Following the meteoric rise in popularity of girls’ and women’s football over the past few years, we are delighted to bring you this list of the best children’s books featuring girls’ and women’s football teams.
From historical fiction to non-fiction texts written by some of today’s brightest footballing stars, this list has something to offer all football-mad readers. So why not kick off your reading with these inspiring books about girls’ football?
Not only is she about to start high school without any friends or glamorous swooshy hair, she’s just discovered she’s too flat-chested to wear a bra.
She might as well give up now and go into hibernation with her hamsters Sir Barnaby Squeakington and Fuzzball the Third.
Lottie navigates the perils of growing up in this fantastically funny new illustrated series for pre-teens filled with friendship, embarrassing moments and, of course, KitKat Chunkys.
Lyra Belacqua and her animal daemon live half-wild and carefree among scholars of Jordan College, Oxford.
The destiny that awaits her will take her to the frozen lands of the Arctic, where witch-clans reign and ice-bears fight.
Her extraordinary journey will have immeasurable consequences far beyond her own world…
A thrilling, unputdownable debut, with extraordinary twists and incredible action, from an incredible new voice in children’s fiction.
When Alex and his father are forced to flee their home to escape a brutal government, they begin a life-threatening journey across Europe. But when they are separated before they can reach Britain, Alex finds himself alone, with only his extraordinary gift to keep him alive.
Perfect for fans of Alex Rider, Artemis Fowl, and Inception, Running out of Time is an ingenious, high-concept thriller with a twist that you won’t believe.
London, 1880s: High up under the eaves of her father’s townhouse, twelve-year-old Emma Linden lives and never goes out. Her dream is to follow in the footsteps of Mary Anning, the famous fossil hunter. But Emma is kept hidden away from all the world, science and study, the tools that keep her mind well. When Emma’s brother, James, begins to speak obsessively of a tiger gifted to the Natural History Museum, everything she holds certain begins to crumble. Their only refuge is Kersbrook, the magical family home on the Devon coast.
Devon, 2023: After Rosie Linden has been found, missing for four days and four nights, no one believes her when she says she has turned into a tiger. A surprise inheritance and an unlikely friendship guide Rosie as she begins her journey to recovery. But as the mysteries around her family history threaten to unravel, past and present blur and a shadow looms. Tigers are prowling once more…
A beautifully told story full of hope and healing, empathy and acceptance, which challenges our perceptions of, and how we value, those who see things differently.
When Tom is sent to stay at his aunt and uncle’s house for the summer, he resigns himself to endless weeks of boredom. As he lies awake in his bed he hears the grandfather clock downstairs strike . . .eleven . . . twelve . . . thirteen . . .
Thirteen! Tom races down the stairs and out the back door, into a garden everyone told him wasn’t there. In this enchanted thirteenth hour, the garden comes alive – but Tom is never sure whether the children he meets there are real or ghosts.
Our list of the best children’s books about Christmas features books that celebrate the joy of the festive season, as well as stories about being kind to others, celebrating with loved ones and enjoying the magic of Christmas Eve. Get into the festive spirit with our hand-picked recommendations of children’s books all about Christmas, featuring plenty of appearances from Father Christmas, herds of flying reindeer and magical snowmen…
As the festive season unfolds, children looking for Christmas chapter books will delight in funny festive favourites such as The Christmas Carrolls, heartwarming adventures with friends made from snow like in Sophie Anderson’s The Snow Girl, and recommended children’s Christmas books about adventures with Father Christmas himself, like Ben Miller’s The Night I Met Father Christmas.
Our handpicked selection includes a range of recommended Christmas stories for children aged 7-11. If you are looking for Christmas picturebooks for younger readers, try our Christmas EYFS/KS1 booklist.
Introduce your Year 5 and 6 children to a range of poets with our selection of poetry books for Upper KS2. From classic poems and nature verses to laugh-out-loud rhymes and award-winning collections, we’ve picked out a range of our favourite books that encourage a love of poetry for children aged 9-11.
We recommend introducing youngsters to a range of different types of poems, both for pleasure and for study. Upbeat collections like Matt Goodfellow’s Bright Bursts of Colour of Mandy Coe’s Belonging Street are always a hit for dipping into in the classroom. For more real-life and thought-provoking verses, try Joseph Coelho’s Overheard in a Tower Block or Sharon Creech’s much-loved verse novel Love That Dog. If you want something that’s always popular in the classroom for hooking KS2 children on poetry, try Karl Nova’s award-winning Rhythm and Poetry, which draws on the poet’s Hip Hop roots, or Benjamin Zephaniah’s collection Funky Chickens. For classic poetry, Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year is a handy addition to any teacher’s desk for a burst of verse in those spare few minutes at the end of a lesson.
If you are looking for other Year 5 and Year 6 recommendations, be sure to check out our Reading for Pleasure booklists, and for more poetry ideas try our whole school poetry booklist.
In educational settings in England and Wales, Key Stage 2 (KS2) usually refers to children in school Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 (ages 7-11).
Our selection of recommended booklists for children in KS2 covers everything from storytime favourites and top graphic novels to popular curriculum topics like the Romans, Rocks & Soils and Space.
Browse our Reading for Pleasure recommended read lists or curriculum booklists to find the very best books for children in KS2 to enjoy at home or in the classroom.
Best Storytime Chapter Books for Upper KS2
We have selected a list of storytime favourites for Year 5 and Year 6 (ages 9-11), which includes books that are particularly well suited for being read out loud. Storytime is still just as valuable in the older primary years as it is in the early years, and knowing the best books to choose to read aloud can elevate the storytime experience – whether you have fans of thrillers or readers who prefer magical worlds or thought-provoking animal tales. From the best class readers to favourite bedtime stories, browse our list of brilliant books for capturing the magic of storytelling with Upper KS2.
Dive into a thoughtfully curated assortment of stories that cater to a variety of tastes and interests. Experience the thrill of edge-of-your-seat adventures with Running Out of Time, lose yourselves in fantastical adventures like The Explorer and share a giggle together with the heartwarming humour found in The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh. For those seeking shorter reads, The Final Year or the Crooked Oak series awaits, while those who like something to provoke deeper thought and discussion should enjoy The Lost Whale or Front Desk.
Whether you’re a teacher enhancing the classroom storytime experience or a parent in search of the perfect bedtime story, our collection offers a diverse range of options. Explore the world of storytelling with BooksForTopics – your guide to engaging choices for Year 5 and 6 storytimes.
© BooksForTopics 2015-2024
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