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Age Group: KS1

Non-fiction

A colourful compendium of space and science.

Why is blood red? Why are carrots orange? Who invented the lightbulb? Why is the world ‘going green’? Is the sky really blue? And what is ultraviolet light?

You’ll discover the answers to these questions – and many more – in this incredible collection of scientific facts about colour. We’ll talk about light (the most important thing) and waves (not the kind you see at the beach – though you will learn why the sea looks blue!). You’ll find out how some animals are able to glow in the dark and how others change their colours to hide from predators.

Keep reading to discover why leaves change colour in the autumn, why your veins look blue but your blood is red, and how the language we use shapes the colours we see . . .

And you’ll even be taught by a real astronomer, Dr Sheila Kanani, exactly how to make a rainbow – in space.

Picturebook

The Hare-Shaped Hole is a beautiful, touching, and poignant picture book which gently explores themes of grief and loss.

Hertle and Bertle were always a pair, though one was a turtle and one was a hare. They were utterly buddies, and best friends forever and whenever you looked, you would find them together… until quite unexpectedly… the end came.

When Hertle disappears for good, Bertle can only see a Hertle-shaped hole where his friend should be. He pleads with it, get angry with it, but the hole still won’t bring his Hertle back.

It seems like hope is lost… until Gerda the kindly bear finds him. She explains that he must fill the hole with his memories of Hertle. And slowly… Bertle begins to feel a little bit better.

Powerful and moving text from children’s author and poet John Dougherty is paired perfectly with warm illustrations from the wonderfully talented Thomas Docherty in a thoughtful and sensitive approach to this difficult topic.

This moving picture book can be used as part of a gentle conversation about death and grief with children.

Picturebook

Mo Willems’ Pigeon is BACK in a hilarious story perfect for those about to start school or nursery.

The Pigeon is about to get SCHOOLED. Do YOU think he should go?

Why does the Pigeon have to go to school? He already knows everything! Well … almost everything. And what if he doesn’t like it? What if the teacher doesn’t like him? I mean, what if he learns TOO MUCH!?!

Picturebook

With a reassuring and engaging message, Ollie’s Back-to-School Bear is perfect for helping children prepare for their first day at Preschol or Big School!

On the night before school starts, Ollie is feeling nervous. Finally asleep, she’s suddenly woken by an owl outside her window. Following it into the woods, she sees lots of other animals there too! But where can they all be going? Join Ollie on an adventure she’ll never forget.

With striking illustrations, cut-outs and foil throughout, this is the next book in the bestselling Ollie series by Nicola Killen.

Non-fiction

Why Do I Feel Like This? follows a child’s hilarious, wildly inventive train of thought as she walks home in a bad mood. Where do sad or angry feelings come from? What’s the best way to make them go away? And is there any way to stop them from coming back? This imaginative story will help young readers to think about their emotions and find creative ways to deal with bad days.

Picturebook

The Sour Grape holds grudges for every reason under the sun. Lime never returned a scarf they borrowed? Grudge! Orange never called back? Grudge! But when a friend holds a grudge against the Sour Grape without listening to an explanation, the Sour Grape realizes how unfair grudges can be. Could a bunch of forgiveness and compassion be enough to turn a sour grape sweet?

Jory John and Pete Oswald serve up another heaping plate of laughs and lessons with this empowering, witty, and charming addition to their #1 New York Times bestselling series!

If you’re looking for books like Bunny vs Monkey, try these…

The Bunny Vs Monkey series by Jamie Smart has become a popular favourite with children. The stories started as part of the Phoenix Comic and have now been made into a book series of their own. Teachers in the BooksForTopics community have told us what a big hit these funny graphic novels have been in the classroom and the books have also seen success in bestseller lists and book award shortlists.

Readers enjoy the whacky tales of Bunny and his friends Weenie the Squirrel, Pig (the pig), Action Beaver and Skunky the Inventor, who all lived a peaceful life in the forest until Monkey’s rocket crash-landed and he decided to take over. What follows is a riot of chaotic adventures and mayhem that unfolds through a funny comic strip format.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of Bunny vs Monkey. Readers who love the graphic novel format could try the Investigators books or the action-packed Mega Robot Bros books. Those looking for a new animal-led whacky adventure to read after the Bunny Vs Monkey books might enjoy Kitty Quest or Grimwood. For children who like a high image-to-text ratio, we recommend trying the 13 Storey Treehouse series or Real Pigeons Fight Crime – both of which are tried-and-tested hits with fans of Jamie Smart.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for more books like Bunny vs Monkey…

Best Children’s Books About Spring

As the mornings grow lighter and green shoots start to peep through, why not celebrate the changing of the seasons with some Spring-themed books for children? Spring is a season of new beginnings, growth and new life, and our booklist is full of stories that capture the wonder of this magical time of year.

From charming tales about animals waking up from hibernation, like Little Bear’s Spring and books about seasonal life cycles like Pip and Egg, to books about springtime weather and enjoying the natural joys of the new season like Hello Spring, our selection has something for everyone to enjoy. This Spring booklist is recommended for parents, teachers and librarians looking to inspire a love of reading and an appreciation for nature in young children.

From tadpoles and bunnies to daffodils and blossoms, our list of recommended children’s books about Spring will breathe new life into your Spring storytimes all season long.

Non-fiction

Young children can explore and discuss the season of spring with this beautiful non-fiction picture book. Very simple text, high frequency and decodeable words and strong art-to-text matching make this a perfect book for early readers. It also features questions to encourage readers to relate the information to their own experiences.

It is part of the series ‘I Love the Seasons’ which helps young children aged 4+ to discover the seasons. The books are great for seasonable topics and projects in the early years.

Picturebook

A fantastically fun springtime picture book from the creators of The Leaf Thief. Hello sunshine! Hello lovely leaves. Nice to see you back.

Squirrel is so excited. It’s spring and the most perfect flower has started to blossom – and Squirrel has decided the flower is HIS.

After what happened to the leaves in autumn (THEY ALL DISAPPEARED), Squirrel’s not taking any chances. . . He MUST keep the flower safe, and he needs his best friend Bird to help him!

But perhaps Squirrel wants to protect the flower a little too much. . . After all, even flowers want a little space sometimes.

Join Squirrel and Bird as they discover and explore the wonderful nature of spring . . . and learn a few things along the way.

A laugh-out-loud book about the changing seasons, with extra information in the back for especially curious minds.

Perfect as a companion reader to children learning about seasons in school.

A brilliant picture book that explores feelings, moods and times where we feel out of control.

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