The author has many problems. She moves from colourful Trinidad to a dull England to join her Marmie and Dardie who went to London for work. She feels unwelcome, she doesn’t know what an escalator or a telephone is for. She experiences discrimination. Her ambition is to meet the Queen. She works hard to settle in her new home. One day, she achieves her dream! Now she works to help other people at the House of Lords. Which of the characters (if any) you did not like. Why?The mean aunt. She did not let Floella and Sandra play. I liked reading about your journey to England, I went on a ferry to France. It lasted for a night, not fifteen days! What most stands out for you from the book?When Floella was older her dream came true and she got to meet the Queen. Was the plot exciting, thought-provoking, serious or light-hearted (or any mixture of these)?Exciting. Not only did Floella learnt about England, I did too!!

Government scrap PCR tests for double-jabbed travellers

Floella Benjamin was a little girl who lived in Trinidad. Floella worked with an illustrator, Diane Ewen, to tell the astonishing story of Floella’s life, travelling from Trinidad to arriving in England. I learnt that England didn’t welcome Floella and her family but she didn’t give up. I love the illustrator’s vibrant colours in the book when Floella’s talking about Trinidad and the way the colours change in England. Her changing schools’ moment is something I can empathise with. Did you learn any new words or facts as a result of the story?I learnt that meeting new people is very hard but you always have to keep going and never give up. What made the history or the time it was set in interesting to you?Yes. I live in England but the story was set way before I was born. When she was ten years old, Floella Benjamin, along with her older sister and two younger brothers, set sail from Trinidad to London, to be reunited with the rest of their family. Alone on a huge ship for two weeks, then tumbled into a cold and unfriendly London, coming to England wasn't at all what Floella had expected.Did you learn any new words or facts from this book? Jacob said he didn’t know the word Trinidad. “I know England though because that is where we live.” England wasn’t a giant iceberg as Floella’s brother said. It was cold but not that cold! Much colder and less colourful than Trinidad and getting around London was very different to getting around Trinidad. The escalators and underground trains were new to Floella and her family. I was sad that people were not very kind to them at first but they got through it. Did you enjoy the book? Yes. Floella got to explore a new country and learn about different people.

Coming to England by Floella Benjamin is a biographical story Coming to England by Floella Benjamin is a biographical story

Floella was a hard working person who was brave enough to travel across time zones, spending fifteen days on a boat, whilst doing a handful of chores. As her boat arrived at Southampton from Trinidad, she wanted to be a welcomed visitor but London wasn’t very welcoming. She was confused by the fast underground trains and moving staircases but worse than that, people weren’t very kind. She persevered though. Eventually she settled in, and made good friends at school. The three-weekly update of which destinations are designated green, amber and red had been due on Thursday but it was delayed by the Cabinet reshuffle. In 1995 Floella wrote a book all about herself called Coming to England . It describes her journey as a child from Trinidad in the Caribbean all the way to England in the UK. It's a story about what it's like to arrive somewhere new and feel very different from everyone else. I like the artistic attention to detail, the bold colourful style with the Historical fashion and the big petticoat skirts. It is very visually engaging and I learnt about Colonialism and Windrush as well as Trinidadian life. Even though it did not hide from the depressing subject of Racism, I was cheered up by the optimistic ending and would like to read more by this author. I am probably older than the age this is aimed at, but I think it would appeal to all ages. When you first wrote Coming to England did you think of writing a picture book, as this was the age of children to whom you devoted the early part of your career?Stories of Joy and Hope: share your story to win a school visit from our Writer in Residence Smriti Halls Coming to England – An Inspiring True Story Celebrating the Windrush Generation by Floella Benjamin and illustrated by Diane Ewen is published by Macmillan Children's Books on 8 October.