Blessing Musariri – författare

A beautifully illustrated lyrical children’s picture book about family change, loss and hope. A powerful and uplifting story about the impact the departure of a dad has on a young boy and his mum, written by award-winning Zimbabwean poet Blessing Musariri and stunningly illustrated by British artist Maisie Paradise Shearring. Shingai's father has gone and Shingai and his mum are all alone and feeling lost. Shingai can’t contain the whirlwind of emotions inside him any more. He needs to let his feelings out.A beautiful heartfelt story about the complex range of emotions a child experiences when a parent leaves, told from the perspective of a young boy. An important book for kids about dealing with family change and overcoming sadness with hope and acceptance.

THE SEQUEL TO TWO PEOPLE CAN, WINNER OF THE BEST PICTURE BOOK PRIZE AT THE INCLUSIVE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AWARDS 2025! A hugely imaginative story about a baby girl taking her first steps and what it means to her big brother, written by award-winning Zimbabwean poet Blessing Musariri and illustrated by British artist Maisie Paradise Shearring. A young boy called Shingai is impatient for his baby sister, Aneni-Rose, to grow up so that they can go on epic adventures together to the world's wildest jungles, the deepest, most shark-filled oceans, and the hottest deserts. As the big brother, he assumes he will be the hero and his baby sister, who is only little and hasn't even begun to walk yet, will be his sidekick. But he's about to learn that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes the biggest adventures start at home.The perfect book for an older sibling welcoming a baby brother or sister into their family and for a baby learning to walk for the first time!

WINNER OF THE CHILDREN'S AFRICANA BOOK AWARDS 2024SHORTLISTED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR WRITING 2025KIRKUS BEST YA BOOKS OF THE CENTURY (SO FAR)OBSERVER BEST BOOKS OF 2023IRISH TIMES BEST BOOKS OF 2023SUNDAY TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEKAn outstanding YA novel of family love, loss, and life lived between two cultures, by an astonishing, super-stylish new voice.‘I’m going to tell you exactly how everything happened. Baba always says, Mati mwana’ngu, I love a good story but I don’t have time for a long one, so make it short.’ When Mati and her two siblings travel from London to Zimbabwe with their father, they are forced to confront the knotty family dynamics caused by the loss of their mother. Along for the trip is Meticais, a fabulously attired gender-neutral spirit — or ghost? or imaginary friend? — who only Mati can see and talk to. Guided by Meticais’s enigmatic advice and wisdom, Mati must come to terms with her grief and with the difficulty of a life lived between two cultures, while her family learn to forge their way in a world without their monumental mother. This is distinctive, stylish, powerful writing by a vital new voice.

The Spectator BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS 2024 Five Books BEST NEW BOOKS FOR TEENS 2024'Wars never end, they just change location.’ An exceptional, thought-provoking YA novel about sisterhood, trauma and the fighting spirit of women, from Zimbabwean author, Blessing Musariri.When her Mama drops a bombshell, Chiante's world shatters. In Zimbabwe, bloodlines matter, so when Chiante discovers her Baba is not the man she thought he was, she flees. Seeking refuge in a secluded corner of Mutare with her feisty, stylish grandmother, Chiante finds solace in a sisterhood forged by bonds of war. This close-knit community of elders and ex-combatants are living their best lives: singing, dancing, drinking and running a successful fashion-upcycling business. But at the heart of their carefully-built world are secrets no one can give voice to.As Chiante pieces together the puzzle of her family’s past, she wrestles with how sorrow seeps down the generations, and how hope survives all, obliging us to step up and live life to the full.

When twins Afya and Aftab, along with their adopted brother Khaled, leave the shelter of a hidden valley, they are astonished by the bustle and noise of the outside world. But beneath this chaos is an order more threatening than bedlam. An army of shadows gathers, looking to break free from the navel of the world, where they have been subdued for hundreds of years. The Keepers of Truth are scattered; the once-powerful Empire is fragmented, its twelve territories now controlled by seven warlords, one of whom has taken control of the region once protected by the Keepers. Surrounded by bright, new discoveries, our innocents are lost in fascination, unprepared for the trials they will encounter, trials that will redefine who they are and what they believe. Blessing Musariri is a stunning new voice, and has created a rich universe, rooted in African landscapes, that recasts the realism of our world in an uncannily resonant new light.

Baraka Blackbird is bored with her home. Her friend the Mbuyu tree tells her Your wings are the gift of freedom, so fly. She follows her friends advice and explores new lands, makes new friends, and discovers the wonderful courage that can be achieved by facing ones fears. The Adventures of Baraka Blackbird is a charming allegorical tale that author Blessing Musariri delivers with a light, sparkling hand.