Benjamin Zephaniah – författare

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right levelFind out what it's like to be a famous poet, author and performer in this autobiography by Benjamin Zephaniah. Learn what it was like growing up in a house of seven children, meeting Nelson Mandela and how he sets about writing poetry, all told through his own voice and accompanied by artwork from Kate Greenaway winning illustrator Victor Ambrus. Diamond/Band 17 books offer more complex, underlying themes to give opportunities for children to understand causes and points of view.An autobiographyA timeline on pages 54 and 55 presents the key events in Benjamin Zephaniah's life chronologically, allowing plenty of recapping and further discussion.Curriculum Links: Citizenship: Living in a diverse worldThis book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Written by award-winning author, poet and performer Benjamin Zephaniah, this modern story follows Jaden’s first few weeks at his new secondary school. As two rival groups of boys both befriend Jaden, the pressure mounts – who will he choose and does he really want to be part of a gang? Collins Big Cat Progress books are specifically designed for children at Key Stage 2 who have a Key Stage 1 reading level, giving them age-appropriate texts that they can read, building their confidence and fostering positive attitudes towards reading.Text type: A story with a familiar settingCurriculum links:

Welcome to the wild and wicked words of Benjamin Zephaniah. You'll find loads of cool people who make up our world in this rapping, happening hip-hop collection. From the South Pole to Mongolia and the Himalayas, this is a real world tour of poems about people and places, cultures and nationalities across our planet.Includes poems about Inuits, Celts, the history of Britain, Maories, the Dalai Lama, the North and South Poles, and much more - a rhyming round-the-world trip.Poems that bounce up from the page and demand to be read, rapped, sung and hip-hopped aloud - Independent on Sunday

A reissue of TALKING TURKEYS by street poet Benjamin Zephaniah. Talking Turkeys is an unconventional collection of straight-talking poems about heroes, revolutions, racism, love and animal rights, among other subjects, that will entice many new readers to poetry. It is his very first ground-breaking children's poetry collection - playful, clever and provocative - this is performance poetry on the page at its very best.Benjamin Zephaniah was born in Birmingham and then spent some of his early years in Jamaica. He came to London when he was 22 and his first book of poetry for adults was published soon after. He appears regularly on radio and TV including a Desert Island Discs appearance, literary festivals, and has also taken part in plays and films. He is most well-known for his performance poetry with a political edge for both children and adults and gritty teenage fiction. His collections Talking Turkeys, Wicked World and Funky Chickens broke new ground in children's poetry. He is the only Rastafarian poet to be short-listed for the Chairs of Poetry for both Oxford and Cambridge University and has been listed in The Times' list of 50 greatest postwar writers. Benjamin now lives in Lincolnshire.

Enter the crazy world of rap poet Benjamin Zephaniah!A reissue of the wonderfully irreverent collection of poetry for young people, touching on anything from vegetables to the Queen and from sewage to the sun. There's plenty of humour as well as poems on racism, pollution and the murder of a cat.

A playful, funny and thought-provoking collection from the iconic Benjamin Zephaniah. Poems packed with wisdom and laughter, poems that cherish and challenge our world, poems that delight in our differences and similarities.‘Dere’s a SonnetUnder me bonnetDere’s a EpicIn me ear‘Dere’s a NovelIn me navelDere’s a ClassicHere somewhere’From veggies and vocabulary to pollution and revolution, this new anthology brings together Benjamin Zephaniah’s greatest rhymes, along with a previously unpublished poem and a brand-new foreword by George the Poet.Timeless and essential, Let Dem Know is the perfect introduction to a true original – and inspiration for the young writers, speakers and thinkers of the future.

With Black Plays, Yvonne Brewster clearly demonstrated the need for a regular anthology to record the vitality of Black playwriting. For her second volume she has selected The Dragon Can't Dance, adapted from a novel by Earl Lovelace in which the inhabitants of Port of Spain, Trinidad, prepare to live out their dreams on Carnival Night; Winsome Pinnock's A Rock in Water, an energetic chronicle play about activist Claudia Jones, one of the founders of the Notting Hill Carnival; Blood, Sweat and Fears by Maria Oshodi which focuses on the problems of the ten per cent of Britain's black population who suffer from sickle cell anaemia and Job Rocking by Rastafarian poet Benjamin Zephaniah, a 'dub' opera set in and around a new style job club designed to sell the idea of work to the unemployed.

