Book Spotlight: What You Need to Be Warm by Neil Gaiman

Book Spotlight: What You Need to Be Warm

In the past few weeks, I, like I’m sure many of you have been, have been watching in heartbreak and horror at the events unfolding both in Gaza and elsewhere in the world. It is so frustrating to see these things happen and feel small and like there is nothing you can do to help. Of course, there are lots of charities you can donate to but as this is a bookish blog I thought I would offer a bookish way to help! Neil Gaiman has recently released a graphic poetry book called What You Need to Be Warm. It is technically a children’s book, but I think it has a beautiful message that everyone needs to hear and is for such an important cause! The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and are the combined work of thirteen different artists. Back in 2019, Gaiman collected the responses of the twittersphere when asked ‘What reminds you of warmth?’. The final poem weaves together these responses to explore what people need to be safe and comfortable and what it is to lack that. The proceeds from What You Need to be Warm will go to the UN Refugee Agency and UNHCR which both help to support forcibly displaced or stateless people across the world.

If you are interested in picking up a copy I would recommend popping into your local bookshop if you can as it’s always nice to support a local business! If you do want to buy a copy online you can get it from the Bloomsbury website: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/what-you-need-to-be-warm-9781526660619/

I hope those who can, do buy a copy as it goes to a wonderful cause and is a very beautiful and touching book. Enjoy reading and proceed through the coming weeks with love and care doing what you can to educate yourself about ongoing conflicts and their catastrophic events on communities.

Love, Grace xx