Best Children’s Books of 2024

The Boy in the Suit is a powerful story that explores the experience of living with depression, young carers and child poverty.  It is the story of 10-year-old Solo, who wants nothing more than to fit in. But being the son of an unconventional single parent, Morag, who is having a difficult time, means that he is destined to stand out for the wrong reasons!

Things finally come to a head when the two of them are caught on camera crashing a funeral for the free food, and Solo’s humiliation is an overnight viral sensation. ‘As the story unfolds, we feel Solo’s pain as he battles between the unconditional love that he feels for his mum and the growing embarrassment that he feels because of the way she acts and the resulting guilt – a lot of big feelings.

The Boy in the Suit is a thought-provoking, emotional rollercoaster of a read, and a thoroughly rewarding one at that.

In this collaboration with the National Literacy Trust, Tom Percival has written a book that should be in every school library in the country. For Will, things just keep going wrong. Bullied for having cheap shoes, misunderstood by his teachers, and struggling to come to terms with the bleak and hungry life he leads after his dad lost his job, life seems to be pushing him down a path of self-destruction.

The love of his family, the persistence of his friends, and a freak encounter with nature keep filling him with just enough hope to keep doing the next right thing. Will is living on the poverty line, and this will be a sensitive issue for some children. Life for Will is hard, but he learns that he is still powerful and in a position to make choices about his future and the path he wants to take.

The Wrong Shoes is a story that will increase empathy in children whose lives are easier than Will’s and empower those who relate to him. Suitable for Upper KS2 and beyond.

Dealing with what it means to be human and to be part of a family (and to have a pet), this story presents a view of the future when humans have failed to take care of the world, and humanoids have felt forced to take over.

Rose is a wonderful heroine, confused and lost in every sense of the word. Her puppy, North, is a faithful companion of the best kind. The scenario is terrifying, the sense of isolation palpable. The villains are infinitely more complex than mere baddies, which is saying something for robots! I also really enjoyed the addition of not only real-life figures, such as Ada Lovelace,  but also real plays and musicals, such as West Side Story.

This book would make a fantastic read-aloud for upper KS2; one can just imagine the groans when the teacher stops reading.

Emma Carroll needs no introduction, known, as she is as the queen of historical fiction for children. This thrilling adventure brings to life the biography of world-famous escape artist, Harry Houdini, for a young audience.

The story is told through the eyes of Glory, who, with her friend, Dennis, is an avid follower and fan of the enigmatic magician. When Houdini comes to perform in the small seaside town they call home, they are desperate to see him. However, when their wish comes true, in the most embarrassing of ways, they discover that Harry is in danger and his trunk full of trade secrets is the subject of great interest from his rivals. Entrusted with the precious suitcase, and pursued by Houdini’s enemies, Glory and Dennis must escape across the ocean and to Coney Island to restore the trunk to its rightful owner before it is too late.

In this sparkling story, I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of the friendship between Glory and Dennis, and the inter-generational bond between the children and Dennis’s grandmother, who abandons the safety of home and sets out intrepidly across the seas in the role of responsible adult. There are instances of seances in the book. Readers will also enjoy the diversity of characters in the book, and the exploration of the circus as an environment where people unaccepted in society in the 1920s could find a family and a sense of belonging.

As always, Emma Carroll’s writing and storytelling are perfect; never showy and always superbly crafted. Carroll excels at taking the accepted and weaving it into something quite unexpected. Excellent for Year 5 and Year 6 readers with or without an interest in history or escape artistry – if they don’t have the interest already, reading Emma Carroll will kindle it!

As a real fan of Pages and Co by Anna James, I was quite desperate to get my hands on this new book in a fresh series from her. I was not in the least bit disappointed. There is something about her writing that firstly makes you wish that you had thought of it yourself.

Anna James’ writing is delicious in every sense of the word. Her books make you feel hungry and just wish you were there. Whilst at first glance this seems like a predictable tale, it has charm and magic all its own. The quote on the cover by Kieran Larwood (Podkin One-Ear) sums it up for me. “Crackling with enchanting magic.”

This book positively fizzes with magic and interesting ideas. The cover by Artem Cheboka is lovely, but the internal illustrations by David Wyatt are just stunning. They bring the story to life and whole pages of detailed drawings make you want to look even more closely at what is going on.

This is one of my favourite books of this year and I cannot wait for the next Chronicle!

11-year-old Silver is wild at heart and loves nothing better than climbing trees. Her parents are desperate to have another baby, but not even medical intervention has worked for them. Family life has lost its colour and happiness – they all need a change of scenery and something new to focus on. Then her father is offered a four-month job in Costa Rica, painting pictures of turtles for a rescue centre. The plan is for the centre to sell his artwork, raising funds as well as raising awareness of the turtles’ plight.

As Silver settles into her new life at the animal sanctuary, she makes a new friend, and he encourages her to become actively involved in safeguarding the turtles.A chance encounter with the rarest turtle of all results in Silver feeling the weight of new responsibilities, and when disaster strikes on a very stormy night, it is up to the two youngest turtle protectors to save many lives.

The story threads together many interesting themes and wraps them up in a wonderful story about wildlife, habitats and the changing animal world. Friendship, self-doubt, bravery and resilience weave through the chapters alongside thorny issues such as depression and family strife. The characters are all likeable and you find yourself empathising with and rooting for Silver and her parents, as well as the turtle families.

It is a well-crafted, feel-good story, which, just like Hannah Gold’s previous animal books, is a fantastic read.

On Poetry Street provides 52 poems, one for each week of the year.

The book begins with Brian Moses welcoming readers with a ‘simple test’ for seeing whether they are ‘hooked on words’ and can create poetry for themselves. He then invites readers to ‘walk down poetry street’ with him, introducing them to the spectacular range of poems ahead.

In this collection, the opportunities for writing poetry or engaging children in oracy opportunities are endless. There is so much playfulness and creativity on each page. This collection of poems feels to be written with fun at its centre, while also providing scaffolding for budding poets to write their own. You can see why Brian Moses is one of Britain’s favourite children’s poets. A must for every classroom bookshelf or for a teacher to keep on their desk to read aloud and inject the joy of poetry into the classroom every day.

