Book Friday Book Recommendations

Written in verse. Ronny moves out of London after his friend is attacked, but he struggles to fit into his new town until he discovers spoken word.

Powerful, empathetic, raw, inspiring and creative!

Spirit Warriors is a fantastic action-adventure where friendships are forged between two children and a cat when they battle the evil Blackheart Man for control of the island’s magic. It’s a huge amount of fun!

Magical, mysterious, spooky, historical and exciting!

This is a hilarious graphic novel about a girl who falls down a hole into the underworld and has to battle the ruler, while navigating terrifying challenges such as the “bog of intense emotions”.

A funny, weird, mysterious and absurd page-turner!

Incredibly funny and really of the moment, written as group chat messages.

Contemporary, zingy, cringy, funny and snappy!

With stunning pictures and lyrical words, this is a book to savour and read time after time. A proper feast for the eyes and an utter delight to share and read aloud. A story that will keep you dreaming of dragons for years to come.

Enchanting, beautiful, evocative, imaginative and poetic.

11-year-old Alanna of Trebond dreams of becoming a knight, but like in all good adventure stories, her path is not easy. How can a girl become a knight? This is a book to pick up if you love swords, sorcery and very clever cats.

With themes of adventure, magic, bravery, identity and journeys.

When she was eight, Lavender Wild went missing in the woods for months. Although her memories are hazy, she knows she was rescued and looked after by Mother Nest – a deity who can transform between an old woman and a giant magpie.

Back home, Lavender has become a Magpie Girl with the ability to find lost things and communicate with birds, whilst also growing feathers – which she hides or plucks out. She still longs for adventure, but her father keeps her close, terrified of another disappearance.

When the father of her childhood best friend, Kit Noble, vanishes during his annual quest to offer tribute to a deity, Lavender is desperate to be involved in the rescue attempt. She runs away and joins Kit on his mission, but they are thwarted by earthquakes, daemons and the presence of the powerful wish-granting Firebird from his mountaintop prison. Lavender realises that Kit’s family history is deeply entwined with local legends and deities and that there is far more at stake than just using her magpie senses to find Lord Noble.

This fabulous adventure gives a little nod at the beginning to Rowan’s previous book, Heartseer, although this is a standalone story. The characters are well-formed and the changes in their relationships are carefully constructed, with a thread running through the story regarding discussing problems and painful memories instead of ignoring them. I loved all the different deities and the author notes at the end, which explained the mythological basis for their characters: my favourite has to be the Nightmare with the ability to take others to visit sleepers in their dreams and affect their future.

I have thoroughly enjoyed both of the author’s books and would recommend her to fans of Sophie Anderson and those who enjoy myths and folklore

This is a book I would have devoured as a child, full of magic and lovable characters. If you enjoy stories about witches, friendship, and adventure, rich with imagination, then this is for you!

Magical, exciting, spellbinding, witty and enchanting!

Jake Atlas and the Tomb of the Emerald Snake by Rob Lloyd Jones is a fast-paced, tomb-raiding adventure through Egypt, featuring adventure, secrets, Egypt, treasure and gadgets!

A truly funny and poignant look at first love and the fumbling attempts to gain the attention of a new girl in school.

Hilarious, cool, heartfelt, soulful and brilliant!

A hilarious celebration of children learning how to do things independently and how giving it a go is as important as getting it right the first time.

Five words to sum up the book would be: independence, growth, positive, playful and inspiring.

21% Monster by PJ Canning is a cracking rollercoaster of a ride about what it means to be ‘almost’ human. If you love Marvel and Stranger Things, you’ll love this!

Fast-paced, adventurous, surprising, intelligent and monstrous!

A story of magic and colonial evil with an intrepid young heroine – Chompa – who is forced to travel from her home in Bangladesh to the chaos of 19th-century East London to find her kidnapped mother.

Five words to sum up the story would be: thrilling, magical, political, underdog and atmospheric.

An action-packed, hilarious and heart-warming adventure that follows Silver, who is definitely-not-a-detective, as she tries to make friends, solve crime and discover who she really is – all aboard a cruise ship!

A Fast-paced, interactive, funny  mystery adventure.

The Lucky House Detective Agency is a wonderful detective story set in the Lucky House Chinese takeaway. It’s a great mystery book for KS2. Perfect for fans of Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths and Anisha Accidental Detective.

