Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Home > Books

Archives: Books

Picturebook

What is black and white? A penguin. What is black and white, and can’t fly? Still a penguin.

A hilarious, deceptively simple, interactive picture book which plays on a much-loved memory game – brought to life by the award-winning picture book maker John Kane.

A master of child-centric humour, John Kane’s best-selling series I Say Ooh, You Say Aah won the English Picture Book Awards 4-7 category and was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year.

Short story collection

Classic, much-loved stories masterfully brought to life by Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo and Zog.

A gorgeous gift book of classic fairy tales, beautifully illustrated by bestselling and award-winning illustrator, Axel Scheffler.

Featuring:
Goldiocks and the Three Bears
The Three Little Pigs
The Hare and the Hedgehog
Puss in Boots
Nursery Rhymes
all bound into one must-have collection.

Gorgeous gift book illustrated by mega talent, Axel Scheffler.
Includes classic stories and rhymes that children will love!
The perfect first book for any child’s library!

Chapter book

What would happen if we lost the happy endings to stories – imagine the tears at bedtime! A fantastic and magical tale about what happens when, one night, a wicked witch steals the happy endings to bedtime stories. It is up to Jub, the keeper of the happy endings, to save the day and ensure sweet dreams everywhere in this lyrical story about storytelling. In the tradition of classic fairy tales for children, Carol Ann Duffy and Jane Ray have created a truly compelling, surprising and beautiful story for children of all ages.

Chapter book

Pirouette your way into the Shimmer & Shine dance studio, where the ballet besties are ready to put on a show!

When Yara joins Shimmer & Shine, a community dance school, she meets lots of other children her age, who are there to either start their training or just for the fun of it. Soon she has a group of ballet besties she loves to dance with.

But then Dame Clougston-Wilmott, their grumpy, dance-hating landlady, threatens to close the studio. Suddenly it’s up to Yara and her new friends to keep Shimmer & Shine open!

Will putting on a performance of The Sleeping Beauty reawaken the Dame’s love for dance? Will Yara have the chance to dance her dream role of Aurora? And most importantly of all, can the ballet besties save their studio?

A fun, inclusive and accessible series that will bring the joy of dance to young readers!

Chapter book

The second story in a funny, deliciously dark, three-part series of twisted classics, written in verse by award-winning poet Joseph Coelho.

Joining the family business, animal-lover Bryony proves to be an extraordinary taxidermist, whose tender fingers create displays which comfort, educate and astound. But when Byrony’s proud father boasts of her skill, who should come calling but the secretive King of all Mythica. Locking her away, he gives her three horrible tasks … three impossible tasks! It’s only then that a strange, sinister creature emerges from the shadows of the castle, offering Bryony a helping hand… But at what cost?

Frankenstein meets Rumpelstiltkin in this expertly-stitched story about a powerful king, a girl unafraid to stand up for her beliefs, and a monstrous little creature with magic – and greed – in his bones.

Chapter book

Discover the first brilliant adventure of reporter-in-training KATE and her mouse RUPERT, in this stunning book, filled with colourful illustrations.

Young reporter-in-training Kate and her mouse-accomplice Rupert are on board a train to visit Kate’s mum in the Arctic.

But as soon as the train departs, mysterious things start happening.

A packet of ginger nuts goes missing . . .
A collection of gymnastics trophies are stolen . . .
And some ancient scrolls disappear . . .

Fellow passenger Madame Maude seems the most likely culprit, until a surprising – and delicious – twist turns the whole investigation on its head!

Picturebook

What do you see when you look at a tree? Leaves and twigs and branches?
Or do you see a real, living thing, That moves, and breathes and dances?

Immerse yourself in this gentle picture book that encourages us to explore our connection with nature.

In association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this wonderful picture book explores themes of empathy, mindfulness and personal growth through the eyes of a child. Beautifully written and illustrated by the award-winning artist Emma Carlisle, What Do You See When You Look At a Tree? urges readers to reconnect with nature by asking questions that encourage critical thinking and reflection on their own development, as well as helping to establish a deeper appreciation for the environment and their place within it.

Stunning watercolour and hand-finished artwork draws parallels to the bestselling The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, and evokes the classic nostalgia of E. H. Shephard’s much-loved Winnie-the-Pooh.

Mindfulness tips and information about trees are included at the back of the book for both adult and child to read together.

Picturebook

From author-illustrator Katie Cottle comes a breath-taking journey about light pollution and saving the birds

When Ellie moves from her quiet village to a bustling city, she finds that the many different birds she loves to watch are missing. She stares out of her window, searches the skies on walks, but they are nowhere to be found. Then one night, she’s visited by a giant starling which asks for her help. The birds are lost because of the shimmering glow from the city’s bright lights.

Can Ellie help the birds find their way home?

Night Flight is a hopeful, inspiring story about the power of using your voice.

Picturebook

Augustus the tiger was sad. He had lost his smile. So he did a HUGE tigery stretch, and set off to find it.

Picturebook

Dive into the adventure with The Singing Mermaid, a delightful tale from the stellar picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, creators of What the Ladybird Heard.

With brilliant rhyming verse, bright and distinctive illustrations, this story is loved by children and parents alike.

Tempted by the promise of fame and fortune, the Singing Mermaid joins a circus. The crowds love her, but the poor mermaid is kept in a tank by the wicked circus owner Sam Sly, and she soon longs to return to the freedom of her ocean home . . .

Enjoy more stories from Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks: Sharing a Shell, The Princess and the Wizard, and Sugarlump and the Unicorn.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review

Stone Girl Bone Girl

review

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

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

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

Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?

yes

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Any other comments

Any other comments