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Age Group: KS2

Chapter book

George, Neila and Bash are the worst band on Earth. George wants them to be brilliant – but Neila has stage fright, and Bash is too distracted by his obsession with stars, aliens and faraway planets. But what they lack in talent and confidence, they make up for in heart.

They’re determined to blow their friends away at their school Battle of the Bands contest. But the moment they start to play…

They’re beamed up into space!!!

Now the kids face an even bigger challenge: Battle of the Bands, but the intergalactic version. They’re competing against alien bands from every galaxy! And if they don’t win, they might never make it home again…

Can the worst band on Earth become the best band in the universe?

An intergalactically awesome tale of celebrating difference, believing in yourself, and the power of friendship.

Chapter book

On one side of the underwater street is the remains of a house… It’s beautiful here, and eerie, a lost kingdom, a ghost village…

It’s the near-future and Britain is having yet another heatwave. Of course, the government have put in the normal curfews for this kind of weather, and shops are forced to shut again. For Polly, it’s the sort of heat that makes her do wild, out-of-character things just to cool down.

Like face her fear of deepwater. Essential when she and her brother have been sent to their aunt’s eco lake-side house for the summer.

But Truthwater Lake is beginning to dry up. As the water level diminishes, a lost village emerges. Swimming over the rooftops at midnight, Polly dives down and is suddenly able to breathe, to hear church bells and bird song… Polly has discovered an underwater gateway… to the past!

Non-fiction

From the dense rainforests of the Amazon to the chill of the snowy Arctic, come on an intrepid adventure to the world’s most extreme places, and find out just what it takes to survive there.

Discover how to navigate the vast Australian outback, keep yourself alive in a sandstorm in the Arabian desert, avoid a bear attack in a North American forest, explore the dark depths of the Atlantic Ocean and even perform a spacewalk up in orbit!

In this beautiful and bright fully illustrated hardback book, visit 12 incredible and diverse habitats: the Arctic Circle, a North American forest, the Amazon Rainforest, a Pacific desert island, the Alps, the Arabian desert, the African savannah, the Himalayas, the Australian outback, Antarctica, deep in the ocean and high up in space on the International Space Station. Find out how the people, plants and animals who live in these incredible places have learnt to survive, pick up top tips for your own explorations, and discover what you can do to help protect these amazing environments for the future.

A thrilling adventure around the world that you won’t want to miss! Have you got what it takes to survive?

Chapter book

‘There are three doors that I may show you. You will find a different kind of power behind each one…’

Adam has found something incredible in a rubbish dump in London. A mysterious, mythical, magical animal. A TYGER.

And the tyger is in danger.

Adam and his friend Zadie are determined to help, but it isn’t just the tyger’s life at stake. Their whole world is on the verge of destruction. Can they learn to use their powers before it’s too late?

Poetry

A standout new collection of contemporary poems from prize-winning poet Matt Goodfellow, author of Bright Bursts of Colour .

Ideal for children aged 10+

Perfectly reflecting the thoughts, feelings and imaginings of young people, these beautifully crafted poems are poignant, playful, heartfelt and hopeful.

From friendship, family and separation to school experiences and fitting in, this moving collection touches on the relatable aspects of growing up. It delicately balances emotion with light relief and humour, and is sure to captivate any young person aged 10 and above.

Chapter book

A funny, wise and heartwarming story, with a truly one-of-a-kind hero, from the author of the highly-acclaimed I, Cosmo and My Life as a Cat.

Non-fiction

A beautifully illustrated collection of 20 ancient Egyptian myths retold for children aged 7-9.

Delve into a world of monstrous creatures, magical spells, and warring gods in this thrilling compendium of ancient Egyptian myths. With 20 exciting tales alongside fascinating historical information, this is a must-have introduction for young readers interested in one of the world’s great early civilizations.

From the creation of the world to the first pharaohs, this book charts the full sweep of ancient Egyptian mythology, revealing fascinating elements of culture and religion along the way. The enthralling stories introduce mighty gods and wicked villains, while a handy reference section is packed with information about the ancient Egyptians themselves. Learn how Ra fought daily battles to make the Sun rise, how trouble-making Set brought chaos to the kingdom, and how Osiris became the first mummy. Perfect for children aged 7 to 9, this collection contains more than 20 enthralling new retellings of favourite myths as well as some you might not have heard before.

Non-fiction

Take time to connect with the world as you embark on 40 slow adventures. Each of these journeys are on foot, bike, boat or train, allowing you to take in the history, absorb the landscape and meet extraordinary people along the way. Whether you roam the ‘Rose City’ of Petra, feel the magic of the Great Stones Way or sail back in time on the River Nile, these journeys, illustrated step-by-step through each location and accompanied by texts from bestselling author ‘Godfather of the Slow Movement’ Carl Honore provide young readers with a feast for the senses and food for the soul.

Dyslexia-friendlyNon-fiction

Everest is the world’s highest mountain, towering like an icy giant over the Himalayas. For the millions of people living nearby, it has always been a magical place, known as “Goddess Mother of the World” or the “Peak of Heaven”. To explorers and adventurers, it represents a perilous but thrilling challenge to be conquered.

In this exhilarating account by award-winning author David Long, he looks back at the first attempts by international mountaineers to reach the fabled summit, many of which ended in death and disaster.

Books of the Year 2023

books of the year 2023We love to hear which books are most popular among our community of primary teachers, TAs, librarians, authors and children’s book lovers.

Our Review Panel searched for the top children’s books published in the last year. We looked for the best classroom read-alouds, the most popular books with children and the best books to support the school curriculum.

Browse the SHORTLISTED books in each category below – perfect for topping up your library with the best new children’s books from the past year!


See your winners!

Members of the BooksForTopics website have voted for their favourites to find the winners of the Books of the Year 2023. Voting is now closed – Click here to see the winning books!

 

 

 

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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