Two People Can
A beautifully illustrated lyrical children’s picture book about family change, loss and hope.
A powerful and uplifting story about the impact the departure of a dad has on a young boy and his mum, written by award-winning Zimbabwean poet Blessing Musariri and stunningly illustrated by British artist Maisie Paradise Shearring.
Shingai's father has gone and Shingai and his mum are all alone and feeling lost. Shingai can’t contain the whirlwind of emotions inside him any more. He needs to let his feelings out.
A beautiful heartfelt story about the complex range of emotions a child experiences when a parent leaves, told from the perspective of a young boy. An important book for kids about dealing with family change and overcoming sadness with hope and acceptance.
Blessing Musariri thought she might grow up and be a lawyer but she was born a chatterbox, a voracious reader and a compulsive keeper of journals. She became a writer. Blessing has published various titles for children since her first picture book, ‘Rufaro’s Day’ (Longman 2001). She also writes YA fiction, poetry, radio and screenplays. Blessing believes that children deserve books that are beautiful, honest, fun and that help us discover ourselves in the stories of others.
Maisie Paradise Shearring is an illustrator and author based in Hull. She loves making books, drawing from observation, and inventing characters in her sketchbooks. In April 2015, Maisie won the International Award for Illustration at Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Maisie’s books include ‘Anna and Otis’, ‘I’m Actually Really-Grown Up Now’, ‘The Girl Who Noticed Everything’, and ‘The Boy Who Loved Everyone’, which won the Little Rebels award in 2020 and a Christopher Award in 2022.