Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

Vicky Barker Books

Cats! Cats! Cats!

Non-fiction, Picturebook

WHERE DO CATS LIVE?
WHAT’S THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CAT?
AND HOW DO PET CATS TALK TO US?

Join award-winning non-fiction duo, Susan Martineau and Vicky Barker, as they cuddle up to cute, cosy cats and admire big, ferocious cats (from a distance!) on their quest to answer these questions … and many more. Here are domestic cats, kittens and cubs, prides of lions, leaping leopards and speedy cheetahs. You’ll even discover some mysterious breeds that you might have never heard of … yet!

PAWS TO THE FLOOR … LET’S GO! THE PERFECT BOOK TO CHARM CAT-LOVING SUPERFANS AND DELIGHT NATURE INVESTIGATORS EVERYWHERE.

How to Question Everything: A Kids’ Toolkit for Critical Thinking

Susan Martineau & Vicky Barker

Non-fiction

This is a timely and essential resource for homes and classrooms. It discusses how news, information, stories and adverts are presented both in paper and online and gives children the skills to be a critical reader. It includes information around fact checking and using reliable sources to corroborate a story; it explores how AI and editing tools can be used to manipulate images and it explains misinformation and disinformation.

What is particularly useful is that it encourages children to ask questions around the motivation of the person sharing the information – who is telling the story and why are they sharing it? – and to be aware of confirmation bias, especially where algorithms are used on social media. It encourages readers to be subjective, especially when presented with emotive or sensationalised content and it touches on respectful online behaviours and bullying too.

There is a strong and supportive message that using critical thinking skills can help avoid news anxiety, but the book also acknowledges that news can stir up a wide range of emotions and this is something to consider when reading it with children, alongside the social media influences they have access to.

Although this seems a lot to pack into a short book, the reader is not bombarded with information and the clear design and infographics really help present useful facts and tips with real clarity.

How to Speak and Be Heard

Sam Hutchinson & Vicky Barker

Non-fiction

Being able to clearly and confidently articulate ideas, to engage in discussion, and to listen actively to others are critical life skills that everybody should have, and ‘How to Speak and Be Heard’ is an engaging read, which sets out to provide children with the necessary tools to develop these important skills.

This colourful book provides a relatable rationale for developing oracy skills – it looks at how the way people communicate on a daily basis (not only when they are speaking publicly) impacts whether their voice is heard. Importantly, the book also considers non-verbal form of communication including sign language, facial expressions and body language.

This KS2 book looks at all aspects of oracy and provides clear steps for readers to take and activities for them to engage in to help them to become better communicators in every day life and to be able adapt their communication style in different situations. This is an essential, well-written and informative tool kit for children and an excellent teaching resource for both teachers and parents.

Stretch Your Confidence

Beth Cox & Vicky Barker

Non-fiction

Confidence is like a muscle, and everyone’s confidence can benefit from a bit of coaching to stretch and strengthen that muscle. Following tried and tested techniques, children will learn how to build empathy and interact with confidence. From dealing with friendship wobbles to embracing mistakes and coping with change, the activities at the heart of this book are designed to help children discover just what they can do.