Review: The Story of Windrush by K.N. Chimbiri

In June 1948, HMT Empire Windrush docked in Essex with expectant travellers—mostly Caribbeans—on an adventure to Britain. Over seventy years on these travellers are part of what's now called the 'Windrush generation', their historic arrival recently brought into focus by the deportation scandal.

Kandace Chimbri's non-fiction text, republished by Scholastic, is essential for teaching modern British history at KS2. Child-friendly books on this topic are generally lacking so this concise easy-to-read account is needed, not least because it challenges the whitewashed notion of poor Jamaicans, seeking a better life, being welcomed in by benevolent Britain. 

Chimbiri's approach is more nuanced. She explains the multiple reasons Caribbeans of varying socio-economic status chose to relocate, from a desire to help their devastated imperial motherland after WWII, to the pursuit of further education in Britain. We also discover that, although most passengers were Jamaican, people from other nations—Trinidad, Gibraltar, Burma, Barbados, Poland, and Britain—made the journey too, providing a sense of an internationally shared experience as opposed to us and them.

The book contextualises the arrival of the Empire Windrush within the broader socio-political climate before and after 1948. Chimbiri highlights Caribbeans' prior existence in Britain as well as their huge contribution as armed services members during WWII. She carefully describes the racism and harsh living conditions Black people endured and how their community-mindedness, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit helped them overcome difficulties for decades, within a predominantly white society. 

The true-life story of Jamaican Sam King is revisited throughout the text, representing the inspiring legacy of Windrush trailblazers. King became the first Black mayor of Southwark and set up the charity Windrush Foundation. Reading Mr King's story will help children to understand the crucial role Black Britons played in rebuilding post-war Britain. They will also glimpse what life was like as a Black child growing up within the era of a crumbling British Empire.

The text is presented in clear manageable chunks interspersed with colourful maps, sepia illustrations, and photos from various archives. There's a useful glossary and timeline, at the back, to extend children's vocabulary and deepen their understanding. Cross-curricular links include report writing (English), map skills/study of a Caribbean island, eg, Trinidad (geography), and learning about Calypso and famous Caribbean singers (music). 

Though the quality of the written content is high, one slight niggle is that the design felt a little rushed. For example, on the map of the British Empire, Africa is severely compromised by a centrefold so you may wish to supplement it with an alternative, particularly if you're planning to extend learning by exploring the origin countries of Black Caribbeans (see below for info on map projections). 

This engaging sensitively-told version of the Windrush story explodes long-held myths, challenging dominant perspectives of modern British history. It places Caribbeans rightfully at the forefront of their own story, authentically reflecting their experiences and elevating their achievements as Black British citizens. 

Resources for teachers and parents

Lesson Plans Available on Scholastic's Resource Bank

10 Facts About Britains Black Community During the World Wars

Article on map projections used in schools

British Library Windrush Stories: Creative Writing Activities (primary students) 

Sam King

The Black Curriculum

The Black Cultural Archives

Walter Tull (Black soldier in WWI)

Guide for teachers and parents

Genre	Non-fiction: non chronological historical text
Child-led interests (EYFS)	N/A
Age group (EYFS, KS1, KS2)	KS2 (Y5/6/4)
Curriculum links/topics (EYFS/NC)	English: Reading comprehension (Y5/6) – continuing to read and discuss an increasingly wide range of fiction, poetry, plays, non-fiction and reference books or textbooks reading books that are structured in different ways and reading for a range of purposes checking that the book makes sense to them, discussing their understanding and exploring the meaning of words in context asking questions to improve their understanding drawing inferences such as inferring characters’ feelings, thoughts and motives from their actions, and justifying inferences with evidence summarising the main ideas drawn from more than 1 paragraph, identifying key details that support the main ideas identifying how language, structure and presentation contribute to meaning distinguish between statements of fact and opinion retrieve, record and present information from non-fiction English: Writing composition (Y5/6) – identifying the audience for and purpose of the writing, selecting the appropriate form and using other similar writing as models for their own noting and developing initial ideas, drawing on reading and research where necessary selecting appropriate grammar and vocabulary, understanding how such choices can change and enhance meaning using a wide range of devices to build cohesion within and across paragraphs using further organisational and presentational devices to structure text and to guide the reader [for example, headings, bullet points, underlining] ensuring the consistent and correct use of tense throughout a piece of writing History: a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066 Geography: Place knowledge – understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and physical geography of a region of the United Kingdom, a region in a European country, and a region in North or South America Geographical skills and fieldwork – use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied Music: appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians; develop an understanding of the history of music
Suitability	whole-class teaching; class/school library; home library; independent reader

All the Black children's books that I review are checked against my Jericho Benchmark.