As an author, I am hugely privileged to have amazing authors, librarians and teachers among my friends – and the incredible Barbara Band has put together a list of books you might like to consider alongside/after Jelly. Thank you SO much, Barbara!
Barbara says…
Below is a selection of books that explore the issues raised in “Jelly”. These are all aimed at “middle grade” readers (approximately Key Stage 2, ages 8 – 12 years). However, as children vary in their emotional maturity as well as their reading levels and capacity for inference, there are recommended ages given for each title. Those aimed at older readers will obviously cover more mature themes.
Additionally, in the same way that “Jelly” touches on several issues within the story, so do these books. For example, “Wonder” is listed under Empathy but it is also a story about bullying and friendship. It is hard to categorise a book into a single genre. However, that’s a good thing because usually a child will be attracted to a particular book because something in the blurb connects with them and yet, by reading it, they will be exposed to a whole range of experiences and emotions that will take them further into their reading journey.
If you are unsure about any book the best thing you can do is to read it yourself; that way you can decide for yourself whether your child will enjoy it and you can also discuss the story with them. Sharing books together is one of the pleasures of reading!
Barbara Band
School Library, Reading and Literacy Consultant
Body Image
Karma Khullar’s Mustache
Kristi Wientge
Simon & Schuster, 2018
ISBN: 978-1481477710
Recommended: 8 – 12 years- The Girl Guide
Marawa Ibrahim
Illustrated by Sinem Erkas
Lincoln Children’s Books
ISBN: 978-1847809483
Recommended: 10 – 13 years Smile
Raina Telgemeier
Scholastic, 2010
ISBN: 978-0545132060
Recommended: 9 – 12 years- Body Image And The Media
Grace Jones
Crabtree Publishing Company, 2018
ISBN: 978-0778752004
Recommended: 10 – 13 years
Bullying
7 Days
Eve Ainsworth
Scholastic, 2017
ISBN: 978-1407185903
Recommended: 10 – 13 years- Thief!
Malorie Blackman
Corgi Children’s Books, 2004
ISBN: 978-0552551656
Recommended: 8 – 12 years Freak The Mighty
Rodman Philbrick
Usborne Publishing, 2017
ISBN: 978-0746087251
Recommended: 8 – 12 years- The Song From Somewhere Else
A F Harrold
Illustrated by Levi Pinfold
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
ISBN: 978-1408884751
Recommended: 9 – 12 years
Empathy
Out Of My Mind
Sharon M Draper
Atheneum Books For Young Readers, 2016
ISBN: 978-1416971719
Recommended: 10 – 12 years- The Hundred Dresses
Eleanor Estes
Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin
Houghton Mifflin, 2004
ISBN: 978-0152052607
Recommended: 8 – 12 years The Boy At The Back Of The Class
Onjali Q Rauf
Orion Children’s Books, 2018
ISBN: 978-1510105010
Recommended: 8 – 12 years- Wonder
R J Palacio
Corgi Children’s, 2014
ISBN: 978-0552565974
Recommended: 10 – 12 years
Family
Counting By 7s
Holly Goldberg Sloan
Piccadilly Press, 2014
ISBN: 978-1848123823
Recommended: 10 – 13 years- Boy Underwater
Adam Baron
HarperCollins, 2018
ISBN: 978-0008267018
Recommended: 8 – 12 years Boy In The Tower
Polly Ho-Yen
Corgi Children’s, 2015
ISBN: 978-0552569163
Recommended: 9 – 12 years- The Exact Location Of Home
Kate Messner
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018
ISBN: 978-1681198989
Recommended: 8 – 12 years The Light Jar
Lisa Thompson
Scholastic, 2018
ISBN: 978-1407171289
Recommended: 9 – 12 years
Friendship
The Polar Bear Explorer’s Club
Alex Bell
Illustrated by Tomic Tomislav
Faber & Faber, 2018
ISBN: 978-0571332540
Recommended: 8 – 12 years- Ruby Redfort, Look Into My Eyes
Lauren Child
Harper Collins, 2015
ISBN: 9780007334070
Recommended: 8 – 12 years Do You Speak Chocolate?
Cas Lester
Piccadilly Press, 2017
ISBN: 9781471405037
Recommended: 8 – 12 years- Liar And Spy
Rebecca Stead
Andersen Press, 2013
ISBN: 978-1849395427
Recommended: 9 – 12 years
Self Confidence/Self-Esteem
Reaching The Stars
Liz Brownlee, Jan Dean and Michaela Morgan
Macmillan Children’s Books, 2017
ISBN: 978-1509814282
Recommended: 9 – 12 years- Sticks And Stones
Abby Cooper
Square Fish, 2017
ISBN: 978-1250115263
Recommended: 10 – 12 years - The Confidence Code for Girls: Taking Risks, Messing Up And Becoming Your Amazingly Imperfect, Totally Powerful Self
Katty Kay et al
HarperCollins, 2018
ISBN: 978-0062796981
Recommended: 8 – 12 years You Are Awesome: Find Your Confidence And Dare To Be Brilliant At (Almost) Anything
Matthew Syed
Wren & Rook, 2018
ISBN: 978-1526361158
Recommended: 9 – 13 years
Creative Writing
How To Write Your Best Story Ever!
Christopher Edge
OUP Oxford, 2015
ISBN: 978-0192743527- Story Writer’s Ideas Journal
Lara Bryan and Sarah Hull
Usborne Publishing, 2017
ISBN: 978-1474922487 How To Write Poems
Joseph Coelho
Illustrated by Matt Robertson
Bloomsbury Activity Books, 2017
ISBN: 978-1408889497- Creative Writer’s Handbook
Katie Daynes and Megan Cullis
Usborne Publishing, 2017
ISBN: 978-1474922494 The Creative Writing Book
Louie Stowell
Usborne Publishing, 2016
ISBN: 978-1409598787