Year 4 Booklist: 50 Recommended Reads

It’s show time! Meet Blackpool’s very own Nathan and Middy, together they are The Wonder Brothers! Of course, they couldn’t perform their acts without a support team comprising the steadfast Brodie and his giant white rabbit, Queenie (the real star of the show!). Together, the children have spent summer holidays in Blackpool, perfecting the art of magic, but when a legendary magician comes to visit and makes Blackpool’s prominent landmark vanish, they go on a mission to get it back. The Blackpool Tower has disappeared, and when Middy is interviewed by the press, she promises that they will return it.

Along the way, the children are guided by a magical code of conduct, channelling their energy into positive outcomes and using their somewhat limited resources effectively.

This is children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce at his very best. Alongside the glorious illustrations by Steven Lenton, the magic and mystery ooze off the pages. The story is fast-paced and engaging, with a fantastic cast of characters who will leave even the most sceptical reader wondering just how the tricks are done. Great for Year 4 and up.

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.

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.

This story is full of imagination, adventure and excitement and makes for a perfect read-aloud choice for storytime. Land of Roar is an instantly gripping adventure where childhood games become a reality for two twins. I raced my way through it, wondering what dangers twins Rose and Arthur were going to encounter next, whilst simultaneously wanting to visit Roar myself!

Land of Roar makes for a fantastic portal story where you can’t help but be dragged into this magical land of make-believe in a story full of adventure, magic and friendship. I love the idea of childhood games coming to life and the idea appeals well to the imaginations of children aged 8  to 10 – old enough to remember make-believe games from a younger stage but still young enough to allow themselves to be swept away by imagination and magic.

Land of Roar is the kind of fantasy adventure that grips you from the first page to the last and keeps you wanting more…so it’s a good thing there’s a sequel!

An absolute winner of a story and a brilliant choice for KS2 children in Year 4, 5 or 6. As you might expect from former Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, who really is a master storyteller, this fantastic series is full of delightful characters, exciting expeditions and sumptuous settings. There’s plenty of action, and a good dollop of humour too.

Hiccup is a small Viking. As part of the initiation process for his tribe, he is required to lead a group of novices in their task of dragon training. Unfortunately, Hiccup’s designated dragon is far from what he’d dreamed of, but despite all odds, it doesn’t take long for Hiccup to prove himself to be a true hero.

We love this exciting action-packed series and thoroughly recommend the series to fantasy and adventure fans.

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.

The Summer Dolphin takes readers to the Welsh coast, where Lillie’s holiday is overshadowed by loneliness as her sister excludes her. This is the latest in a series of animal stories by beloved children’s author Holly Webb. A glimpse of dolphins offers Lillie brief joy, but a desire to prove herself leads Lillie on a risky solo trip to a tidal island, where she faces danger.

This poignant story expertly captures the raw emotions of a younger sibling while beautifully evoking the Welsh coast and its wildlife.

David Dean’s illustrations bring the characters and nature to life, making it a perfect read for those who enjoy short chapter adventures about family and animals. An adventurous and joyful animal story.

Michael Morpurgo does it again with this heartwarming and sometimes teary tale inspired by the extraordinary true story of the French Drummer Boy of Waterloo.

A story of friendship, courage and battles. Cobweb is a puppy in 1815, the story journeys through his life and the adventures it takes him on.

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.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the second book in C. S. Lewis’s classic fantasy series, which has been drawing readers of all ages into a magical land with unforgettable characters for over sixty years. This is a stand-alone read, but if you would like to explore more of the Narnian realm, pick up the full series.

The idea that undiscovered magic is on your doorstep, or possibly even in your bedroom, is wonderful. This remains a favourite childhood book and a true classic for children in KS2.

A classic children’s book from beloved author Dick King Smith.

There’s something magical and original about this story, in which a girl called Harmony comes to own a magical 50-pence piece that will grant seven wishes. An exciting adventure ensues, with highs and lows that will make the reader feel truly invested in the story, as Harmony has to make choices about what to spend her wishes on, and some of them have unforeseen consequences that make the phrase ‘Be careful what you wish for’ ring true.

Readers root for Harmony, who is likeable and relatable, as she deals with the frustrations of family life and learns to stand on her own two feet in facing the aftermath of her independent choices. Harmony’s magic coin helps her to think about appreciating the things that are dear to her and slowing down to consider the consequences of her decisions – both good lessons to learn as children grow up.

