An accomplished author of poetry for adults, Brand debuts her poems for children in this homage to her beloved homeland of Trinidad. She has a gift for finding beauty and wonder in the small everyday events: watching the fishermen pull in their nets, shopping in the open-air market, washing clothes in the river, delighting in hummingbirds. While most of the poems are lighthearted, Brand also writes thoughtfully about serious topics, such as the devastation a hurricane brings to the island and the horrors of the slave trade. Brand is the winner of the Governor General’s Award for Poetry, one of Canada’s most prestigious awards for literature; additionally, she is the recipient of the Trillium Award and the Pat Lowther Award. lvb

Originally published by Kids Can Press Canada, in 1979.