What a treat this is for our younger but curious readers, and especially those who like funny books.

From the former doctor and bestselling author of This is Going to Hurt comes a new side-splitting series about the world’s youngest doctor, Dexter Proctor. He is different. He is ten years old. He has friends but he is so bright and gifted. And by the age of ten, he is working as a paediatrician at Lilydale General Hospital!

But Dexter has a mortal enemy (Dr Drake) and a major problem – all the teachers are struck down with dreadful diarrhoea! Dexter must step up to the challenge and try to save the teachers and the school.

This hilarious new series about the world’s youngest doctor from the record-breaking Adam Kay and Henry Paker will keep our children informed, engaged and laughing out loud.

This laugh-out-loud book is jam-packed with funny black-and-white pictures reminiscent of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. ‘The Cheat Book’ was a delight to read with hilarious, likeable characters. The author, Ramzee has taken the subject of refugees and fitting in and written about it sensitively but also in an entertaining way. I loved how I learnt about Somali culture and the references to Islam were interesting like the fact that Kamal has two angels on his shoulders, who write down his good and bad deeds. Readers, young and old may relate to moving to a strange, new place and starting over. Most will be able to relate to the worry of having to make new friends and only showing certain aspects of yourself so others can like you. In this book, Kamal wants to be cool, and have a seat at the cool table.

There’s a new app called Popstock which gives everyone a ranking out of 10. Unfortunately, for Kamal, he’s a 0, something that has never happened before. But fortunately for Kamal, he finds the Cheat Book in the library. It’s full of lifehacks that help him work his ranking up to 10. The ending is empowering despite Kamal getting booed off the stage. I look forward to reading volume two and seeing what Kamal and his friends, JoJo and Wing get up to.

Stitch Head is a loveable little character – almost human – who has been created, and then forgotten, by his master the mad Professor Erasmus Erasmus. When Stitch Head inadvertently saves the professor’s latest monstrous creation (who has one eye, two noses and three ears) and calms him down with an anti-werewolf potion, the monster immediately vows to be Stitch Head’s ‘bestest friend’.

Stitch Head, who has never had a friend before and lives to serve his crazy master, is at first overwhelmed with the idea of friendship but the pair work together to save the town of Grubbers Nubbin and its fearful residents including the spunky Arabella Guff, from the arrival of a mysterious travelling carnival as well as from the mad Professor’s creations. Stitch Head recounts to his new friend how he was made out of leftovers by the professor, many years ago, when he was just a boy. But those idyllic early years ended abruptly when Stitch Head, along with all the boy’s toys, was locked away and the boy was instructed to take over his father’s work. Stitch Head now lives in the shadows, helping the Professor from afar and ensuring that his creations don’t escape, ‘for what humans fear…they will destroy.’

This graphic edition of Guy Bass’s novel will be highly popular with KS2 children. Both the style and the storyline are likely to win over previously reluctant readers; Stich Head has just the right mix of strong storyline and action-packed illustrations. The text, although mainly delivered using speech bubbles, builds a fun, fast-paced coherent narrative and Pete Williamson’s rollicking illustrations lend emotion and detail to the characters in this, the first of six Stitch Head graphic novels.

Bringing the Fire of London topic – often studied in KS1 – to life for an older audience, The Great Phoenix of London is an exciting new historical fiction book suitable for 9-11 year olds. I really love the way that the author takes a historical event and turns it into such an entertaining story, all the while keeping the historical facts intact. I liked the added extracts from Samuel Pepys’ diary that were added to the beginning of each chapter, recalling the Great Fire of London and the atmosphere of the time.

The young characters in this story were fantastic. The way they took care of each other and the phoenix was endearing. The emotions of the event were accurately displayed through the characters and their actions as they tried to get to safety from the fire. The phoenix becomes a symbol for the rebuilding of London after the fire, as it also rises from the ashes.

A really enjoyable read, perfect for the classroom.

An interesting and accessible guide to daily life for the Ancient Maya.

This is a short chapter book, at just under 90 pages, but it is packed with knowledge, presented in an accessible way. It has 9 sections, covering who the Maya were, daily life, inventions and discoveries they made, as well as theories about what happened to them. Throughout the sections, illustrations and helpful diagrams are also included.

This is such a useful book, great for teachers to use to support them with lesson planning, but also great for children to access if they want to learn more about a particular area of Ancient Maya.

Based on a fascinating real-life story, this recreated autobiography from the Voices series tracks the life of Hardit Singh Malik. Aged fourteen, he travels to England to study. With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, he is as keen to join up as his friends are. Astonishingly, as a British Indian, he cannot. It is only through the intervention of some well-connected English friends that exceptions are made for this exceptional young man, and he can fulfil his dream to become a pilot. Adventures and jeopardy follow. Hardit will need all his resourcefulness, courage and training to survive.

Hardit’s resolution to overcome difficulties (he even has a special flying helmet made to fit over his turban, for example) and to stay true to his sense of honour are inspiring. His narrative illustrates and explains the values of Sikhism and celebrates the historic contribution made by British Indians to the Great War. It is simply written in a straightforward style, which makes it an accessible read.

This is an excellent book to help deepen and round out the study of both World War I and also Sikhism.

We meet 21st Century trio Suhana, Ayaan and Mia in Edinburgh, but are soon swept away with them to India in the 18th Century, when the forces of Tipu Sultan were ranged against the might of the British Empire. These three history buffs know at the outset that he will ultimately be defeated and that various indigenous artefacts will be looted and removed to Scotland. This makes their mission – to rescue a princess from imperialist clutches – all the more emotionally charged. Initially, they do not understand the implications of their success or failure, knowing only that it is fraught danger, but, when the mission is complete, they do. They realise that in saving one little girl, Casimebi, they have paved the way for Noor Inayat Khan to become a heroine of Britain’s Second World War effort against Nazism.

