{"title":"Illustrated by Natali De Mello","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"when-we-go-home","title":"When We Go Home","description":"Marlee's parents are excited. 'We are going back home!' they tell her and her brother. 'Not my home,' Marlee says. She knows the island is where her mum and dad grew up, and that she and her brother will get to do lots of fun things when they visit. But she's never been there. And though her dad says a person can have two home countries, Marlee isn't sure she believes him. But slowly, the warm welcome from her large, loving family, the coconut water she drinks on the beach and the many other delights she discovers on the island, from pigs on the beach to music at bedtime, help Marlee see that what her dad says is true. Heather Beaumont's poetic story portrays an experience that many children with family heritage in another country or culture can relate to, and it affirms the experience in loving detail. The book's expressive, rhythmic text, using the refrain 'when we go home,' and the rich, vibrant art by Natali de Mello make it an excellent read-aloud choice. Perfect to spark meaningful discussions about what home can be, it highlights for young children what a treasure it is to have a family and a place - or two - that feels like home. The book also lovingly captures aspects of life on a Caribbean island, from the food to the music to the beach.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57487676440949,"sku":"9781525312519","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781525312519.jpg?v=1786354902"},{"product_id":"dear-sondos","title":"Dear Sondos","description":"Wars, genocides and tropes aim to erase and separate.   Not for Davie, a Jewish girl from New York, and Sondos, a girl in Gaza, born and raised in Palestine.   When the two start exchanging messages and then emails following Davie's enchantment with Sondos's poetry collection received as a thank you for Davie's support, the two conjure a surprising friendship learning about each other's lives, and realising just how close they are despite their circumstances.   Within these two polar yet concurrent realities flicker uniting emotions, personality, the power of empathy and listening, hopes and dreams in impossible times and memories as if already buried by reality yet being something to still aspire towards. A painful parallel of each author's respective experience of erasure permeates tenderly. As these two authors get to know eachother, so too do we join their embrace. Their unlikely connection transcends borders, politics, religion and nationalities with their most powerful weapon: humanity.   And a love of donuts.   With beautifully intricate map illustrations by Natali De Mello their journey invites you as their guest, and offers a blueprint to a new world, challenging old narratives with a new song.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57487979020661,"sku":"9781738563241","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781738563241.jpg?v=1786355249"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/illustrator-natali-de-mello.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}