Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

Simon Philip Books

Dads Are Incredible

Picturebook

Dads Are Incredible champions the diverse nature of dads and uplifts and celebrates ALL types of dads everywhere – the perfect present to mark the arrival of a new baby or to give to that very special dad on Father’s Day.

Dads are SUPER.
Dads are EXTRAORDINARY.
They can be dashing and daring …
and loving and caring.
Some love to play darts.
Some like making tarts!
All dads are DIFFERENT, MAGIC …
and INCREDIBLE!

A funny and warm celebration of dads told through joyful rhyme by award-winning author Simon Philip (You Must Bring a Hat, I Really Want to Win), with captivating illustrations by Dawn Lo (Snow Song).

Just like Wellington’s Big Day Out by Steve Small, Amazing Daddy by Rachel Bright and Amazing Dad by Alison Brown, Dads Are Incredible is a humorous and tender exploration of the love between a father and child.

The Circular Square

Neil Clark & Simon Philip

Picturebook

The Circular Square is a clever picturebook that will engage young children with its humour and illustrations.

The concept and language used by the author, Simon Philip, mean this is an ideal text for Early Years children. The rhyming story describes all of life’s ups and downs and how these shape us, quite literally.

The character of Square does not like his edges or straight sides but chooses to focus on the positives of life. As he does that, he slowly becomes more rounded without even noticing.

This story has a wonderful message about having a positive mindset and showing resilience.

Let ME Do It!

Ella Okstad & Simon Philip

Picturebook

When I read Let Me Do It! by Simon Philip, I was instantly reminded of so many moments with children who are determined to show they can do things “all by myself.”

The story follows Teddy, a little boy who is absolutely convinced he doesn’t need any help – from getting dressed to brushing his teeth to tackling much bigger tasks. Of course, his efforts don’t always go smoothly, and the results are both funny and heartwarming. Children love the chaos and comedy that unfolds, while adults recognise the very real stage of development Teddy represents.

What I really enjoy about this book is the way it celebrates Teddy’s independence without poking fun at him. His determination and resilience are qualities to admire, even if they sometimes lead to disaster.

The illustrations by Ella Okstad are a joy to share. Teddy’s expressions, in particular, add so much humour and warmth to the story

Overall, I found Let Me Do It! a lively, funny, and reassuring story that children will want to revisit again and again. It’s ideal for inspiring discussion, building confidence and celebrating resilience- an excellent addition to any classroom or school library.

ACHOO!

Nathan Reed & Simon Philip

Picturebook

A hilarious book about the importance of ALWAYS covering your nose when you sneeze . . . and what happens if you don’t!

You probably know it’s good manners to ALWAYS cover your nose when you sneeze. But when Sid forgets this very simple rule, the consequences are WILDER than he could ever have predicted.

Get ready for a laugh-out-loud, sneeze-driven joyride, featuring elephants, pirates, acrobats, giants, princesses and a whole lot of pandas. Sneezing will never be the same again!

This joyfully anarchic, side-splittingly funny story is perfect for fans of You Can’t Take an Elephant on the Bus and There’s a Shark in the Bath.

From the bestselling, award-winning author of YOU MUST BRING A HAT (Sainsbury’s Children’s Book of the Year 2016) and I REALLY WANT THE CAKE (shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2018), and the illustrator of THINK BIG and INCREDIBLE YOU

I Really Want to Win

Lucia Gaggiotti & Simon Philip

Picturebook

Today is Sports Day. I CAN’T WAIT! And as I know that I’ll be great, I’ve planned how I will celebrate – because I’m going to win.

Our heroine is determined that she’s going to win all the events at school sports day. The problem is that winning isn’t as easy as it looks. She doesn’t win the running race or the tug of war – and she can’t even win a game of hide-and-seek. But maybe winning isn’t really the point?

A joyful picture book with an important message from the author and illustrator of I Really Want the Cake.

PLEASE!

Nathan Reed & Simon Philip

Picturebook

Poor Bill! Follow his impolite mishaps through outer space, jungles, and far-off lands. Written in rhyming verse, this book is a fun-filled adventure with a moral about being polite and respecting others. Children will love the imaginative and colourful illustrations throughout.

This is an engaging story book, perfect for story time with KS1!

Wanna See a Llama?

Ian Smith & Simon Philip

Picturebook

An unusual take on naming animals!

This tale is a hilarious journey through the city to spot llamas. Our guide sadly can’t spot them, despite being right under her nose! Children and adults will love to read through the book – naming the animals that are seen and trying to spot the llamas on the pages.

A great story that’s guaranteed to have EYFS children laughing aloud.

Mums Are Magnificent

Dawn Lo & Simon Philip

Picturebook

Everybody’s mum is unique, and everybody’s mum is special, and what better way to recognise that than through this beautifully written and illustrated book? The book only even begins to describe the diverse different types of mums in the world. I’m sure we will all find one we can relate to!

I love how it considers appearances, hobbies, jobs, personalities and that special bond between mother and child. The end rhyming structure of the text and Philip’s subtle sense of humour make this a delightful read-aloud book. I can imagine this sparking many conversations between children about their mums and mother figures, spreading the message of how special mums are to us.

The bright and colourful illustrations by Dawn Lo support the upbeat and celebratory feel perfectly. A wonderfully inclusive book that celebrates all types of mums everywhere!

Wizard vs Lizard

Sheena Dempsey & Simon Philip

Fred may look ordinary, but sometimes people who look ordinary turn out to be not very ordinary at all … because it just so happens that Fred is a Wizard!

Sounds pretty great, right? Except that Fred is absolutely, completely, mind-boggingly TERRIBLE at magic. At school, he’s stuck in a class of wizards half his age, feeling like a twit among tots. At home, he’s endlessly teased by his siblings and always a disappointment to his parents. All Fred wants is to become a better wizard….

So when he hears about a competition to meet Merlin(yes, THE Merlin!) Fred knows it’s his one chance to prove to his family that he’s not the worst wizard in town. The catch? To win the competition he has to capture the tail of a terrifying, fire-breathing lizard…

From Simon Philip, author of You Must Bring a Hat and I Really Want the Cake, and Sheena Dempsey, illustrator of Dave Pigeon, comes a tale full of magic and fun.

Fred: Wizard in Training

Sheena Dempsey & Simon Philip

Chapter book

Originally published as Wizard Vs Lizard , get ready for a laugh-out-loud magical adventure from award-winni ng author Simon Philip and Sheena Dempsey, illustrator of the much-loved Dave Pigeon series!

Fred may look ordinary, but sometimes people who look ordinary turn out to be not very ordinary at all … because it just so happens that Fred is a Wizard!

So when he hears about a competition to meet Merlin (yes, THE Merlin!) Fred knows it’s his one chance to prove to his family that he’s not the worst wizard in town. The catch? To win the competition he has to capture the tail of a terrifying, fire-breathing lizard…