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Age Group: KS1

Picturebook

Red is finally old enough to go into the city on her own. One day, she sets off with her trusty dog Woody to take a cake to Grandma, but the city makes Red feel hungry and she eats the cake. Determined to find a new present for Grandma, Red journeys deeper into the city but she is consumed by a seemingly overwhelming amount of choice. Like all children, Red must find her own path and discover what matters the most. This stylish and beautiful book is the perfect gift.

Chapter book

The 35th anniversary of The Hodgeheg – a timeless classic tale for young children from the master of animal stories, Dick King-Smith. Includes an author profile and interview, and fun facts.

Max is a hedgehog who lives with his family in a nice little home, but it’s on the wrong side of the road from the Park where there’s a beautiful lily pond and plenty of juicy slugs, worms and snails!
The busy road is dangerous but Max is determined to make his way across. If humans can do it, why can’t hedgehogs? His first attempt ends in a nasty bump on the head and, when Max tries to speak, he realises his words are all mixed up. He is no longer a hedgehog but a hodgeheg!

Still determined to fulfil his mission, Max discovers the best way to cross the road – with the help of the lollipop lady and some careful detective work . . .

Picturebook

The cheeky little gingerbread man is having so much fun! He scurries away from Mr and Mrs Baker and all the hungry animals, but then he meets a crafty fox . . .
Will the gingerbread man meet a sticky end?

My First Fairytales are a magical introduction to the well-loved stories that are a key part of every childhood. With fresh and fun illustrations, these simple re-tellings of classic fairy tales make a perfect read for young and old alike!

Picturebook

A witty twist on a favourite fairy tale, this bold and funny story removes the handsome prince altogether, making Rapunzel the mistress of her own destiny.

Golden-haired princess Rapunzel is kept trapped in her lofty tower by a wicked witch, who lops off locks of her beautiful hair and sells them for her own profit. Can Rapunzel ever figure out a way to escape?

From the creator of Little Red, a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book, Bethan Woollvin’s unique and striking art, printed with stunning pantone inks, and her drily comic voice make this the perfect gift for fairy tale fans of all ages.

Picturebook

Lift-the-Flap Fairy Tales: Jack and the Beanstalk is a fresh, modern and wonderfully witty take on the much-loved story, retold in a playful rhyme and accompanied by bright and funny illustrations.

Flaps to lift on every page bring to life the classic story of Jack and his incredible journey up the Giant Beanstalk. Make the beanstalk grow up into the clouds, be brave and open the doors to the giant’s castle, and watch his feet pop up out of the compost heap as he comes tumbling down from the sky!

Featuring a free audio reading, complete with music and sound effects! Just scan the QR code on the book with your smart device to hear the story. With this bonus audio feature, you can listen to the story wherever you are, and follow along with the book by turning the pages when you hear the chime.

Picturebook

A simple, humorous retelling of the classic fairy tale with fun and fresh illustrations by Ed Bryan.

Cinderella works hard to clean the house and look after her nasty stepsisters, but when the rest of the family go to a Royal Ball, Cinderella is left behind. That’s when the fairy godmother arrives and works her magic – Cinderella will go to the ball after all! Cinderella and the prince dance all night until midnight strikes, the magic stops working and Cinderella has to make a quick exit . . . Will the prince ever find her again?

This picture book is the perfect bedtime read for children aged 3-6.

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

Picturebook

There once was a king who hated bath time so much that he never washed. He was a very smelly king!

The king is finally persuaded to bathe in the river but no matter how clean the rest of him is, his feet stay dirty.

The people sweep away all the dirt in the land – but the air is choked with dust. The dust gets washed away but now the land is flooded with water. An enormous tapestry is sewn to cover the whole kingdom but now nothing will grow on the land… What is to be done?

At last one old man steps forward with leather and a pair of scissors … and to the king’s amazement he creates – the first ever pair of shoes!

Picturebook

In a bustling marketplace in Iran, a traditional storyteller regales her audience with the tale of Prince Zal and the Simorgh. High up on the Mountain of Gems lives the Simorgh, a wise phoenix whose flapping wings disperse the seeds of life across the world. When King Sam commands that his long-awaited newborn son Zal be abandoned because of his white hair, the Simorgh adopts the baby and raises him alongside her own chicks and teaches him everything she knows. But when the king comes to regret his actions, Prince Zal will learn that the most important lesson of all is forgiveness.

In this special edition, the story has been set to music, with each instrument representing a different character. You can download music composed by Amir Eslami (ney), Nilufar Habibian (qanun), Saeid Kord Mafi (santur), and Arash Moradi (tanbur). The music accompanies Sally Pomme Clayton’s stunning narration of this classic tale from the Shahnameh.

Picturebook

An unlikely friendship between Miss Bandari and Mr Magarmach forms when the pair meet under the great plum tree, deep in the heart of India. Mr Magarmach is old and his hunting days are over but Miss Bandari loves hearing his stories as they munch plums together. One day their friendship is tested but with courage, trust and forgiveness they discover that living happily together tastes just as sweet as Miss Bandari’s golden plums.

The story of the monkey and the crocodile is a fable from the Panchatantra, an ancient Indian collection of animal fables dated to 300 BCE. But it’s a tale from around the world and versions can be found in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, China, Japan and the Caribbean.

Poetry

Best Graphic Novels for KS1 (Ages 5-7)

Graphic novels are longer stories written and illustrated in a comic style, combining a sequence of engaging visual elements that drive the plot, coupled with short pockets of text in the form of captions and dialogue. The format has seen a burst in popularity in recent years, and these books are seeing an increasing demand in primary schools.

Up until recently, most of the graphic novels available have been aimed at older children, but a newer demand for graphic novels suitable for younger readers in KS1 is now emerging. Whether you are looking for simple adventures like Max and Chaffy or comic tales of animal friends like Peanut Butter and Crackers, we’ve compiled a short list of the best graphic novels where the story content, length and text level are suited to children aged 5-7 in Years 1 and 2.

This list is aimed at readers in KS1. If you are looking for recommendations for graphic novels for older children, be sure to check out our Graphic Novels for Lower KS2 and Graphic Novels for Upper KS2.

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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