Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

Harry Woodgate Books

Cinnamon Crumb, Baking Detective: The Great Cake Caper

Chapter book

Cinnamon Crumb: The Baking Detective is a delightful and engaging read that’s hard to put down. From the first chapter, the story pulls you in with its charming mystery and wonderfully creative world. The pacing of the book is excellent, with short chapters that make it incredibly easy to keep reading “just one more.”

What really makes this story unique is the author’s imaginative baking theme woven throughout every detail. From the names of the characters to the streets and locations, everything has a fun, baking-inspired twist. This adds a layer of creativity and humour that makes the world feel original and memorable.

Cinnamon Crumb: The Baking Detective is a fantastic book full of charm, creativity and intrigue. With its engaging storyline, brilliant illustrations and clever touches, it’s a truly enjoyable read that leaves you wanting more.

My Small World: Frozen

Caryl Hart & Harry Woodgate

Non-fiction, Picturebook

This is a fantastic text for any EYFS classroom. It is the perfect text to spark the imagination of children, or could be used as a tool to provide teachers ideas for planning and continuous provision.

The book takes learners on a journey through a frozen small world, describing the landscapes and animals that can be found there. It captures the heart of small world play while teaching facts about habitats, weather, animals and places. Through simple, rhyming text, the book takes readers on a journey through frozen landscapes, where they will encounter glaciers, igloos, the Northern Lights, polar bears in caves, orcas in the ocean and penguins at the South Pole.

This picturebook would be an excellent introduction to a frozen worlds topic or a tool to extend and promote vocabulary. At the end of the text, there is a double-page spread of ideas and instructions for how to make your own frozen small world. Simple but effective, and a great guide for parents to offer some guidance on how to support at home.

Grandad’s Pride

Harry Woodgate

Picturebook

The highly-anticipated sequel to Waterstones Prize-winning and British Book Awards Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year Grandad’s Camper celebrates the power of community and the importance of LGBTQIA+ history. Milly can’t wait to spend a summer at Grandad’s cottage by the sea, and is even more excited when she discovers Grandad and Gramps’ Pride flag in the attic. Grandad insists he’s too old to go to the London celebrations, especially now Gramps isn’t around any more, but Milly has an idea to get the local community together and bring Pride to Grandad . . .

How to Spaghettify Your Dog

Harry Woodgate & Hiba Noor Khan

Non-fiction

This is an incredibly enjoyable science-themed information book.

Packed with scientific facts and fun little experiments, all accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, it’s sure to appeal to readers of all ages. The investigations can be done with household items and are easy for everyone to do, and the scientific facts and funny asides make it a book children will enjoy dipping in and out of.

This book would be a great asset to homes and classrooms.

Grandad’s Camper: A picture book for children that celebrates LGBTQIA+ families

Harry Woodgate

Picturebook

Waterstones Children’s Book Award Winner and British Book Awards Nibbies Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year 2023! Celebrate love in all its forms, as Grandad tells his granddaughter about the adventures he used to have with Gramps. A long time ago, Grandad and Gramps spent many happy days travelling the world together in a camper van. But now Gramps isn’t around any more, Grandad doesn’t feel much like having adventures. As she listens to his wonderful stories, Grandad’s granddaughter has an idea to cheer him up… A perfect story for Grandad on Father’s Day. A School Library Journal Best Book of 2021!

My Small World: Dinosaurs

Caryl Hart & Harry Woodgate

Picturebook

My small world is waiting, so come take my hand,
Ill show you who lives in my Dinosaur Land.

Come on an adventure of a lifetime through the land of the dinosaurs! Meet Europasaurus, the helpful herbivore; a whole family of Stegosaurs and many, many more. Then, at the end, learn how to build your very own Small World, with instructions and a handy How To guide!

From bestselling and award-winning author Caryl Hart and Waterstones Book Prize winner, Harry Woodgate, comes this fantastic new series.

Little Glow

Harry Woodgate & Katie Sahota

Picturebook

We love this primary picturebook about a tiny spark discovering its place. As Little Glow observes various festivals and celebrations, it witnesses diverse traditions and finds itself able to join in radiating light and community joy.

This book offers wonderful classroom opportunities for exploring community festivals and celebrations, especially celebrations of light. The warm narrative and luminous illustrations lean into different traditions positively and encourage discussions about community and belonging.

How to Build a City

Harry Woodgate & Isabel Otter

From solar panels to sewers and from trams to tower blocks; follow our step-by-step guide and watch the city transform from a cluster of houses to a mega metropolis..