People who qualify as fully vaccinated must quarantine and take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after they arrive in England. Lateral flow tests will not be accepted.

Floella’s illustrator, Diane Ewen, shades the differences between Trinidad and London, showing Floella’s inner life and making things visual for her readers. There are lots of new things for everyone to learn about: Trinidad, the House of Lords and the British Empire. As her dad wanted to be a Jazz musician, I learnt about the music side of things too! If you began your journey in Russia, you do not need to complete a passenger locator form, or take a COVID-19 test before travel to England or on arrival. What made the history or the time it was set in interesting to you?Yes. I live in England but the story was set way before I was born. From 4am 30 November 2021, fully vaccinated people must self-isolate and take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after they arrive in England. They may leave self-isolation if their PCR result is negative. Lateral flow tests will not be accepted. Which of the characters did you find most interesting? Why?Floella. She told me a lot of interesting things about England.This picture book autobiography explores the early life of Floella Benjamin, celebrated writer, actress and television presenter. It begins in her childhood home of Trinidad and charts her move to England in 1960 as part of the Windrush generation. I liked reading about your journey to England, I went on a ferry to France. It lasted for a night, not fifteen days! I was very much involved in finding Diane. My publishers Macmillan Children's Books showed me work from at least a dozen illustrators. We wanted a very specific look for the book, something that is really warm and engaging and captured my story exactly right. The book told me about the British Empire and about why people came to England from the other side of the world. I empathised with Floella’s worries about moving somewhere new with new people. It must have been hard too, to cope with the change of climate. London was cold and the people were cold as well. Being happy with her family again, helped her cope with the discrimination, she settled in and it felt like home.

They will need to have taken a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency, or US Food and Drug Administration Is there anything you did not like about this book?I didn’t like the children who wouldn’t play with Floella. The story of a young girl who did not lose hope fills me with admiration. She found a way to achieve her ambition. Her ambition led her to the House of Lords and the Queen! I would like to know more, I hope there’s a more detailed autobiography. Is this picture book version the kind of book you dreamt about reading when you were on Play School?I recommend this picture book to everyone. The vivid illustrations work so well with the writing. You can tell that Floella and Diane Ewen, the illustrator, worked closely together to recreate Floella’s world, making me feel as though I was there with her. Which of the characters did you find most interesting? Why?Floella’s father. I have never read a book where the father wants to be a jazz musician. When you arrive in England from abroad you do not need to take any COVID-19 tests or fill in a UK passenger locator form. From 5 January, people flying from mainland China to England will be asked to take a COVID-19 pre-departure test. Would you recommend this book? Jacob said “Miss Worrall will like this book because we are learning about different skin colours at school.”