This reads like a thrilling adventure story – which of course it is. But it is based on fact. For example, Mia’s questions to her friends allow for explanation of Muslim religious practice. In addition, author Sufiya Ahmed in the concluding pages, gives background information on the British Empire, helpful timelines, and potted biographies (of Tipu Sultan and Noor). There are also suggestions about follow-up books and activities, including questions to consider when thinking about cultural spaces: e.g. ‘Who is being celebrated and who has been left out?’

This book (part of a series) challenges how we perceive our shared history and therefore how we view our present. Diverse cultures have clashed violently, with long-lasting repercussions, but it needn’t be so in the future. Recommended as a class read, or to individual children aged 9+, either because they already enjoy History or to get them hooked.

Colourfully illustrated, ‘Robots’ begins with a timeline of the history of robots, going back much further than you might think. The book then goes through what a robot is and the difference between robots and AI. It clearly explains how different types of robots work – from robots that can help the environment to those that are designed to move around, as well as those that can help with farming.

This engineering-themed non-fiction book also provides information about the different jobs that robots can do, such as assisting in factories and hospitals. Finally, the book covers the ethics of robots as well as what the future of robotics might be. There is a handy glossary at the back explaining some of the more technical vocabulary associated with robots.

A fabulous read for KS2 children and a great book to have in the classroom as AI becomes more a part of everyday life.

The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts is an absolutely spellbinding read for anyone who loves adventure, magic and unlikely friendships.

The story begins with Eli, a book-loving introvert, who works at the Royal Library. As the story unveils, we learn that our hero, the unassuming underdog, has more to the eye than it seems.

There is not one page in this story that isn’t filled with the most spectacular imagination! For a start, you can’t help but fall in love with Eli’s sidekick, a moon turtle called Humphrey, who loves nothing more than a poem and an easy life. Needless to say, they embark on an adventure which couldn’t be further from the ordinary. Before they died, Eli’s parents were famous for entering and winning The Race of Magical Beasts, which is renowned for its danger and cunning contestants. After a recent discovery, Eli is left with no choice but to risk everything to enter the race himself and win the iconic prize. Will he be able to show people that a ‘bookish boy with a briefcase can achieve remarkable things’?

Bell’s imagination and incredible story-telling will leave any reader in awe. From fictional characters who have been transported from the pages of books to ships with pulsating tentacles, there is plenty to keep the reader turning pages. I loved every word on every single page, particularly the heart-warming friendships built throughout! This story is a triumph in every sense.

This new collection of poems by Michael Rosen is designed to make you ‘laugh, smile and think’.

The book includes a poem on the life of a red blood cell and its journey round your body, a monster who slowly eats the entire alphabet (how do you speak if you’ve run out of letters?) and a day in the life of a cat – sleeping, eating and manipulating your pet human.

All told with Rosen’s usual sense of humour and ear for rhythm, these poems would be great for reading aloud in class as well as being easy enough to be read independently by a child. The book is beautifully illustrated throughout by the brilliant Ed Vere, who manages to bring Rosen’s imaginings creatively to life.

Perfect for children (and adults) of any age.

This is an adrenaline-filled rollercoaster ride of a story!

The story begins with a bang and the race is on to find sixteen ‘lightstreams’ hidden across the globe. When the lightstreams have been discovered,  the finders transported to Imagination Island. There, we encounter larger-than-life characters with traits, strengths and weaknesses, who work with, and sometimes against, each other to save the island for generations to come.

The storyline is fast and furious with a hectic romp through puzzles and adventures. The family characters are well construed and Mel Taylor-Bessant paints a clear picture of shy Luca and each of his siblings. The appeal will sit well with years 3 and 4 while the language and some of the content are informal and strong in places, and the pace rarely lets up, perhaps leaning towards older readers too.

The Beanstalk Murder may have elements of a traditional fairy story – a beanstalk and a land of giants – but this is so much more than a fairy tale! Full of plot twists, double-dealing and peril, it is a real page-turner.

When the dead body of a giant falls out of the sky and flattens the village of Old Stump, Anwen Sedge knows that there is a mystery to solve: a mystery in the form of murder. Anwen is a meadow witch who aspires to train at the Academy of High Magic; what she lacks in talent, she makes up for in determination and optimism. Her attempts at conjuring spells always end in disaster, much to the amusement of her rival Cerys Powell.

Anwen uses an ancient bean seed to magic a passageway to the Sky Kingdom, which is the land from which the dead giant had fallen. What then ensues is a series of breathtaking disasters, nail-biting near-misses and laugh-out-loud blunders.

The Beanstalk Murder has a plot that twists like tendrils.  It has mystery, intrigue and red herrings in giant helpings and the reader will be guessing right up until the end. This would be a great read-aloud, each chapter ending on a cliffhanger will ensure that there will be groans when the book is closed for the day. It is also an enticing chapter book for those who are reading independently.

Sebastian and his two best friends, Lina and Étienne become stranded on a desert island and it’s all Sebastian’s fault. The three friends won a school competition to take part in an environmental summer camp where they would learn how to protect the planet. Sebastian became particularly competitive with the other children at the camp, and before they knew it, there they were, shipwrecked and alone on another island. Headstrong Lina soon takes charge, determined that they won’t make the same mistakes as the children in ‘The Lord of the Flies’ and Sebastian sets out to gain his military dad’s approval.

Told from Sebastian’s point of view, the chapter headings are a series of ‘survival tips’ based on things he’s learnt along the way. The story is full of humour, wit and several animal companions, but it also carries a lovely message about friendship and working together to overcome difficulties.

This is a great adventure story by popular children’s author Jenny Pearson, suitable for Year 4 and up. It will also be loved by fans of humorous stories.

An absolutely first-class, laugh-out-loud, cartoon-filled adventure series for 7+ readers.

This book is part of the ‘Stink’ series and features the world’s funniest fairy. The story is packed full of comedy, wit and cartoons on every page!

Danny’s life hasn’t been the same since a real fairy flew out of a fairy door, attached herself to his hair and turned his life upside down. Now, school is chaotic, home is chaotic and life is chaotic!

