Equal To Everything: Judge Brenda and the Supreme Court

by Afua Hirsch
illustrated by Henny Beaumont

Ref: 15931

You may well have heard of Judge Brenda in the context of the Supreme Court's ruling back in September 2019 in which Boris Johnson's proroguing of parliament was found to be unlawful. You may also have seen the extensive media coverage of Judge Brenda's... brooches! (most notoriously an exceptionally large arachnid as she read out said ruling). But did you know that Judge Brenda was the first woman to become a Law Commissioner? And the first ever woman to be a judge in the UK's Supreme Court (remaining so until 2017- there are now 3)? And the first woman to be made President of the Supreme Court? If that record isn't grand and inspiring enough for the children in your life, then they might well enjoy hearing about her legislative roles in the fight for equal pay and the pivotal part she played in writing the Children Act 1989 which placed children's safety and happiness at the centre of child welfare decisions. (N.B.: she was also a celebrity judge on MasterChef 2018!) A truly rousing narrative and with a fabulous narrative perspective- the Supreme Court and Judge Hale are introduced through the keen voice of Ama on her trip with Class 3 from Richmond, Yorkshire to London's centre. Perhaps where this book triumphs most is in getting children to imagine themselves as the judges of the future- the final image of 12 members of Class 3 (including children from a range of faiths, ethnicities and a wheelchair user), now all grown up, poised in their judges' regalia, contrasts exquisitely with the earlier portrait of the current Supreme Court: all white; mostly male. As the book's publicity material says: "depicts a positive and aspirational vision of the Supreme Court for the future". There is so much for a classroom to exploit in this book; includes extension notes and archive pics at the back. Rhyming couplets and Beaumont's vibrant splashes of watercolour keep the text super-animated and engaging. Published by the Legal Action Group and written by a former barrister. Favourite illustrations: Judge Brenda in full gown and wig, gloved up in a boxing ring; a Black Rosie Riveter placard blazing out from a sea of women protestors. ['Casual' inclusion of a Black protagonist, multicultural characters and a child who is a wheelchair user]. Age 6-9, Hardback 34pp **SPECIAL OFFER £10.00, USUALLY £12.99**

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Glitter Boy

Ref: 17194

"School can be touch. Life can be tough...Glitter Boy is about allowing yourself to shine and sparkle and never giving up, even when the darkness seems to be drawing around you" (Author Ian Eagleton). Highly readable coming-of-age middle grade fiction starring 11-year-old James, creator of most extravagant dance routines, lifetime member of the Mariah Carey fan club and a staunch believer in staying fabulous. But lately, fabulousness is feeling hard to sustain with an absent mum, a taciturn dad, a changing friendship group, a beloved Nan who is getting frailer by the day and... the daily taunts of classmate Paul. And why does his tummy start to fizz when his teacher mentions his husband-to-be and...there it goes again!...when he's around new friend, Joel. An empathetic story about finding the strength to stay true to yourself in the midst of Big Life Changes and in the face of bullies. The novel's (part-autobiographical) study in homophobic bullying, internalised homophobia and the ways in which boys and men 'police' each other's gender expressions and sexuality is brilliantly conveyed. There are some nice references to queer history along the way, from the extraordinary courage of Martha P. Johnson to the shameful legacy of Section 28! The debut novel by former teacher and winner of the inaugural Polari Prize's Children's Award with picture book, Nen and the Lonely Fisherman (also available from us). 'This is a book to read more than once. Although the surface story is about bullying, it is also more nuanced. The bullying touches the parts of James that he is exploring but of which he is also most fearful' (Sylvia, former Children's Social Work Director, Letterbox Library reviewer). Age 9-13, Paperback 356pp, Paperback

