Leave The Trees, Please
Dr. Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah was born and raised in Birmingham, England. He began performing poetry in his early teenage years and left school at the age of 13. Benjamin Zephaniah published his first book, Pen Rhythm, at the age of 22. Over the next four decades, he wrote 13 poetry collections, six novels, five children's books, and seven plays. His first book of poetry for children, Talking Turkeys, reached the top of the children's book list and remained there for months. He holds sixteen honorary doctorates and Ealing Hospital in west London has dedicated a wing to him in recognition of his work. Benjamin was deeply passionate about global and local issues, focusing on themes such as human rights and environmental protection. He was widely regarded as one of the first poets to address the climate crisis.
Melissa Castrillon is an English and Colombian illustrator based in the southeast of England. She spends much of her time illustrating and writing picture books for children, as well as designing book covers for readers of all ages. Melissa has illustrated over ten picture books, written three, and had her work translated into more than 20 languages worldwide. She is inspired by bold color combinations, creative compositions, innovative page design, and unique patterns. Melissa often finds herself daydreaming about these elements and how to incorporate them into new projects. In 2019, she received the gold medal from the Society of Illustrators in New York for her wordless book 'The Balcony'. That same year, she was commissioned to redesign the covers for Philip Pullman's HIS DARK MATERIALS series. When not working on book projects, Melissa enjoys designing screen prints and Riso prints.
