Patrice Lawrence

This book works really well in a lot of ways - it's a story about immigration and tracing family history, it shows a beautiful close relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter, and it provides some nice overview introductions to a few important women from Black history as part of the framing narrative for telling the grandmother's specific story in more depth. While not necessarily required since I know this is more of picture book than strictly non-fiction, it would've been nice for there to have been some back matter about Trinidadian immigration to England, and maybe even some suggested reading about the women discussed in the story (Winifred Atwell, Mary Seacole, Rosa Parks) in case readers are inspired to learn more about them.… (altro)

Little Ava needs to dress up as a person she admires for school, so her Trinidadian Granny invites her to look for inspiration in her trunk of old clothes.  Items in the trunk suggest Trinidadian pianist Winifred Atwell, Jamaican-British nurse Mary Seacole, and American activist Rosa Parks, but others in Ava's class have already clamed those.  Ava finds a small cardboard suitcase in the bottom of the trunk, that her Granny used when she came to London from Trinidad on the Empire Windrush.  Granny explains the stories behind the unusual items in the suitcase, which leads to Ava's decision on who she most admires.

This is a heartfelt story about immigration and some of its hardships, both in adapting to and acceptance in the new country, and missing the old home .  The mother of author Patrice Lawrence emigrated from Trinidad to England, just like Granny.  Trinidadian-American illustrator Camilla Sucre's lush colorful artwork adds much to the story.

I wanted to know more about Atwell, Seacole, and the Empire Windrush.  Brief biographical/historical sketches at the end of the book on each of these (and Rosa Parks) would extend the range of the book beyond the traditional picture book age to middle grades.… (altro)

I received a free copy of Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush by Patrice Lawrence and illustrated by Camilla Sucre in exchange for an honest review.
Not until air travel became more affordable, most of our parents, grandparents, or great grandparents immigrated to foreign countries across the ocean in hope of new opportunities. The little girl’s grandmother set sail on the Empire Windrush from Trinidad to London. As she and her grandmother view the contents of her old cardboard suitcase that she took on this journey all by herself, the girl realizes how important her granny is to her as hears a story about each article found in the case.
In Canada, we like to say we are not a melting pot but a mosaic of many cultures. This granny’s lonely but brave travel to a new country is like many in this country. We may have different items in our case but each of those unique items hold a precious memory of where we came from and who we hold tight in our hearts. This lovely tale reminds us of that simple truth.… (altro)

I enjoyed this picture book. The illustrations were lovely, and it had some great nods to the history of Civil Rights. I loved the frame device for the grandmother's journey through the little girl's school project.

The only drawback was that I thought this was more of a picture book biography, so I was expecting back matter about the historical figures mentioned and the title ship. I think that was a real missed opportunity for kids who like using books as a launching point for fun rabbit trails of learning.… (altro)