The story of three boys who aren't easy. Who don't fit in. Who know what they want. When Ray and his friends are permanently excluded from school, their headmaster gives them a final chance. Within weeks they form a rap group and within months they sign a record deal. As competition from a rival group intensifies the gangsta style gets mixed up with real gangster action. An accessible read with a hard-hitting plot which 'leaves the reader no choice but to be drawn in' - particularly reluctant boy readers. Perfect for exploring different kinds of speech, language and the poetry of rap.

Benjamin Zephaniah and Richard Conlon deal with issues such as prejudice, drugs and disfigurement in this vibrant, gritty adaptation of Zephaniah's bestselling novel for young people.Everything is going Martin's way. The holidays have started, he's got a gorgeous girlfriend and everyone agrees he's the coolest dancer around. But when his world is turned upside down by a crash in a stolen car, he has to come to terms with more than his facial injuries...This is a powerful, exciting and accessible play. It contains relevant, gritty, contemporary issues and dialogue. It offers stimulating activities in the book and a free scheme of work available to download on publication.

In this heart-stopping adventure, Benjamin Zephaniahshows us what it was like to be a child of the Windrush generation.“Thesuperb Voices series takesunsung heroes of the past and imagines them recounting the storyof their remarkable lives' ” - The TimesLeonard is shocked when hearrives with his mother in the port of Southampton. His father isa stranger to him, it’s cold and even the Jamaicanfood doesn’t taste the same as it did back home in MaroonTown. But his parents have brought him here to try to makea better life, so Leonard does his best not to complain,to make new friends, to do well at school – evenwhen people hurt him with their words and with theirfists. How can a boy sofar from home learn to enjoy his new life when so many thingscount against him?  ‘Zephaniah pulls no punchesin his depictions of the racism that Leonard suffers both at schooland in the streets in a powerful, moving account of family andfitting in’iNews‘An invaluable story for anyyoung readers who enjoy adventure and want to learn more about theWindrush generation’s experience. Essential reading’Alex WheatleABOUT THE SERIES: VOICES A thrilling series showcasing some of the UK’s finest writersfor young people.Voices reflects the authentic, unsung storiesof our past.Each shows that, even in times of great upheaval, a myriad ofpeople have arrived on this island and made a home for themselves– from Roman times to the present day.Perfect for teaching children about inclusivity and diversity

A powerfully moving and beautiful picture book aboutthe voyage of HMT Empire Windrush from national treasure,Benjamin Zephaniah.The hopes, dreams and bravery of the Windrush generation are expressedin this vivid story through the real-life experiences ofTrinidadian musician, Mona Baptiste.Written as a brand-new poem by Benjamin Zephaniah, the book isbeautifully illustrated by the extraordinary artist, Onyinye Iwu. The arrival of the Windrush in 1948 is celebrated eachyear on Windrush Day, 22 JuneBenjamin recently won a BAFTA for his Sky Arts show, Life& Rhymes, a showcase of some of Britain's finest poetsThis book is perfect for teaching young children about inclusivityand diversityPraise for Windrush Child: 'An invaluable story for any young readers who enjoyadventure and want to learn more about the Windrush generation'sexperience. Essential reading' Alex Wheatle

