Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

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Non-fiction

Ancient Sumer looks at one of the most fascinating and advanced ancient civilisations. Through structures as imposing as a ziggurat or objects as simple as a stone seal, readers aged 9 and up gain a picture of who was whom in the ancient Middle East and how the civilisation in which they lived really worked.

Perfect for Key Stage 2, each book in the Great Civilisations series approaches its subject through a scene-setting spread about Who/where were the… It then introduces the achievements of the chosen civilisation through 12 structures or objects, each of which illustrates a key aspect or theme. Writing, architecture, industry, warfare, transport and learning are all covered in the same simple, colourful and engaging way. Fact boxes and panels present incidental information and point the reader to the importance of parallel developments in other parts of the world.

Chapter bookNon-fiction

My Story: Mary Prince – the thrilling story of the former slave and abolitionist.

Born in enslavement in Bermuda, Mary Prince travelled to England, escaped slavery and became a prominent abolitionist whose life story was the first of a Black woman’s to be published in Britain.

Explore Mary’s incredible life with My Story.

Perfect for any child wanting to learn more about history’s untold stories

Great background reading for Key Stage 2 & 3

My Story: exciting stories with reliable and accurate historical detail

Experience history first-hand with My Story.

Chapter book

Prepare to be swept up, up and away on this high-flying adventure from the queen of historical fiction, Emma Carroll!

Orphan Magpie can’t believe her eyes when she sees a boy swept off his feet by a kite … or something that twists and dances in the wind.

Like her, the boy – Pierre – dreams of flying over the rooftops of Paris. His family, the Montgolfiers, are desperate to be first to discover the secret of flight.

The world looks so different up high and suddenly Magpie knows what she wants – to be the first to fly in a balloon above the King and Queen of France …

From the bestselling historical fiction author of books including Secrets of a Sun King, When We Were Warriors and Letters from the Lighthouse

Discovery meets imagination in this rich and inspirational tale based on the true story of the first hot air balloon flight over Paris in the eighteenth century

An enchanting story of history, adventure, science and facing your fears.

Chapter book

In this heart-stopping adventure based on real historical events, Kereen Getten takes readers on a journey of sisterhood, struggle and survival from Jamaica to Britain. ‘She was rarely afraid, and even if she was … she still stood her ground, because Ruth never faltered in what she believed in.’

Ruth and Anna are inseparable.

Ruth has always known her half-sister isn’t like her – her almost-white skin means she is allowed certain things that Ruth can only dream of.

Anna wishes she could be braver, like her sister, Ruth. But she has had to live with the fact that the smallest mistake would land not only her in danger, but Ruth and their mother, too.

When Ruth and Anna are shipped off to Master John’s home in London for their safety, it isn’t the haven they imagined. Their differences force them apart – Anna is allowed to stay upstairs while Ruth is banished to the servants’ quarters and is forced to work.

With whispers of freedom on the city’s streets, will Anna find the courage to stand up for Ruth before it’s too late?

Non-fictionShort story collection

Winner of the Best Book With Facts Blue Peter Book Award 2017.

Amazing real-life stories about extreme survival.

Beautifully presented in a large, paperback format, and fully illustrated in colour throughout, this wonderful anthology is a treat for all the family. Be shocked and amazed by these incredible real-life stories of extreme survival, including . . .

The Man Who Sucked Blood from a Shark, a sailor who survived for 133 days on a raft in the Atlantic when his ship was torpedoed, using shark’s blood in place of fresh water.
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, a teenager who fell 2 miles from an aeroplane and trekked through the Amazon jungle to safety.
The Woman Who Froze to Death – Yet Lived, a woman who was trapped under freezing water for so long her heart stopped. Four hours later, medics managed to warm her blood enough to revive her.

Combining classic tales such as Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic voyage, as well as more modern exploits such as the adventurer who inspired the movie 127 Hours, these astonishing stories will be retold by young readers to all of their friends.

Non-fictionPicturebook

At the turn of the 20th Century, scientists and explorers were in a race to unlock the secrets of the last great uncharted place on Earth – Antarctica. This is the true story of Tom Crean, the legendary Irish explorer and crewmate of three of the most important and famous expeditions in British history – Discovery, Terra Nova and Endurance. Through his story, we discover the events that took place on these voyages which were often thrilling, inspiring and heart-breaking.

Picturebook

Join the Unknown Adventurer again on this thrilling adventure into the Amazon, which begins with a map discovered in the Royal Geographical Society showing a river that has been mysteriously rubbed out. It leads the Unknown Adventurer and his companion Bibi into a search for this ‘last river’ that will change their understanding of nature forever.

This book is a thrilling tale of a voyage into the Amazon rainforest that looks exactly like a real scrap book inside, with smudged pages, handwritten-looking text and even die-cut piranha bite marks from a previous scrape.

The gripping story features encounters with caiman and anacondas, incredible flora and fauna, survival tips and much, much more.

Non-fiction

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Alexander von Humboldt, the botanist and adventurer.

As a kid, Alexander wasn’t a great student. He had a naturally curious mind, but he saw the world differently to his teachers and fellow pupils, and just couldn’t quite fit in. But when he began collecting plants as an adult, Alexander realised he’d found his passion.

From then on, he become a great explorer, travelling the world to document all kinds of plants and species. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the scientist.

Picturebook

Fox is an avid botanist. He loves all flowers and trees! One evening, whilst flicking through his books, he discovers the Golden Wonderflower. But little is known about this precious plant…

And so, Fox embarks on an exciting journey following this curiosity. Join him on an adventure through forests, meadows and the mountains. Delight in the wonders that lie in nature’s remote corners. Lovers of the great outdoors will delight in a story that sends a powerful message about the environment and our wild, natural world.

Benjamin Flouw’s rich illustrations catch the tranquillity of the unspoiled, depict the plants that Fox finds on his way and take the young reader on an exciting adventure into the wild.

Picturebook

Trim was a cat born for adventure …

This is the true story of a courageous, mischievous and fearless cat called Trim, who sailed with Matthew Flinders on his voyages to map the coastline of Australia and beyond.

From best-selling creators Corinne Fenton and Craig Smith, this charming picture book brings Trim’s story to life.

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