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Over the Shop

by JonArno Lawson
illustrated by Qin Leng

Ref: 16867

A chipper child lives with her grouchy, downward-turned-mouthed grandparent above their shop. When they advertise the flat above for rent, prospective tenants rush away from the dilapidated home. But then, one day, a couple peer in hopefully at the 'Flat to Rent' sign. The grandparent doesn't like the look of them and snatches the sign away. But the child thinks these new guests could be just the right fit and pleads their case. The deal is sealed and the couple move in, bringing with them help, hope, love and more than a few licks of paint. And sooner than you might expect, a new stitched-together family of four is made. It is very difficult to convey quite how beautiful this wordless book is. It is, ultimately, a story of belonging, community and prejudice overcome; of 'outsiders'- two people of colour, probably two women (in any case a queer couple)- entering an inward-looking neighbourhood and creating a new household in their wake. At the centre sits a kind, observant child who embraces all of her world. Children will enjoy the parallel plot of a wandering, neighbourhood stray cat who naturally slots into the new family at the end. Classrooms will enjoy folding out all of the layers of the visual narrative. There are discussion points everywhere. 'I absolutely adored this. The pictures are gorgeous and the story satisfyingly full of detail yet easy to follow... Subtly but delightfully affirming, this will appeal not just to children who instantly recognise families like these but to many others who will respond to the warmth and inclusiveness that pervades the book' (Mark Jennett, Equalities Trainer/Consultant, Letterbox Library reviewer). NB: many of the gender identities are ambiguous and at least one reviewer has suggested the East Asian adult in the newcomer couple is a trans man which is certainly a possible interpretation. A trained 'queer' eye will note the book's dedication and will spot some extra visual signifiers in the detailed, delicate ink-and-watercolour illustrations. Age 4-9, Hardback40pp

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We Played With Fire

Ref: 16313

‘Some people were beautiful, some people were intelligent. Maggie and Kate could crack their bones. You had to make the best of what you were given’. Catherine Barter’s second novel delves into the fascinating lives of mid-19thC teenage mediums, the Fox Sisters, credited with originating the Spiritualist Movement. Were their séances mere fakery, exploitative parlour games which benefited from their talents as bone cruncher or did they tap in to something genuinely beyond their contemporaries’ rational understanding? The tension of this novel lies precisely in the author’s evasion of easy answers. Catherine wanted to re-cast the Fox Sisters as more complex figures than previous biographies would have them, and the result is a text which equivocates tantalisingly. Drawing on the author’s background in American Cultural Studies, this fictionalised biography takes place against a landscape of mid-19th century radical politics, early suffrage and abolition in particular, as they intersected with the advent of Spiritualism. A fantastic array of secondary characters include real life radical Quakers, Amy and Isaac Post. The novel skips between Hydesville (New York), Rochester and New York, a speed matched by evocative passages on the period’s ‘rush’ of populations - from the arrival of Irish immigrants to those escaping from the South through the Underground Railroad to the gold seekers heading out to California. A truly exciting work of historical fiction, We Played With Fire is also a genuinely chilling Gothic read. As with Catherine’s debut, Troublemakers, the narrative is steered through the voice of a spirited teenage girl, Maggie Fox, living in the thrilling ‘now’ of her teenage years, coming in to her own, finding her voice and waking the dead along the way...." (This review by Letterbox Library first appeared in Books for Keeps; issue 247, March 2021. For our full article on author Catherine Barter, visit: http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/246/childrens-books/articles/troublemaker-agitator-the-work-of-catherine-barter Age 11+, Paperback 326pp

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What is Gender? How Does It Define Us? And Other Big Questions

Ref: 15233

"The problem with gender is that it prescribes how we should be rather than recognising how we are" (Chimamanda Ngozi, quoted in What Is Gender?) There are now a small handful of children's/young people's titles exploring gender and transgender identities- but of very mixed quality. This book is one of the few which has received resoundingly thumbs-up reviews from our review team. Part of an excellent non-fiction series which poses all the BIG questions, this gender tour by Dawson uses a feminist framework to query and challenge conventional gender 'norms' while also embracing transgender identities and providing positive transgender role models. Chapters explore terms such as sex, intersex, gender and sexuality (making it clear sexuality is unrelated to sex/gender identity); they break down gender stereotypes; double page spreads give personal accounts from a range of role models including trans artists such as the author herself and Fox Fisher (from TV doc. My Transsexual Summer) and genderqueer performance artist, Krishna Istha. We particularly enjoyed the world map showing how gender is interpreted differently around the world, from the South Asian Hijra to the Two-Spirit, Native American, people. 'The book looks great and, unlike most books of its type, it doesn't feel po-faced, patronising, depressing or like an instruction manual. Even better, it really is for anyone interested in gender- not just a book for trans kids … or a 'mainstream' text with a token nod towards trans, non-binary and intersex identities'. (Mark, Equalities Trainer/Consultant, Letterbox Library reviewer [also on the board of Gendered Intelligence]) 'The best, clearest and most feminist-centred explanation of transgender and gender identities I've seen to date. Distinguishes between, rather than conflating, gender and sex (like so many other titles). And by a transgender author. Yes!' (Letterbox Library staff.) In contemporary culture, definitions and understandings of gender are in greater flux than ever before so this really is a great resource for school and a great read-alone for young people who are asking questions which you may feel are a little beyond you! Age 9-14, Paperback 44pp