In this heart-stopping story, Benjamin Zephaniah showsus what it was like to be a child of the Windrush generation.Leonard is shocked when he arrives to the cold, grey shores ofEngland from warm Jamaica and struggles to adjust to his new life.His parents say they moved to Great Britain in order to make abetter life, so he does his best not to complain, even when thefood tastes different, he struggles to make friends, and even whenpeople hurt him with their words.How does a 10-year-old boy so far from home learn to adaptto his new life despite moving away from his grandma and everythinghe loves?Now adapted into graphic novel form and illustrated byMarkia Jenai, this powerful story about being a child of the Windrushgeneration is guaranteed to make an impact.***'An invaluable story for anyyoung readers who enjoy adventure and want to learn more aboutthe Windrush generation's experience. Essential reading'– Alex Wheatle'Zephaniah pulls no punchesin his depictions of the racism that Leonard suffers both at schooland in the streets in a powerful, moving account of family andfitting in' – iNews Based on real historical eventsof Windrush, Benjamin Zephaniah shows readers an importanttime in Britain Perfect for teaching children aboutinclusivity and diversityIllustrated by Markia Jenai.

Celebrating 50 years of Theatre CentreEdited and Introduced by Rosamunde HuttForeword by Pam St. ClementListen To Your Parents by Benjamin Zephaniah | Precious by Angela Turvey | Look At Me by Anna Reynolds | Gorgeous by Anna Furse | Glow by Manjinder Virk | Souls by Roy WilliamsA challenging and culturally diverse collection of new plays by some of the UK's foremost writers. dealing with topics such as domestic violence, eating disorders, mother/daughter relationships and sibling rivalry, written by some of Britain's foremost writers.Beautifully written and tested in performance, these plays which deal with topics such as domestic violence, eating disorders, mother/daughter relationships and sibling rivalry, will become essential texts for theatres, schools, colleges and youth centres.

An eye for an eye. It’s very simple. You choose your homeland like a hyena picking and choosing where he steals his next meal from. Scavenger. Yes you grovel to the feet of Mengistu and when his people spit at you and kick you from the bowl you scuttle across the border. Scavenger.As a violent civil war rages back home in Ethiopia, teenager Alem and his father are in a bed and breakfast in Berkshire. It's his best holiday ever. The next morning his father is gone and has left a note explaining that he and his mother want to protect Alem from the war. This strange grey country of England is now his home. On his own, and in the hands of the social services and the Refugee Council, Alem lives from letter to letter, waiting to hear something from his father. Then he meets car-obsessed Mustapha, the lovely 'out-of-your-league' Ruth and dangerous Sweeney – three unexpected allies who spur him on in his fight to be seen as more than just the Refugee Boy.Lemn Sissay's remarkable stage adaptation of Benjamin Zephaniah's bestselling novel is published here in the Methuen Drama Student Edition series, featuring commentary & notes by Professor Lynette Goddard (Royal Holloway, University of London, UK) that help the student unpack the play's themes, language, structure and production history to date.

Rico Federico knows what trouble is, and he knows to stay away from it. If there's one thing he's learnt, it's that he will always be the suspect. He sees injustice happening all around him and wants to speak out. But how? Then a stranger gives him the perfect opportunity, and everything starts to go wrong.

A joy to read with small children - Independent An uplifting celebration of nature and the wonder of the world around us. By legendary poet and performer Benjamin Zephaniah, one of The Times' top 50 British post-war writers, and beautifully illustrated by the award-winning Nila Aye. At the bottom of my garden, there's a hedgehog and a frog,And a lot of creepy-crawlies living underneath a log . . .All around us, from parks to gardens and flowerpots to pavements, there's a world of wonder just waiting to be discovered. Why not look a little closer and see what you find?This joyful celebration of nature reminds us all to take a closer look at the world around us, and enjoy the wonder of nature wherever we find it. Packed with animals and minibeasts galore, this imaginative rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud.Be sure not to miss People Need People, winner of The Queen's Knickers Award 2024.

