Only One of Me is a wonderful collection of the best poems for children from one of the most widely celebrated poets in Britain, James Berry, featuring an introduction by John Agard.
James Berry Book order (chronological)
James Berry was a poet and writer whose work is noted for its striking blend of standard English and Jamaican Patois. Immigrating from Jamaica to England in the 1940s, his writing explores themes of cultural identity and linguistic richness. Berry's poetic style is energetic and rhythmic, often capturing the raw beauty and complexity of the worlds he depicts. His contributions to literature celebrate the fusion of cultures and languages.






Some people have dresses for every occasion but Afiya needs only one. Her dress records the memories of her childhood, from roses in bloom to pigeons in flight, from tigers at the zoo to October leaves falling. A joyful celebration of a young girl's childhood, written by the late multi-award-winning Jamaican poet James Berry OBE.
My Experiences as an Executioner
- 152 pages
- 6 hours of reading
Focusing on the life and methods of an executioner, this memoir details James Berry's experiences and innovations in the practice of hanging, particularly the long drop method aimed at minimizing suffering. Berry shares personal accounts of his first execution, various techniques, and reflections on capital punishment. The book also includes contributions from H. Snowden Ward and an introductory essay on Anne Green's execution, providing a historical context to Berry's insights into the moral complexities of his role.
A Story About Afiya
- 32 pages
- 2 hours of reading
Age range 5 to 9Some people have dresses for every occasion but Afiya needs only one. Her dress records the memories of her childhood, from roses in bloom to pigeons in flight, from tigers at the zoo to October leaves falling.
The Emperor's Tomb
- 436 pages
- 16 hours of reading
Former government operative Cotton Malone teams with old heartthrob Cassiopeia Vitt on a dangerous mission to retrieve a priceless Chinese lamp from the third century B.C.E.
Combining specially commissioned work by 13 acclaimed modern poets with illustrations by Satoshi Kitamura, this package also includes a CD featuring each of the poems read aloud to the corresponding animal music.
Alles jubelt und singt
- 28 pages
- 1 hour of reading
