We Sang Across the Sea, The Empire Windrush and Me

The internationally acclaimed Benjamin Zephaniah has written a powerful, moving picture book about the voyage from the West Indies of HMT Empire Windrush. In his bouncy, poetic style, Zephaniah introduces Mona Baptiste, one of five sisters born in Trinidad in 1928. On this island of sunshine, her passion is to sing. ‘Joy is what I bring/ So, I just want to sing.’ Alerted by posters advertising opportunities for passage to the UK (cabin class, £48, troop deck £28), Mona sets sail on the Empire Windrush at the age of 20. Her career flourishes as she works extremely hard in the UK, singing at wide venues, then becoming hugely famous in Europe. She lives for many years in Germany, then retires to Ireland where she dies in 1993. The illustrator for this historic epic tale is Onyinye Iwu, born to Nigerian parents, she is passionate about celebrating diversity and culture. And she illustrates with that passion, every spread full of joyous characters; many singing, playing various instruments, or providing an audience. ‘Joy is what I bring/ So, I just want to sing,’ sums up this delightful book about an important historic event.