it more, especially for those amazing illustrations.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.

[Rogue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dazzling imagery employed by Sophie Bass that punctuates the richness and warmth of the Caribbean culture, and how it carried over into post-war Britain.

In terms of the actual text, unless the child was brought up in a Caribbean household, I'm not quite sure how familiar the little one would be with the term 'Windrush child'. Personally I would have preferred for the text to have a bit more rhythm to it as children are more receptive to rhythmic patterns and engage better with the message.

Overall, the illustrations help fill in potential gaps in the understanding of the text, making this little book a great read to help appreciate and celebrate diversity around us.

[Surya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww such a dear story. Made me tear up (i suspect i tear up relatively easy)
So often we get into this complaining rant about the million things that is broken and wrong in this world. This book for one takes us back in history and brings to life how people moved after WW2, building a life for themselves and help grow a community. Grateful for all that has happened that has led to this moment. Let the songs of ancestors never be forgotten.

Apparently June 22 is windrush day. Learning a little about the saga. Belated Happy windrush day yall.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a vibrant book full of colour and energy. It's a very simple telling of a child's journey to England on the Empire Windrush that I think works very well. It's a positive tale and told in short verses that works perfectly with the illustrations. I have to admit it is the illustrations by Sophie Bass that make this book, they are beautiful and vibrant, I absolutely loved them. A really great book for sharing with young children.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agard's poem in a vibrantly illustrated picture book centers on a child saying goodbye to his grandmother and his Caribbean home before embarking on an adventure across the ocean—under a sky full of promise—to an unknown horizon. The poems recalls the journey made by the thousands of Caribbean children and their families who traveled to Britain between 1948 and 1971 who are known as the Windrush generation.

[Wade Huggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Windrush Child is a telling of people who left the Caribbean to travel to England to begin a new life and to help rebuild England after the war. The story is well written with a lyrical quality but some children may not process what is happening in the story unless afterword in explained. The well rendered illustrations are colorful and add to the story.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving telling of a story of Black immigration (from the Caribbean to the UK) that I wasn't familiar with, living in the US. I really appreciated the spare, impactful text and the wonderful illustrations.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are nice, but the poem doesn't explain what is happening or provide any context. The poem also has some odd turns of phrase that make the book less kid-friendly, even though an adult can still explain it to kids based on their interpretation and the notes in the back.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about the Caribbean families that were brought to Britain after World War to help rebuild the country and set up home in Britain. And how they bring their customs and music, and culture and traditions.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations with poetic text that doesn't really tell the reader what is happening.

[Rebecca R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully lyrical and moving picture book in verse about the Windrush generation, with bold and vivid illustrations by Sophie Bass. Highly recommended.

[Leova Manbhat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations - bold and rich colors. An immigration story. Loved that there was more information in the back to give readers a better understanding of what the book was about.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to learn of the Windrush Generation

[Nanny B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot at a child's journey from the Caribbean to England.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

An elementary and up picture book about children evacuating to another country told in bright pictures and short text.

[Thaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an ode to the windrush generation of Caribbeans that landed on the shores of England from 1948 to 1971.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoughtful read