The Week Junior Book Awards Shortlist

A wonderful story of mystery and adventure, which also sheds light on the incredible achievements of the World War Two codebreakers based out of Bletchley Park – a historically important story, which is rarely told in children’s literature.

The story is based around 14-year-old Lizzie Novis, who is on a mission to discover what happened to her mother Willa, whom Lizzie has been told died during a Nazi attack on Poland. But Lizzie is suspicious, and she pledges to uncover the truth. Her journey begins with her successfully plotting an escape from her guardian, who is supposed to be taking her to America to stay with her Gran. Lizzie tries to enlist the help of her brother Jakob, but he is an unwilling accomplice preoccupied with his own secret mission – Jakob has been recruited to Bletchley Park, a world in which Lizzie suddenly finds herself.

The protagonist Lizzie is a high-spirited, passionate, stubborn character who speaks her mind – her antics are brave, endearing and often amusing. Going on this journey with quick-thinking, smart, and surprising Lizzie was an adventure from start to finish. A great adventure story, with historical importance for ages 10-14.

If you like fast-paced action, razor-sharp humour, and a cracking adventure, this book is for you. Full of mythological mystery and heart-pounding twists, you won’t be able to put it down. And with three books in the series, there’s plenty to enjoy!

Action, adventure, myth, humour and heart!

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.

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.

Keedie is the prequel to Elle McNicoll’s best-selling novel A Kind of Spark.

Set five years earlier, this book focuses on fierce, outspoken big sister Keedie, who is figuring out how to navigate life as an autistic teenager whilst trying to remain true to herself.

Keedie is intent on seeking revenge against the bullies in her school, not just for herself but for others. Her intentions are honourable, and she wants to send the message that we should stand up for ourselves and others. But her simplistic view of righting wrongs not only gets her into trouble but creates an even deeper divide between her and her twin sister that she barely recognises anymore. Keedie’s character is developed with nuance and depth. Readers who enjoyed the book or CBBC adaptation of A Kind of Spark will be excited to read more about the character of Keedie, who lived experience provided a pillar of wisdom and encouragement for Addie.

This book is perfect for encouraging empathy, understanding of neurodiversity and developing a sense of self in Upper Key Stage 2 readers – it teaches us that while we may all be watching the same scene, our narratives can be very different.

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.

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.

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.

Susannah Lloyd’s first chapter book is an absolute hoot!

Dreamy Lulu Whifferton-Rear is abruptly carted off from the peaceful woods to the Rumpington Academy of Badgering; there to discover that important humans are actually Badger Operated Persons (BOPs) – and she’s been picked to be a pilot! Before she knows it, she’s on a top-secret mission to achieve WORLD PEACE whilst somehow trying to get the Prime Minister BOP to eat a cheese-and-tomato sandwich convincingly.

Packed with cute, detailed illustrations and fun wordplay, Badgers Are Go is a fantastic read-aloud (our library book club is loving it!), with lots of opportunities to “do the voices” for a cast of characters that crosses Dad’s Army with The Worst Witch. The double agent is telegraphed very early in proceedings so readers will have great fun despairing of the grown-up characters, who are completely oblivious to the sabotage going on, whilst rooting for little Lulu to find her courage and save the day.

With an explosive finale, Badgers Are Go is sure to entertain readers from 6-8 years old.

A wonderfully silly and gloriously bonkers adventure that introduces the brilliantly funny heroine, Betty Steady.

Bustling with quirky characters, clever wordplay and outrageous situations, this book plunges readers into a world of surreal humour, where Mr Gum meets Starfell. When Betty lands herself in trouble, she finds herself shrunken and trapped by the mischievous Toad Witch, who plans to take over Wobbly Rock.

This story is a riot from start to finish, perfectly matched by Sarah Horne’s exuberant illustrations. This is a series that will fondly appeal to humour-loving readers in KS2.

This is the first in a series of adventures from Kieran Larwood (the author of the much-loved Podkin series of books) and illustrated by the excellent Joe Todd-Stanton.

Hero Trial is a classic tale of the underdog triumphing against the odds, standing up to bullies and showing that size and strength are not everything. Kit is a gnorf (part gnome, part dwarf) and Dungeon Runners is a TV game show that Kit is desperate to be on. The trouble is that he has no magical powers, combat skills or even a team. After being bullied into entering the Dungeon Runners trial, Kit needs to find a team double quick to make sure he isn’t humiliated by his mean next-door neighbour Breg the Troggle.

