The Most Awesome Black Britons from Yesterday to Today

Black in Time

Hiya! Alison Hammond here! I love getting to know all about different people and I'll tell you a secret . . . sometimes people we don't know much about are the most interesting of all! Which is really what this book is all about. 
 
Let me ask you a question: How many Black people can you name from our history? Mary Seacole? Ira Aldridge? George Bridgetower? Pablo Fanque? Walter Tull? Have you heard of these people? 
 
Yes? That's great! But if you haven't, don't worry, you're not alone, which is why I'm so excited to tell you all about them. Because the people in this book should be totally famous given the AMAZING things they've done! And we're not going to stop in the past, I'll introduce you to people making waves right here and now! 
 
From sportspeople to scientists, activists to musicians, politicians to writers, we're going to meet a whole bunch of AWESOME people who have helped shape the world we live in. So, are ready for you a journey Black in time?? Course you are, let's go!

Alison Hammond (Author) Adored for her quick wit, big heart and infamous laugh, Alison is one of the UK’s most popular TV presenters, famed for her hilarious celebrity interviews! The Queen of our hearts presents ITV's 'This Morning' alongside Dermot O’Leary, gearing viewers up for the weekend. 
 
Alison also co-hosts the ultimate televised baking battle, ‘The Great British Bake Off’ and ‘The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off’ for C4, receiving a nomination for the ‘Entertainment Performance’ category in the 2024 RTS Programme Awards with Noel Fielding. 
 
As a firm family favourite into the evening TV schedule, Alison is a Team Captain on Sky TV’s ‘Rob Beckett’s Smart TV’ and continues the late, great Paul O’Grady’s legacy hosting ‘For the Love of Dogs’ for Battersea Dogs Home and ITV. E. L. Norry (Author) Emma Norry is an author who writes fiction and non-fiction for children. She is passionate about equal representation and diversity. Her first book, Son of the Circus (Scholastic, 2019), is part of a series that shows readers that Black and brown people have always been a part of British history. Son of the Circus, set in Victorian times, blended fact and fiction by using Pablo Fanque (the first Black circus owner) and his son Ted as inspiration. Emma has also written Amber Undercover (OUP, 2021) - a fun action-adventure spy story for ages 10+. She has many short stories in anthologies: Happy Here (Knights Of Media, 2021), The Place for Me: Stories from the Windrush (Scholastic, 2020) and The Very Merry Murder Club (Farshore, 2021). Emma's non-fiction includes biographies of Lionel Messi (Scholastic, 2020) and Nelson Mandela (Puffin, 2020). A two-book middle-grade fantasy series launches in 2023. Emma can be found on Twitter at @elnorry_writer or her website elnorry.com

Hiya! Alison Hammond here! I love getting to know all about different people and I'll tell you a secret . . . sometimes people we don't know much about are the most interesting of all! Which is really what this book is all about. 
 
Let me ask you a question: How many Black people can you name from our history? Mary Seacole? Ira Aldridge? George Bridgetower? Pablo Fanque?Walter Tull? Have you heard of these people? 
 
Yes? That's great! But if you haven't, don't worry, you're not alone, which is why I'm so excited to tell you all about them. Because the people in this book should be totally famous given the AMAZING things they've done! And we're not going to stop in the past, I'll introduce you to people making waves right here and now! 
 
From sportspeople to scientists, activists to musicians, politicians to writers, we're going to meet a whole bunch of AWESOME people who have helped shape the world we live in. So, are ready for you a journey Black in time?? Course you are, let's go!

The Extraordinary Life of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was: 
 
The first Black president 
 
A leader 
 
An inspiration 
 
Nelson Mandela was known for dedicating his life to fighting for equality in South Africa and overthrowing racial segregation. He grew up hearing the elders' stories of his ancestors' fighting in the wars of resistance, and he dreamed of fighting for the freedom of his people. His childhood wish was granted when he became the first black president of South Africa, and an icon for hope, change and equality. 
 
Explore other extraordinary lives: 
The Extraordinary Life of Stephen Hawking 
The Extraordinary Life of Michelle Obama 
The Extraordinary Life of Katherine Johnson 
The Extraordinary Life of Mahatma Gandhi 
The Extraordinary Life of Alan Turing 
The Extraordinary Life of Serena Williams 
The Extraordinary Life of Greta Thunberg 
The Extraordinary Life of Amelia Earhart

Emma Norry is an author who writes fiction and non-fiction for children. She is passionate about equal representation and diversity. Her first book, Son of the Circus (Scholastic, 2019), is part of a series that shows readers that Black and brown people have always been a part of British history. Son of the Circus, set in Victorian times, blended fact and fiction by using Pablo Fanque (the first Black circus owner) and his son Ted as inspiration. Emma has also written Amber Undercover (OUP, 2021) - a fun action-adventure spy story for ages 10+. She has many short stories in anthologies: Happy Here (Knights Of Media, 2021), The Place for Me: Stories from the Windrush (Scholastic, 2020) and The Very Merry Murder Club (Farshore, 2021). Emma's non-fiction includes biographies of Lionel Messi (Scholastic, 2020) and Nelson Mandela (Puffin, 2020). A two-book middle-grade fantasy series launches in 2023. Emma can be found on Twitter at @elnorry_writer or her website elnorry.com

Nelson Mandela is known for dedicating his life to fighting for equality in South Africa and overthrowing racial segregation. He grew up hearing the elders' stories of his ancestors' fighting in the wars of resistance, and he dreamed of fighting for the freedom of his people. His childhood wish was granted when he became the first black president of South Africa, and an icon for hope, change and equality. 
 
Collect them all! 
 
Packed full of incredible stories, fantastic facts and dynamic illustrations, Extraordinary Lives shines a light on important modern and historical figures from all over the world.

E. L. Norry

Abridged Edition

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction. 
 
The Extraordinary Life of Nelson Mandela, a Level 2 Reader, is A1+ in the CEFR framework. Sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, introducing the future tenses will and going to, present continuous for future meaning, and comparatives and superlatives. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear on most pages. 
 
Nelson Mandela wanted freedom for black people from apartheid in South Africa. He fought hard for freedom and equality and became the first black president of South Africa.

E. L. Norry

Books by E. L. Norry

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