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Age Group: KS2

british museum celebrate discover 50 fantastic festivals from around the world

British Museum: Celebrate!: Discover 50 Fantastic Festivals from Around the World

Non-fiction

Travel the world in this awe-inspiring new gift title from the British Museum featuring 50 spectacular new festivals that you won’t want to miss!

It’s time to celebrate as you explore some of the world’s most exciting festivals from different countries, cultures and religions around the globe. From the familiar to the unexpected, discover how and why festivals bring people together to enjoy all kinds of sensational celebrations.

List of festivals included: Arbor Day, Argungu Fishing Festival, Barriletes Gigantes, Bloemencorso Zundert, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Constitution Day, Crepissage De La Grande Mosquée, Cure Salée, Dia de los Muertos, Diablos Danzantes del Yare, Diwali, Duanwu, Easter, Eid, Festival of Giants, Festival of Near-Death Experiences, Fiesta de la Tirana, Gion Festival, Golden Stilt Festival, Guca Trumpet Festival, Guy Fawkes Night, Halloween, Heiva i Tahiti, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Indian Market, Inti Raymi, Juneteenth, Kurentovanje, Kuru Dance Festival, Lajkonik, Las Parrandas, Lotus Lantern Festival, Moussem of Sidi Hmad Mghani, Naadam, Nowruz, Oruro Carnival, Pchum Ben, Pesach, Quebec Winter Carnival, Rio Carnival, Tango Festival, Thanksgiving, The Great Ethiopian Run, Toraja Funeral Rites, Vaisakhi, Venice Carnival, Waitangi Day, World Science Festival, Yam Festival

beastlands race to frostfall mountain

Beastlands: Race to Frostfall Mountain

Chapter book

BEFORE THERE WERE PEOPLE, THERE WERE BEASTS . . .

The island of Ramoa was once luscious and populated with mighty beasts. Now though, it is home to barren and tamed cities, where nature is locked out and trouble is brewing.

When Kayla’s beloved animal companion, a rare winged pangron, is stolen, she’s determined to get him back. But to do so, she’ll have to leave her city and journey into the wild and forbidden Beastlands.

There, she meets Rustus, an exiled young warrior, and Alethea, a healer desperately seeking a cure for a mysterious disease. As their quests unite them, they’ll adventure across the lands they know so little about, leading them to discoveries both great and terrifying. Not least that the beasts they’ve always been taught to fear might not be so terrifying after all…

The first instalment in an epic new fantasy adventure series for readers of DRAGON REALM, FIREBORN and SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF.

whats technology the who where why and how

What’s Technology?: The Who, Where, Why and How!

Non-fiction

Fact-filled non-fiction that uncovers the who, where, why and how of historical technological inventions. From the magic of making music to lightbulb moments and tiny technology, discover the people and places behind 13 major technological breakthroughs that changed the world. You’ll read about what motivated them, why they did what they did, when they did it … and with whom! There is a glossary at the back of the book plus a ‘take it further’ activity on each page. Discover the human side of STEM!

the glorious race of magical beasts

The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts

Chapter book

Twelve-year-old Eli is an apprentice librarian at the largest library in the world. But when his grandmother falls ill, he enters the Glorious Race of Magical Beasts to raise money for her treatment.

This annual race is always held in the most perilous places and is full of spiky dangers. Most participants seek out unicorns and dragons to help them on their conquest. But not Eli. He embarks on this journey with his trusted pet and friend, Humphrey, his moon tortoise. Moon tortoises aren’t suited to racing and Eli is no natural adventurer. But he soon finds himself in an unlikely partnership with Raven, a rule-breaker and skilled archer, and her ice hare – one of the fastest animals in the world.

If the two children put aside their differences and work together, they might just reach the finish line!

best childrens books about diverse families

All Different Families

Best Children’s Books about Diverse Families 

Families come in all shapes and sizes! Our All Different Families booklist is designed for anyone seeking to promote diversity and inclusion in their personal or school settings, including parents, teachers, and those looking for personal development.

This varied booklist of picturebooks and chapter books includes relatable stories representing children from a whole variety of family structures, as well as books that will help all children to encounter and understand a range of family types that may not look like their own.

From stories of foster families like The Star Outside my Window and The House with a Dragon in it, to families featuring same-sex parents like Who’s Your Real Mum and My Daddies, there’s something for all primary ages on this booklist.

the story of tracy beaker

The Story of Tracy Beaker

Chapter book

Tracy has been in care as long as she can remember, and she hates it. So when a chance presents itself for her to get out, she jumps at it. But Tracy can never keep her mouth shut, tell the truth or turn down a dare for long, which inevitably gets her into A LOT of trouble. Jacqueline Wilson’s award winning series documents Tracy’s hilarious everyday life, from standing up to bullies in the playground, to starring in the school Christmas play, to finding the perfect family.

sputniks guide to life on earth

Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth

Chapter book

Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell-Boyce is an adventure about the Blythes: a big, warm, rambunctious family who live on a small farm and sometimes foster children. Now Prez has come to live with them. But, though he seems cheerful and helpful, he never says a word.

Then one day Prez answers the door to someone claiming to be his relative. This small, loud stranger carries a backpack, walks with a swagger and goes by the name of Sputnik. The family all think Sputnik is a dog and chaos is unleashed as suddenly household items come to life – like a TV remote that fast-forwards people and a toy lightsaber that entertains guests at a children’s party, until one of them is nearly decapitated by it – and Prez is going to have to use his voice to explain himself.

As Sputnik takes Prez on a journey to finish writing his guidebook to Earth called Ten Things Worth Doing on Earth, each adventure seems to take Prez nearer to the heart of the family he is being fostered by, but they also take him closer to the day that he is due to leave them forever . . .

my two grandads

My Two Grandads

Picturebook

Aston’s Grandad Roy played in a steel band and Grandad Harry played the trumpet in a brass band. Aston always enjoyed going to visit them and listen to them practise. But soon he wanted to join in. So he asked Grandad Roy to teach him to play the steel drums and then he asked Grandad Harry to teach him to play the trumpet. He loved practising both instruments. Then the school needs a band to play at the school fair, and both grandads want their own band to play. Finally Aston had an idea – both bands join together to make one big band, and Aston joins in first on steel drums and then on trumpet. This delightful story of a mixed-race family reconciling their very different cultures is a wonderful celebration of diversity. Written by one of Britain’s foremost campaigners and media personalities and illustrated by a highly regarded illustrator, this book is sure to build on the success of My Two Grannies.

best childrens books about australia

Australia Topic

Best Children’s Books about Australia

Australia’s enchanting landscapes – from the Outback to the Great Barrier Reef – are brought to life in this list of the best children’s books about Australia. These titles offer vibrant illustrations and engaging narratives to help young readers to discover Australia’s unique wildlife, indigenous cultures and fascinating history. Start young explorers off on their journey “down under” with this inspiring collection of books.

best childrens books about hearing loss

Hearing Loss and Deafness

Hearing Loss and Deafness Booklist

Our hearing loss booklist is designed for anyone seeking to promote diversity and inclusion in their personal or school settings, including parents, teachers, and those looking for personal development.

This varied booklist of picturebooks, chapter books and graphic novels includes relatable stories for children with hearing loss, as well as books that help all children to understand what it is like for deaf and hearing impaired people to navigate a world that isn’t always designed with them in mind.

From the inspiring real-life story of deaf musician Evelyn Glennie to the moving story of sudden hearing impairment in Stewart Foster’s chapter book Can You Feel the Noise?, there’s something for all primary ages on this booklist.

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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