So starts his adventure in finding friendship, and courage and learning that you can win by being kind and using your intelligence. This imaginative and brilliantly illustrated story will appeal to quest lovers and adventure fans in lower KS2.

This wonderful illustrated story by Martin Impey details the moving story of one family living in London during World War Two.

The story is told from the perspective of the two children in the family and explains what life was like before the war and then what happens once the war starts. There are specific details included in the book, for example, the exact time the war was announced, what rationing was and what happened during an air raid.

The atmospheric watercolour illustrations complement the story superbly, and put visual storytelling at the centre of the reading experience. The wartime mood set by the nostalgic colour palette combined with the snippets of archived material like letters and broadcasts begin to bring alive a historian’s sense of recreating details of the war from an ageing generation’s living memory and recorded material – an important aspect of historical understanding to grasp for today’s younger readers who are more familiar with the ease of video footage and livestream accounts of news events.

This beautiful and moving book is well researched and rich with detail, making it an excellent addition to any classroom.

This is a read-aloud book that demands that the reader find a voice for the Blue Monster and a voice that conveys something of the character’s charm, even though he eats anyone who won’t play with him!

The illustrations capture each character’s feelings, and seeing Blue Monster’s body language change as he becomes more and more embarrassed and guilty is a joy! The approach to solving friendship problems is clear and simple, and one that could easily be used with a class of children.

This book is so simple and enjoyable. The illustrations are beautiful, and the story holds a powerful message that is given gently and humorously.

Godfrey the Frog is a joyful story which teaches children the importance of accepting themselves and being happy with who they are.

Change happens – sometimes quickly, sometimes seemingly not at all. At the beginning of the story, Godfrey transforms from a small egg to developing ‘a pair of lovely arms’ and growing a ‘long, sticky tongue’. Finally, he transforms into a frog. He imagines how his frog-like state may change, creating many images to make a young reader giggle with glee.

Readers see the seasons change around him, but to Godfrey’s frustration, he remains a frog throughout. Godfrey begins to compare himself to the other animals around him – even the snail has a stunning shell and the deer has amazing antlers!

After wishing to be different, he slowly but surely learns that being a frog isn’t so bad after all, teaching children an important life lesson about self-acceptance.

The story concludes with a step-by-step diagram of how a tiny little egg transforms into a frog. A perfect way to teach little ones about life cycles.

The Illustrations and quirky characters of the book are definitely what draws children to the story. They love the idea of disgusting recipes and when read to one of our Year 1 classes, they loved it! I really enjoyed the way the two characters worked together to find a solution that fits both the morals of the cafe owner and the demands of the customer. It would be a great stimulus to get young children writing recipes for their own menu at the Cafe at the Edge of the Woods.

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.

Fia lives in what feels like permanent winter. Her people haven’t seen or felt the warmth and light of the sun for several years, since the snow deer left.

Only one snow deer, Solas, remains. Born at the same time as Fia, Fia has sworn to protect her. Now Fia’s people are starving and their eyes are turning to the remaining snow deer. There is only one hope – for Fia to go on a treacherous journey across the frozen wastes to find the Deer Mother and fulfil the prophecy written about her long before she was born. Accompanied only by her beloved snow deer and her (sometimes irritating) cousin, Mish, the adventuresome trio strives to make it to the Deer Mother before it’s too late, knowing that sacrifices will need to be made along the way.

Beautifully told in the form of verse, with enchanting illustrations, this is a tale like no other I have read. It would make a fantastic wintry class read-aloud story as well as being used as a base for inspiring writing.

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.

Another gem of a book by Matt Goodfellow. This poetry collection will convince even the most reluctant about poetry that it might just be their thing.

This collection of poems is aimed at readers 11+ and tackles every day subjects: teachers, school days and making friends. The 66 poems will make you laugh, smile, cry, feel and think… there’s a perfect poem for everyone.

In a world where financial literacy is more important than ever, “Deborah Meaden Talks Money” stands out as a vital tool to equip children with essential life skills. As a Dragons’ Den investor and successful entrepreneur, Meaden brings a wealth of experience to the topic, making finance accessible and genuinely exciting.Meaden’s approach demystifies finance, breaking down barriers of fear and confusion. She covers essential topics such as earning, saving, setting goals, and even starting a business, providing young people with the knowledge and confidence they need to manage their finances effectively.One of this book’s standout features is its engaging format.