Winner of The Queen's Knickers Award 2024To walk toTo talk toTo cry and rely on,People will always need people . . .From the creators of Nature Trail comes an uplifting picture book about the power of people, and the importance of connecting with others. This timely poem reminds us all to be kind to one another.Written by legendary poet, Benjamin Zephaniah, one of The Times' top 50 British post-war writers. Beautifully illustrated by Nila Aye.Praise for Nature Trail:A joy to read with small children - Independent

A joyful picture book that celebrates the magic of poetry, from the award-winning makers of Nature Trail and People Need People. There's a poem on your faceThere's a poem in the skyThere's a poem in outta spaceThere are poems passing byPoems are EVERYWHERE - in your dreams, on your fingers and in your teeth! There's even a poem in you. Can't you see it? It's right there. Get ready to see poems wherever you are in this toe-tapping celebration of rhythm and rhyme from award-winning poet Benjamin Zephaniah, beautifully illustrated by Nila Aye.Praise for Nature Trail:'A joy to read with small children' - Independent

A joyful picture book that celebrates the magic of poetry, from the award-winning makers of Nature Trail and People Need People. There's a poem on your faceThere's a poem in the skyThere's a poem in outta spaceThere are poems passing byPoems are EVERYWHERE - in your dreams, on your fingers and in your teeth! There's even a poem in you. Can't you see it? It's right there. Get ready to see poems wherever you are in this toe-tapping celebration of rhythm and rhyme from award-winning poet Benjamin Zephaniah, beautifully illustrated by Nila Aye.Praise for Nature Trail:'A joy to read with small children' - Independent

A joy to read with small children - Independent Chunky board book edition of this joyful celebration of nature and the wonder of the world around us by legendary poet and performer Benjamin Zephaniah, one of The Times' top 50 British post-war writers.At the bottom of my garden, there's a hedgehog and a frog,And a lot of creepy-crawlies living underneath a log . . .All around us, from parks to gardens and flowerpots to pavements, there's a world of wonder just waiting to be discovered. Why not look a little closer and see what you find?This uplifting celebration of nature reminds us all to take a closer look at the world around us, and enjoy the wonder of nature wherever we find it. Packed with animals and minibeasts galore, this imaginative rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud.

Black Radical brings the history of Black people in Britain to life through a breadth of poetry to demonstrate that one thing is for certain: though we have struggled, we have survived.Politics have been the constant backdrop for the poetry of Black Britain. Even Black poets who may not consider themselves political have written political poetry or poetry that comes from struggle. Some of these poets migrated to Britain, some were born here and others still were just passing through. Black Radical brings both pivotal moments and the everyday lived experience of Black people in Britain within one volume.This anthology brings together poetry from poet laureates such as Jackie Kay, prize-winning poets such as Fred D'Aguiar, internationally renowned poets such as Linton Kwesi Johnson, leaders and activists such as Marcus Garvey, John La Rose and Una Marson; there are also a significant number of poets in the community whose stories of everyday struggle have until now remained unpublished and unheard.

'A brilliant first novel' GuardianIn the moving and compelling debut novel from Benjamin Zephaniah, a young man's life is completely changed when his face is badly scarred in a car accident. Martin seems to have it all. He's cool, funny, and he's the undisputed leader of the Gang of Three, who roam their East London estate during the holidays looking for fun. But one night after the Gang leave a late night rap club, Martin accepts a ride from Pete, a Raider's Posse gang member. Too late, he realises that the car is stolen, and that the police are after them. What happens next will change Martin's life and looks, and show him the true meaning of strength, courage, discrimination and friendship. Brilliantly written and with a real ear for dialogue, fans of Angie Thomas and Malorie Blackman will love Benjamin Zephaniah's novels for young adult readers: Refugee BoyFaceGangsta RapTeacher's Dead

Selected for The Pleasure List 2026 - Hay Festival's crowd-sourced list of the 39 most unputdownable books ever'Playful, obstinate and courageously humorous ... hilarious and later heartbreaking' Guardian'Sweet, funny, highly inventive' Yorkshire PostThe poignant but funny tale of a young refugee now marking its 25th anniversaryAcclaimed performance poet and novelist Benjamin Zephaniah's honest, wry and poignant story of a young refugee left in London is of even more power and pertinence today than when it was first published.Life is not safe for Alem. His father is Ethopian, his mother Eritrean. Their countries are at war, and Alem is welcome in neither place.So Alem is excited to spend a holiday in London with his father – until he wakes up to find him gone. What seems like a betrayal is in fact an act of love, but now Alem is alone in a strange country, and he must forge his own path...Very accessible and easy to read; perfect for reading for pleasure and classroom discussion.Brilliantly written and with a real ear for dialogue, fans of Angie Thomas and Malorie Blackman will love Benjamin Zephaniah's novels for young adult readers: Refugee BoyFaceGangsta RapTeacher's Dead

