Unspoken

About this book

How do you talk to children about slavery? Specifically the slave trade from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries between Africa, Europe and America. As the prize-winning author Kwame Alexander says in this vital, honest and incredibly atmospheric picture book, it is a story ‘that starts in Africa and ends in horror’. But it is essential for all children to know this part of world history, whether they are Black or not. And between them, Alexander and the illustrator Dare Coulter find a way to show the joy of the people before they’re captured, and their steadfast determination to love and to survive while enslaved.

Told in a conversation between teacher and class, with questions from the imagined children, this doesn’t shy from hard truths and acknowledges how hard slavery is to think about. It is the children who show their teacher the answer: You can’t change the past, but you can do better in the future. You focus on the hope.

The unique artwork is a combination of sculptures, showing the proud people of the past, and charcoal drawings of the present-day teacher and children. The emotion shown in both techniques is incredibly moving.

Written to help teachers talk about this important yet tricky topic, this is suitable for upper primary pupils and older. Don’t let the picture book format fool you – this will move and instruct all who read it.

Check out the eloquent and impressive Kwame Alexander reading Unspoken.

About the author