My Monster and Me by Nadiya Hussain and Ella Bailey
This little boy has a worry monster. ‘It was always BIG. When it stood in front of me, I could see nothing but it’s tummy’. Talking to gran one day, helps the monster get smaller. A book to help children make friends with their monsters.
See unit in Talk Through Stories
I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith
When the boy in this story starts to speak, the words get stuck. On bad speech days, he stays ‘quiet as a stone’. His dad helps him see how his voice bubbles and churns like a beautiful river. A book to help children understand stammering.
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho
A young girl notices her eyes look different from her friends. Her eyes ‘kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea’ like her mama’s, her amah’s and her baby sister’s. They connect her to her family, to her history. A book to help children recognise their own beauty.
The Boys by Lauren Ace and Jenny Lovlie
Four boys; one makes art, one makes music, one tells stories and one likes to understand how things work. As they grow up and difficulties arise, the friends realise ‘the best way to face problems is to talk and listen’. A book to celebrate the value of friendship.
So Much by Trish Cooke and Helen Oxenbury
Everyone who visits, loves the baby. They want to squeeze him, love him, kiss him. The big boy cousins want to wrestle him and laugh with him. A book full of the hustle, bustle and joy of family life with words children can’t fail to join in with!
Brooksward School, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
“Staff have expert knowledge of phonics and teach the scheme well. They regularly check pupils’ understanding and take swift action to put in place effective activities so all pupils can keep up.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good
Glen Park Primary School, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon
“All staff ensure that reading is at the heart of the curriculum. Children in Reception make an excellent start in learning to read. This continues as they move through the school. Pupils progress securely through the phonics programme.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Good
The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K Ali and Hatem Aly
A younger sister is worried for her older sister on the first day she wears hijab. But she needn’t be. Written by the first Muslim American woman to compete for the United States in the Olympics – an empowering, beautiful book.
My Nana’s Garden by Dawn Casey and Jessica Courtney Tickle
A child explores her nana’s garden with her through the seasons. When nana passes away, the little girl and her mum sing nana’s songs, remember her words and plant her seeds. In time, the garden is once again ‘blooming with life’.
Meesha Makes a Friend by Tom Percival
Meesha loves making things but finds it difficult to make friends. Hiding in a quiet corner at a noisy party Meesha discovers she is not the only person who finds it tricky. A book to help children recognise their own feelings and how others might be feeling too.