So Stink tries as hard as she might to get things changed for both herself and Danny. But life, school & fairy adventures don’t always go to plan. Wanting to land himself the next role in the school play is Danny’s dream, but Stink has other ideas! What’s more, thanks to a misadventure in the science cupboard, a giant all-powerful wizard is released into the world.

Jenny has done it again – comedy claims the reader’s attention in this illustrated laugh-out-loud book and another KS2 favourite is born.

A wonderful uplifting read from Helen Peters.

Hannah and her siblings are aghast when their always-strong, forever-busy farming father has an accident leaving him hospitalised and unable to work for weeks. Things go from bad to worse when they discover that the farm’s landlord wants to sell the farm off, leaving them homeless and farmless. They need to raise two million pounds in a few short months

The Great Farm Rescue tells the story of how Hannah, her friends and family – along with many volunteers – try the impossible task of raising the funds to save the farm. Running alongside the fundraising storyline is that of Hannah’s school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the bully determined to get Hannah thrown off the play and humiliate her for good measure. This storyline is a continuation of Helen Peters’ previous books in the ‘Hannah’s Farm’ series, but also can be read as a standalone.

This heartwarming adventure will be enjoyed by many, as read-aloud enjoyment from 6 plus and read-alone for ages 8 and above. With an abundance of likeable characters, human and animal, you can’t help but get swept up in the drive to save the farm and the many twists and turns along the way. The book is well written with a plot line that keeps you wanting to read more, with a few laughs along the way.

This is the first in a fun illustrated chapter book series for 5-7-year-olds. The story provides an exploration of how children might overcome some of the worries associated with a first sleep-over or camp-out.

Through the eyes of Destiny, we explore how she feels about her upcoming camp-out at Olivia’s house and how she overcomes the butterflies in her tummy with the help of a very special friend. The story is lighthearted and creative, but also explores the physical symptoms children might experience when feeling apprehensive, which lends itself to discussion about emotional literacy.

The book is presented in an appealing and accessible way that will draw in younger or more reluctant readers and there are plenty of doodles to break up the text for those who find text-dense pages hard to navigate.

This graphic novel is based on a very silly story and one that will go down a treat! Firstly, it’s about pizza – always a popular topic with children! Secondly, it stars two likeable, somewhat barmy characters (the good guys) and several creepy, villainous ones.

Its comic strip style is super appealing and colourful and the story is crammed with jokes and high jinks. The storyline is interesting (read fun, surprising, wacky, and inventive) and there’s a drawing tutorial at the end. Readers will be pleased to see the promise of future Peng and Spanners books.

This book will fly off the graphic novel shelf and is perfect for fans of the Investigators and Sparks in KS1 and KS2.

Murray is a cat that loves his peace and quiet but sadly, living with a rather incompetent wizard means that his life is anything but. On occasion, a happy accidental spell provides something of value and for Murray this arrives in the form of a magic cat-flap and Bun, a bun turned bunny. What Bun lacks in vocabulary, he makes up for in enthusiasm, leading Murray on to adventure, whether he likes it or not.

Adam Stower is best known and loved for his illustrations (most notably for David Walliams), but a smidge of research reveals that he is also a prolific writer and, if this book is anything to go by, this latest series is set to put his writing on a par with his illustration.

The witty dialogue between our unlikely friends leads to a book that will appeal right from Year 2 to Year 6. In fact, my copy was in hot demand with my Year 6 class, accompanied by snorts of laughter and loud exclamations of “Bun!”. Granted it isn’t a text to challenge UKS2 (making it accessible to much younger age groups) but they loved the humour and for more reluctant readers, this could be just the sort of book that they will return to and enjoy time and again.

This latest historical fiction from Tony Bradman has all the elements of a traditional historical adventure story, with a thoughtful and courageous hero who’s out to prove himself navigating the Roman world and who’s naturally skilled in a classic sword fight. The story is exciting, tightly plotted, and grounded in enough research for the setting to be thoroughly convincing.

Lucius is eager to be adopted by his new stepfather and to make his way in Rome, but instead finds himself packed off to Londinium, where he discovers a ruthless assassin on his tail. To escape, he joins the Roman army under a false name. His bravery and loyalty quickly earn him recognition from his commanders, but the more he gains success, the more he wishes he could reclaim his true identity. As danger looms on the northern border, Lucius’s position becomes more precarious and secrets from his past threaten to resurface and destroy everything he has fought for.

While not especially complex, the narrative is pacy and well-written, with great chapter headings that read like newspaper headlines. It would make an excellent page-turning read-aloud or ‘read for pleasure’ recommendation in any class studying Roman Britain at Key Stage 2.

This is unapologetically and undeniably a book about poo.

It’s a fact-based science comic book, and likely to appeal to fans of “A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu and You” and other books in that series. There’s a lot of information crammed in about the digestive system, including comparing the human digestive process with that of other animals. There’s also detailed discussion of how sewage is processed. It’s all presented in a cheerful comic style in full colour throughout the book, with a lot of jokes thrown in.

Instructions for how to draw the two main characters are a nice addition. The style makes the book accessible for a wide range of ages and reading abilities. The authors don’t shy away from using technical vocabulary about the digestive system, but do introduce and clearly explain any terms that are likely to be unfamiliar. There’s also a helpful glossary provided at the back.

The subject matter means this book won’t appeal to all children; it’s not a book for the squeamish. Those children that do choose to read it are likely to love it and will laugh and learn a lot along the way.

A beautiful collection of poems about mindfulness from a diverse range of poets, suitable for all age groups. There are a few poems included that were familiar to me, but most were new to me and I enjoyed discovering them. I loved the illustrations bringing the poems to life and I thought these could also inspire follow-up work in the classroom.

This would be a great book to use for a whole-school focus on poetry as each year group could use a different poem. The poems could be used during PSHE lessons, during mental health week, or as inspiration for children’s own poems in KS2.

The biographies of all the poets and illustrators at the back of the book were a lovely touch and would encourage children to learn more about them.

‘Into The Volcano’ is an engaging and informative text full of interesting facts for a Key Stage 2 audience. The book supports the National Curriculum objective of understanding the processes that give rise to key physical features of the world – it describes, in a way that the reader will be able to understand, whilst still using ambitious vocabulary, how and where volcanoes are formed, the different types of volcanoes, as well as discussing their positive and negative effects.