We love this charming animal story, which explores themes of family and responsibility with a sprinkling of thrilling magic realism.

Matilda by Roald Dahl has earned its place as a classic of children’s literature, with the character of Matilda being iconic. The story has seen popularity for decades, boosted by two film versions and a hit musical.

Matilda, who is unusually smart and self-sufficient for her age, is ignored and undervalued at home and mistreated at times. When she starts school, she befriends a kind teacher called Miss Honey – the first person to ever take the time to appreciate and understand book-loving Matilda. Meanwhile, a cruel and villainous headmistress called Miss Trunchball casts a dark shadow over Matilda’s school. Matilda harnesses her inner powers and with a little help from her friends, begins a revolution that will soon see the children empowered and Miss Trunchbull’s dark regime overturned.

Roald Dahl is the master of creating devious villains, and Miss Trunchbull is one of his most memorable, here representing the repressive forces in Matilda’s life that threatened to dampen the lamp of childhood joy. The edge of magical realism provides balance and comic relief against the more serious aspects of Matilda’s mistreatment.

In true Dahl style, the resolution is happy for the protagonist, and the villains get their just desserts.

This wow-factor history book takes the reader on a 12,000-year journey to find out the story of a single UK street, showing the street during a different historical period on each page.

Many young readers love any non-fiction books that explore or peek behind closed doors. A Street Through Time does this in the best possible way and over thousands of years. You can see what people’s kitchens and bedrooms (and loos!) looked like from the Romans to the Victorians (Roman toilets I’d avoid….!).

We also love how busy this book is, so many brilliant details to explore again and again and how it shows the change in a single place over a long period. A classic among children’s non-fiction – and for good reason.

This is a wonderfully funny story from the queen of humour Pamela Butchart tells of some friends trying lots of different ways to make money. They have some ups and downs along the way as they take their idea of selling cheap pizza and try to make it into a business that makes lots of money.

Ben’s family are having some money troubles at the moment because his Dad has lost his job, and he wants to help his family find the money to pay the rent. He has read a self-help book about becoming a billionaire and thinks he can do it as well. He uses the tips from the self-help book as his guide for the best things to do to succeed in business. The story ends with a lovely example of how friends can come together to help each other.

This is a great example of a diary that primary children in Key Stage 2 would engage with. The illustrations help to break up the text and make it more exciting for the reader.

This is a fun school adventure which will appeal to fans of Pamela Butchart and Serena Patel. The story centres around Mina and her friends and their fears as they hear rumours of a spooky phantom that’s said to haunt the venue for their school camping trip.

The text is large, with wide-spaced lines and generous illustrations and some playful typesetting for emphasis, which all help with appealing to those children put off by extensive blocks of dense text. The authentic portrayal of Mina’s Bangladeshi family adds a layer of interest to the story.

This will be particularly popular with lower KS2 in a school library and will also be enjoyed by some of the older children looking for a lighter, entertaining read.

We love this laugh-out-loud funny book and recommend it for Year 4.

The world faces the terrible prospect of running out of chocolate. A chocolate loving girl called Jelly and her clever gran investigate, foiling a Dahl-esque villain called Garibaldi Chocolati.

This illustrated book is a light-hearted, fun read-aloud with chocolate-related hijinks, characters you’ll love and a mystery that keeps you guessing.

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.

The Mr Gum books have become absolute classics for children who love funny books and appeal to those with a wacky style of humour.

You’re A Bad Man, Mr.Gum is a stonkingly funny read from Andy Stanton, full of pure silliness and with a track record of delighting children aged 7-10. Mr Gum is mean, untidy, grumpy and grizzly, but he is very good at keeping his garden neat. When an excitable giant dog called Jake makes a mess in Mr Gum’s garden, Mr Gum’s mean streak comes out in hilarious and fairly ineffective ways.

Children enjoy the randomness of the dialogue, the unpredictable plot, the funny character names and the author’s witty asides. Illustrations capture the madcap tone of the book and add to the fun.

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 the second in the series of Livi’s adventures, but it works well as a standalone read, as there is plenty of backstory to explain it all.

It is a wonderfully bonkers book, taking Roman and Greek mythology and using it as the basis for madcap escapades, mixed up with modern situations too. I particularly liked the extensive glossary and use of historical terms throughout the text. My favourite part was the collection of objects, and I don’t think it would spoil the plot to mention that Alan Titchmarsh’s secateurs are amongst them. Any book that can make adults as well as children laugh and learn, has got to be a good one.

Livi is such an entertaining narrator, and her bluntness is her strength. The illustrations and cover by Flavia Sorrentino are a delight, hinting at the story at the start of each chapter as well as bringing some of the characters to life. This is definitely the sort of book to make a great read-aloud and companion text for any Romans topic.

It is 1249 BCE, and Henut lives in Egypt with her blended family. Her father remarried following the death of her mother, who was lost in the River Nile. Henut feels she is different from her family and is distrustful of the gods, which frustrates her father and causes a rift between them.

Strange things start to happen to Henut and her family, which lead to her leaving her family and embarking on a mission to uncover the truth and set things straight. She soon finds out that family cannot always be trusted and that the protection of the gods might be important after all – especially when breaking into a tomb in the infamous Valley of the Kings.

The book was enjoyable to read and would be a great class reader for a lower KS2 class studying the Egyptians.

‘Terrible True Tales by Terry Deary (of Horrible Histories fame) allows young readers to learn about the history of the Romans in a fun, engaging way.

Like with any good historical fiction, children are introduced to an array of death, rebirth, slaves, soldiers and a little bit of gore! The book is split into four short stories, previously published separately, which capture some famous legends from Roman history. Through the story collection, we witness the fire of Circus Maximum, Roman Emperor Claudius betraying the Queen and the volcanic eruption in Pompeii. In the final story, readers will learn about the infamous legend of the Roman geese, much to their amusement.

At the end of each short story, the author has included a ‘you try’ section, which allows the reader to engage in an activity linked to the story and imagine themselves as a Roman. Readers are also given a guide to which elements of the Roman stories are based on historical fact, teaching them about history as they read.

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.

A full-steam-ahead adventure that had me hooked from the get-go. The Highland Falcon Thief is a middle-grade mystery story set on a steam train. With a high spirit of adventuring and a good and proper mystery that unfolds with clues and red herrings along the course, this is a brilliantly fun story that is sure to be on track to find itself set among the very best in the children’s mystery genre.

Harrison Beck (Hal) ends up aboard the last-ever journey of a famous royal steam train, ‘The Highland Falcon’, unwillingly accompanying his travel-writer uncle. Hal doesn’t think much of steam trains, and he is even less impressed when he finds there are no other child passengers on board and no electricity to charge his devices. Before long, Hal finds himself caught up in entertainment of a more old-fashioned kind. A mystery begins to unravel among the passengers and what’s more, Hal befriends a secret stowaway girl called Lenny and the pair set to work to solve the mystery before The Highland Falcon reaches the end of its last-ever journey.

It’s a full-throttle mystery with likeable characters and a well-paced plot that is especially full of treasures for anyone who loves trains. Even those who are not particularly into trains – like myself – will enjoy the feeling of being immersed in the world of locomotions, and the joy of being on board one comes across with great passion. Highly recommended!

This is a delightful book celebrating family and friendships and is part of a very popular series. Anisha is a funny and resourceful character, whose love of STEM and eye for detail makes her the perfect detective in this humorous series of mysteries.  Anisha has an extended family that proves to be strong and supportive when things go wrong. There are authentic cultural references exploring Anisha’s Indian heritage, particularly around food and family.

The illustrations by Emma McCann help to reflect the humour in the story and the text is often broken up with lists and diagrams, making the book particularly appealing to children who may be daunted when faced with full pages of text. 

Grimwood is a wacky, anarchic animal story, full of nonsensical mayhem.

The story will certainly appeal to children in KS2 who love funny books (although possibly not the most sensitive in this age group – as there are incidents of biting off heads, tails or feet!). There’s a dark and wacky humour to the story that will delight fans of Roald Dahl or Mr Gum and plenty of discussion points such as the relationship between the fox cubs, the changes in their personalities and the desire to find refuge.

The book could work as a class reader and a fun and quirky independent read for ages 7-11.

The Clarice Bean books by Charlie and Lola creator Lauren Child are cleverly written, illustrated chapter books. The books are both laugh-out-loud funny and also tinged with mature themes that are suitable for a KS2 audience.