'A fairytale of hip-hop success ... teens will enjoy the thrilling music fantasy, while many will identify with the smart, talented boys who grow up quickly and rescue themselves' BooklistAn electrifying novel from hugely popular performance poet and novelist Benjamin Zephaniah, exploring the rap music scene, inequality and three boys caught up in itJust what do you do with talent from the wrong side of town? Benjamin Zephaniah draws on his own experiences with school and the music business to create a novel that speaks with passion and immediacy about the rap scene.Ray has trouble at home, and he has trouble at school – until he’s permanently excluded and ends up sleeping on the floor of a record shop. What happens to a boy like Ray? If he’s lucky, maybe he gets a chance to shine.The story of three boys who aren’t easy. They don’t fit in. They seem to attract trouble. But they know what they want, and they’ve got the talent to back it up ...Brilliantly written and with a real ear for dialogue, fans of Angie Thomas and Malorie Blackman will love Benjamin Zephaniah's novels for young adult readers: Refugee BoyFaceGangsta RapTeacher's Dead

'The playful, obstinate and courageously humorous tone of Zephaniah's writing shines through ... hilarious and later heartbreaking' GuardianA teacher is dead, murdered by two of his students in front of the whole school.Right in front of Jackson Jones.But Mr Joseph was a good man – people liked him, respected him. How could those boys stab him and jog away like nothing had happened?Unable to process what he has seen, Jackson begins his own investigation: everyone knows who did it, but as Jackson uncovers more about the boys, he becomes convinced that people need to understand why. Brilliantly written and with a real ear for dialogue, fans of Angie Thomas and Malorie Blackman will love Benjamin Zephaniah's novels for young adult readers: Refugee BoyFaceGangsta RapTeacher's Dead

A ground-breaking poem on the legacy of Stephen Lawrence from national treasure Benjamin Zephaniah."The death of Stephen LawrenceHas taught us to love each other..."With extra information provided alongside Benjamin's powerful words and Joelle Avelino's striking illustration, this book is an indispensable tool for helping children aged 9+ to understand identity, diversity, justice, respect and racism.

*A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week*Benjamin Zephaniah, who travelled the world for his art and his humanitarianism, tells the one story that encompasses it all: the story of his life.In the early 1980s when punks and Rastas were on the streets protesting about unemployment, homelessness and the National Front, Benjamin’s poetry could be heard at demonstrations, outside police stations and on the dance floor. His mission was to take poetry everywhere, and to popularise it by reaching people who didn’t read books. His poetry was political, musical, radical and relevant. By the early 1990s, Benjamin had performed on every continent in the world (a feat which he achieved in only one year) and he hasn’t stopped performing and touring since. Nelson Mandela, after hearing Benjamin’s tribute to him while he was in prison, requested an introduction to the poet that grew into a lifelong relationship, inspiring Benjamin’s work with children in South Africa. Benjamin would also go on to be the first artist to record with The Wailers after the death of Bob Marley in a musical tribute to Nelson Mandela.The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah is a truly extraordinary life story which celebrates the power of poetry and the importance of pushing boundaries with the arts.

What is a terrorist? A shocking, moving and timely novel about the choices that shape us.Rico knows trouble. He knows the look of it and the sound of it. He also knows to stay away from it as best he can. Because if there's one thing his Romany background has taught him, it's that he will always be a suspect. Despite his efforts to stay on the right side of the law, Rico is angry and frustrated at the injustices he sees happening at home and around the world. He wants to do something - but what? When he is approached by Speech, a mysterious man who shares Rico's hacktivist interests, Rico is given the perfect opportunity to speak out. After all, what harm can a peaceful cyber protest do...?From the bestselling author of REFUGEE BOY comes a powerful novel about justice, trust and idealism gone wrong that will make you look again at your definition of a terrorist.