Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Age Group: KS2

Books For 10 Year Olds

Recommended Children’s Books For Children Age 10

Looking for good books for 10-year-olds? Welcome to our handpicked collection of the best books for children aged 10.

We’ve carefully chosen these recommended books for ten-year-olds to make it easier for parents, teachers, and anyone searching for quality literature for young readers. Our reviewed and curated list covers a variety of genres and themes, ensuring a balance between entertainment and education.

Whether you’re seeking thrilling adventures for keen bookworms, relatable coming-of-age stories, or super-fun illustrated reads for more reluctant readers, our guide aims to simplify the process of finding the perfect book for your 10-year-old. Featuring true classics like The Chronicles of Narnia, action-packed adventure series like Percy Jackson and popular illustrated funny stories like Freddy Vs School, we’ve covered all tastes in our top 20 picks of recommended stories for 10-year-olds.

For more comprehensive booklists, browse our lists of 50 Best Books for Year 5 or 50 Best Books for Year 6.

Explore our recommendations for age 10 children and make reading an enjoyable and enriching part of your child’s journey into the world of books.

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!

Rumaysa: Ever After

Chapter book

Return to a Once Upon a Time where anything is possible . . . Rumaysa: Ever After is the enchanting sequel to Radiya Hafiza’s Rumaysa: A Fairytale – a gorgeously empowering and funny story that spins the classic fairytale to show that anyone can be a hero.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the fiercest one of all?

Ever since she escaped her tower, Rumaysa has been searching the land, far and wide, determined to find her long lost parents. But after she receives a mysterious invitation from Saira White, Queen of Bishnara, she is soon pulled into a dark, magical adventure, that threatens her own happily ever after . . .

This eagerly anticipated sequel enchantingly intertwines traditional stories of Princesses, Princes, Witches and Beasts with a fresh and empowering perspective, beautifully illustrated by Rhaida El Touny.

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.

Am I Made of Stardust?

Non-fiction

Award-winning scientist and BBC broadcaster Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock (MBE) is here to answer all the questions curious kids will ever have about the Universe.

How long would it take me to fly to a star? What would happen if I fell inside a black hole? Would I get a phone signal in space? From whether there are rainbows on other planets to what dinner tastes like on the International Space Station, this book is packed full of fabulous facts, mind-blowing insights and engaging explanations from the renowned space scientist.

Written in Dr Maggie’s fun, accessible style, and featuring out-of-this-world illustrations throughout, it’s guaranteed to bring the wonders of space and science to life for young readers. Publishing in the UK in time for World Space Week (4th–10th October 2022).

The Story of Britain’s Black Airmen

Non-fiction

Explore the fascinating, rarely heard stories of Black airmen during the First and Second World Wars. The Story of Britain’s Black Airmen celebrates the inspiring contributions of people of African descent to British aviation.

From pilots to ground crew, and with tales from across the globe, the story of Britain’s Black airmen is an important part of the history of flying.

By aiming for the skies, many of them helped to bring about changes that are still making our world a better place.

Includes inspirational key figures such as Cy Grant, Errol Barrow, Sam King and John Henry Smythe

With full-colour illustration by Grenadian illustrator Elizabeth Lander

For readers aged 8+

Gods of the Ancient World: A Kids’ Guide to Ancient Mythologies

Non-fiction

Uncover the stories of gods and goddesses from around the world, in this dynamic anthology of ancient myths.

Discover 23 captivating stories of gods and goddesses from civilisations around the world in this book that introduces children to ancient cultures with colourful illustrations and incredible storytelling. Young readers will delight in myths that explain the beginning of the world, the way gods helped humans, the divine’s power over weather and other natural phenomena, and much more.

Gods of the Ancient World is a perfect global introduction to the most fascinating stories about gods and goddesses from ancient history.

Further featuring:

– The incredible myths and legends behind each god or goddess with real-world art references.
– Illustrations bring each god and goddess to life for a young audience.
– Fact boxes call out key information to draw the reader in.
– A global look at mythologies, with Maya, Japanese and Yoruba deities as well as Ancient Greek and Roman gods.

Authored by Classics expert Marchella Ward, a researcher at the University of Oxford, this beautifully illustrated treasury of ancient mythologies is perfect for children age 9-12, with amazing real-life photos of ancient objects which show how people worshipped the gods through art.

The Great Fairy Tale Disaster

Picturebook

A follow up to the bestselling The Great Nursery Rhyme Disaster. Fairy tales have never been funnier than in this outrageously silly picture book!

Once upon a time there lived an old Big Bad Wolf. He no longer has any huff and puff to blow down the Three Little Pigs’ houses so he scampers off into the pages of the Fairy Tale book to find a new one. He tries one tale after another, but things never quite work to plan. Will he find a fairy tale that suits him perfectly?

With all the well-known and well-loved fairy tales, including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality

Chapter book

The fifth fast-paced fantasy adventure starring Aru Shah!

Aru only has until the next full moon to stop the Sleeper from gaining access to the nectar of immortality, which will grant him infinite power. Her quest will have the Pandavas calling on old friends, meeting new allies, and facing fearsome trials, like…performing in a rock concert? When the moment of confrontation finally arrives, it’s up to Aru to decide who deserves immortality, the devas or the asuras. The most unexpected answer will come from a most unexpected place…

Pacy, page-turning storytelling with charm and humour

– movie rights optioned by Paramount. For fans of Jasbinder Bilan, Kwame Mbalia and the Percy Jackson series

Aru Shah and the End of Time (book 1) is a New York Times bestseller. In 2020, it made TIME’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of all Time

My Friend’s A Gris-Kwok

Chapter book

Malorie Blackman’s hilarious tale of shape-shifting and babysitting antics – now in a standard paperback format for middle-grade readers.

Mike had no idea that his best friend Alex was a Gris-kwok – someone who can turn into any animal he chooses! But Mike’s naughty little sister Molly is a Gris-kwok too. Alex and Mike are about to take on the worst babysitting job in the world!