Recommended Reads for Year 2: New Additions for 2026-27

A brand-new full-colour look for the bestselling Astrosaurs series. This fun and vivid graphic novel blasts off with Teggs and the crew for three short astronomical space adventures!

Full of colourful and vibrant illustrations to accompany the comic book storyline, lovers of graphic novels are in for a blast of a ride. This hilarious story is full of one-liners to tempt, tickle and tantalise. Full of powerful pongs to egg-cellent explosions, these missions never quite go to plan! And so you MUST read on to discover if the Astrosaurs are there to save the day!

We love Lu Fraser’s animal stories. In this one, poor Basil is convinced he’s the only fruit bat who can’t fly. Despite Moth’s best efforts, Basil just can’t get off the ground. A sudden storm puts his friends in danger and Basil finds that he is able to use his wings after all.

Told in a bouncy rhyme that’s so much fun  to read aloud, this is a top pick for KS1. Children of this age absolutely love a peek into the nocturnal world of bats and moths, but also delight in following the story that presents a relatable problem about self-belief (children who have recently learned to swim or ride a bike will relate to Basil’s journey). The story makes an ideal springboard for discussions about growth mindset and perseverance.

Totally ‘batty’ and oodles of fun!

This new series from Jennifer Bell is a top recommendation for young readers aged 6-9 who enjoy a mix of mystery, adventure and silliness.

Buck and his rabbit sidekick, Ears, have been dubbed the worst pirates ever! So, they decide a career change is in order. Rebranding themselves as Pirate Detectives, they take on a high-stakes case for the mighty Captain Bloodfang: find the missing mermaid chef, or end up in the ship’s stew pot!

The story is a barrel of laughs. Readers will enjoy the mishaps of the hopeless but harmless crew, from a navigator who won’t swim to a porcupine who adds marshmallow to the end of his quills to protect his friends from being prickled. Sarah Horne’s energetic illustrations perfectly match the good clean humour of the story, making this a brilliant chapter book storytime pick for fun loving adventurers in Year 2 or 3.

The first in a magical and mystical series by the incredibly talented Laura Ellen Anderson. Bound to be a hit with fans of Isadora Moon, Pia’s Pet Club or Izzy the Inventor

Tabitha finds a key to her garden shed which takes her to the land of Star Kitties. She has been very much enjoying her weekly visits there and now it’s her birthday and she has arrived in Whiskery Paw expecting celebrations galore.  However there is a cat-astrophe: her Royal Pawness is missing and the cats are in chaos!

This illustrated early chapter book series tells the story of a secret world of kitty cats which as a cat-lover was purrrfect (once I was introduced to Reading Kitty, I felt like I’d met my soulmate!). The striking two-colour illustrations make the book very appealing and ideal for children in Year 2 upwards (age 6+). There is also a map at the start for children to follow the characters on their detective mission. It is a great book to use as a stepping tool from KS1 to KS2: it has short chapters and could help children progress from phonics and onto comprehension led reading in small groups or as a whole class setting.

This is a collection of ‘poems to have fun with’ – and really widens that scope to ‘words to have fun with’, ‘ideas to have fun with’ and ‘read-alouds to have fun with’ too!

Previously shortlisted for the CLiPPA award, A Dinosaur at the Bus Stop celebrates the absurdity and the unexpected. These poems are perfectly pitched to hit the humour level of younger primary pupils, while Eilidh Muldoon’s playful illustrations bring the nonsense gloriously to life.

It’s an excellent collection and a brilliant choice for high-energy read-aloud sessions that will bring all the joy of poetry to the classroom.

Part of Kate Pankhurst’s popular non-fiction series, Fantastically Great Women Who Saved the Planet is a picture book style non-fiction that features female pioneers who have spent their lives protecting the Earth, each in their own ways.

Each spread is full of bite-sized facts and vibrant illustrations, profiling figures from ‘shark lady’ Eugenie Clark to recycling superstar Isatou Ceesay. The accessible layout is perfect for dipping into as and when, and also makes big topics like conservation feel empowering rather than overwhelming.

In the classroom, this is a brilliant resource for STEM and significant people in history, showing how individuals can affect global change. A must-have for any primary library looking to inspire the next generation, and a popular early non-fiction choice for children.

‘Flower Block’ by Lanisha Butterfield is a touching and beautifully crafted picturebook.

Jeremiah plants a packet of sunflower seeds, the last thing he expects is for the vines and leaves to grow overnight and burst through the ceiling of his apartment. The story follows Jeremiah and his brother as the community in their flat block comes together to find the true magic hidden within the seeds.

Hoang Giang has illustrated the book beautifully there is so much to see on each page. Throughout the book you are introduced to lots of people who live in the tower block and it is wonderful to see the diversity of Jeremiah’s neighbours. A highly recommend book, which children of all ages would enjoy.

Football stories are a massive hit in schools, often acting as a bridge into reading for children who prefer the pitch to the library or a deep dive into their favourite hobby for those who already love to read. Goal Squad: Win the Cup, written by football fanatic and sports journalist Scott Allen, is an excellent way into the genre, packing the drama of a real match into an accessible, fast-paced read.

Leo has the skills to reach the Premier League, but an injury sidelines him just as the season kicks off. He’s forced to watch from the bench while his rival Olli (a ball-hogging glory-hunter) takes his spot and puts the team’s future at risk. With relegation looming and only three games left, it’s a race against time for Leo to get fit and save the squad.

A gentle, football-themed short chapter book exploring teamwork, sportsmanship and perseverance.

Set in a town obsessed with brand-new fashion, the story follows a family of mice who quietly challenge the norm. While their human neighbours discard worn clothing in favour of the latest trends, the mice take a different approach of mending and restoring old garments with care and skill. With their nimble paws and inventive ideas, the mice transform damaged clothes into treasured outfits. Before long, the townspeople begin to notice. Their repaired wardrobes are not only unique and beautiful but also longer-lasting, setting off a subtle shift in attitudes toward clothing and consumption.

However, this change does not go unnoticed by Igor, the greedy owner of the local fast-fashion factory. As his profits begin to fall, Igor grows increasingly determined to stop the mice and restore his control over the town’s habits. What follows is a playful and engaging fashion battle, as Igor attempts to outsmart the mice, only to be met with their ingenuity and quiet determination.

Printed on recycled paper and told with warmth and humour, this picture book gently conveys the message that small, creative actions can have a meaningful impact.

Luna Grace is a girl who lives on a planet called Starbright. Starbright is a very colourful planet where the residents have some special abilities, such as moving things with their minds. Grace’s hair also changes colour to show the emotion she is feeling. Her family are sent to Earth to study the wildlife and report back to their home planet. Their main challenge is to fit in with the people living on Earth so they can continue their studies. Luna has to go to a new school, and that is quite challenging with her hair constantly changing colour and her moon cat, Twizzle, wanting to come along. The story follows Luna as she moves home and starts her new school.

This book is a great story about a child making a significant move from their home and the emotions children can go through when they have to go through such a major life change. The book also highlights how it’s okay to be different from your friends and appreciate those differences. This is a brilliant book for children starting to read chapter books. It has short chapters and engaging illustrations to break up the quantity of words.

This is a super-cool non-fiction choice that follows on from Marvellous Machines, continuing the STEM themes but this time giving the spotlight to animal habitats and ecosystems. The book uses a magic lens magnifier to show what’s happening inside different animal homes, making reading it an interactive experience. By using the red filter lens tool, children can peer into hidden spaces like termite mounds, tailorbird nests and gorilla beds. The illustrations are detailed and searching around with the lens gives the feel of being a nature explorer.

The layout is great for the classroom, with short bursts of information that suit younger readers perfectly. It is a brilliant resource for a habitats or animals topic, or just a fun and interactive pleasure read that will fly off the class shelves.

Postman Planet is a laugh-out-loud funny book that’s perfect for young readers who enjoy action, humour and a bit of chaos. With short chapters and plenty of illustrations, the book is presented in a way that feels inviting rather than overwhelming, making it an excellent choice for children building confidence with longer stories.

The story follows Postman Planet, whose job is to deliver mail to some very dangerous and unusual places across the galaxy. The twist is that he’s actually a secret nine-year-old boy, doing his best to survive space deliveries while teamed up with Stamp, his annoying (but very funny) assistant, who is part robot and part dog. The fast pace, silly situations and visual humour will keep children engaged and the accessible layout makes it easy to read in short bursts. Despite the comedy, the book also explores positive themes such as friendship, teamwork and problem-solving, showing how working together can help overcome even the most challenging situations.

As the first book in a new series, Postman Planet does a great job of hooking readers and leaving them eager for more adventures. It’s a strong choice for reluctant readers, independent reading or for children who enjoy humorous stories with a sci-fi twist.

Sona’s family are very important to her. When her mother is about to have a baby, Sona wants to be the best big sister she can be, which includes choosing a name for the baby. However, Sona is also concerned about sharing her beloved family with someone new – will a new baby change her family?

Sona is an engaging character, with worries of her own that other children would be able to relate to. Through her conversations with Elephant, her best friend, we hear her inner thoughts and her concerns about her place within the family once the new baby arrives. We see her struggling with the idea of a younger sibling, not wanting to share what she considers to be her belongings.

The story celebrates traditions surrounding the birth of a new child and the importance of the baby-naming ceremony in Hindu culture. The very useful glossary helps to explain the cultural words and Jen Khatun’s illustrations not only bring the story to life but also help to break up the text. This would be a lovely book early illustrated chapter book to share in a classroom to show the differences and similarities between different cultures and family traditions, as well as relatable choice for children experiencing the rollercoaster of emotions that come as part of expecting a new sibling.

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.

The Future Book will have all readers, young and old, bursting with side-splitting laughter. Brimming with neon colours and futuristic illustrations, this book (which has been sent from the future) is pure joy!

The book begins by explaining how things are different in the future, such as the sun and the moon, apples and bananas. People have strange names, and some things don’t have names at all. Confused? You will be! But you won’t be disappointed!

A masterpiece of a short picture book and one which will be enjoyed over and over again for its wit and quirky charm.

Ever wondered how fruit starts to grow? This fun, lift-the-flap book guides you through the parts of a flower, how different pollinators support the plant life-cycle and how other parts of plants are used in our food. There is a great mix of scientific detail and engaging story-telling and this book is a great accompaniment to primary science topics about lifecycles and growing plants.

The information is presented attractively in bite-size chunks, making it accessible for children across the primary age-range, and the illustrations are colourful and eye-catching.

This would be a great text to use as a model when writing explanations about plant life-cycles, and there are step-by-step instructions at the end of the book for conducting your own pollination investigation.

Part of the Traveller Tales series by Richard O’Neill, this story invites warm and authentic discussions about what learning might look like for different people once they step outside the classroom.

Sonny is usually on top of his schoolwork, but a hectic family wedding weekend gets in the way. He’s busy painting the wedding cart, working out routes and helping out his neighbours. He never even notices his books going missing. Dreading the Monday morning walk to his teacher’s desk, without his homework books, Sonny is surprised to find that his weekend of hands-on learning is valued in ways he never expected.

This empathetic story from Child’s Play is a brilliant window into Traveller heritage as well as a celebration of different learning experiences and ways to be clever.

This is an absolutely beautiful book from former Olympic medallist Ibtihaj Muhammad, exploring themes of heritage, diversity, siblings, acceptance and new beginnings.

The story is positive and empowering, and explores the beautiful bond between sisters Faizah and Asiya as they each begin new phases of growing up.  When the time comes for Faizah’s first day at school, she is excited to share the special day with her older sister Asiya, whose first day of wearing hijab it is. Asiya’s hijab is made of a beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waves or the endless sky. Sadly, not everyone sees hijab in the same light and in the face of ignorant comments, Faizah learns not to hold on to hurtful comments but to find strength in new ways.

A thought-provoking story with a warm and positive message, illustrated in striking blues.

This book is an absolute wintry delight.

It begins with the main character ‘Bella’ joining her single mum (her dad died when she was younger, which is briefly mentioned) on an exciting adventure to study penguins in Antarctica. It promotes women working in STEM in a setting that is not usually seen in children’s fiction stories. Whilst there, Bella spots an unusual penguin with a pale brown coat instead of the typical black which is integral to the story. What we thought was going to be an adventure about a girl and penguins turned out to have an historical twist with mystery and suspense – to add to the what was already a lovely story.

This is a brilliant bedtime read and would also be a good classroom story to share for Year 2. There were lots of discussions about vocabulary and meanings, for example, crevasse (which is a deep crack in the ice). This felt like a favourite because there was something for everyone –  adventure, mystery, suspense, Antarctica and of course, because it’s Holly Webb, animals!

This is a cheerful, full-colour graphic novel for young readers set in the undersea town of Nowhere. We’re introduced to the main characters, Ollie the vampire squid and his best friend Zing, the sea bunny, who with their friends and neighbours form the Squid Squad, each with their own special aquatic super power. We follow them through a series of wacky adventures in which those super powers eventually save the day.

The balance between having enough peril to make the plot exciting without scaring very young readers is very deftly managed, making this great for KS1.

I expect this book to be particularly popular with children in Years 1-4 and it would work well as a first introduction to graphic novels. It’s prefect for fans of: Max and Chaffy; Narwhal and friends; Peanut, Butter and Crackers; Bumble & Snug.

The story offers a calm, nature‑centred reading experience that encourages children to slow down, observe and connect with the world around them. Rosie’s journey mirrors a child’s own developmental arc of curiosity, exploration, risk‑taking and forming bonds. The illustrations deepen this sense of wonder, making it ideal for shared reading at home or in the classroom.

The Summer Puppy is a beautifully crafted picture book that blends poetic language with evocative illustrations. It supports curriculum learning while nurturing empathy, observation skills, and a love of nature. It’s a strong choice for whole‑class reading, small‑group discussion or quiet bedtime sharing.

Joanna Nadin’s popular series has become a staple for primary children who enjoy a dose of anarchy and relatable humour. This book follows the chaotic, unruly capers of primary school Class 4B.

There are gross bits, funny gags and wild mishaps – and it’s part of a whole series, which will please readers the minute they get hooked into these stories (which they will). It’s perfectly pitched for children who want something fast-paced and funny to keep the momentum going. The chapters are short and accessible.

For children who enjoy the humour of Pamela Butchart or similar classroom-based shenanigans, they’ll love getting stuck into 4B’s latest disasters just as much. It’s a highly readable, fun-first series that prioritises letting laughter loose.

Wild Magic is a high-energy modern adventure series. Twins Misha and Ziggy head to Ethiopia with their wildlife presenter father, but the siblings have secret powers – she can talk to animals and he can shapeshift into them.

When a legendary lion goes missing, the twins use their powers to track it down. Abiola Bello’s story is a brilliant armchair travel experience, whisking readers through the Mercato Market and the Simien Mountains. The Ethiopian setting is a breath of fresh air and Emma McCann’s lively illustrations keep the pace moving.

The story showcases a great mix of family, conservation and just enough peril to keep readers hooked without becoming scary. With accessible spacing and punchy vocabulary, it’s a win for Year 2 and 3.