Clarice Bean has a unique voice that readers will find funny and interesting. She is also very ecologically aware, and the sustainability and climate issues are never thrust down your throat, but are just there and explained in the best way. This book covers a child’s perspective on stress, friendship, marriage breakups and old age decline, but the narrator’s warm and sharp observations never make it heavy or a difficult read.

Clarice Bean, narrating the story, is just wonderful. She is so straight-talking and demonstrates how youth see things clearly in a way that adults often do not.

How many of us remember the choose-your-own-adventure stories popular a few decades ago and find ourselves wondering why we rarely see new ones published today? Popular author Gareth P. Jones reintroduces the genre with ‘The Monster Maker’ – an imaginative detective story for readers looking for an interactive adventure, with hundreds of paths to choose from.

Haventry is a town where ghosts, zombie clowns, werewolves and vampires (amongst others) reside happily. That is, until Dr Franklefink’s Monster Maker machine is stolen and everyone becomes a suspect. It is then up to you to investigate and solve the mystery. Your detective partner and boss is none other than private investigator Klaus Solstaag, a yeti who is on a mission. Will you find the truth? What motive does your prime suspect have? Can you find the missing Monster Maker?

In this solve your own mystery story, readers will enjoy choosing which aspect of the crime to investigate next and sussing out who the real suspects are. For fans of the extraordinary and of detective mysteries, this is a must-read.

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.

Jasbinder Bilan’s books are always so lovely and heartwarming. They also have a powerful message within the pages, and this short and accessible animal story is no exception.

Puloma lives with her aunt and uncle after being orphaned. She isn’t treated very kindly, so she runs away. Joining the circus seems the perfect solution. Their encounters Nyla, a sloth bear who is forced to dance and is mistreated. Puloma escapes with Nyla in search of safety.

Puloma is a wonderful character. Lonely at first, she soon shows her brave, strong morals. She knows the way Nyla is treated is wrong. The story is well written and touches on the world of animal cruelty. There is a section at the back explaining India’s sloth bear protection and conservation projects. This book is also dyslexia-friendly.

Bertie and the Alien Chicken by Jenny Pearson is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud novel that is perfect for engaging KS2 readers.

Bursting with humour and heart, the story follows a child’s wildly imaginative adventure involving a very suspicious chicken, blending everyday family life with outrageous fun. Pearson’s distinctive voice keeps readers hooked while also delivering a warm, emotionally grounded story. Beneath the comedy, the book explores themes of family, belonging, grief and resilience in a sensitive and age-appropriate way.

The accessible language and short chapters support reluctant readers while still offering depth for more confident ones. This is an excellent choice for the classroom: funny, heartfelt and meaningful!

Lily has always felt she’s on the edge. On the edge of friendship groups and the edge of her own life, looking in. Until one day a teacher inspires her to join the local girls’ football team. Lily usually finds school difficult because she’s shy and anxious, but now begins to find her feet, quite literally, playing football. Her confidence soars, and finally she feels she’s part of a team. Despite a teammate and her inner demons putting her progress in jeopardy, she overcomes the mental challenges and succeeds.

This is a fantastic and well-crafted book. I especially enjoyed the history of women’s football, which was referred to after each chapter. Each chapter had a subchapter on icons of women’s football as well as the journey women have had to go through to be taken more seriously, but not yet as seriously as men, on the pitch.

This inspiring book is accessible from age 7 upwards, written in a dyslexia-friendly format with easy vocabulary for all to comprehend. This is a book to be read independently or with their families and one that will inspire future footballers, whether girls or boys, for a long time to come.

This is a tale of love, loss and identity. It has magical sparkles of light and humour amongst the serious themes of depression and separation. The Snowman Code is a book about kindness. It may be set in the longest, coldest of winters, but it is warm and tender and would melt even the iciest of hearts. Share it and enjoy its message of love, kindness and togetherness.

Exciting, strange, magical, adventurous and gripping.

This story from award-winning author Elizabeth Laird is a great choice for KS2.

When young Finn takes a dive in the water near his fishing village, he is delighted to find dolphins to swim with. However, the dolphins face a terrible threat due to the masses of rubbish floating around in their water. It is up to Finn to find a way to save the sea creatures and prevent their natural environment from becoming ruined.

This is a topical and thought-provoking novel with environmental and ocean themes.

