The Bookseller.com

2nd December 2008

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Tamarind calls for trade support

20.08.08 Caroline Horn

Random House plans to push trade sales for its new Tamarind list, which launches this autumn to tie in with Black History Month in October. Managing director Verna Wilkins, who founded the publishing company 20 years ago, called for the chains to dedicate more space to culturally diverse books. "When families from different cultures walk past the display windows of the major chains, there is nothing to tell them that there are books for them inside the store," she said.

Fen Coles, book buyer for multicultural supplier Letterbox Library, agreed: "The feedback we get suggests that consumers in local communities do not feel that their needs are being met. Booksellers think that they know what will sell and that books with pictures of black or Asian children on the cover won't find a market. That is not the case."

Former independent Tamarind, which specialises in books featuring children from ethnic minorities, was acquired by RH last December. Tamarind will publish 10 new titles each year, with the launch list comprising six titles including picture books and biographies. "There is no reason why these books wouldn't appeal to any child or family," said Wilkins. "Our books have always appealed to trade booksellers in big cities such as Birmingham and London but we believe that that there is more general demand."

Tamarind's new picture book titles include Big Eyes, Scary Voice, about children having an adventure in the park, and And Me, about a girl's relationship with her grandfather. "Our books are about everyday events in children's lives. These messages are universal, about shared experiences and adventures aimed at building children's confidence," said Wilkins.

Random House has created a new look for Tamarind's list to give the titles more trade appeal, with stronger colours and new styles of illustration for the picture books. Tamarind's YA Black Stars biographies, which include Malorie Blackman and Benjamin Zephaniah, have also been given a new, contemporary look.

Caroline Horn Random House children's Home Tamarind Verna Wilkins