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fairy tales traditional stories

Fairy Tales and Traditional Stories

Recommended Fairy Tales and Traditional Stories for Children

This hand-picked list is a treasury of timeless stories passed down through generations, alongside more modern tales inspired by traditional stories and twisted fairy tales designed to entertain and amuse.

Many old favourites feature on this list, and young readers will love plotting their escape with Rapunzel, building a house with The Three Little Pigs or going to the ball with Cinderella. We’ve also picked some traditional tales from around the world, including BooksForTopics favourite Pattan’s Pumpkin, which is also one of our Recommended Reads for EYFS.

Alongside the traditional, this booklist features a number of fractured fairy tales that turn traditional stories on their head! There are hilarious twists on familiar stories, like Goldilocks and the Three Crocodiles and Cindergorilla, as well as tales told from new perspectives, like The Troll, The Pea and the Princess, and The Wolf’s Story: What Really Happened to Little Red Riding Hood.

For timeless tales and riotous retellings, look no further than our list of the best fairy tales and traditional stories for children!

rhyming story books

Rhyming Books

Best Rhyming Stories for Children

On this booklist, we have picked a selection of rhyming books suitable for primary school classrooms. This hand-picked collection of rhyming stories will delight and entertain children throughout EYFS and KS1 and boost phonics learning and language development in Early Years classrooms.

Established classics like Each Peach Pear Plum, Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy and The Giant Jam Sandwich feature alongside relative newcomers like Nabil Steals a Penguin and The Gecko and the Echo, which are already proving themselves as ‘all-join-in’ favourites in classrooms across the country.

So jump on in, it’s not to be missed: the BooksForTopics Rhyming List!

 

azizas secret fairy door and the birthday present disaster

Aziza’s Secret Fairy Door and the Birthday Present Disaster

Chapter book

Aziza’s Secret Fairy Door and the Birthday Present Disaster is the third title in a fun and inclusive, young magical adventure series for readers of 6-8 from Lola Morayo. Inspired by fairies and magical creatures from world mythology it is gorgeously illustrated in black and white throughout by Cory Reid.

Aziza notices that the Secret Fairy Door in her bedroom is covered in a cute ribbon tied in a very messy bow. It’s a sure sign that she’s about to go on a new adventure.

Aziza opens the door and finds herself in the Palace just in time for Princess Peri’s birthday party. Tiko is organizing the party and wants everything to be just right for his friend. There are party games, delicious food and lots of friends ready to celebrate. It’s very exciting! But Peri needs Aziza’s help when some special presents go missing. . .

Packed with mischief, friendship and magic, Aziza is perfect for fans of Isadora Moon.

Look out for other titles in the series: Aziza’s Secret Fairy Door and the Mermaid’s Treasure, coming soon.

reflecting realities books 2023

Reflecting Realities Books 2023-2024

Reflecting Realities Booklist

In November 2023, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) released the 6th annual Reflecting Realities Survey of Ethnic Representation within UK Children’s Literature. The findings show that 30% of children’s books published in 2022 feature a racially minoritised character, which marks a significant increase from the 4% first reported in 2017. The published report can be viewed here or you can read a summary of the Reflecting Realities 2023 Report on our blog. 

This year’s report pays particular attention to the range and breadth of genres that have seen minoritised characters become a meaningful part of the literary mainstream. From Fantasy and Historical to Comedy, the report highlights and celebrates stories that include racially minoritised characters in multi-dimensional and nuanced ways. The report names quite a number of texts that exemplify the “quality of presence they hope to encounter in all representative books.”

Titles highlighted in this year’s report include a number that the BooksForTopics community will recognise from our Diverse Children’s Book Lists, as well as our Year Group Recommended Reads and Curriculum Booklists, such as The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger, India Incredible India, Serena Patel’s Picture Perfect, Planet Omar and Joseph Coelho’s Our Tower.

This booklist features many of the highlighted books included in this year’s Reflecting Realities report.

