Judy Bradbury

Children's Author Literacy Specialist Writing Teacher

Judy Bradbury writes books that open minds and hearts, initiate conversations, and expand possibilities.

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Judy’s Children’s Books

The Cayuga Island Kids

chapter book series

The Cayuga Island Kids chapter books engage 1st-to-4th graders with exciting backyard adventures that demonstrate leadership skills and the power of information literacy. Five big-hearted friends follow clues, find answers, and puzzle out solutions. Above all, they are kind, helpful, smart, and resourceful kids who have tons of fun together.

Book 1, The Mystery of the Barking Branches and the Sunken Ship, takes place during summer vacation. As the Kids hunt for a certain kind of tree, they unearth a cannonball. Thus begins the adventure for these inquisitive fact detectives who discover that the island they live on is home to both history and mystery.

Award-winning Book 2, The Adventure of the Big Fish by the Small Creek, begins with the Kids rescuing a mallard caught in plastic. How they bring the community together to build a recycling bin big enough to hold plenty of plastic makes for a lively adventure and the realization that although we are each just one person, together we can make a BIG difference! Brainstorming, teamwork, community involvement, and recycling themes. 

In Book 3, The Case of the Messy Message and the Missing Facts, Julian experiments with recipes for the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Then glitter pens go missing at school. Clues point to a suspect, but when the Kids encounter misinformation and disinformation, the consequences of jumping to conclusions becomes crystal clear.

Join the Cayuga Island Kids in their backyard adventures in this trio of engaging chapter books  that encourage growing readers.

Click below to learn more and to access Educator Guides and activities.

 

Cayuga Island Kids Series Cover

Award News

Ben Franklin Award Silver

Book 2 in the Cayuga Island Kids series, The Adventure of the Big Fish by the Small Creek, was awarded the Ben Franklin Silver Award for Young Reader Fiction, 8-12 years!

 

Judy’s Professional Services

School Visits/ Writing Workshops

With over twenty years of experience teaching from preschool through graduate level, Judy is comfortable working with students of all ages.

Professional Development and Parent Programs

As a literacy specialist, Judy enjoys interacting with educators on a variety of topics related to literacy and children’s literature.

Educators' Guides for Children's Books

Judy enjoys developing Educators’ Guides for children’s books created by other authors and illustrators.

Editorial Services

Judy has years of experience working with aspiring writers and enjoys guiding them as they hone their skills, from identifying  genre and age range to crafting and revising text.

Visit Judy’s Blog

Children's Book Corner Blog

Visit my Children’s Book Corner blog where I interview authors and illustrators and offer suggestions for using their books to connect social-emotional learning to curriculum in Grades Pre-K—8.

Sourgrass

Sourgrass

by Hope Lim, illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani; Beach Lane Books, 2024.
Sofia and May forge their friendship as they play in the wildflowers beyond their yards. How their friendship evolves when May moves away makes for a sweet and hopeful story just right for primary graders.

Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees

Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees

by Michelle Schaub, illustrated by Anne Lambelet; Sleeping Bear Press, 2024.
Road trip! Enjoy poems written in a variety of poetic forms (cleverly explained on the endpapers) and learn facts about fourteen trees with historical significance as you traverse the United States with this warm and curious family.

The Christopher Counts Series
(McGraw-Hill)

This four-book series includes the titles:

  • One Carton of Oops!
  • Double Bubble Trouble!
  • A High-Fiving Gift for Mom!
  • Doggone Lemonade Stand!
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What Reviewers are Saying

MiddleWeb calls Empowering Families: Practical Ways to Involve Parents in Boosting Literacy, Grades Pre-K—5 “the most useful tool in promoting student literacy at home that I have ever come across.”

The Read-Aloud Scaffold: Best Books to Enhance Content Area Curriculum: “Recommended” review in Library Media Connection.
Booklist calls Children’s Book Corner “fresh and original…should be a winner for schools, libraries, and homes.”
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Judy proudly supports…

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