Widening Reading of Children's Books

Sharing recommendations of fantastic children's books that you should know about, but might not, every fortnight. Passionate about #ReflectingRealities.

[Widening Reading of Children's Books @WiderReads]

WELCOME THREAD Thanks for following. Every second Wednesday we'll share a bundle of recommendations of children's books that you might want to share with your pupils and with your children. These will ideally be ones that are not very well-known, and will be #ReflectingRealities.

[Dr Rebecca Garcia Lucas @RebeccaLucas]

@LilaQWeaver @MCChildsBookDay @WiderReads @OvendenLaura @charliehacking @DiLeed @Mat_at_Brookes @marygtroche @rapclassroom @YPPLaureate As well as a copy of My Year in the Middle - looking forward to reading.

[Dr Rebecca Garcia Lucas @RebeccaLucas]

I own a lot of #childrenspoetry, but need to include more authentic and #ownvoices poetry of underrepresented communities, to make my collection a better one for all students. I will also get rid of some books. Lots more work to do. Love these. #booksmatter #reflectingrealities

[Dr Rebecca Garcia Lucas @RebeccaLucas]

@DiLeed @LilaQWeaver @MCChildsBookDay @WiderReads @OvendenLaura @charliehacking @Mat_at_Brookes @marygtroche @rapclassroom @YPPLaureate Thanks Di. I’ve also ordered Thinker: My Poet Puppy and Me by @ELGreenfield and @ehsanabdollah13.

[Mathew Tobin @Mat_at_Brookes]

What a beautiful introduction into what freedom poetry can give us and how it's important to listen to and 'walk to the beat' of all those who have a voice. 'Who am I, if I'm not myself' Thinker's voice comes though his poetry.

[Diane Leedham @DiLeed]

Can I add a shout out for Riding The Donkey Backwards which doesn't seem to have got much coverage on #ReflectingRealities or @WiderReads so far. It deserves it IMO. Has huge cultural significance from a different narrative tradition

[Diane Leedham @DiLeed]

Watch out for this #ReflectingRealities @WiderReads @Team_English1 @LitdriveUK @Comment_Ed @LondonLATE Marrow Thieves is an awesome sauce YA/dystopia. Thanks for heads up @MegRoughley

[Matthew Courtney @mattheweduk]

@carolinecheeks Check out @WiderReads and there is some more links and resources here https://t.co/eR9Dlq4iZH

[Diane Leedham @DiLeed]

This is a cracking list, as always. Thanks Edi. In the UK I'd particularly flag the phenomenal @ibizoboi with 'Pride' (a version of Pride and Prejudice) plus 'Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree' and 'A Spark of White Fire' @Team_English1 @LitdriveUK @WiderReads #ReflectingRealities

[Matthew Courtney @mattheweduk]

Here are some links and resources for educators to ensure their literary provision is #ReflectingRealities and as diverse as possible https://t.co/eR9Dlq4iZH

[Melissa Jordan @melissacreate15]

@kateo_sullivan @_Reading_Rocks_ @AsiaCitroAuthor @AlannaBooksUK Both terrific stories perfect for the age group. The kind of story any child would love but main character happens to be dark skinned with frizzy hair @WiderReads @_Reading_Rocks_

[Diane Leedham @DiLeed]

@BookSuperhero2 @WiderReads @AndersenPress @lantanapub @LetterboxLib Atinuke is lovely. Do you know the @Nnedi picture book for @lantanapub ? It's lovely. Set in modern Lagos. The Moses series is charming too but only seem to be available second hand

[Lantana Publishing @lantanapub]

@BookSuperhero2 @DiLeed @WiderReads @AndersenPress @LetterboxLib @Nnedi @TinyOwl_Books Our book by @Nnedi & #MehrdokhtAmini is CHICKEN IN THE KITCHEN, set in Nigeria, which won Best Book at the Children's Africana Book Awards ✨ We have 2 other contemporary African stories, both Honour Books at the CABA 2018. And of course our upcoming book SING TO THE MOON 😊

[Nikki Gamble @nikkigamble]

@marygtroche @WiderReads So pleased to see Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick in yor list here. I'd like to follow suit and recommend two more of her excellent books There and I Am I (love this one to bits). You have some great writers over the water.

[Martin Galway @GalwayMr]

@WiderReads This week’s choice: The Only Child by Quo Jing. Wordless picturebook with stretches that work in any yr group. Grounded in reality but with a spiral into fantasy. Will let the illustrations/bio do the rest of the talking #ReflectingRealities

[Rich Charlesworth @rcharlesworth]

Heard nothing but great things about this (recommended by @RebeccaLucas). The book is a fantastic example of #ReflectingRealities, the video an emotional but powerful message about why we should be fighting to keep libraries within schools. @WiderReads.
🤞 for a copy.

[@marygtroche.bsky.social @marygtroche]

Here are some books that I think deserve a revisit. They all address 'otherness' in some way #WiderReads #ReflectingRealities @WiderReads

[Diane Leedham @DiLeed]

I can heartily recommend Apple In the Middle by @DawnEQuigley #ReflectingRealities @WiderReads It's super entertaining, I learned a lot and it explores complexities of interacial heritage with wisdom and humour. I think OK for MG but happy to be corrected

[Diane Leedham @DiLeed]

@WiderReads This week I have been reading We That Are Young By Preti Taneja (a re working of King Lear in modern Indi) and it's HUGE in every way. I recommend it but it's slowed my down on children's/YA reading for @WiderReads

[LibraryGirl&BookBoy (Jo) @BookSuperhero2]

This week my @WiderReads recommendation is #TheHunter by #PaulGeraghty An absolutely stunning picture book about courage and compassion with the most gorgeous illustrations and language. @AndersenPress #WiderReads #kidlit #Africa

[Widening Reading of Children's Books @WiderReads]

It’s that time again - today we’ll be sharing another round of recommendations under the #WiderReads And #ReflectingRealities hashtags. Widen and diversify your knowledge of kids and YA books, and find some new gems!