This joyous celebration of childhood, culture and place by the late Jamaican poet follows a young girl named Afiya ('health' in Swahili) whose summer frock 'collects' what she sees as she dances across an island in motion. 

Some people have dresses for every occasion, but Afiya only needs one. Her dress captures memories of her childhood, from blossoming roses to flying doves, from tigers in the zoo to falling October leaves. 

This book is recommended for children from the ages of 3 and upwards. 


KEY TOPICS:
Poetry; Caribbean; Identity; Childhood; Imagination; Nature; Diversity.


KEY SELLING POINTS:

• A whimsical exploration of a child's imagination, written in verse and gorgeously illustrated.
• A celebration of Caribbean identity and natural childhood
• Stories with a diverse protagonist foster empathy and encourage readers to take different perspectives. #WeNeedDiverseBooks
• James Berry is a multi-award winning Jamaican poet #OwnVoices

Children's book, Paperback

We love it because

LANTANA: "We believe that the importance of reading for pleasure cannot be overstated. A combination of academic research, empirical study and common sense shows that when children identify with books - their settings, themes or characters - they are more likely to enjoy reading them. At Lantana, we’re proud to publish books in which a greater number of children can see themselves reflected, because our books feature characters from under-represented and marginalised groups who are rarely the main characters in stories. This way, we hope to ignite the spark that will grow into a lifelong love of reading."

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