LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
Celebratory in spirit and compellingly designed — with dazzling full-colour illustrations by Ruth Burrows on every page — Simon James Green’s A Year of Pride and Joy showcases the lives and passions of 52 LGBTQ+ individuals of our times.
The overarching vibe here is joy, as set out by the author in an introduction that sees him define joy as something that runs deeper than happiness alone. Rather, joy is something that “gives us a sense of purpose and meaning, sparks pleasure and makes life worth living”.
What follows are 52 joy-filled portraits of notable LGBTQ+ voices — people whose passions represent different sources of joy, including the thrill of old films with Stephen Fry, and the joy of dancing, thanks to TV presenter Dr Ranj Singh. Here we also feel the joy of theatre through director Aejay Antonis Marquis, the joy of knitting with diver Tom Daley, and the joyful pleasures of food, thanks to a piece of passion by actor Miriam Margolyes.
Also packed with cool creative and practical activities — including learning to create comic strips with tips from cartoonist Lewis Hancock, and discovering sleuthing skills with detective Thomas Williams — A Year of Pride and Joy shares the magic of finding your thing. As such, it’s inspiring and supportive of young readers who are still figuring out what their passion might be, and a donation will be made to Stonewall for every copy sold.
Joanne Owen
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About
A Year of Pride and Joy Synopsis
An uplifting anthology of joyful contributions from 52 contemporary LGBTQ+ voices, including BAFTA-winning actor Miriam Margolyes, Olympic gold medallist Tom Daley and NHS paediatrician and TV presenter Dr Ranj Singh.
· Discover the joy of old films with actor Stephen Fry, then find out what his favourite films are
· Find the joy of magic with magician Nathan Jones, then learn his vanishing coin magic trick
· Experience the joy of drawing comics with cartoonist Lewis Hancox, then learn how to draw your own comic strip
· Read about the joy of dancing with TV presenter Dr Ranj Singh, then discover six dazzling dance moves from the Strictly floor
· Learn about the joy of swimming with actor Emma D'Arcy, then read her guide to swimming in different ways on different days
Whether you read an entry a week, or dip into it whenever you are feeling in need of joy, this is a book to treasure all year round.
A donation to Stonewall will be made for every copy sold. Stonewall is a charity who promote equality and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.
Perfect for readers aged 7+:
· A joyous tribute to LGBTQ+ achievement today, bringing together 'own voices' to share their life passion. The laughter, joy and power in these pages will leave readers feeling hopeful about their future
· Written by award-winning author of books for children and young adults, Simon James Green
· Divided into months, each joyful piece is tied to a particular season, event, international day or week, and sits alongside a non-fiction component
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781915569394 |
| Publication date: |
24th April 2025 |
| Author: |
Simon James Green |
| Illustrator: |
Ruth Burrows |
| Publisher: |
Magic Cat Publishing |
| Format: |
Hardback |
| Pagination: |
112 pages |
| Series: |
A Year Of |
| Suitable For: |
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Press Reviews
Simon James Green Press Reviews
Praise for A Year of Black Joy:
'This compendium is perfect for parents and educators looking for fun ways to ignite the imagination, recognize Black achievements, and spotlight lesser-known holidays. An inspiring source of creativity for all readers.' - Kirkus
'Full of inspiring humans and Black role models.' - Booktrust
Author
About Simon James Green
Simon James Green is one of the UK’s leading writer’s of LGBTQ+ teen fiction. His YA novels include Noah Can’t Even; Alex in Wonderland, which was nominated for the Carnegie medal and selected as one of the top 20 LGBT books of 2019 by Attitude; Heartbreak Boys, and Gay Club!, which was nominated for the YOTO Carnegie Medal 2023
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