Meaden employs a conversational style, enriched with podcast-style interviews featuring ordinary young people and prominent figures like Steven Bartlett, Joe Lycett, Gary Neville, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. These interviews provide real-world insights into financial success and the inevitable mistakes, making the content relatable and authentic. Plus, including personal stories and practical advice from Meaden adds depth and perspective, showing the tangible benefits of mastering money management.The clear and concise explanations are brilliant for kids and adults alike! It helped me understand some of the trickier aspects of finance that I’d heard of but didn’t understand. I was never taught such things at school, and this book makes it easy to convey these crucial lessons to students.

Along with the wealth of Q&As, quizzes, tips, and challenges designed to foster great money habits in young readers, these interactive elements make integrating financial literacy into the classroom easy. They turn complex concepts into fun and manageable tasks, making the book a brilliant tool for bringing financial discussions into lessons. Overall, this book offers a comprehensive, engaging, and practical guide to finance that every young person can benefit from. It is also a must-have for any educational professional aiming to empower their students with the skills and confidence needed to navigate the financial world.

This book is a well-designed and constructed board book with flaps to lift. Written in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum, initially the book appears to be tailored towards the Early Years with its thick board pages, rounded corners, and young child with toy dinosaur on the cover. However, you quickly realise as you start to read that the subject matter and content can, and perhaps should, be directed at an older age group. There will be strong opinions on this book and I am sure it will prompt fiery debate and engaging discussion amongst parents and educators alike. The content of the book as a whole is good: it is up-to-date and generally balanced. Representation is generally good, with women being shown in key roles, although no mention is made of the role of conscientious objectors in wars. There is a powerful final page on peace and there is space and energy given to explaining the work of the United Nations, the importance of the Geneva Convention, and the roles that countries and alliances play in global events.

The History of Information by Chris Haughton gives the reader a fascinating insight into the evolution of information right from the start of human existence. Starting with the very first languages, cave paintings and taking us right through to Artificial Intelligence, there is such a lot of information to find and enjoy.

The sections of the book look at each major advancement in communication, from writing, drawing and printing through to the more modern information-sharing changes over the past one hundred years.

Whilst there are lots of fun facts, the book also does not shy away from presenting children with some of the more dangerous aspects of information; there are pages on propaganda as well as a thought-provoking section which looks at ‘Big Tech’ and how information can be used to control society.

Chris Haughton’s unique illustration style works well to give the book an enjoyably modern feel.

Science is Lit is an interactive book with a range of chemistry experiments to inspire and entertain.

The book is written to engage children in the whole process of a science experiment, including controls, safety elements and how to record and analyse results. Experiments include an aim, hypothesis, method, variables/controls, how to record results, conclusion and evaluation.

There are difficulty ratings for experiments and explanations of the why and how of what is happening during the process. All scientific processes are described in a child-friendly and fun way that would be accessible in KS2.

The book ends with a conclusion, quiz and a detailed glossary.

We love non-fiction books that take readers to faraway places, and this one does the job beautifully, all the while focusing on science and the role of scientists whose job it is to chart different places and habitats.

Young readers are invited to join an international team on a vital mission to Antarctica to survey the unique environment and vast wildlife, from introducing the dedicated team and their specialist equipment to exploring the varied creatures and environmental challenges encountered in this remote region. The clear structure, aided by maps and diagrams, makes even complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging.

This book is a superb resource for Key Stage 2 and especially for children who love exploration, habitats or frozen worlds. With its bright and appealing illustrations and a hopeful message about the future of Antarctica, it’s a great non-fiction choice for learning about our planet’s wild spaces and the dedicated individuals who explore them.

This unique non-fiction book features lots of fun facts about interesting inventions and the people who invented them. If you like facts, figures and dates, this book is full of them – find out who invented the first paper straw, how Super Soakers were developed and when the first basketball game was played.

The information is presented in bite-sized chunks, with humour and illustrations to capture the attention of the reader. The language and sentence structures are aspirational and this book will appeal to older primary readers in search of information to impress their friends, families and teachers.

‘There is a Season’ is the first children’s book from Kerri Cunningham, also known as Murphy’s Sketches.

This is a wonderful collection of poems to guide you through each season of the year, which is essential for every classroom. It takes you on a journey from April showers in spring to the frosty mornings of winter and everything wonderful in between. There are beautiful poems to be shared as the seasons change, during assemblies or just to enjoy with your class to share a love of poetry.

Celebrating all that nature has to show us and the little things that we can enjoy together throughout the year, it encourages readers to get outside and look for and talk about signs of spring, summer, autumn and winter – also linked to the seasonal change topic in the science National Curriculum.