Table Of ContentB
i
I am Billy Bramble: the King, the President and ll B i l ly
the Emperor of Bad Lucksville. I am the Chief y
B
Executive of Bad Luck Limited, the Bad Luck ra
Champion of the World, the Bad Luck Guinness m
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Billy Bramble likes rude words, loud farts and freestyle H
sneezing, but when BAD THINGS happen, his invisible E THE
angry dog Gobber barks in his ears, gives him brain mash GR GREAT
and breaks things. Billy tries hard to stay out of trouble, E
but Gobber has other ideas. One day a competition is A BIG
announced at school – THE GREAT BIG COOK OFF – can T
Billy Bramble defeat Gobber and change his epic bad luck? B
I COOK OFF
G
Brilliant and thoughtful insight into the mind of an eleven- CO by Sally Donovan
year-old and the wonderful power of cooking. O
–Lorraine Pascale K
O
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Jessica Kingsley Publishers n
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ale by Kara McHale
www.jkp.com
Praise for Billy Bramble
‘Brilliant and thoughtful insight into the mind of an eleven-year-
old and the wonderful power of cooking.’
– Lorraine Pascale, TV Chef and Fostering Ambassador
‘An inspiring read which will encourage children to get cooking in order
to make delicious food and also gain confidence in their own abilities.’
– Jo Ingleby, BBC Cook of the Year 2015 and
Chef in Residence at Redcliffe Children’s Centre
‘The book shows even if you are different you can achieve.’
– Jordan, 14
‘I like the way Billy has an invisible dog. It is
one of the best books I have read.’
– Sophie, 13
‘Very nice writing. Next time try and use more adjectives.’
– Mrs Penfolder, English teacher
‘I love Billy, he is funny and cool and awesome and I
understand him. I think he was very brave for entering
the competition. The story made me laugh a lot.’
– JB
‘The story is good. It makes you want to read on.’
– Adam, 12
‘I liked the character of Billy.’
– Thomas, 13
‘Cluck cluck cluck peck cluck.’
– Facebook the Chicken
‘Billy Bramble is a fantastic book. It gives you an insight
into people who may struggle and how their surroundings
can influence their behaviours and attitudes. Billy Bramble
is a nice boy with an angry, imaginary dog.
Together they battle with certain feelings. I believe everyone
can learn something from this book, not least that
through persisting, eventually, in spite
of hardship, you can achieve.’
– Coby, 12
‘Sally Donovan’s deeply felt story gives us a glimpse of how hard
it is for Billy to keep trying and hoping that things might be
different. This moving story encapsulates many key themes expressed
by vulnerable children and paints a vivid picture of the seeming
impossible dilemmas they may be facing. Compelling for children, this
book will also be of great value to adults as through Billy they gain
insight into the risks children face when they begin to dare to trust.’
– Dr Vivien Norris, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
‘A uniquely original and loveable narrator – Billy Bramble draws
you powerfully into his world. Sally Donovan presents the thoughts
and hopes and dreams and disappointments of a child with great
insight and sensitivity. She understands children, she gets into their
hearts and into their minds and makes them come alive on the page.
I can’t remember the last time I was so moved – and amused – by a
child narrator. It will move you and make you laugh within the
space of a few lines.’
– Virginia Macgregor, author of What Milo Saw and
The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells
First published in 2016
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
73 Collier Street
London N1 9BE, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
www.jkp.com
Copyright © Sally Donovan 2016
Illustrations copyright © Kara McHale 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form
(including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether
or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the
written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by
the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS.
Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of this
publication should be addressed to the publisher.
Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both
a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 84905 663 2
eISBN 978 1 78450 164 8
BILLY BRAMBLE
and
THE
GREAT
BIG
COOK OFF
Sally Donovan
Illustrated by Kara McHale
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
IN THIS BOOK YOU WILL FIND...
MUM AND DAD MRS BUTTRESS
(BEST TEACHER EVER)
ME
(BILLY BRAMBLE)
WITH FACEBOOK
CARTER (MY CHICKEN)
N
O
T
G
N
TI
T
U
N
R
M
FELICITY
FAIRBURN
LUCY
(MY SISTER)
H U N G( ORUYR B CUANTG)R Y 1 S(BIGENSTOR C HSAEFL AEDVEINRO)
MY NAME IS
BILLY BRAMBLE
Let me introduce myself.
My name is Billy Bramble and I should know because
I hear it fifty thousand million times a day.
Billy Bramble be quiet.
Billy Bramble sit down.
Billy Bramble sit still.
Billy Bramble FOCUS.
Billy Bramble STOP THAT RIGHT THIS MINUTE.
Slow down Billy Bramble.
Get on with it Billy Bramble.
WALK Billy Bramble.
STOP RUNNING Billy Bramble.
Put that down Billy Bramble.
That’s not nice Billy Bramble.
Stop swinging on your chair Billy Bramble.
2