 

thats not my name

That’s Not My Name

Picturebook

An uplifting picture book about loving your name, finding your voice and standing up for yourself.

Mirha is so excited for her first day of school! She can’t wait to learn, play and make new friends. But when her classmates keep mispronouncing her name, she goes home wondering if she should find a new one.

When Mama helps Mirha see just how special her name is, she returns to school the next day determined to help her classmates say it correctly.

Featuring beautiful, vibrant illustrations and with an empowering message at its core, this heartwarming picture book from author-illustrator Anoosha Syed reminds us all just how important our names are!

jojo gran gran go to the hairdresser

JoJo & Gran Gran: Go to the Hairdresser

Picturebook

JoJo and Gran Gran are off to the hairdresser’s! Featuring favourite characters from the hit CBeebies show, this book is perfect for sharing with little JoJo & Gran Gran fans.

JoJo goes to the hairdresser for the first time ever with Gran Gran, and learns all about how much fun it can be to help out. She even has her hair done, too!

About the show
JoJo & Gran Gran is the first British-made animated show to feature a black family at its centre. It is based on characters created by Laura Henry Allain, whose own grandmother inspired the character of Gran Gran. Each episode shows a loving relationship a grandmother has with her granddaughter, a celebration of their shared world heritage and wonderful introduction to key preschool first experiences.

JoJo adores her grandma, Gran Gran, and they love to spend time together while JoJo’s Mummy and Daddy are at work. Gran Gran always has something exciting planned when JoJo comes to visit.

Each picture book will retell the story of a well-loved TV episode, followed by a picture glossary and activity spread to encourage readers to take the themes from the book into their everyday lives.

jojo gran gran find a dinosaur

JoJo & Gran Gran: Find a Dinosaur

Picturebook

JoJo and Gran Gran are off to find a dinosaur! Featuring favourite characters from the hit CBeebies show, this book is perfect for sharing with little JoJo & Gran Gran fans.

JoJo loves to play with her toy dinosaurs in Gran Gran’s garden. Today, JoJo and Gran Gran go the museum to find a T Rex skeleton and learn more about dinosaurs, but the museum is very big and they get lost! It’s time for a Gran Gran Plan . . .

About the show
JoJo & Gran Gran is the first British-made animated show to feature a black family at its centre. It is based on characters created by Laura Henry Allain MBE, whose own grandmother inspired the character of Gran Gran. Each episode shows a loving relationship a grandmother has with her granddaughter, a celebration of their shared world heritage and wonderful introduction to key preschool first experiences.

JoJo adores her grandma, Gran Gran, and they love to spend time together while JoJo’s Mummy and Daddy are at work. Gran Gran always has something exciting planned when JoJo comes to visit.

Each picture book will retell the story of a well-loved TV episode, followed by a picture glossary and activity spread to encourage readers to take the themes from the book into their everyday lives.

zeki sleep tight

Zeki Sleep Tight

Picturebook

After a busy day, it’s time for Zeki to slow down… One by one, his senses get ready to sleep. The room is hushed, the lights low – and after a dozy story, he’s already beginning to nod off. A gentle companion to Zeki Rise & Shine, this is a perfect way to end the day.

zeki rise and shine

Zeki Rise And Shine

Picturebook

After a big sleep, it’s time for Zeki to wake up! His eyes, ears, mouth & nose, head, shoulders, knees & toes shimmy, shake and bounce into action. By the last spread, he’s ready for anything! An energetic companion to Zeki Sleep Tight, this is a perfect way to start the day.

baby sleepy baby

Baby, Sleepy Baby

Picturebook

A bedtime lullaby for the special baby in your life.

Baby, sleepy baby, I’ll sing down the stars
Till they dance right into your room.

A beautiful and lyrical book that celebrates the warmth and tenderness of wrapping baby in night-time’s embrace. Based on a Nigerian lullaby sung to Atinuke by her father, this story delights in the magical moments shared with a whole family and their baby at bedtime.

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