This is a truly lovely story with themes of refugees and inclusion, pitched just right to build empathy, promote kindness, and encourage readers to challenge stereotypes and question opinions that may not be based on fact. The story is filled with so much warmth and truth, pitched perfectly for stimulating some really great discussions with youngsters.

Ahmet is a refugee, and is given a previously empty seat at the back of the class when he starts a new school. He is befriended by the narrator of the story. Through the story, we learn about Ahmet’s background and the ups and downs of integrating into a new school. Kindness and friendship triumph, and the story develops empathy and encourages human connection. A good story for KS2 children to read and discuss.

Leo wants to talk, but he can’t. He has all the words, but fear means they won’t come out. When Risha moves in next door, he’s worried that when his new friend finds out his secret, he’ll be left alone again. But when he learns her secret, he hopes to help her and make her a permanent friend,

This book sensitively explains selective mutism for young (and older) readers. Told beautifully over a hot summer, we are let into the world of a young KS2 boy who is often treated as though he’s not there. He wants to participate in school activities and make friends, but anxiety stops him. As the story progresses, we’re taken on a journey as Leo takes steps to achieve his future dream of dancing in The Lion King. However, if his selective mutism stops him from dancing in the summer dance show how can he ever dance on the West End Stage?

As a teacher, this was an excellent read, giving an insight into how pupils with selective mutism might navigate the world around them and giving tips on how you might support a child in your class to give them the same opportunities as others. It would be great for use in PSHE lessons exploring empathy.

A simple but punch-packing tale from storytelling master David Almond.

When a brand new boy called George starts at school, Daniel and his best friend Maxie are looking forward to getting a chance to enjoy the company of a new classmate. Daniel agrees to keep an eye on the new boy, although he has to admit there are a few unusual things about George. A series of questions without answers begins to unravel – like why George is ushered unwillingly into a black van at the end of the play date, or why the teachers seem to have a weird response to George in class, or why there’s a sudden announcement that George will leave the school. And what exactly is inside that tall box that is wheeled into assembly the following week?

This is an innovative story that weaves themes of compassion, hope and community as well as what it means to be alive. The dignity and compassion with which Daniel and his friends treat George are beautiful. I also loved the characterisation of Daniel’s mum, who is full of love, acceptance and a happy dose of Geordie warmth. The way people have been treated in the family home often naturally affects how they treat strangers, and Daniel is a prime example of this. The dangerous impact of technology on children is touched upon, but so is its potential to enhance human experience when treated sagely, with respect for human experience kept at its heart.

True to style, David Almond weaves a thought-provoking tale with hints of darkness, plenty of hope and pause for reflection on what it means to be alive.

What a brilliant book! Ten-year-old Matilda has decided to build a rocket to travel to the moon and back. This story is jam-packed with facts about what is needed for each stage. From gravity and orbits to fuel calculations, you find out how previous space missions solved each aspect of space travel and the science behind them. And of course, all the key questions about space missions are answered like how do you poop in space?!

Matilda is a brilliant role model for women in STEM – intelligent, sparky and ambitious. Her narrative voice is strong and entertaining.

The mix of science and the history of the Apollo missions makes this book absolutely fascinating, and the illustrations, font styles and chatty style make it an easy read for Key Stage 2.

With brilliant links to STEM subjects, this would be a particularly good addition as a reading-for-pleasure choice alongside the Earth and Space topic in Science. It also shows ambition, resilience and the ability to research and plan before undertaking a task.

The Bunny Vs Monkey series by Jamie Smart has become a popular favourite with children. The stories started as part of the Phoenix Comic and have now been made into a book series of their own. Teachers are seeing what a big hit these funny graphic novels have been in the classroom and the books have also seen success in bestseller lists and book award shortlists.

The stories follow the wacky tales of Bunny and his friends Weenie the Squirrel, Pig (the pig), Action Beaver and Skunky the Inventor, who all lived a peaceful life in the forest until Monkey’s rocket crash-landed and he decided to take over. What follows is a riot of chaotic adventures and mayhem that unfolds through a funny comic strip format.

If you enjoy this series, check out our list of more books for fans of Bunny vs Monkey.

We love this good-natured graphic novel series!

