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[bardicbramley]

Bramley's Book Of The Week - Master Thread

I've been adding to a thread over on my twitter (bardicbramley) every week-ish with a new Children's or YA book that I have read recently and would recommend! With everything happening on twitter, I'm going to make a master list of all my recommendation so far here, and then continue adding them to a tag on this blog as well, just in case!

So, without further ado... #bramleysbotw so far!

31/10/22 - Home by Tonya Lippert and Andrea Stegmaier

A gentle story of homelessness giving so much space for understaning & discussion. A great tool for deeper talking ab houseless people, different types of homes and unstable living situations with gorgeous, simple yet detailed art.

7/11/22 - How To Be More Hedgehog by Anne-Maire Conway

So much deep and true emotion, a relatable MC and great messages of self advocacy, confidence and activism. As someone with selective mutism and tics, I enjoyed every second of Lily's proudly stammer-filled journey.

14/11/22 - Lifesize by Sophy Henn

Over to my library kids for this #bramleybotw A new addition that they've not stopped talking about...Even my most energetic readers are sitting on the floor, reading the animal facts to their friends and comparing their hands to that of a polar bear!

21/11/22 - Me and My Dysphoria Monster by Laura Kate Dale and Ang Hui Qing

In honour of #transawarenessweek2022 and as a personal thank you from a trans educator. An amazing addition to trans children's literature (& kidlit in general) that I would highly recommend to other educators!

28/11/22 - Love Your Body by Jessica Sanders and Carol Rossetti

A beautiful and uplifting non fiction to support girls in loving and appreciating their body for all the amazing things it can do, and all the incredible ways it can look.

I needed more words to also talk about the incredible art in this week's choice. The colour pallet just so comforting and the style is a new favourite of mine!

5/12/22 - Paws by Kate Foster

My younger self would have loved this book and even now I adore it. It has authentic #actuallyautistic representation (without negativity!) and is all round a lovely story.

6/1/23 - When I See Blue by Lily Bailey

An emotional and gritty real world adventure with Ben, as he navigates making friends, protecting his alcoholic mother, and battling the bully in his head, his OCD. A tough but beautiful read.

30/1/23 - Star Knights by Kay Davault

A Graphic Novel filled with self acceptance, incredible worldbuilding and animals that turn into magical adventurers?! I mean come on, how could I not rec this one 💖 bonus points for queer rep too.

9/2/23 - All To Play For by Eve Ainsworth

It's recommended by Empathy Lab UK this year and I couldn't agree more. It has Barrington Stoke's signature dyslexia friendly pages and font - but so much more than that. A story of family, class and determination.

20/2/23 - Birdsong by Katya Balen

I'm a bit late to the party with this one. I've seen so many people sing it's praises! A gorgeously honest, emotional and raw story that any child will love, but will strike a chord with certain ones especially.

27/2/23 - Speak Up! by Rebecca Burgess

A graphic novel about a secret teen pop star with a wonderful autistic main and genderqueer side character representation? Of course it was amazing!

6/3/23 - Tyger by SF Said

Much like Phoenix, the dedication to world building, the layered, lovable characters, and the beautifully descriptive language had me gripped from the very start. Dave McKean's incredibly detailed and emotive illustrations surely helped!

13/3/23 - Needle by Patrice Lawrence

An incredible heartfelt read for UKS2/MG/KS3 - exploring often avoided topics of fostering, UK police and court systems, racial profiling, when to be honest (or fake it), whose voices matter most and questionable justice.

20/3/23 - Twelfth Grade Night by Molly Horton Booth, Stephanie Kate Strohm and Jamie Green

Sometimes you really just need a queer, unapologetically corny modern Shakespeare smash retelling of Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and that's 100% okay! I got you covered!

In all seriousness, with all the hatred filling queer spaces atm, it was great to just float in a fun, sweet, dramatic world full of lovable ✨fairies✨The illustrations caught me instantly - the pining faces, the dramatic lighting! A teen romcom Will'd be proud of.

28/3/23 - Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

A beautiful UKS2+ novel in verse following Jude's journey across oceans, growing up, making friends and finding her voice. Rich and realistic, not shying away from subjects often avoided, and with poetic Arabic intertwined.

3/4/23 - Frizzy by Claribel A. Oretga and Rose Bousamra

Whilst not my own cultural story, it resonated deeply still 💖 an incredibly honest, beautiful and joyous graphic novel with gorgeous colours and rebellious questioning of generational trauma!