We enjoyed the inclusion of myths and legends inspired by real-life volcanoes, details about books and films that feature volcanoes (both real-life and fictional ones); and stories of artists who have chosen volcanoes as their subject.

Throughout the book, there are fascinating ‘Did you know?’ snippets – for example, did you know that scientists believe that the ‘scream heard piercing through nature’ which inspired Edvard Munch’s world-famous painting ‘The Scream’ was in fact the effects of Krakatau exploding?

This volcano-themed children’s book is a fascinating read from start to finish.

Another brilliantly hilarious read from Maz Evans in her series of funny history-themed books, where modern mortals meet ancient gods and goddesses.

In this book, Vespa and her cousin travel to the Egyptian underworld to rescue Ra, the sun god, who has been kidnapped by Seth, the god of chaos. To do that, they have to be dead, so Isis sees to it by sending their spirits down, much to the dismay of their parents. Isis insists they will be sent back alive by Osiris once their mission is complete.

The cousins are faced with plenty of danger while looking for Ra. This book is packed full of mythology presented humorously. It’s a fabulously engaging book that had me chuckling all the way through! . It’s perfect for use in the classroom for teaching about mythology in a light-hearted, entertaining way. Teachers and pupils alike will love this book.

This is the first book in the new Early Readers series from Alex T. Smith.

The Space Cadets, Astrid, Zoink, Beryl and Dr. Quackers must complete tasks assigned to them to earn gold stars to be in the running for the grand prize. It is the Space Cadet mission to help at all times, no matter what – so when they get a distress call from the Planet Hortensis while cleaning the Milky Way, they rush to help. Snailiens have invaded the garden of Flora Mulch and are headed for her prize-winning Astro Potatoes. The cadets must figure out how to save the day in their own unique way.

This early chapter book is all about teamwork and helping people, which is a great message for young readers. The series contains easily accessible vocabulary and gorgeous illustrations to add to the appeal for young readers exploring short, illustrated chapter books. There is also a good deal of humour which also adds to the fun factor. I’m looking forward to more adventures from the crew!

Benji’s Emerald King is a delightful short chapter book that will particularly appeal to children who are interested in nature or enjoy outdoor adventures. This book could also be used a class text or as an independent read for more confident readers.

Readers will be engaged with the tale of friendship and exploration that runs throughout the book, as well as the focus on looking after the local environment. The choice of vocabulary used also makes this story accessible to all and easy to follow. In particular, running alongside the story are extracts from Benji’s nature notebook, which he uses to record his notes, drawings and observations from his time in the woods. These extracts give factual information about many things in the wood, including the different types of trees and animals, which could be used to further consolidate learning in the classroom, as well as being a nice addition that runs alongside the narrative of the story. Littering and the damage this can cause are also referenced in the book.

The illustrations used in the book are engaging and fun. They support the reader to navigate the text well, breaking it up into readable chunks. This is a great first book for the start of the Woodland Explorers Club series.

This simple story, of a favourite dish first eaten in India and later recreated to perfection by Monica’s father, is as much a delight to the eye as butter chicken is to all those who share it (Cousin Anya, Uncle Jai, Grandma, Jiya and Hadi, and the neighbours too). And it’s not sickly sweet: Anya struggles, as would many, young or old, with the prospect of sharing: she wanted to keep what was so special between her and Papa. But it becomes clear to her and us that “beautiful things do happen when you share food like this.”

Hospitality doesn’t diminish the experience; it enhances it, like spices in a pan. Each guest adds a new flavour to the mix; each has something to bring to the occasion.

A heartwarming and celebratory tale which could well prompt other children to delve into their own family’s culinary and/or cultural history. There could well be some lively discussion around food and family life as a result.

We’re huge fans of Anne Booth and her books. This is the story of a little boy who makes friends with a ‘troll’ who lives in a cave in the park. He begins to make little drawings outside the cave, always leaving a piece of chalk for the troll. Each day when he returns, he finds that the troll has finished his drawing. Little by little the troll begins to come out of his cave and they become friends.

The perseverance of the little boy is wonderful and it shows how kindness can achieve all kinds of things. We really liked how all of the other children also began to play together, all brought together by drawing. The illustrations are gorgeous and add to the enjoyment of the story.

Lola and Larch Fix a Fairy Forest is an enchanting story, perfect for children who enjoy short chapter books with gentle adventures.

When Lola stumbles upon a mysterious rabbit in the middle of a storm, little does she know that it’s the beginning of an extraordinary adventure. With heartwarming moments, the story follows Lola and her new friend, Larch the tree fairy, as they embark on a quest to save the forest from the clutches of the evil fairy, Euphorbia Spurge, and her beetle army.

Filled with captivating illustrations, this book not only sparks the imagination but also teaches valuable lessons about friendship, bravery, and the importance of helping others. From the moment Lola discovers the tiny, grumpy fairy in place of the rabbit, readers are drawn into a magical world.

With its delightful characters and engaging plot, Lola and Larch Fix a Fairy Forest is sure to be a favourite among young readers who love adventure and fantasy. Join Lola and Larch on their journey as they navigate challenges, overcome obstacles, and ultimately, save the day. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys tales of courage, teamwork, and the magic of friendship.

A fun and easy-to-read book, and a good addition to the Year 2 book corner for enhancement when looking at fantasy creatures or adventure narratives.

Matty Long – known for Super Happy Magic Forest – has an iconic illustrative style that appeals to younger children. The main character Croaky Hopper is funny and the storyline moves quickly. Croaky is different to other frogs and not content to stay home when his dreams of wild adventures are just a leap away – especially when he signs up for Woggle Scouts and ends up on an expedition to find the legendary Sasquatch.

We love the vibrant character of Croaky and his energetic personality will resonate with readers in the age group of the intended audience – his thirst for adventure, his frustration at not being able to bound away and recklessly follow his dreams and his impulsive spirit that causes him to sometimes leap before he thinks. This story sells the benefit of being part of a club or team, and shows how different personalities can achieve their goals in different ways through working together.