Brand new teacher Mr Wolf starts his first day at Hazelwood school, teaching a Year 5 class. The fun of animal characters in an instantly familiar classroom setting is an instant appeal, with the warmth of the regular routines of the school day coupled with the funny and surprises that crop up in normal classrooms too. Fans of Pamela Butchart’s Wigglesbottom Primary series will enjoy moving on to these school-based tales next.

These comic-style books are warm and humorous, and an enormous hit with children around 7-10. Primary children looking for graphic novels sometimes need to navigate their choices to avoid books originally aimed at older children (because of the publishing history of the format, which was popular with teens before gradually becoming more accessible to a younger audience, much to our delight!).

We highly recommend Mr Wolf’s Class as a safe, enjoyable and entertaining choice for KS2 children.

This beautiful poetry anthology that includes a new nature poem for every day of the year is likely to become a primary classroom essential and one that will be valuable for classes learning about plants or seasonal change.

The collection of 366 poems (to make sure leap years are covered too!) contains a really interesting mix of poems from well-known favourites from Christina Rossetti and Walter de la Mare to more modern offerings by Benjamin Zephaniah and Carol Ann Duffy, with each poem reflecting the seasonal changes associated with that day’s position in the year.

The book is structured into monthly sections, and the poems are accompanied by beautiful illustrations that celebrate the beauty of the natural world and changing seasons.

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.

The Barnabus Project is a unique and beguiling picture book that will intrigue KS2 children, with magical illustrations and an original storyline.

Barnabus lives in a lab for genetically engineered pets, but is left hidden away in a jar as a ‘failed project’. He dreams to escape, and calls on an eclectic group of fellow rejects to put his escape plan into action.

If you are familiar with the work of the incredible Fan brothers, you’ll know to except stunning illustrations with details designed to intrigue, delight and challenge. There’s plenty of peril and suspense in the story, and KS2 children will love getting stuck into this ‘older’ picturebook. Ultimately the messages are of teamwork, acceptance and not giving up on dreams – with scope for some deeper discussions about the ethics of genetic engineering and animal captivity, as well as conversations about celebrating difference.

This stunning book is a Key Stage 2 picturebook must-read.

An interesting and evocative picture book, transporting readers to a 1950s Canadian mining town through the eyes of a young boy.

The boy gazes at the sea in the mornings, always aware that his father is working deep below it in the coal mine. This first-person narrative immerses us directly into the boy’s everyday world, steeped in the legacy of a challenging industry.

Sidney Smith’s sweeping illustrations contrast the shimmering seascape with the darkened world of the mine. This visual juxtaposition powerfully highlights the boy’s unspoken future, stirring profound questions about choice as he wonders at his own destiny.

The rhythmic book offers rich opportunities for discussion in Key Stage 2 classrooms about family heritage, community and whether paths are truly inevitable or open to change. A powerful and thought-provoking book.

‘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.

This book is packed with information for budding mountaineers or fans of Geography.

Filled with facts, this book is perfect for class libraries or topic boxes. The beginning of the book features information about mountains, geographical terms, mountain ranges, explorers and the preparation involved before attempting to reach a summit.

The rest of the text concentrates on pages of information dedicated to famous mountains across the world, including Everest, Kilimanjaro and Vinson Massif – which is perfect for in-depth study work. Each section includes facts and details about conquests and climbs, accompanied by a very detailed glossary.

A fact-filled, round-the-world tour of the greatest mountains on Earth that is the perfect read for children and adults alike.

This is a brilliantly visual re-telling of Ernest Shackleton’s adventures from pole to pole, published to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Shackleton’s historic expedition.

This engaging text is filled with diagrams, maps, infographics and fascinating facts that will both delight readers and transport them through an imaginary exploration of frozen worlds.

We recommend Shackleton’s Journey as a good non-fiction text to use for engaging reluctant readers in KS2. There is also an accompanying activity book available from Amazon.

Anyone fascinated by animals or nature will love this book. The whole premise of the book is to look in detail at animals’ mouths. How do they eat? How do certain animals use their mouths to travel, or call for help? All of the answers can be found inside this book.

The facts are presented straightforwardly so that they can be easily understood by children. The illustrations help bring the information alive. For example, in a section about which animal has the longest tongue, the anteater is depicted, and the termite nest is shown in cross-section to enable the reader to picture clearly how far the tongue goes.

This is a fascinating information book to aid science topics on habitats and adaptation, and one that will be snapped up by the jaws of fact-loving readers in lower KS2.