12/4/23 - Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes Smith

I put it off for so long bc I was a little scared it might not live up to my hopes, but it was so much more than I imagined. The love I have for these kiddos (and Callie's dads 😭) is intense. Kidlits often shy away from big, scary or rebellious topics. Neither Callie nor Esme are afraid to speak up ab what trans kids (and so many others) need/deserve to hear, and I am so proud of them for that. This is the book I needed as a kid - I am so glad it exists now 💖⚔️

24/4/23 - Jamie by LD Lapinski

A powerful story of never backing down and demanding your full self to be acknowledged. I'm so excited to see a story encouraging children to stand up for themselves and recognise that adults can be (& often are) wrong.

5/5/23 - Dungeon Club: Roll Call by Molly Knox Ostertag and Xanthe Bouma

Great for those who haven't played and incredible for those who have - the use of D&D stat blocks and dual narrative (irl and in game) 🙌🏻 simply amazing! Can't wait for the next!

15/5/23 - Call Me Lion by Camilla Chester

Being autistic, sometimes partially or non-speaking, and having struggled with confidence all my life - I just loved this little joyful tale. Realistic but hopeful, with easily likeable, well rounded mcs!

22/5/23 - My Brother is Away by Sara Greenwood and Luisa Uribe

A /beautifully/ illustrated and gently poignant picturebook of a child whose brother is incarcerated. I've seen this kind of book before, but this is it done right, well, and to a v. high quality.

19/6/23 - Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Been meaning to read this for so long, finally have, and of course its been added to my all time favourites list! What an incredible, reflective and honest piece of art for children. I don't do mandatory reading, but if I did: top of the list.

26/6/23 - The Golden Hour by Niki Smith

A gorgeous graphic novel, upper KS2-3 cusp/YA. It takes a beautifully artistic and honest look into managing childhood PTSD from gun violence, with help from an eye for photography, a cute calf, and a first queer crush 💖

3/7/23 - My Aunt is a Monster by Reimena Yee

A sweet and exciting story of adventurers, curses and mysteries with a healthy dash of queer and disabled representation, all whilst learning to see past first impressions.

[bardicbramley]

Grandad's Camper Picturebook Resource

A complete, cross-curricular resource pack for using Grandad's Camper by Harry Woodgate with Year 2 children.

Including ideas and premade handouts for thematic use in:

English -

Comprehension, Writing, Grammar, Drama

Mathematics

Science and Geography

Music, Art and Design

PSHE

As well as information for teachers, parents and adults around book context

[bardicbramley]

'All Time Favourites' of 2022 - Part 2

July

The Wild Robot - Peter Brown

Illustrated Novel - KS2+ - Family, parenthood, friendship, found family, science and technology, environment, animals, death and grief, bullying, differences.

-

Cici's Journal: The Adventures of a Writer-In-Training - Joris Chamblain, illustrated by Aurélie Neyret

Graphic Novel / Comic - KS2+ - Friendship, intergenerational, mystery, adventure, writing, books, family, letter/scrapbook/journal.

September

That's Not My Name - Anoosha Syed

Picturebook - EYFS+ - Activism, cultures, languages, school, empathy, friendship, self acceptance, self empowerment, family, emotions.

-

Like A Charm - Elle McNicoll

Novel - UKS2 / KS3 cusp - Disability and Neurodivergency (Dyspraxia), family, fantasy, magic, folklore, Scotland, school, bullying, self acceptance, self empowerment.

The Secret Sunshine Project - Benjamin Dean

Novel - UKS2 / KS3 cusp - LGBT, family, bullying, intergenerational, death and grief, activism, art and music, emotions, self acceptance.

October

Paws - Kate Foster

Novel - KS2+ - Disability and Neurodivergency (Autism), friendship, family, dogs, slice of life, school, Australia, self acceptance, bullying.

-

Roar of the Beast - Chad Sell

Graphic Novel - KS2+ - LGBT, friendship, family, mystery, dark, adventure, imagination, superheroes, halloween, bullying, emotions.

-

How To Be More Hedgehog - Anne-Marie Conway

Novel - UKS2 / KS3 cusp - Disability and Neurodivergency (Speech difficulty, Stammer), bullying, self acceptance, family, friendships, environment, activism.

-

My Shadow is Pink - Scott Stuart

Picturebook - EYFS+ - LGBT (Transgender), gender roles, family, bullying, differences, mental health and emotions.

-

Arthur and the Golden Rope / Marcy and the Riddle of the Sphinx / Leo and the Gorgon's Curse - Joe Todd-Stanton

Graphic Novels - KS2+ - Historical, mythology, folklore, fantasy, adventure, mystery, family, emotions.