The book feels like a chapter book, but the printed format is familiar to those who like picturebooks or early graphic novels. Children enjoy the full-colour illustrations and ease of reading. The text is large and the sentence structure is easy enough for children to understand and read in a short session.

Barnaby Unboxed is another fantastic children’s book by the Fan Brothers. This, like their other offerings, is beautifully illustrated and full of depth that captures the interest of a wide age range.

The picturebook tells the tale of Barnaby, half mouse, half elephant, with a dash of flamingo. The story recounts the life of Barnaby and begins on the shop shelf of Perfect Pets, where he has lived for a long time. Finally, he is selected by a girl and life becomes perfect for Barnaby, until one day an even more perfect pet comes on the scene and he has to try to navigate a new life. He decides to step out on his own for a while and the second half of the story recounts his struggle to find where he fits in and the steps he has to take, with a little help along the way to try to find his way home and how he finally remembers who he is and his old life.

This heart-warming story is perfect to share at home or in class and is a good way of introducing themes such as identity, friendship and embracing uniqueness, as well as to accompany topics about toys. It could be shared with younger children or could be used as a stimulus for discussion on the themes with older pupils.

A collection of children’s poetry selected by Julia Donaldson, best known for The Gruffalo and her role as former Children’s Laureate. The colour-illustrated anthology makes an attractive hard back gift, filled with amusing poems and rhymes that are perfect for reading aloud and sharing.

Poems are organised into sections with similar themes – such as wildlife or family life. The entertaining and child-friendly poems about all sorts of topics are brimming with word-play and rhyme, making this collection an excellent choice for helping children to engage with poetry entertainingly.

Happy Hills is a place full of fun and chaos, just like this book, and is a place children will love to visit to escape their own reality. This bold and colourful book is pleasing to the eye and will attract the most reluctant reader with its comic style. As we follow the different stories of the Happy Hills’ characters, we visit a duck’s happy place, sing sea shanties with Captain Crosspants and disco dance with a cat; there is fun and silliness on every page and giggles galore! But when the Giant Danger Kittens arrive at the Hills, can the gang come together to defeat them?

The pages of this brilliant book are packed with visual treats and each mini story comes together to deliver an amazing adventure.

Fans of the Super Happy Magic Forest stories will love this book – it is not one to be missed!

Ballet Besties: Yara’s Chance to Dance is a delightful tale of friendship, determination, and the love of ballet. Yara is thrilled to join a new ballet class, finally learning in person rather than from videos. Her excitement is palpable as she makes new friends who share her passion. However, the story takes a dramatic turn when the formidable Mrs. C threatens to close down the beloved Shimmer and Shine Ballet School. Yara and her friends’ quest to save their ballet school is both heartwarming and inspiring, showing young readers the power of standing up for what they love. A book that younger readers won’t want to put down.

Following a tiny coral planula, this book gives an insight into the interesting life of coral as it becomes a part of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

The text is written in the first person narrative integrated with lots of factual information for the reader. The illustrations would attract younger children however, the non-fiction aspect would also interest older children (and adults) who want to discover more about this animal as it looks for the perfect place to settle, divide and grow. There is some challenging vocabulary in the text but this is supported by the simplicity of the story running through this book.

At the back, there is a wonderful fold-out map showing the coral reefs of the world that also includes a Coral I-Spy game for children which takes them back through the book locating different reef animals.

This book would be a fabulous addition to a home, primary school library or classroom.

A wonderfully detailed picture book about life in a rockpool. Crab thinks he is the king of the rockpool because of his strength, but Prawn thinks differently and is all for playing safe. So, off the friends go on an adventure to discover who rules the rockpool meeting all sorts of colourful and interesting creatures on the way.

The story is told with great humour full of fishy puns. Parents and children will have great fun sharing this book as every time you look at the illustrations you find new details. There is a great section at the back of the book giving further information on rock pooling and the creatures you may find.

This is a fabulous book. The environmental message about the role of bugs in nature’s ecosystem is clear, creatively told and one that is desperately needed. Many children do not like bugs and creepy crawlies and some think nothing of squishing them if they come too close.

The end pages of this book are a good starting point for discussion with children – they are full of beautiful fruit pudding recipes that appear annotated in pen by the badger in the story. Teachers can ask children why they think these end pages have fruit recipes when the front cover of the book indicates it is all about bugs. By the end of the book, children will be clear of the importance of bugs in pollinating plants and allowing plants to grow and bear fruit that we can then eat and include in amazing desserts.

The illustrations in the book afford great discussion about the wildlife in the story and the interdependence of each with the environment. If you lift the book jacket, the inside is filled with pictures of different insects – all carefully drawn and labelled demonstrating the huge variety of bugs we have. If you the jacket off completely children will be amazed by the ‘second book cover’ that has a different book title altogether with the title ‘How to Cook Fruit: A Culinary Badger’s Guide to Preparing Gruit’ and you can see badger reading this book on the first page of the story. This can prompt lots of discussion about why the author decided to do this.

This is a fabulous book, for the story, the discussion it prompts about the environment and insects and also a consideration of the role of Emily Gravett’s choices about the layout and design of the book. A must!

This book is about Snow – personified as the central character. She has been sitting on the top of a mountain for as long as she can remember. Snow starts to feel something very new – slushy and warm, she begins to melt! From there, we go on a joyful journey with her through the water cycle. Snow shares with us her journey and perspective as she goes on an adventure down a waterfall, along a river and out to sea.

This is a fascinating take on the water cycle, enabling children to develop a sense of how water everywhere is connected. There is plenty of pleasing vocabulary in this story which is written in rhyming verse. Words like flurry, slushy and warm, big splishy splash, bobbing and bubbling, hazy and hot demonstrate playfulness with words.

The book explores themes of pollution, environment and geography, exploring how waste can have an impact on our water system and beyond. The illustrations in this book are really powerful and emotive – it is sure to evoke children’s interest and curiosity and keep them coming back.

