Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Age Group: KS2

Kate on the Case

Chapter book

Discover the first brilliant adventure of reporter-in-training KATE and her mouse RUPERT, in this stunning book, filled with colourful illustrations.

Young reporter-in-training Kate and her mouse-accomplice Rupert are on board a train to visit Kate’s mum in the Arctic.

But as soon as the train departs, mysterious things start happening.

A packet of ginger nuts goes missing . . .
A collection of gymnastics trophies are stolen . . .
And some ancient scrolls disappear . . .

Fellow passenger Madame Maude seems the most likely culprit, until a surprising – and delicious – twist turns the whole investigation on its head!

Football Rules the World

Non-fiction

In Football Rules the World, discover how football became the most popular game it is today, boasting a mind-blowing 3.5 billion fans worldwide!

The daring duo of Dan and Simon will usher you through the story of football – the highlights of course! You’ll meet the legendary players and inspirational managers of the beautiful game, relive the magic moments and read stories of epic wins and glorious goals from around the globe.

Wonderfully illustrated – bringing football’s history back to life – Football Rules the World is packed with plenty of jokes, funny characters, as well as the facts and stats that fans of Football Superstars have come to know and love.

Football’s Greatest Moments

Non-fiction

Discover the most memorable moments in football history in this fascinating Ultimate Football Heroes collection!

From the invention of the modern sport all the way to the present day, bestselling author and football expert Tom Palmer picks ONE HUNDRED of the most thrilling and significant goals, games, and players from more than 150 years of the Beautiful Game.

Featuring Pele’s World Cup, Maradona’s Hand of God, John Barnes’ Maracana magic, and the Lionesses’ European Championship triumph, this is an endlessly fascinating treasury of stories for fans of all ages.

Hercules

Chapter book

If Hercules Braver is going to survive his new secondary school, he has to live up to his name, fast. He needs to become strong and tanned and popular, like a Greek hero. Not weak and pale and unpopular, like a Greek yoghurt. But his bid for popularity ends up saddling him with a set of impossible tasks … like cleaning out the monster-riddled school pond, facing up to the school bully and finding the headmaster’s missing cat.

Then Herc’s charming, impressive birth dad turns up after years living in Greece, and Hercules thinks his problems are solved. With God-like strength and awe-inspiring powers, could his dad even be … the real Zeus?!

And will Hercules learn what it truly means to be a hero?

A hilarious, accessible package brilliantly illustrated by David O’Connell. Ideal for fans of Louie Stowell’s Loki, Maz Evans, Marvel’s Thor films and Disney Hercules.

Hercules Braver’s are loosely based on the first three Labours of Hercules, ideal for all young fans of Greek mythology!

Warm-hearted representation of blended families and alternate father figures.

Frankenstiltskin

Chapter book, Poetry

The second story in a funny, deliciously dark, three-part series of twisted classics, written in verse by award-winning poet Joseph Coelho.

Joining the family business, animal-lover Bryony proves to be an extraordinary taxidermist, whose tender fingers create displays which comfort, educate and astound. But when Byrony’s proud father boasts of her skill, who should come calling but the secretive King of all Mythica. Locking her away, he gives her three horrible tasks … three impossible tasks! It’s only then that a strange, sinister creature emerges from the shadows of the castle, offering Bryony a helping hand… But at what cost?

Frankenstein meets Rumpelstiltkin in this expertly-stitched story about a powerful king, a girl unafraid to stand up for her beliefs, and a monstrous little creature with magic – and greed – in his bones.

Best Recommended Reading Books for 9 Year Olds

Best Children’s Books For Children Age 9

Welcome to our collection of recommended children’s books for 9-year-olds. This handpicked booklist will help you to find good books for children aged 9.

As children reach this age, finding the right books can make a big difference in keeping them excited about reading. Our reviewed and expertly curated selection covers a variety of genres and themes, from classic favourites to newer titles, ensuring there are good reading options to suit different tastes.

Whether you are looking for stories about exciting adventure quests like Brightstorm, heartwarming animal tales like The Good Bear or marvellous stories to whisk you away into fantasy worlds like Pages & Co or Peanut Jones, our guide aims to simplify the process of finding the next read for your 9-year-old.

