PICTUREHOUSE EDUCATION

Join us for a fantastic event at selected cinemas with author Chibundu Onuzo, in partnership with Dark Matter, Round Table Books, and Afrori Books!

Pre-booking is essential so please get in touch!

WARNING: DO NOT JUMP ON THIS BOOK!

Brimming with heart, Chibundu's new novel Mayowa and the Sea of Words is a modern classic in the making.

This hour-long, interactive in-screen event will feature a reading of an extract from the book by the author, a musical performance and an inspiring conversation for young readers and budding writers.

Chibundu will touch on themes such as empathy and the power of words. The event will celebrate refugees and the importance of welcoming people from other countries. Students will hear how Chibundu created her lead character - Mayowa and get to share their thoughts on the stunning book cover illustration.

There will also be a Q&A so students (and teachers!) can put their own questions to Chibundu. Books will be available to purchase at the event from local booksellers Round Table Books and Afrori Books, and Chibundu will be signing and writing special dedications… and if we're lucky, there may well be some book jumping too!

More about the book

Ten-year-old Mayowa has always thought that her Grandpa Edward, who dyes his beard emerald green and jumps on books in private, is rather unusual too. Until one day she jumps on a book for herself, and uncovers a huge family secret…

Mayowa can book jump.

By jumping on a book, she can harness the emotions inside it and channel them directly into other people. And when the opportunity to use her power to save the lives of countless refugees presents itself, Mayowa wants to jump in with both feet.

But Mayowa and her grandpa aren't the only book jumpers in existence. And not everybody wants to use this power for good…

More about the author

Chibundu Onuzo was born in Lagos, Nigeria but moved to England as a teenager. She signed the deal for her first book, the Betty Trask Award-winning The Spider King's Daughter, at nineteen. Her second book, Welcome to Lagos, was published in 2016 and in 2018 she was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Chibundu's most recent novel for adults, Sankofa, was an October 2021 pick for the Reese Witherspoon Book Club. Mayowa and the Sea of Words is her debut children's novel.

Pre-order a signed copy of Mayowa and the Sea of Words

Thanks to local bookshop Round Table Books and Afrori Books, you can order pre-order signed copies of the book to collect on the day and take home for the special price of £10.50 each (19% off the RRP). Details of how to pre-order copies for your students and/or school library will be sent to you upon booking tickets for the author event.

Round Table Books is a black-owned, inclusion-led bookshop and community interest company. They sell books for every reader and run community projects, based in the heart of Brixton. They work with authors and illustrators that celebrate underrepresented experiences. Find out more here.

Afrori Books. Afrori is a multi-award-winning bookshop based in the heart of Brighton, East Sussex. They seek to provide a safe space for Black people and their allies. In 2023 Carolynn, the shops founder, was awarded the independent bookseller of the Year and the bookshop was voted Brighton Business of the Year. Afrori Books are co-founders of Brighton Book Festival and to date they are the only bookshop of its kind in the UK. Find out more here.

Dark Matter is an inclusive marketing agency that works collaboratively to connect culture with Black audiences. They help film studios, cinemas, publishers and art organisations share stories via authentic, culturally inclusive outreach campaigns, partnerships, events. Find out more here.