Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Home > Books

Archives: Books

the ghost cat who saved my life

The Ghost Cat Who Saved My Life

Chapter book

Mysterious miaowing from the empty flat upstairs sets Liam and Sav on a quest to find the ghost cat in this charming gem from award-winning author Pamela Butchart.

The flat upstairs from Sav is empty, so who or what is making the strange yowling noises she can hear at night? Could it be a ghost cat?!

Sav and her best friend Liam decide to investigate, but their ghost hunt takes a very strange turn when Liam gets stuck in the stinky bin room of the flat and it’s a new feline friend who helps to get him out.

Nothing is quite as it seems in this brilliant new addition to the Little Gems list.

the tall man

The Tall Man

Chapter book

The village is alive with rumours about the Tall Man and Tom lives in his house. Tom hears a boy in the cellar offering a ‘special’ acorn to a rat, Captain Rat, whom he begs to find the key to his leg-iron. The cellar is empty but Tom knows that the boy is real and he’s convinced that he is trapped in a brutal past and the Tall’s Man’s prisoner. Each time Tom tries to help the boy, the Tall Man’s ghostly presence intensifies. Who is the boy in the cellar and can they escape Tall Man?

a way to the stars

A Way to the Stars

An enchanting and heart-warming story between a father and son, that will make you want to reach for stars.

Joe wants to find a way to the stars. With the help of his dad, he builds a ladder, a tower, even a rocket to go up, up, up… Oh no! Crash, bang, wallop! What next?

Together, the pair jump on pogo sticks and build sheds to paint their dreams and find a way. An uplifting and magical tale of sky-high courage, imagination and the bond between father and son that will make your heart soar. Written by internationally acclaimed author David Almond and brought to glorious life by award-winning illustrator Gill Smith in their first collaboration.

test trouble

Test Trouble

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Try as he might, Arun simply cannot wriggle his way out of taking the maths test at school. Instead, he must learn to face his fears in this encouraging and relatable school story from Serena Patel.

Maths test? Nightmare! Arun is determined to get out of a Maths test at school. But how? A school-wide protest against all tests? Pretending to be sick? He’s ready to try anything, but maybe he’s not the only one who feels this way, and maybe in the end it’s better to face your fears?

one goose two moose

One Goose, Two Moose

Picturebook

A silly, funny book from debut author Kael Tudor filled with hilarious and bright illustrations from Nicola Slater, the bestselling illustrator of The Leaf Thief.

Welcome to the ice cream shop, where there’s a goose line, a moose line and a slightly bossy goose who wants everyone to be in the right line. But it is not as easy as it sounds!

This mix-up picture book perfectly captures the chaos of queueing up, and features a fun counting element too. Witty and original first book in a brand-new series.

 

the eyebrows of doom

The Eyebrows of Doom

Picturebook

The Eyebrows of Doom is an outrageously funny and bonkers adventure story written by the rhyming genius, Steve Smallman with bright, bold and brilliant artwork by award-winning illustrator, Miguel Ordóñez.

The Eyebrows of Doom are trying to take over the world! Join Dave and his friends as they try to stop them leaping from one unsuspecting animal to the next. And just when it looks as though the eyebrows’ antics have been thwarted, all is not as it seems!

This hilarious rhyming romp will have readers young and old laughing out loud.

please

PLEASE!

Picturebook

You probably know it’s good manners to always say ‘please’ when asking for something. But when Bill forgets this very simple rule, the consequences are wackier than he could ever have imagined.

This is a laugh-out-loud adventure featuring spaceships, jungle tigers, mountain yaks, fairytale castles and a whole host of alien toads. Saying ‘please’ has never been so important!

From the bestselling, award-winning author of You Must Bring a Hat and I Really Want the Cake (shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize), and the illustrator of Think Big by Kes Grey.

grandads secret giant

Grandad’s Secret Giant

Picturebook

A giant story of belonging and friendship from David Litchfield, author of The Bear and the Piano. Billy doesn’t believe his Grandad when he tells him there’s a giant living in his town, doing good deeds for everyone. He knows that a giant is too big to keep himself hidden. And why would he want to keep himself a secret? But as time goes on, Billy learns that some secrets are too big to stay secret for long.

This delightful heartfelt story of belonging and friendship teaches the importance of tolerance and acceptance to young children.

 

mooncat and me

Mooncat and Me

Picturebook

With colourful pages thronging with modern city life, Mooncat and Me tells the story of Pearl as she overcomes the anxiety of moving house and starting a new school, with the help of a giant white cat.

We can all empathise with Pearl’s fear that ‘I won’t know anyone, and no one will know me’ but as we watch her grow in confidence, we will learn that with a bit of imagination and determination, there’s nothing we can’t do.

The gorgeous, brightly coloured illustrations are full of busy people filling pavements and buses and cars, or seen through the windows of their homes, leading their different lives. Mooncat’s own calm and reassuring presence encourages Pearl to explore the vibrant city with her mother, and to face school, where she soon finds there are friends to be made.

the bunny who came to breakfast

The Bunny Who Came to Breakfast

Picturebook

A laugh-out-loud picture book about one family’s surprise visit from an excitable BUNNY! When a cheerful bunny comes to visit on a delightful sunny day, a little child and their grandad cannot believe their eyes.

A BUNNY RABBIT, AT THEIR DOOR?!

So, what do bunnies LOVE doing?

Is it hopping as high as they can go? MAYBE.

Or going on an egg hunt? QUITE POSSIBLY!

Or maybe eating a yummy breakfast, lunch and a sweet treat or two? ABSOLUTELY!

Full of chaos and silliness, this brilliantly fun picture book is perfect for children who love to laugh!

Energetic and super fun, Rachael Davis’ rhyming text is a joyful delight

Rachael’s debut picture book, I am NOT a Prince!, was shortlisted for a Waterstones Book Prize in 2023

Bright, striking illustrations by Mike Byrne

Mike is the bestselling illustrator of Who Pooed In My Loo? and Unicorns Don’t Love Rainbows

What's new on BooksForTopics?

Join our Mailing List

For the latest news on primary books and our booklists, as well as a chance to win in on one of our regular giveaways, sign up to our mailing list!

Subscribe
BooksForTopics
Email: [email protected]
Subscribe to our Mailing List
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Tiktok

Booklists by Topic

Booklists by Age

More About Us

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, BooksForTopics earns from qualifying purchases.

As an affiliate partner of Bookshop.Org and Peters, BooksForTopics may earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to learn more.

Website designed by Speckled Frog

© BooksForTopics 2015-2024

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