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.

Eb & Flow

Eb & Flow

by Kelly J. Baptist; Crown, 2023.
Eb & Flow (Ebony and De’Kari) don’t have much use for one another and the enmity grows when Eb mars Flow’s beloved sneakers. The antagonism escalates to a cafeteria altercation resulting in a ten-day suspension that ultimately leads both characters to a clearer understanding of themselves and each other.

Nila’s Perfect Coat

Nila’s Perfect Coat

by Norene Paulson, illustrated by Maria Mola; Beaming Books, 2023.
On a trip to the thrift store, Nila finds the perfect puffy coat. She wants it, and she buys it—even though her coat from last year still fits. What happens next is the crux of Nila’s Perfect Coat, an accessible story that provides entry into a discussion of needs and wants, and helping others through difficult times.

Mr. Lincoln Sits for His Portrait / You Can’t Say That!

Mr. Lincoln Sits for His Portrait / You Can’t Say That!

by Leonard S. Marcus, Farrar Straus Giroux, 2023; Candlewick Press, 2021 .
This month’s post brings you two books by acclaimed expert on children’s books and author of numerous award-winning biographies, Leonard S. Marcus. You Can’t Say That! delves into the timely topic of censorship of books for young people. Mr. Lincoln Sits for His Portrait, written for middle graders and up, is a fresh biography of Abraham Lincoln that examines his love of the technology of his time–especially photography–and the making of an iconic image of a beloved President and his 10-year-old son Tad.

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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