Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

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Non-fiction

Did you know that the world’s biggest tongue belongs to the blue whale? Or that the snub-nosed monkey’s nostrils point upwards, and when it rains it makes them sneeze? From paws to claws, tongues, teeth, tails and more, compare the biggest and the smallest animals (and all the others in between) in this illustrated exploration of creatures and their features.

Includes stunning ‘UP CLOSE’ pages, which take a life-size look at a particular feature of two very different animals. See the mighty elephant’s trunk (it can grow as long as a bathtub!) and compare it to the sensitive snout of an elephant shrew. Study the bristly tongue of a penguin and see how different it is to the stretchy, long tongue of a salamander.

Written by science writer and children’s book author Isabel Thomas, with beautiful illustrations by Dawn Cooper, this absorbing book will delight and educate young animal lovers aged 6+.

Picturebook

A laugh-out-loud picture book from master storyteller, Michelle Robinson, and illustrator extraordinaire, Tom Knight.

Finally she FLOPS and FLINGS herself down on the floor.

“I give up!” Ice Cream hollers, “I can’t take it any more!”

Life inside the ice cream van is full of excitement – the ice creams and lollies can’t wait to be picked!

But – oh no! – no-one wants a plain ice cream, and that’s exactly what our friend Ice Cream is. As she sees friend after friend being picked instead of her…

Ice Cream has a MELTDOWN!

Will Ice Cream be stuck in the freezer forever, or is her happy ending just around the corner…?

Poetry

A new compendium of happy poems to read out loud, from award-winning author Joseph Coelho.

Picturebook

The rollicking adventurous picture book from the number one bestselling author and illustrator of The Gruffalo, Stick Man and Zog. ‘Give me your buns and your biscuits!

Give me your chocolate eclairs!

For I am the Rat of the highway,

and the Rat Thief never shares!’

Life is not safe for the other animals, as the villainous Highway Rat gallops along the highway, stealing their food. Clover from a rabbit; nuts from a squirrel – he even steals his own horse’s hay.

Will he finally meet his comeuppance, in the form of a cunning duck?

Shiny foil highlights on the cover makes this a special gift for toddlers

A fabulous, rollicking rhyme, in the style of the famous Alfred Noyes poem, ‘The Highwayman’, from the UK’s number one picture book author and illustrator

Perfect read-aloud rhyming text and stunning pictures on every page with lots of details to spot

Adventure, friendship and learning to be kind are at the heart of this story.

PicturebookPoetry

A joyous book to share, with charming details to spot on every spread – BookTrust

To walk to
To talk to
To cry and rely on,
People will always need people . . .

From the creators of Nature Trail comes an uplifting picture book about the power of people, and the importance of connecting with others. This timely poem reminds us all to be kind to one another.

Written by legendary poet, Benjamin Zephaniah, one of The Times’ top 50 British post-war writers. Beautifully illustrated by Nila Aye.

Picturebook

Get ready for an epic journey of friendship and discovery from the bestselling author of The Girl and the Dinosaur.

There’s a shape up in the hills, where a giant’s said to sleep, beneath a grassy blanket, on a bed of moss and peat . . .

Then, one day, the sleeping giant wakes – and a small boy called Tom is plunged into an unforgettable adventure. Along the way, he’ll discover what it means to be a true friend – and that even an ordinary boy can have the heart of a giant.

With a beautiful rhyming text by bestselling Hollie Hughes, author of The Girl and the Dinosaur, and gorgeous illustrations from debut talent Anna Wilson, this beautiful book is an unmissable treat!

Non-fiction

Meet the National Animals is a playful and humorous look at the animals all around the world who represent their country.

Why do they represent the particular country and what is so special or symbolic about them? Featuring over 35 amazing animals, from the mystical Scottish Unicorn to China’s much-loved Giant Panda and the wonderful, but extinct, Dodo from Mauritius.

The witty text brings each animal to life and celebrates their quirks and characteristics. Includes a playful, charming narrative along the bottom of each spread, which sees Brown Bear gradually bringing all the animals together as they travel the world, celebrating each country as they go.

Filled with fascinating facts about each animal and country, the text also touches gently on conservation issues related to each animal and their habitat. The illustrations inject warmth and humour into the narrative, making the animals the stars of their respective countries!

Picturebook

Anthony Browne is at his most brilliant in a new edition of this profound picture book about sibling relations and one that has become a classic Y2 book to study and pore over in the classroom.

Once upon a time there lived a brother and sister who were complete opposites and constantly fought and argued. One day they discovered the tunnel. The boy goes through it at once, dismissing his sister’s fears. When he doesn’t return his sister has to pluck up the courage to go through the tunnel too. She finds her brother in a mysterious forest where he has been turned to stone…

Chapter book

This laugh-out-loud Daisy adventure for readers of Year 2 and beyond is from bestselling author of the Oi Frog series, Kes Gray.

Here comes trouble!

Daisy is off to actual, actual London for the day.

Nanny and Grampy are taking her to see the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and lots more.

The trouble is, all Daisy really wants to see is Cooey the pigeon . . .

Picturebook

A special edition of this much-loved classic to celebrate 20 FIN-TASTIC years!

Timothy Pope, Timothy Pope, what can you see through your telescope?
Is there really a shark in the park? Go on, be brave, open the book and see!

Timothy Pope has a brand new telescope and he’s testing it out at the park. Peep through the die-cut holes in this book to see if you can spy a shark. Is that really a shark? Turn the page and find out . . .

A delightful, entertaining story – with its rhyming text and ingenious die-cut pages, it’s a book children will want to read again and again.

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