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best books for ks1 infants

Recommended Reads for KS1 (Infant)

Best Books for KS1 Children

Newly Updated – April 2024

We’ve hand-picked a list of 20 recommended books for Infant School children. Update your Key Stage 1 class library or home book collections with our list of the best books for KS1 children, featuring everything from fashion-conscious flamingoes to pesky pirates to sizzling sausages.

Featuring popular KS1 storytime reads like Magic Faces,  laugh-out-loud choices like Pop!, well-loved picturebooks like Coming to England and top-notch non-fiction like Little Brown Nut, this list has something for everyone.

This infant book list has been put together based on a mix of titles taken from our popular individual year group reading lists and with the help of the librarians and booksellers at Peters. The emphasis is on introducing newer books that school libraries may not already have, to help pupils discover brand-new favourites to read for pleasure.

There is also a downloadable checklist and a printable poster, and schools can purchase full packs of these books from Peters or select packs of the Primary books or KS2 books instead.

best books for ks1 infants poster best books for ks1 infants checklist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are looking for more specific recommendations, you may like our Year Group Lists (see below) or Curriculum Topic Booklists.

Browse the infant school reading list below or scroll down to find more purchasing options and printable resources.

best books for primary school children

Best Primary Books for Children

50 Books for Primary School Children

Newly Updated – April 2024

Browse our reading list of 50 recommended books for Primary Schools. Update your class library or home book collections with our list of the best Primary School books, featuring everything from intergalactic snail adventures and unexpected unicorns to secret agent chameleons and mountain explorers.

This primary reading list includes books to read with children alongside books for them to read themselves. Featuring popular storytime reads like Gigantic and Pop!, early chapter books like Magic Faces, action-packed adventure books like The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts and top-notch non-fiction like How Do Meerkats Order Pizza?, this list really does have something for everyone.

This list has been put together based on a mix of titles taken from our popular individual year group reading lists and with the help of the team of librarians and booksellers at Peters.

If you’re a parent or teacher looking for the best books for Primary School children, look no further than our list. Whether you are looking for funny read-alouds, new releases or educational reads, we have something to suit every young reader’s interests. Our Primary School booklist includes both fiction and non-fiction recommendations to offer primary school children a deliciously tempting offering of reading-for-pleasure choices.

There is also a downloadable checklist and a printable poster, and schools can purchase full packs of these books from Peters or select packs of the KS2 books or KS1 books from the list.

 

best books for primary school children posterbest books for primary school children checklist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are looking for more specific recommendations, you may like our Year Group Lists (see below) or Curriculum Topic Booklists.

Browse the primary school reading list below or scroll down to find more purchasing options and printable resources.

Inclusive Books for Children (IBC) Awards

We’re so excited to see the launch of these brand new awards by the charity Inclusive Books for Children. Recognising the best new inclusive books, these awards fit into Inclusive Books for Children’s wider aim to make mainstream books inclusive, and to bring inclusive books into the mainstream. We’re thrilled to see some of our favourite titles, authors and characters among the 13 shortlisted books.

Three books are shortlisted in the Baby and Toddler Books category: Too Green!, Zeki Goes to the Park and Zeki Hikes with Daddy. Zeki is a popular character among younger readers and we’re delighted to see him return.

The Picture Books for ages 3–7 category shortlist includes Dadaji’s Paintbrush and Faruq and the Wiri Wiri, which both feature on our Recommended Reads lists. The other titles shortlisted in this category are The Missing Piece, To the Other Side and You’re So Amazing!.

A host of our favourite characters feature in the Children’s Fiction for ages 5-9 category shortlist, and we’re excited by the return of Lizzie and Lucky in The Mystery of the Lost Chicken, Sona Sharma in Wish Me Luck, and Too Small Tola in Too Small Tola Makes It Count. Budgie and Meet the Maliks, Twin Detectives: The Cookie Culprit make up the rest of this category shortlist.

The judging panel boasts educators, authors, broadcasters, illustrators and advocates, and the awards ceremony will take place in London on the 28th of February.

lizzie and lucky the mystery of the lost chicken

Lizzie and Lucky: The Mystery of the Lost Chicken

Chapter book

Join young detective Lizzie and her adorable puppy Lucky on another mystery-solving adventure! With charming illustrations throughout, and fun activities to try.

Lizzie and Lucky are visiting the Five Freedoms Sanctuary. It’s a lovely place for all sorts of rescued animals.

When a local farmer announces some terrible plans for his land that could endanger the surrounding wildlife, our dynamic duo know they must investigate the case. Can they use their detective skills to stop him?

While looking for clues, Lizzie spots some strange footprints and an unusual blue creature that stands out from the rest! But what is it, and where did it come from? Could it be the key to saving the day?

meet the maliks twin detectives the cookie culprit

Meet the Maliks, Twin Detectives: The Cookie Culprit

Chapter book

Meet Maysa and Musa Malik. They might be twins but they are total opposites. And together they make an unstoppable team, especially when trying to solve a mystery! Infectiously funny, and full of her trademark warmth, Meet the Maliks – Twin Detectives is the brand-new series from Zanib Mian. Perfect for fans of Planet Omar and Tom Gates.

Maysa Malik just can’t seem to be good like her twin, Musa. So, when she isn’t allowed to go on a school trip, Maysa tries to change her parents’ minds by taking part in a cookie competition at the mosque.

But when the cookies are all destroyed, it’s up to Maysa, Musa and their neighbour, Norman, to solve the mystery. They’ll have to put their detective hats on to catch the culprit – and help save Maysa’s reputation.

sona sharma wish me luck

Sona Sharma, Wish Me Luck

Chapter book

Sona Sharma lives in India with her busy family, where she learns about the ups and downs of family, friendship and life.

Sona and her friends are excited to learn their beloved teacher, Miss Rao, is getting married – but then they panic that she might leave their school for ever after her wedding! They try all kinds of tactics, like wishing on a peacock feather and even starting a petition to keep Miss Rao. But Miss Rao’s beautiful Indian wedding has a surprise in store for the girls.

too small tola makes it count

Too Small Tola Makes It Count

Chapter book

Lockdown is over and Too Small Tola has returned to the crowded family flat in Lagos, Nigeria. Even though she is back home and safe, there are still plenty of problems for Tola to solve – including her own. She may be small, but she is also thoughtful and kind and clever – and there really is no problem too big for Too Small Tola.

the blue umbrella

The Blue Umbrella

Picturebook

The most magical things can happen even on the rainiest of days… How many people can you fit under one umbrella? It wasn’t even meant to rain the day the blue umbrella turned up, but for the people who used it that day, they found something more than just shelter: something truly amazing had happened. A community had come together, bound by kindness and friendship.

every bunny is a yoga bunny

Every Bunny is a Yoga Bunny

Picturebook

A funny, reassuring picture book about yoga, mindfulness and finding calm, from debut author Emily Ann Davison and award-winning illustrator Deborah Allwright.

Yo-Yo is a fidgety, bouncy, can’t-sit-still-EVER type of bunny. Even Grandpa’s yoga class won’t stop her wiggling and giggling! But what will Yo-Yo do when she finds herself lost and all alone in the deep, dark, shadowy forest? Maybe Grandpa’s yoga will help her find the way home . . .

With a reassuring bedtime ending and three pages of simple step-by-step yoga instructions, children can stretch, breathe and feel calm with Yo-Yo.

Every Nosy Crow paperback picture book comes with a free ‘Stories Aloud’ audio recording – just scan the QR code and listen along!

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