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.

Inspired by her childhood in Trinidad, acclaimed poet and writer Dionne Brand conjures the world of the Caribbean in her first book of poetry for children. The sounds and smells of market day, the blazing sun, the joyful beat of much-awaited rain and a girl who dares to do better. These are just some of the stories and characters brought into focus in this captivating collection of poems.

Originally published in 1979, these poems are an eloquent, unsparing tribute to the lives of the Caribbean people and the power of nature. Simple chants and schoolyard skipping songs alongside more sophisticated poems reveal a place of beauty and hardship where life moves in harmony with the elements. With vibrant collage paintings and poignant line drawings by Eugenie Fernandes, Earth Magic will cast a spell over readers of all ages.