Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

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Age Group: KS1

Non-fiction

Journey through the jungle and coral reefs, across the African plains and icy poles, and even to the Galápagos Islands, as you discover all there is to know about the world’s best-known and best-loved naturalist, Sir David Attenborough, in this beautifully illustrated picture book.

From a childhood spent searching for fossils to his awe-inspiring work as a broadcaster and conservationist, learn about Sir David Attenborough’s WILD life, as he goes further, higher and deeper than anyone ever before to share our incredible natural world, and embarks on a mission to protect it.

A perfect gift for budding naturalists and fans of David’s wildlife documentaries.

Picturebook

This lyrical text from author Carter Higgins gives life and meaning to all the requisite elements of a treehouse, from time, timber, and rafters to a rope of twisted twine, so you can sprawl out on a limb and slide back down again. Higgins’s text, filled with beautiful images and an incredibly readable assonant cadence, captures the universal timelessness of the treehouse and celebrates all the creativity, poignancy, and adventure inherent therein.

Picturebook

Daniela the glassmaker’s daughter is grumpy and never smiles. Her father promises a beautiful glass palace to anyone who can make her laugh. People come from far and wide to try their luck in amusing Daniela. But mask makers, lion tamers and magicians cannot raise a smile from the princess. It is only when a young apprentice makes the first looking glass that Daniela learns to smile – at her own grumpy reflection! This beautiful fable set in sixteenth-century Venice features stunning illustrations from award-winning artist Jane Ray alongside a poetic text.

Non-fiction

This first science book exploring the science behind materials and matter provides a great foundation for scientific knowledge. From topics such as melting and dissolving to natural or man-made materials, the book has clear information and fun illustrations. It also has plenty of interactivity such as challenges to think about and activities to try.

Get into Science is a series of eight books for children aged 6+ that explore the science that surrounds them in their everyday world. Each page is full of things for the reader to notice, talk about and try for themselves. The simple text is accompanied by fun illustrations. Why not discover all the titles:
Light and Dark
Machines We Use
Forces Around Us
Full of Energy
Solid, Liquid or Gas?
The Five Senses
Time
You and Your Body

Non-fiction

In this title, readers will investigate materials (including wood, metal, plastic, glass, rock and wool) and everyday objects using science. What are trainers, footballs, coins, drink cans and even skyscrapers made of? What properties make different materials suitable for different jobs? And how are paper, steel, glass and rubber made? Look for the download button throughout the book. It shows there are free downloadable worksheets and other resources available for that topic.

Picturebook

Rosa and her friends want to build boats! But how will they keep them from sinking? Through observation, trial and error, the group of children learn about density. They predict outcomes and make notes about whether they were right! After they have finished experimenting, they use what they have learned to have an exciting boat race!

Picturebook

Winner of The National Art Library Award!

Helen Ward’s tale of The Tin Forest follows an old man who tidies the rubbish in a junkyard and dreams of a better place. With faith, ingenuity and hard work, he transforms it into a wonderland in this poetic modern fable.

Picturebook

A spellbinding new Nature Storybook about one of the most beautiful creatures in the world, with words by Planet Earth producer Justin Anderson and pictures by award-winning Patrick Benson.
“Something moves in the rocks ahead. My hands start to tremble. My heart is beating fast. There, just a few footsteps away, is a snow leopard…”

Join us on a journey high into the snowy peaks of the Himalaya, and discover the secret world of a rare and utterly majestic creature – how it has adapted to the harsh environment it lives in and how it looks after its young. Complete with an index and a conservation note, this is a wonderful addition to the series and the debut of an exciting new voice in non-fiction writing for children.

Non-fiction

Discover why we must protect Okavango Delta from climate change.

Explore the Okavango Delta, Africa’s incredible inland wetland, a sparkling jewel at the heart of the Kalahari Desert. This richly illustrated picture book brings to life this extraordinary region for young children, navigating its maze of shimmering lagoons, meandering channels and overgrown islands teeming with wildlife. In this watery wilderness, lion, cheetah, leopard and African wild dog share the floodplains with large herds of elephant and buffalo. It delves into the important role wetlands play in reducing the effects of greenhouse gases, and showcases the rich wildlife and diverse communities that can all be found there and therefore why it is so important that we act to protect this special part of the planet from the impact of climate change.

Non-fiction

Journey across 40 incredible habitats around the world to discover the biggest, boldest, and stinkiest plants
Without plants there would be no life on Earth, but most people are blind to their impact. This stylish and informative introduction to plants sets out to cure ‘plant blindness’ by introducing children to 66 amazing plants from the six major climactic zones around the world.

From the smelliest, such as the massive Titan Arum of the Indonesian rainforest, which stinks of rotting flesh to attract insects, to the hardest-working, including peat moss, an overlooked bog plant that helps protect our planet by trapping carbon dioxide, readers will learn about the vital role of plants in Nature through detailed, vibrant illustrations and fascinating facts. Children will also learn how to use their new-found knowledge of the plant’s natural environment to care for the plants around them and at home.

Matthew Biggs’ research included consulting eminent botanists around the globe and referencing scientific papers. This book teaches children about plants in the context of their natural environment, and is ideal for geography and biology curricular tie ins, as well as being a book that will inspire children to love and care for the plants around them. This is the perfect compendium for plant-lovers, budding gardeners, and would-be botanists and nature-lovers alike.

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