5 individual words to describe the book: Fun, Diverse, Crime, Food, and Bamboo!

I’m currently reading The Terrible Trio (The Not-So Superheroes) by Swapna Haddow and Minky Stapleton and I’m LOVING it. It’s a graphic novel for younger readers, and it’s an absolute hoot.

Five words to describe it – Animals, superpowers, silly, graphic novel and laugh-out-loud-HILARIOUS!

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!

A moving and heartfelt story about the relationship between an orphan and a pit pony in 1950s Yorkshire.

Reminiscent of classics like Black Beauty and Goodnight Mr Tom, Birdie is both a heart-warming animal story and a powerful exploration of belonging and bravery. A must-read for young readers, teachers and anyone who cherishes stories about finding hope in the face of adversity. Timeless, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting, Birdie is destined to become a classic.

A funny, feel-good story about friendship, hidden histories and diasporic Chinese identity.

KS2 readers of Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths will be pleased to see this latest addition on their bookshelves, and librarians to increase the diversity of their stock.

Funny, uplifting, eye-opening, heart-warming and charming!

This is a wonderful collection of stories set in five different countries. Perfect for a rainy autumn day, dip in and be transported far, far away.

To sum it up in five words – epic, stunning, adventure, courage and resilience.

You have arrived for a better life at the New House in the New Land.” From the first sentence, the second-person narrative gives readers a unique and powerful experience of this beautiful, moving story of a young girl finding her way in an unfamiliar world. One of my all-time favourite books.

Migration, magic, resilience, friendship and hope.

First published in 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit has become known as a classic book for children and one that remains highly recommended today, particularly for secondary school students.

The story follows the magical adventure of one of the best-loved characters in fantasy literature – peace-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins.

This book’s engaging narrative and accessible language make it an ideal introduction to longer-form storytelling and the wild and imaginative cast of characters (like the wizard Gandalf, the band of dwarves and Smaug the dragon) familiarise a variety of key tropes of the fantasy genre. It also lays a foundation for appreciating the broader world of Tolkien’s Middle-earth, should readers wish to explore further.

Exciting, strange, magical, adventurous and gripping!

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 is one of the first books I bought for my first child. I read it on repeat and we both absolutely loved it. 

Rhythmic, hopeful, soothing, sweet and special!

This book gripped my heart from author Fidan’s opening note about her research, telling the story of the world’s “nobody children”. Anyone in denial of the plight of refugees needs to read this essential story, packed full of love and empathy and based on real experiences.

5 individual words to describe the book: Family, empathy, fight, survival and hope.

This is a brilliant picture book describing all the amazing things which could happen if you show a T-Rex a book. It is a love letter to librarians and libraries everywhere, with engaging and vibrant illustrations which leap off the page. A must for reading aloud during class visits and storytime!

Funny, interactive, joyous, imaginative and playful!

This is probably one of my books of the year. It’s beautifully constructed, with three parallel storylines which eventually merge. There’s a lot for children to empathise with and discuss. It’s a genuine page-turner!

Gripping, empathy-filled, warm, complex and optimistic!

This stunning hybrid of novel and picture book tells the story of Hugo, a boy living alone in a Paris train station, whose circumstances lead him on a journey of clocks, film, discovery and connection.

It’s a story that also takes the reader on a journey through the streets of Paris and teaches about emotions, self-discovery, and the magic of storytelling itself.

Inventive, cinematic, mysterious, moving and timeless.

Badger Books is the sequel to Tailer and Sons and is set in the same town of Ballybrush.

Badger owns a bookshop which has books about everything imaginable. But one day, Rory the Fox comes in, and Badger doesn’t have a book to satisfy Rory’s imagination. Badger encourages Rory to write his own…and a partnership blossoms.

Imagination, creativity, friendship, kindness and community.

In this short, illustrated chapter book, Pedro is an endearing main character. His longing to have an adventure, and the obstacles to achieving that, will strike a chord with many KS1 children. They will be cheering him on, through danger and disappointment, to his enrolment as a fully signed-up member of the Adventuremice team.

An affectively engaging, wonderfully illustrated picture book. It shows how sensitive teachers can unlock the voices of the young and help them develop confidence as children and as writers.  Superb.

Inspiring, lyrical, engaging, emotional and satisfying!