Introduce young readers to gravity, friction and how things move with this carefully selected list of the best children’s books about forces and motion, featuring a mix of picturebooks, chapter books and non-fiction titles.
This list brings the forces and motion topic to life with bright illustrations, fun activities and engaging stories, offering a fascinating introduction to this fundamental primary science curriculum topic.
Electricity is everywhere in children’s lives, but it can be a tricky concept for children to grasp. This list of the best children’s books about electricity will help to illuminate the science topic through colourful illustrations, interactive experiments and fascinating real-life stories.
Exploring the history of electricity and its pioneers, alongside modern, renewable energy production and learning about simple circuits, this list offers an accessible and engaging introduction to this most essential of utilities!
The exciting, courageous and innovative history of flight is brought to life in this selection of fiction and non-fiction texts for children. This hand-picked list of the best children’s books about the history of flight features fascinating life stories of flight pioneers like Amelia Earhart and the Wright Brothers, alongside beautifully illustrated histories of flying machines such as Aviation and Planes.
Fly up, up and away with this list of the best primary school books about flight and flying machines!
Children love exploring the topic of construction, with its big ideas and even bigger machines! This list of the best children’s books about construction includes informative non-fiction such as Building a Home, alongside hilarious fiction titles like You Can’t Let an Elephant Drive a Digger. Find books for your construction area or to inspire young readers who love diggers, building and junk modelling.
The next best thing to donning a hard hat, this carefully curated collection of books will transport young readers to a range of construction sites, and get them thinking about what they might build themselves!
A timeless favourite in EYFS, the jungle topic offers a feast for all the senses, as well as a chance to learn about exotic animals. This list of the best children’s books about the jungle offers a richly illustrated journey through this magical yet fragile habitat, inviting young readers to let their imaginations run wild.
From storytime classics like Elmer and Walking Through the Jungle to gorgeously illustrated picturebooks like Leap Frog and You’re Safe with Me, this list will bring the animals of the jungle to life for young readers.
Please note, if you are looking for rainforest themed books for older readers, try our Rainforest KS2 Topic Booklist.
Celebrate our playful and loyal furry friends with this list of the best children’s books about dogs.
From storytime classics like Hairy Maclary and accessible, shorter chapter books like The Dog That Saved the World (Cup), to longer reads exploring more complex themes like The Way of Dog, this list has something to offer readers of all ages and abilities. Dog-lovers will find plenty of new children’s books to choose from featuring canine characters.
Read on for our list of the best books about dogs and dog characters for primary school children.
Exploring the wonders of nature in a forest school environment can help to nurture children’s curiosity, creativity and love for the outdoors. This list of the best forest school books for children can be used to inspire forest school sessions or outdoor learning in woodland areas.
This list of recommended forest school books for children will help readers to get creative with The Big Book of Nature Art, take time to appreciate moments in nature with Slow Down, or join Squishy McFluff on a Camping Adventure!
With titles ranging from beautifully illustrated nature-inspired non-fiction to laugh-out-loud rhyming adventures set in the woods, these are the best children’s books to inspire learning in nature.
From the sights and smells of the market to the excitement of a toy shop, shopping can be a feast for the senses! This carefully curated list of the best children’s books about shopping captures the joy of shopping, while teaching valuable lessons about money and making choices.
Featuring gorgeously illustrated titles like Off to the Market and A Gift for Amma alongside favourite characters such as Spot and Squishy McFluff, there’s no need to shop around for a list of the best children’s books about shopping!
Updated for 2026
Graphic novels are powerful tools for building visual literacy in primary school children. Whether you are looking for books to support reluctant readers or high-quality texts for KS1 and KS2 literacy lessons, this curated list offers expert-recommended graphic novels for every age group
Graphic novels are longer stories written and illustrated in the style of a comic, combining a sequence of engaging visual elements that drive the plot, coupled with short pockets of text in the form of captions and dialogue. Our expert team of teachers and librarians has witnessed this format seeing a burst in popularity in recent years, and these books are seeing an increasing demand in primary schools. We’ve handpicked a list of the most brilliant graphic novels for primary school
Scroll down to find more purchasing options and additional guidance, or click on each book cover to find out more.
Diary-style stories have grown in popularity in recent years, thanks in part to bestselling series such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Lottie Brooks. This style of writing is particularly engaging for reluctant readers and for children who like to get right into the heart of a story. Diaries can be used to explore a host of topics and themes.
This carefully-selected list of the best diary-style children’s books features popular favourites Dork Diaries and animal diaries like The Diary of a Killer Cat and The Unbelievable Top Secret Diary of Pig, alongside gripping adventures like The Secret Diary of Kitty Cask and Lost on Gibbon Island. For a more thought-provoking read, try Cloud Boy or My Secret War Diary.
KS2 children will love exploring the titles on this list. They may even be inspired to start a diary of their own!
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