Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

Tolá Okogwu Books

Bim Blake’s Hot Takes: My Pencil Case Doesn’t Define Me

Chapter book

Bim Blake’s Hot Takes: My Pencil Case Doesn’t Define Me is a funny, relatable and engaging read that would appeal strongly to upper KS2 and KS3 readers.

Through Bim’s witty ‘hot takes’ on school life, friendships and fitting in, the book explores important themes of identity, self-esteem and peer pressure in a way that feels authentic and accessible.

The humorous narrative voice is one of the book’s biggest strengths. Alongside the comedy, there are thoughtful moments that encourage readers to reflect on confidence, belonging and being comfortable with who they are. Other themes include bereavement, puberty and peer pressure and fitting in. All these themes are handled in a gentle, accessible and often humorous way, making the book suitable for upper KS2 readers. In fact, they provide useful opportunities for PSHE discussions around confidence, kindness and accepting differences.

This book would work well in classroom libraries, as an independent read or PSHE discussions around friendships and self-image. Its mix of humour, honesty and relatable experiences makes it a highly enjoyable and meaningful read for those transitioning to secondary school.

You’ve Got This, Little Pangolin

Shirley Hottier & Tolá Okogwu

Picturebook

A heartfelt and funny story about curiosity, growing up, and the lessons we learn along the way

Kúyẹ is a baby pangolin who just can’t wait to grow up and do things all on his own. But Kúyẹ’s eagerness to go go go, without listening to his mama, keeps getting him into all sorts of mix-ups. Most of all, he’s desperate to master “the ball”—the special way pangolins curl up to protect themselves. To Kúyẹ, it looks like a fun game, but when a snake shows up, he learns that it’s much more than that.

You’ve Got This, Little Pangolin is a heartwarming tale about the excitement of growing up, the importance of patience, and how some lessons are worth waiting for.

Onyeka and the Rise of the Rebels (Audiobook)

Tolá Okogwu

Chapter book

The epic second book in the action-packed superhero series. Perfect for 8+ fans of Percy Jackson, Amari and the Night Brothers and Black Panther. Soon to be a feature film with a major streamer!

Having uncovered head teacher Dr Dòyìnbó’s hidden agenda behind the Academy of the Sun, Onyeka and her friends are on the run. When their last safe house is uncovered, Onyeka turns to the Rogues, a group of rebels that have been trying to expose Dr Dòyìnbó’s lies for years.

Joining forces, will the two groups be able to defeat their shared nemesis, or is there a new danger on the horizon for the Solari?

Bekah and the Moon

Abeeha Tariq & Tolá Okogwu

Picturebook

This is a book about Bekah and Luna, who visits her when she is afraid of the dark. Luna teaches Bekah a special song to sing when Luna is not able to be there. This special song helps Bekah to sleep and stops her from being afraid of the shadows or strange noises in her room.

This is a gentle story which explores the themes around being afraid of the dark and also includes some teaching elements about what the moon does (controlling the tides, for example), but should not be taken as a science book. The illustrations add to the story well, enabling younger readers to become enchanted with the characters.

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun

Tolá Okogwu

Chapter book

Onyeka and her best friend, Cheyenne, are both Nigerian and live in London. One day, Onyeka’s hair glows blue and crackles with electricity when Cheyenne is in trouble. Onyeka’s mum is forced to tell her that she is ‘Solari’ and has inherited this trait from her dad. When Onyeka struggles to control her power and it starts to make her sick, her mum decides it’s finally time to return to Nigeria and try and locate Onyeka’s dad and learn to control her powers. Despite being surrounded by other Solari, Onyeka still feels like she doesn’t belong. The other children have lived with their powers for years, but Onyeka has only just discovered hers. If only her mum could find her dad, and maybe she could get some answers!

This exciting, edge-of-your-seat adventure story would make a fantastic read for Upper Key Stage 2 children, particularly for those who are fans of superhero stories and films. Tola Okogwu says in the author’s note in the book that she hopes it will “act as both a mirror and a window” in terms of representation, and I think lots of people will agree that it does. What a wonderful book.