Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Home > Books

Age Group: EYFS

Picturebook

Noor loves her mum, and all the other hijabi women in her family, but wonders why do they wear headscarves? Is it so they can hide snacks for later? Or because they’re a super spy and hiding their secret identity?

Full of curiousity, Noor sets out to find her answer, but her family are all busy and have no time to answer this important question. Just as Noor is ready to give up on her quest, her Ammu arrives home and knows just the thing to say.

This heart-warming yet funny tale is a celebration of Muslim women, curious children, and family love.

Picturebook

Get ready for an epic journey of friendship and discovery from the bestselling author of The Girl and the Dinosaur.

There’s a shape up in the hills, where a giant’s said to sleep, beneath a grassy blanket, on a bed of moss and peat . . .

Then, one day, the sleeping giant wakes – and a small boy called Tom is plunged into an unforgettable adventure. Along the way, he’ll discover what it means to be a true friend – and that even an ordinary boy can have the heart of a giant.

With a beautiful rhyming text by bestselling Hollie Hughes, author of The Girl and the Dinosaur, and gorgeous illustrations from debut talent Anna Wilson, this beautiful book is an unmissable treat!

Poetry

A new compendium of happy poems to read out loud, from award-winning author Joseph Coelho.

Picturebook

A laugh-out-loud picture book from master storyteller, Michelle Robinson, and illustrator extraordinaire, Tom Knight.

Finally she FLOPS and FLINGS herself down on the floor.

“I give up!” Ice Cream hollers, “I can’t take it any more!”

Life inside the ice cream van is full of excitement – the ice creams and lollies can’t wait to be picked!

But – oh no! – no-one wants a plain ice cream, and that’s exactly what our friend Ice Cream is. As she sees friend after friend being picked instead of her…

Ice Cream has a MELTDOWN!

Will Ice Cream be stuck in the freezer forever, or is her happy ending just around the corner…?

Picturebook

The rollicking adventurous picture book from the number one bestselling author and illustrator of The Gruffalo, Stick Man and Zog. ‘Give me your buns and your biscuits!

Give me your chocolate eclairs!

For I am the Rat of the highway,

and the Rat Thief never shares!’

Life is not safe for the other animals, as the villainous Highway Rat gallops along the highway, stealing their food. Clover from a rabbit; nuts from a squirrel – he even steals his own horse’s hay.

Will he finally meet his comeuppance, in the form of a cunning duck?

Shiny foil highlights on the cover makes this a special gift for toddlers

A fabulous, rollicking rhyme, in the style of the famous Alfred Noyes poem, ‘The Highwayman’, from the UK’s number one picture book author and illustrator

Perfect read-aloud rhyming text and stunning pictures on every page with lots of details to spot

Adventure, friendship and learning to be kind are at the heart of this story.

Picturebook

The first book in the best-selling, award-winning ‘Bear and the Piano’ trilogy.

Winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, Illustrated Book Category for 2016

Over 120,000 copies have been sold of The Bear and the Piano in the UK.

One day, a young bear stumbles upon something he has never seen before in the forest. As time passes, he teaches himself how to play the strange instrument, and eventually the beautiful sounds are heard by a father and son who are picnicking in the woods. The bear goes with them on an incredible journey to New York, where his piano playing makes him a huge star. He has fame, fortune and all the music in the world, but he misses the friends and family he has left behind. A moving tale of exploration and belonging from best-selling and critically acclaimed author David Litchfield.

PicturebookPoetry

A joyous book to share, with charming details to spot on every spread – BookTrust

To walk to
To talk to
To cry and rely on,
People will always need people . . .

From the creators of Nature Trail comes an uplifting picture book about the power of people, and the importance of connecting with others. This timely poem reminds us all to be kind to one another.

Written by legendary poet, Benjamin Zephaniah, one of The Times’ top 50 British post-war writers. Beautifully illustrated by Nila Aye.

Picturebook

A brilliantly funny story of facing your fears from the picture book team behind The Case of the Missing Cake.

Terry is not an octopus. He’s just a regular guy with a few extra arms. Yes, he loves tuna and yes, he’d love to visit Super Octopus Fantasea Adventure World. But octopuses live in the sea. And Terry is afraid of water. Maybe he should learn to swim?

A very silly story about being brave, facing your fears and accepting who you really are.

Picturebook

Anthony Browne is at his most brilliant in a new edition of this profound picture book about sibling relations and one that has become a classic Y2 book to study and pore over in the classroom.

Once upon a time there lived a brother and sister who were complete opposites and constantly fought and argued. One day they discovered the tunnel. The boy goes through it at once, dismissing his sister’s fears. When he doesn’t return his sister has to pluck up the courage to go through the tunnel too. She finds her brother in a mysterious forest where he has been turned to stone…

Poetry

A beautifully illustrated anthology of forty-four short poems by award-winning Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, designed to be shared together. Blow a kiss, catch a kiss when we are apart. Blow a kiss, catch a kiss put it in your heart. From Eye Caterpillars to The Journey Game, and from Dancing Families to Dreamtime, this collection of fun and heart-warming poems from award-winning children’s poet Joseph Coelho are perfect for sharing everyday feelings and experiences.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review

Stone Girl Bone Girl

review

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?

yes

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Any other comments

Any other comments