Featuring literary classics like Pippi Longstocking, all-time favourites like Matilda, best-selling graphic novels like Bunny vs Monkey and popular illustrated funny stories like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, we’ve covered all tastes in our top 20 picks of the best books for 9-year-olds.

For more comprehensive booklists, browse our lists of 50 Best Books for Year 5 or 50 Best Books for Year 4.

Dive in and find the perfect books for 9-year-olds to read for pleasure…

Branching Out: Books for Fans of Percy Jackson

If you like Percy Jackson, try these…

The Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan form a multi-million-selling series that has also been televised with Disney and is hugely popular in Key Stage 2 among fans of action and adventure. Percy Jackson’s modern world is turned upside down when he finds out he is descended from Greek gods. What follows is battles with monsters and epic quests in an action-packed series that merges Greek mythology with the modern world.

We’ve compiled a list of ten similar books for fans of the Percy Jackson books. Readers who love mythical beasts and fantastic creatures might enjoy trying Skandar and the Unicorn Thief or Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures and those who are inspired by Percy Jackson to get stuck into more Ancient Greek mythology might like Tales of the Greek Heroes or Who Let the Gods Out.

Readers looking for another collectable action series after Percy Jackson should try the Artemis Fowl books or Michelle Paver’s prehistoric Wolf Brother series. For more quests and battles of good-versus-evil in different cultural settings, visit Ancient China with the Dragon Mountain books or explore West African mythology with Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for more books like Percy Jackson…

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Branching Out: Books for Fans of Dork Diaries

If you like Dork Diaries, try these…

The bestselling Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renée Russell follows Nikki Maxwell as she documents the ups and downs of her teen years of life through diary entries and comic-style doodles. The stories cover familiar topics such as moving to a new school and navigating friendship groups, bullies and crushes. The Dork Diaries books have earned enormous popularity for their easy-to-read style, casual humour and relatable scenarios.

We’ve compiled a list of ten similar books for fans of Dork Diaries. Readers who love doodle-style diaries will enjoy trying the Lottie Brooks books or The Super Secret Diary of Holly Hopkinson and those who want to get stuck into more stories of real-life drama like Dork Diaries will enjoy Maddy Yip’s Guide to Life and The Accidental Diary of B.U.G.

Readers looking for another collectable series after Dork Diaries should try the Anisha Accidental Detective books or for more stories to make them laugh out loud try Trixie Pickle Art Avenger or Danny Wallace’s The Boss of Everyone. If you like the high ratio of illustration to text found in Dork Diaries, you might like to try graphic novels like Roller Girl or Frankie’s World.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for more books like Dork Diaries…

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How to Teach Grown-Ups About Climate Change: The cutting-edge science of our changing planet

Non-fiction

Never has there been a more perfect time to empower children to take the lead and educate their grown-ups about climate change. Featuring a foreword by internationally renowned climate scientist Dr Michael E. Mann and bursting with fabulous original illustrations, this delightfully witty book deals with the pressing topic of our changing planet in an uplifting, positive manner. Interwoven amongst the more serious questions – why is Earth so special in the first place? How do we know about climate change? What causes it? How can we recognise false information? – are fun-filled facts about cow burps, woolly mammoths, panda-shaped solar panels, and much more. Crucially, this book also equips children and adults alike with the practical tools they need to tackle climate change in their everyday lives. And there’s a handy quiz at the end so that you can check your grown-up has been paying attention!

The Secret Wild

Chapter book

A fantastical, botanical adventure about friendship, bravery – and finding home in a new place.

Fern has spent her whole life in the rainforest and loves nothing more than climbing, exploring and talking to the trees. When she suddenly has to leave all that behind and move to London, with only an eccentric uncle for company, Fern feels entirely uprooted.

But when she meets a little plant that can understand her every word, it seems that things are looking up! That is until strange things start happening in the city: giant lily pads on the Thames, monkey vines on the London Eye, and now her new friend is starting to wilt. Can they solve this growing mystery together – before it’s too late?

Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

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Booklists by Child's Age

Age Group: KS2

Kate on the Case

Football Rules the World

Football’s Greatest Moments

Hercules

Frankenstiltskin