Sita Brahamachari is a writer of award-winning children’s and YA novels and short stories. She has an MA in Arts Education and a background in theatre education, including a celebrated adaptation of Shaun Tan’s Arrival. She is an Amnesty Ambassador, was an Online Writer in Residence for Book Trust and is Writer In Residence at Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants. Corey’s Rock (from Otter-Barry Books) is a short tale of a family dealing with the loss of a child, which touches on the plight of refugees drowning at sea, and reflects on ideas of families and togetherness, despite the losses that may come.

Miriam Halahmy writes contemporary and historical realistic novels for children, teens and adults. She is a frequent guest at book festivals, conferences, and in colleges and schools. During the Pandemic she has developed videos of her books for her YouTube channel and she carries out regular virtual visits. Saving Hanno (also from Otter-Barry Books) is inspired by the real events of the Kindertransport and the real experiences of refugee children who came to England that way. Nine-year-old Rudi has to leave his dog behind, but Hanno is smuggled into the country – and the danger to Hanno is not over.

Sita Brahmachari and Miriam Halahmy join Deirdre O’Byrne to read from and talk about their books and the issues they address, and about cultural diversity in children’s books in general.

Although this event is not aimed specifically at an audience of children and young people, they may well find it of interest.

Tickets: £3, £10.99 with a copy of Corey’s Rock, £7.99 with a copy of Saving Hanno, £18.50 with a copy of both books – register via Eventbrite.

Supported by Lottery funding from Arts Council England.

Thanks to Bounce Marketing, who helped us find publishers and authors to take part in this series, and to Otter-Barry Books, who worked with us to find guests for this event.

This event will have BSL interpretation provided. PLEASE NOTE: because of the way Zoom works on an iPad, you will not be able to see the BSL interpretation during the talk if you’re using an iPad – please use an alternative device to view the webinar.