November

Love Your Body - Jessica Sanders, illustrated by Carol Rossetti

Nonfiction - KS2+ - Growing up, body positivity, self acceptance, differences, science and development, empathy, girl power.

-

Life Size - Sophy Henn

Nonfiction - KS1+ - Animals, interactive, facts, science, environment.

-

Me and My Dysphoria Monster - Laura Kate Dale, illustrated by Ang Hui Qing

Picturebook - KS1+ - LGBT (Transgender), self acceptance, mental health and emotions, family, friendships.

-

Timid - Harry Woodgate

Picturebook - KS1+ - LGBT (Nonbinary), anxiety, emotions, friendship, school, self empowerment.

-

We Want Our Books - Jake Alexander

Picturebook - KS1+ - Activism, community, family, libraries, books, self empowerment.

December

When I see Blue - Lily Bailey

Novel - UKS2 / KS3 cusp - Disability and Neurodivergency (OCD), family, friendship, bullying, school, slice of life, divorce, mental health and emotions, pop culture, positive masculinity.

[bardicbramley]

'All Time Favourites' of 2022 - Part 1

A round up of the 37 books that made it onto my 'All Time Favourites' folder on Goodreads this year.

Of the 203 children's books I read this year, 37 stood out particularly. These are books that, whilst they don't have to be 5 star perfection, left a lasting impression on me.

These are all books that I would recommend to other educators. They are stories that would make me feel safe, seen or inspired if I saw them in a classroom or library, and they span across a number of genres and age ranges.

January

The Magic Fish - Trung Le Nguyen

Graphic Novel - Y6+/KS3 cusp/YA - LGBT, fairytales, folklore, refugees, immigration, family - Vietnamese American main.

-

We Travel So Far - Laura Knowles, illustrated by Chris Madden

Non-Fiction - KS1/2 - Environment, immigration, science, animals.

-

The Deepest Breath - Meg Grehan

Novel in Verse - UKS2+ - LGBT (sapphic), young love, first crush, self confidence, anziety and mental health.

-

Snapdragon - Kat Leyh

Graphic Novel - USK2+ - LGBT, folklore, dark themes, bullying, family.

February

When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox - Jamie L. B. Deenihan, illustrated by Lorraine Rocha

Picturebook - YR+ - Gender roles, Positive masculinity, family, art and design, emotions.

March

This Is a Dictatorship - Equipo Plantel, illustrated by Mikel Casal

Picturebook - 6+ - historical, leadership, activism, education, discussion piece.

-

Grandad's Camper - Harry Woodgate

Picturebook- EYFS+ - LGBT, family, brief mention of death/grief, intergenerational.

-

Rain Before Rainbows - Smriti Halls, illustrated by David Litchfield

Picturebook - EYFS+ - Emotions and mental wellbeing, hope, friendship.

-

I Go Quiet - David Ouimet

Graphic Novel / Picturebook - USK2+ - Anxiety, books, finding your voice, dark.

April

Our Jacko - Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by David Gentleman

Illustrated Novel - KS2 - historical, World War 1, family, grief, education.

-

Mammoth - Anna Kemp, illustrated by Adam Beer.

Picturebook - EYFS+ - humour, self acceptance, art and music, friendship, emotions.

-

A Sea Of Stories - Sylvia Bishop, illustrated by Paddy Donnelly

Early Reader - KS1+ - family, intergenerational, seaside, memories.

May

The Amazing Edie Eckhart - Rosie Jones, illustrated by Natalie Smillie

Novel - UKS2+ - disability (cerebral palsy), theatre, art and music, self acceptance, self confidence, friendship, school, daily life, family.

June

The Midnight Fair - Gideon Sterer and Mariachiara Di Giorgio

Wordless Picturebook - EYFS+ - humour, whimsical, discussion piece.

-

Julia and the Shark - Kiran Millwood Hargrave, illustrated by Tom de Freston

Illustrated Novel - UKS2+ - Family, mental health and emotions, disability and neurodivergency, parental frictions, friendship, moving away, science and technology, environment, bullying.

-

I Talk Like a River - Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith

Picturebook - EYFS+ - Disability and Neurodivergency, self acceptance, family, emotions.

-

The Witch Boy - Molly Knox Ostertag

Graphic Novel - UKS2+/KS3 cusp - LGBT, Gender roles, witchcraft, magic, dark, family, bullying, emotions.

-

The Tea Dragon Society - Kay O'Neill

Graphic Novel - KS2+ - Fantasy, LGBT, Disability, death and grief, family, friendship food and cooking, emotions.