Books by women

Tidy by Emily Gravett

Recommended by: Gemma Molyneux/@GHOEnglish Form and Genre: Picture Book Length: 40 pages Summary: A story about a very neat badger who goes a bit too far when tidying up the forest. Age recommendation and challenging content: EYFS/KS1 Notable reasons for recommending this book: It has a great message about the importance of nature; it has beautiful illustrations; lovely rhyming story. Perfect …

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The Whale Who Wanted More by Rachel Bright

Recommended by: Gemma Molyneux/@GHOEnglish Form and Genre: Picture Book Length: 32 pages. Summary: Humphrey the whale is on a quest: to find the one perfect object that will make him feel complete but nothing seems to do the trick. Humphrey soon learns that life is not about collecting stuff. Age recommendation and challenging content: EYFS/KS1 – but there are some fantastic …

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Wild Song by Candy Gourlay

Recommended by: Stephen Dilley/@stephenjdilley Form and Genre: Prose /Historical Fiction. Length: 324 pages. Summary: This novel follows members of the Bontok people in Philippines as they travel to America to take part in the 1904 World’s Fair in St Louis. Narrator Luki thinks this will give her more freedom, but in America she discovers many forms …

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If They Come For Us by Fatimah AsgharIf

Recommended by: Stephen Dilley/@stephenjdilley Form and Genre: Poetry Collection.  Length: 100 pages Summary: Asghar is a South Asian American Muslim poet who explores issues relating to sexuality, race and violence in this collection. The 1947 Partition is used as a recurring idea throughout the collection to explore other forms of division and marginalisation. Age recommendation and challenging …

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Between Snow and Wolf by Helen Canac and Agnes Dormergue.

Recommended by Emma Sheppard @emma_au_soleil Author: Helen Canac and Agnes Dormergue Form: Graphic Novel/Fantasy Length: 88 pages Brief synopsis: Lila’s father goes missing and she ventures out into the snow to find him. She meets and becomes friends with the wolves living in the snowy forests of her island. Age recommendation and challenging content: KS2-3 …

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Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Recommended by Emma Sheppard @emma_au_soleil Author: Marjane Satrapi Form: Graphic Novel  Length: 352 pages Brief synopsis: The author / narrator’s experience of growing up in Iran during the revolution. Age recommendation and challenging content: Deals with military coups, imprisonment, oppression of women, religious rule, murder and death, torture and war. Age 13+ Notable reasons for recommending …

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Billy and the Dragon by Nadia Shireen

Recommended by Emma Sheppard @emma_au_soleil Author: Nadia Shireen Form: Picture Book Length: 32 pages Brief synopsis: Billy’s pet Fatcat is stolen by a dragon and Billy goes on an adventure to get him back. Age recommendation and challenging content: EYFS-KS1 Notable reasons for recommending this book: Empowering for girlsGreat sense of humourBlack protagonist Other Comments: Part of a …

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This Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell

Recommended by Emma Sheppard @emma_au_soleil Author: Cressida Cowell Form: Picture Book Length: 32 pages Brief synopsis: Emily Brown and her rabbit Stanley have adventures. The Silly Naughty Queen keeps asking to take Stanley in exchange for gifts sent by her military officers and butler. Age recommendation and challenging content: EYFS-KS1 Notable reasons for recommending this book: It’s empowering …

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The Extraordinary Gardener by Sam Boughton

Recommended by Emma Sheppard @emma_au_soleil Author: Sam Boughton Form: Picture Book Length: 32 pages Brief synopsis: Joe plants a seed and brings his previously grey block of flats to life with beautiful plants and animals. Age recommendation and challenging content: EYFS-KS1 Notable reasons for recommending this book: Supports Science lessons (seeds, planting, growing etc.)Black protagonist  

Children of the Stone City by

Recommended by: Stephen Dilley/@stephenjdilley Form and Genre: Novel Length: 255 pages Summary: A novel about three children living as Nons in a city ruled by the Permitted. After Adam and Leila’s father dies, their family face eviction from the Stone City, and then Adam and his friend Zak are arrested following a prank that goes …

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