Sue Wickstead

ALLi Author Member

Location: United Kingdom (the)

Genres: General Nonfiction, General Fiction, Illustrated/Photography, Children's general

Skills: Performance/Spoken Word, Press/Media Interview, Reading/Literary Event, Speaking Engagement/Lecture, Writing Workshop

Sue Wickstead lives in the UK and writes children’s picture story books.
Her stories relate to both her experiences as a teacher as well as her play-work adventures with a Playbus.
The Playbus was a real double-decker bus full of toys, arts and crafts, as well as a lot of fun to play on. She wrote a photographic social history book about the project which led to her story telling and her writing. All of Sue’s books do have a bus included in them somewhere.
When not writing Sue builds models with Lego, she also loves spending quality time with her young grandson and enjoys creating models to share with him on his visits.
Her grandson features in her book ‘Barty Barton; the bear that was loved too much’ which was published in 2020.
Two of Sue’s most recent books were written about her younger brother David and his imaginative play adventures. Perhaps Nanny and Alexander might have a few adventures of their own one day too.
Many of Sue’s books have been entered and shortlisted in ‘The Wishing Shelf Book Awards’, the book ‘A Spooky Tale’ was a silver medal winner in 2019. The story was written with her class in school.

Sue is also is also a 'Patron of Reading'.

Sue Wickstead's books

Bewbush Playbus

A photographic History book about a 'Playbus' which once operated in Crawley, West Sussex. The project was funded by the 'Queen's Silver Jubilee Fund' by the girl guides.
It was a temporary service providing play opportunities within the new area of the town and also served other areas of need.
It was much loved and was a pioneer in mobile play-work.
Many 'play-bus/mobile projects visited the bus and copied for their own needs.
A charity which survived by good will and love.
The book comes from its exhibition of photographs used to publicize and promote all the possibilities a 'Playbus' could serve.

Jay-Jay The Supersonic Bus

‘Jay-Jay the bus was rescued from the scrap yard where he was sadly gathering dust and cobwebs. He is taken to an airport where he is magically transformed into a ‘Playbus’ full of toys, games and adventure.
A fictional tale based on a real life bus ‘Supersonic’ which flew in the imagination of the many young children who visited him.’
This is a story book which relates to the real 'Bewbush Playbus' book.

Following the publication of my photographic History book children asked so many questions and were fascinated by the idea of a 'bus full of toys to play with.
They asked so many questions and as a result I began telling a story which has now been written down and published. This is the first part of the journey with other bus stories to follow!

Children rarely travel on a real bus these days and certainly not one full of toys to play with!

Jay-Jay and His Island Adventure

Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus is invited to visit some children on a tiny Island.
The children have never had a bus visit their island before and certainly not one full of toys to play with.
To get to the island Jay-Jay has to travel on a tiny ferry.
He is much bigger than a car and the ferry is small.
Will he get there he wonders?

The story is based on a real 'Book Bus' which did indeed travel on a small ferry one of the Shetland Islands.

A Spooky Tale (A walk with out teacher)

Once upon a time many years ago I took my class on a walk around the district.
On our return we wrote a book.
Now many years later I have upgraded the original story.
It was a hit then and hopefully a hit now!

So if you took the class on a walk; What could possibly go wrong?
You would just have to read to find out.

Jay-Jay and the Carnival

ISBN. 978-0993073755
Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus is a brightly coloured playbus full of toys.
He's always ready for adventure, and after an eventful summer the bus is ready for his journey to the carnival.
The children are also excited - but what will happen on the way?
£6.99
Children's 42 page picture book.
A fictional tale based on a real bus.
The carnival was always special event in the bus calendar

Daisy Daydream the Nursery Rhyme Bus

Daisy was a happy red bus who loved travelling the busy streets of London.
When newer and shinier buses came along, the older buses like Daisy began to disappear.
would Daisy become one of the forgotten buses, or was something else planned for her?
ISBN: - 978-0-9930737-6-2

The Christmas Play Rehearsal

It is Christmas time, and the school has been getting ready to perform their Nativity play.

With lines learnt and songs to be sung, it is time for the dress rehearsal. The teacher knows there might be a few problems to sort out, but at least they will know what to improve on or change along the way.
ISBN: - 978-0-9930737-7-9

Daisy Daydream bus Rhymes and Jokes

A book full of rhymes and jokes with a bus twist.
Daisy Daydream now has a few rhymes of her own to share and enjoy.

Sparky the Dragon Bus

Just like 'Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus' and 'Daisy Daydream the Nursery Rhyme Bus' , 'Sparky the Dragon Bus' was once a real playbus.
It was a bus which operated in Glasgow, Scotland, and now it too has a picture story book of its own.

Sparky isn't your typical double-decker bus. Behind the dragon and magical paintings, she's exciting and full of fun and adventure for all children.
Jump aboard to find out what makes Sparky so special.

She even had a vist from Princess Anne

Gloria the Summer Fun Bus

Gloria is a special Playbus.
She is painted with bright colours that makes her stand out.
Now she is ready for a summer of fun, but will Max enjoy the adventure.
Why don't you join in the fun, too?

A fictional tale based on a real double -decker bus that offered a safe place for children to meet and play during school holidays.

Maybe something we might need today.

Barty Barton: The Bear that was loved too much

What happens when we outgrow our teddy bears?
Should we let them go?

Thomas loved his teddy bear, but over the years, Barty had become tatty and old.
However, Barty was no ordinary teddy bear, and he wasn't about to give up on being loved.

Barty Baron came one Christmas.
He was loved and cuddled by my children, but then they grew up.

Double-Decker Playbus Colouring book

• In this double-decker bus colouring book, there are 17 different buses to colour.
• Every page (216mm x 216mm) has a different Playbus set on a suitable background scene that every child is sure to enjoy. Fun to colour.
• It is suitable for kids age between 5-8 years, but also any child (or adult) who loves buses, and especially double-decker buses.
• With links to story books, of some of the real buses.

David's Bin Day

What happens on a Wednesday morning?
As the bin lorry clatters down the street a little boy is watching with interest.
Just like them David is wearing his brightly coloured bobble hat.
He is ready to play.
But where does everything disappear to?
And what happened to Daddy's important letter?

"David's playtime adventure stirs up a bit of trouble
in this sweet book about playing pretend."

David's Bathtime Adventure

David is a little boy who loves his bath time!
As Mum fills the bath with water, David gets himself ready for a swimming adventure.
With toys and his fishing gear, he certainly enjoys splashing around in the water.
(And making a mess!)
Where will his imagination take him?

Learning through Play
(Water)
Children love splashing and pouring, spraying and making waves.
It enhances their creativity and imagination and provides opportunities for some wonderful investigation and scientific learning.
Finding out what sinks, what floats, testing and idea.
Developing awareness of the physical world.

Bus Rhymes and Playtime

A perfect book for Rhyme time -
Songs and rhymes with a bus twist as well as links to story books.

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