This is a colourful book about how useful maps can be in everyday life, which is told in an engaging, humorous way for a younger audience. It challenges what a map actually is and cleverly explains, using entertaining examples, that maps can take many different forms and quite simply are a way to help someone understand something better.

The book would be an excellent resource for teachers to use with the whole class or with individuals to help them better understand themselves. There is a lovely example of a map of ‘what humans are like’ for use by aliens who have landed on Earth – this could be used as a stimulus for children to create a map about themselves and what they want people to know about them.

The book also talks about the fact that some maps are designed so that everyone can understand them, whereas others are just for one person – the book could be used to encourage children to make a personal map to help them understand something about themselves: perhaps about their feelings (there is a good example of this in the book).

Importantly, the book goes on to explain that while a map can help us to learn and understand things better, it doesn’t have all the answers and that’s okay. This is a wonderful tool for use in the primary classroom.

Twenty years after the publication of Oliver Jeffers‘ much-loved debut picture book How To Catch a Star, a new picturebook has landed on our shelves to take us back into worlds of boys, penguins and stars – bringing together everything that has gone before and moving us on to new resolutions.

The boy, the penguin and the star play hide and seek, but the hiding goes wrong and the friends end up unable to find each other (a familiar scenario to any children who have got too much into a game of hide and seek before!). Unable to find the star, the others seek help from a Martian friend to find him.

Meanwhile, a girl who longs for a star strikes lucky when one washes up on the shore in a throwback to How to Catch a Star, which saw the boy in a similar scene. This time though, a joyful conclusion emerges that enables the boy and the girl to both gain a happy outcome.

The reassuring watercolour artwork, familiar characters and scenarios, warm tone and freshness of a new story arc come together to bring a not-to-be-missed treat for fans of Oliver Jeffers.

Gina Kaminski is on a boring school trip to the museum so she goes to read a story, however, she is not happy with the story that she picks – Jack and the Beanstalk. She decides there are three major issues with the story and decides that the best thing to do would be to visit fairy tale land to fix it and therefore make the story better and save the giant. She then travels into fairy tale land and lives the story of Jack and the Beanstalk instead of Jack, making sure that she fixes the three mistakes that she has identified. Will she think that the story is better now? Will the giant’s fate remain the same?

The story of Gina Kaminski Rescues the Giant is one of the stories that follows neurodiverse main character Gina as she identifies mistakes and fixes them. Gina can struggle with communicating her emotions and has a card that helps her identify how she is feeling when things happen to her. Gina is a strong character who takes confidence in her actions and knows right from wrong and will fight for what she believes. The illustrations take on a simple cartoon style but are effective and add a depth to the story. This book would be perfect to use in EYFS and KS1 looking at an alternative telling of a traditional tale to spark other creative alternative fairy tales. It would also be a great resource to use for children who may struggle with recognising their emotions.

This is a wonderfully zany tongue-twister of a book that children will love. It is based on counting and a story of two (or is it three?) mixed-up queues of animals, and yet the whole premise is so wonderfully absurd I found myself chuckling out loud.

The reader knows what they are queueing for if you look and listen carefully at the beginning, and the moose and the geese are wonderfully portrayed; a huge amount of the story is also told in the pictures (just as amusing as the words).

It is essentially a story of that most British of things – queuing!   Simon, the goose who appears to be in charge, gets more and more irate and confused as everyone swaps lines and each of the characters who mess him about also has strong characteristics, as well as being fun to follow what they do on each page.  One goose even very sensibly brings a fold-up chair with him to sit and wait!

This is also a counting book, and the counting is part of the fun. I read it to a group of EYFS children, who loved it, particularly when I got my words muddled and said goose instead of moose and vice versa. This one will be asked for again and again and each time the children will get something new from it.

Mikey the Dinosaur absolutely does not want to share his donuts, but they keep going missing and he cannot work out where they’re disappearing to. He suspects and then challenges the reader –  Did you steal them? Can you turn the page without touching the donuts? Or the crumbs? Or the frosting? Whose shadow is that in the background, anyway?

Poor old Mikey goes through all the emotions until he finally figures out all his friends have been sneaking the donuts…it wasn’t you after all! So you can share his last donut (and another plateful, if you’re lucky!).

Donut Touch is a delightful read-aloud suitable for EYFS and KS1 classes, and would be brilliant shared between parent and child. Lots to giggle at with the opportunity to make silly faces and voices; but with a nice message about not jumping to conclusions and how nice it is to share. Highly recommended. Cheerfully illustrated without being garish, I think this will be a firm favourite for story times.

When a mysterious package arrives at Mia’s house, her life changes beyond recognition. Gone is the monochrome dullness, no longer is she alone with a sad face and eyes that look downwards. Soon the package takes her to a world of hope and curiosity. The package is a book and with each word and every age, Mia’s adventures extend. Her smile radiates and her eyes look upwards at the new horizons stretching before her.

Tom Percival uses the metaphor of bridges throughout the book to demonstrate how reading, words and books can lead us to new worlds and can help us to make incredible connections. Mia follows bridges which grow stronger the more she reads. She visits magical worlds, discovers new facts and makes friendships all because of the power of reading. Now a confident, volitional reader, Mia knows how to help others who look lost and alone – she offers her book to them and continues to build even more bridges.

This is a beautiful story in every sense. The illustrations draw the eye, colour is used to show the contrast between Mia’s sadness and her joy at the discovery of story worlds.

This book bangs the drum for reading and all of its rewards. A library must have!

Hank the Goose is a character with whom many of us will be familiar; he can upset others and struggles to deal with his impulsivity. Finding himself lonely, we see him try to manage his big emotions and start afresh, but that isn’t always easy for our goose. Thanks to the kindness and tolerance of others, Hank learns to reflect on his behaviour and make positive changes.

This book carefully delivers powerful messages to its readers in a fun and amusing way. Children will laugh out loud with Hank while learning about tolerance and respect for others, building those core values, as well as the importance of being kind.

With wonderful illustrations and a story that interweaves simplicity with adventurous language, you cannot help but love Hank – flaws and all!