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What is Masculinity? Why Does It Matter? And Other Big Questions

Ref: 15740

"Masculinity has too much Masculinity to ask for help. Masculinity is misunderstood. Masculinity is fragile...Masculinity is the law. Masculinity is religion. Masculinity is flawed" (Salena Godden). In the midst of a small flurry of children's books challenging ideas about 'masculinity', here comes a resource which is refreshingly thoughtful and contemplative as well as immediately accessible to young minds who are grappling with and enjoying big ideas. Typical of the wider Big Questions series, the book has a sharp mix of formats, combining personal testimonies, photos and images, digestible chunks of non-fiction with bold headers and question boxes for the reader which draw out key ideas and give pause for reflection. The chapter titles are a series of superbly provocative questions: What is the cost of masculinity?; Are there male and female brains?; What do feminists say about masculinity? The testimonials include Dave Pickering -known for his Mansplaining Masculinity storytelling show- famed UK poet, Salena Godden, with a poem especially written for this book and... us (yes, really)! This is truly a rich contribution to children's non-fiction and one we can't recommend enough. Timely, necessary, attentive to and respectful of its young audience, this book is a friend which holds out an encouraging, steadying hand to any child or young person wanting to reach a full humanity unfettered by the limiting impositions of gender stereotypes. Congratulations and thanks to the writer. editor team who have brought this into being: Jeffrey Boakye, teacher and author of Black, Listed and Hold Tight and Darren Chetty, teacher, researcher, writer and contributor to The Good Immigrant. Age 8-13, Hardback 44pp. ***SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE £11.00, RETAIL PRICE £13.99***

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Gender Equality

You will need to be a member of Letterbox Library to access this section (£5 annual fee). Please visit our membership page to create an acount.

Early Years Gender Equality Pack (Early Years Ages Birth-5)

Gender Equality Pack (Primary Key Stage 1)

Gender Equality Pack (Primary Key Stage 2)

Gender Equality Pack (Primary Key Stage 1 & 2)

Remarkable Women in History Book Pack (Key Stage 1 & 2)

Ada Twist, Scientist

A Farmer's Life + QR Code

Agent Asha

Alfie's Angels (Dual Language)

Alice Austen Lived Here

Anthology of Amazing Women

Astro Girl

Baking With Dad

Bandit's Daughter: Kung Fu Girl in Ancient China

The Barber's Clever Wife

Better Nate Than Ever

The Biggest Story

Billy and the Dragon

Bodies Are Cool

The Boys

Busy Builders

Busy Day: Astronaut

Busy Day: Firefighter

Charlie and Mouse

Clean It!

Clive and His Art

Clive and His Babies

Clive and His Bags

Clive and His Hats

Clive is a Nurse

Clive is a Librarian

Clive is a Teacher

Clive is a Waiter

The Closest Thing to Flying

Cook It!

Dogs Don't Do Ballet

Electrigirl

Equal To Everything: Judge Brenda and the Supreme Court

The Extraordinary Life of Rosa Parks

Far From You

Fast and Slow

Fearless: The Story of Daphne Caruana Galizia

First Time: Dentist

First Time: Doctor

First Time: Hospital

First Time: Vet

Fix It!

Football Star

The Girl with her Head in the Clouds: The Amazing Life of Dolly Shepherd

Glitter Boy

Global Babies Girls

The Great Googly Moogly

The Greatest Show of All

Jessica's Ghost

Jill and the Beanstalk (Dual language)

Heather Has Two Mummies

Henry Helps With Dinner

History VIP: Mary Anning

How to Heal a Broken Wing

I Am Billie Jean King

I Could Be, You Could Be

Jamie

Jamie

Julian at the Wedding

Julian at the Wedding (PB)

Julian Is a Mermaid

Katherine Johnson: NASA Mathematician

A Kind of Spark

Little Leaders: Bold Women in History

Little People, Big Dreams: Ella Fitzgerald

Little People, Big Dreams: RuPaul

Little Red

Look Up!

Love Your Body

Lulu Loves Stories (+ Multi-Language CD)

Made by Raffi

Make More Noise!

Mama Miti