BOOK NOOK
The Windrush generation
In June’s Book Nook, we learn all about the Windrush generation and their contribution to post-war Britain
But who are the ‘Windrush generation’?
HMT Empire Windrush, which became a symbol of a wider mass-migration movement, docked in Tilbury, Essex, in 1948, carrying passengers from the Caribbean to the UK. They’d been invited to the UK to help rebuild post-war Britain.
According to the National Archives, there were over 1000 people on board, more than 800 of whom gave a Caribbean country as their last country of residence. Several hundred passengers were Jamaican, but others arrived from islands including Trinidad, St Lucia, Grenada and Barbados. Alarge proportion had served in the British army in World War Two.
Many of those who came became manual workers, drivers, cleaners, and nurses in the newly-established NHS. These travellers – and those on other ships that came to the UK up until 1971 – became known as the Windrush generation.
Though not clear how many of the Windrush generation are still in Britain, the number is thought to be in the thousands – with multi-generation families combining cultures to create the UK as we see it today!
An important part of British history and an integral strand of modern Britain’s cultural makeup, we’ve put together a list of books that can be shared with little ones to learn all about the Windrush generation and celebrate them.
Under the Moon & Over the Sea: A Collection of Poetry from the Caribbean
by John Agard and Grace Nichols
Though a book of poetry aimed at children and teenagers, this also has some poems that are appropriate for little ones to share and learn about the Windrush experience. Are there any where the children can join in or play around with the language sounds used?
Fruits: A Caribbean Counting Poem
by Valerie Bloom and David Axtell
If possible, see if you can find some of the fruits in the poem to bring in for children to discuss, pass around and, if they’d like, to try! (Ensure that you check for any allergies beforehand.)
Tales from the Caribbean
by Trish Cooke
A collection of favourite tales gathered from the many different islands of the Caribbean, one of the world’s richest sources of traditional storytelling.
From the very first Kingfisher to Anansi the Spider Man, these retellings are full of humour.
The book includes endnotes with a glossary and additional information, as well as adaptable ideas for activities that children can do to explore the stories further.
Please note that each of these books has a varied suggested age range, the youngest of which extends to under-fives. While some of the text may be too grown up, each has lots of images that are age-appropriate, and content can be adapted to make it more suitable to share with the children at your setting!