Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

Sibeal Pounder Books

What a brilliant book! I had such a laugh reading this book as well as goosebumps.

Things take a sinister turn when Joe Bones spies a cloaked figure leaving his gran’s house and discovers her dead. He, of course, thinks she’s been murdered and tries to get his mother, who’s a forensic pathologist, to investigate. She’s having none of it, given Joe’s gran was over a hundred years old.

Joe and his friends discover that Joe’s gran was part of a group called Fright Club, and the town where they live (Grim) is built upon the gateways to supernatural worlds. You can visit towns where vampires, skeletons, ghosts and demons live through gateways in Grim. In this mystery, you get to choose which character’s storyline to follow. However, I read the mystery from cover to cover because I couldn’t resist, but I can imagine how exciting children will be to follow either Joe, Hal, Rose or Debbie.

I give this book a 11/10! I’m so excited to read the rest of the series, and this is going to be one of my favourite series, along with Jennifer Killick’s Dread Wood series.

Chapter book

Sprouts is a super-fun choice of Christmas story for KS2 readers who love a madcap adventure. With its fast-paced plot, quirky characters and imaginative premise, Sprouts is sure to be a Christmas hit if humour and lighthearted action are what you are looking for.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have Christmas 365 days a year, enter the world of Carols and Krampuses with Gryla, a witch who has been given great responsibility, and find out.

The year is 4042, and it really is Christmas every day. Christmas is everywhere – except for the Mince Pie Isles, where Christmas happens just once a year and exile Gryla resides, wishing she could join the festive world of everyday Christmasses instead. Before she knows it, Gryla finds herself embarking on a mission to restore the magic of Christmas along with Santa’s daughter, Merrilee Claus, and readers will be rooting for them every step of the way.

This chapter book makes for a fun, action-packed read-aloud for Key Stage 2 classes to enjoy the magic of Christmas. The story explores themes of friendship, family and the meaning of Christmas. There are plenty of clever twists and turns along the way as the characters explore what makes Christmas so special. Beyond the exciting plot and lovable characters, Sprouts also offers opportunities for discussion and critical thinking. The book encourages readers to question the idea of constant celebration and to consider the value of traditions and simplicity. It also highlights the importance of friendship, perseverance and believing in oneself.

A really enjoyable, festive read from Sibéal Pounder, who recently also visited our blog to provide some tips on writing funny festive adventures with primary children.

Join Tiga on her quest to win Witch Wars and become Top Witch of Ritzy City

When Fran the Fabulous Fairy turns up in Tiga Whicabim’s shed to tell her she’s a witch, Tiga doesn’t believe her. Or at least not until Fran points out that TIGA WHICABIM is actually an anagram of I AM A BIG WITCH and magics her away down the drainpipes to compete in Witch Wars – the competition to crown the next Top Witch of Ritzy City.

Filled with silly spells, delectable dresses, ridiculous riddles and a serious shoe problem, Witch Wars is a witch story like no other.

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

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