Gail is determined to get more out of life than the other snails. She’s not content with keeping her foot on the ground, eating greens and growing old; she’s not your average snail, she wants to blaze a different trail. This snail wants to go into space! Accomplishing her ambition will take perseverance and hard work, overcoming last-minute hurdles, but, as Gail shows, if you have a dream anything is possible.

Bold, bright illustrations complement this humorous, rhyming story from two skilled picture book creators, about the power of purpose and persistence, showing that resilience is key to success.

Gail is an endearing snail, standing out from the rest with her leopard print shell. Her character is brought vividly to life with her emotions and thoughts conveyed solely through the illustrations of her eyes, providing a masterclass in how important it is to read the pictures as well as the words. Featuring a sparkling, inviting cover, this is ideal for sharing with Early Years and KS1 children to enjoy and encourage self-belief.

Pop follows the story of some corn as it falls from its storage bag into a warm pan. As the pan begins to heat up, the corn kernels can feel something happening to them. Happily, they begin to transform into popcorn. Initially, there is just one piece of popcorn but throughout the book, more popcorn is made until all the corn is popped. The pun-filled story ends with all the popcorn watching a ‘corny’ movie.

This bright and fun story provides a great opportunity to practise basic counting as one piece of corn transforms at a time. The book has the numbers displayed clearly to support children with number recognition. The book has a wonderful rhyming verse that makes it a great read-aloud book. The repeated use of the word Pop throughout means younger children can help read the word themselves and get involved with the storyline.

The bright and engaging illustrations bring to life this interesting story and make this book a joy for younger children to look through and a must-read for Early Years story times.

A high-energy rhyming book featuring a particularly cute bunny who pays a visit to a new friend. Fans of The Tiger Who Came to Tea or The Lamb Who Came to Dinner will recognise the trope and will be excited to find out what kind of impression the bunny at the door will leave.

There’s a thump on the door and a bunny is there. Bunny is a very happy house guest who loves to eat breakfast, bounce around and sniff out chocolate eggs!

The perfect book for Easter and beyond, capturing the joy of spring, hospitality, unexpected friendships and of course, of chocolate!

This is a really good book to read to your little one, or to the whole class. It is written mainly in rhymes and the illustrations bring the story to life. The message about the dad being too busy on his mobile phone to take any notice of his son is also topical. On a train journey to the seaside, the dad and little boy are joined by all sorts of animals that the boy is fascinated by – and the dad does not notice! This leads to a fun adventure with the boy and the tiger. This is a story about connection and imagination, and there’s a message for adults too, here – don’t miss those early years of fun with your child!

For more information and ideas for using the book with children, check out author Mariesa Dulak’s guest post on the BooksForTopics blog.

Tom Percival has the knack of using words and drawings to distil the deep feelings of childhood. It’s a formula, but one that works so well. In this latest book to join the series that began with Ruby’s Worry, he addresses the disappointment of ruined plans.

Bea is brimming with excitement that she will be celebrating her birthday with her whole extended family. It will all be perfect! But first, a little snowfall means the postman can’t deliver her presents and then more and more snow means her family can’t make it to her party. As her plans are shattered, jagged lines splinter across the illustrations, symbolising very visually how Bea’s happiness has been broken by disappointment. The rest of the book shows how Bea, helped by the kindness of her family, finds a way to move forward and appreciate that there is more than one way to perfection.

It’s a sweet and hopeful book – fun to read in its own right, but also a great way to discuss uncomfortable feelings with young children. While reassuring the reader that furious misery is normal following disappointment (the emotion is shown so well through the picture of Bea’s face, rather than in words!), embedded in the story is a wise lesson about looking around for small pleasures to stop it ruining a whole day.

This was very much enjoyed by EYFS children for the pictures, the story and as an introduction to Eid.

This is a picture book story with an Eid setting rather than an information book about the festival, and the narrative does introduce traditions such as special clothes and gift giving, making it a good way to start to engage the children with the topic.

Inspired by the words of Jo Cox, ‘We have more in common than that which divides us,’ and dedicated to ‘every child who has ever had to leave their home behind,’ this book is a showcase of thoughtfulness, empathy, kindness and inclusion.

Firstly, the vibrant palette of neon pinks and oranges stands out, drawing your eye to the cast of inclusive characters shown throughout, many subverting stereotypes of gender, race, and disability – showing wide-ranging positive representation.

The premise of the story is that somewhere in the world is someone who has the same likes, dislikes, sense of humour and interests as you and the reader is invited to imagine this with the dual illustrations showing two very different characters, sharing a characteristic. Once the connection has been made, the reader is invited to think about how they could support and care for this person if they needed shelter or friendship after having to leave their home, encouraging giving, sharing, listening and talking as ways to make them feel welcome.

Aqua Boy is about a young boy whose parents are ocean guardians, helping to look after the beach and sea near where they live.

Aaron and Angel, his sister, enjoy spending time by the ocean although Aaron isn’t as confident in the water as Angel. After a big storm, the family help to clear the rubbish that has been brought onto the shore until Aaron notices an octopus stranded on the sand. With help, he saves the octopus and, in the process, he discovers that swimming underwater enables you to see and learn about the different sea creatures that live there as well as show that you can achieve things eventually.

This is a lovely book to share with children who enjoy caring for the beach, ocean and the different creatures that call it home. There are many opportunities for discussion through the bright but simple illustrations and at the back of the book it provides information for protecting octopuses and the ocean, incorporating an enjoyable mix of fiction and non-fiction.

Highly recommended!

Mia has just moved house and spots a dilapidated doll house on the side of the road in her neighbourhood. As she begins to repair and decorate it on her porch, other children come to join the play, bringing offerings – a lolly pop stick bed, a rug and cotton wool cushions – and all are made to feel welcome. Mia notices a boy watching from his window but is too shy to join in with their play. However, when the Autumn rain batters the house, he appears and helps her to fix it. She generously and cleverly suggests he looks after it over Winter, thus bringing him into the group of friends, that we see playing through the changing seasons.

A sensitively told story, with stunning illustrations, this would make a beautiful book for encouraging class and the whole school community, with the strong central message that every child is welcome and everyone has something to give and share with others.