Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

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Mystery and Detective Books for KS2

Recommended Children’s Mystery Stories

Prepare to be puzzled and perplexed by this hand-picked list of the best mystery and detective stories for KS2 children! With codes to crack, red herrings to spot and trails of clues to follow, these mystery stories offer top-quality storytelling that young readers won’t be able to put down.

From children’s detective books set in iconic cities, like Villains in Venice and The Clockwork Conspiracy, to mystery adventures in historical settings like Friends and Traitors and A Case of Grave Danger, this list features stories of theft, murder and disappearance that will captivate children aged 7 to 11.

So don your deerstalker hat, grab your magnifying glass and prepare to solve the clues!

Sports (KS2)

Best KS2 Children’s Books about Sports

Get young readers moving with this list of the best sports books for children in KS2! Alongside vibrantly illustrated non-fiction titles, this list features an extensive range of chapter books and graphic novels with engaging characters and fast-paced stories, ranging from mystery to biography.

Our sports booklists enrich curriculum learning in physical education as well as supporting extra-curricular interests. We’ve covered a mix of different sporting activities to inspire future champions and to introduce the interesting and varied world of sports – from stories about cricket in Going to Bat and tennis in Knowing the Score to biographies of sporting superstars like in Salah Rules and Trailblazers: Simone Biles.

This list of recommended children’s books about sports is aimed at KS2 readers (age 7-11). For sporting books for younger children, try our Sports (KS1) list.

Sports (KS1)

Best KS1 Children’s Books about Sports

Get young readers moving with this list of the best sports books for children in KS1! From the health benefits of physical activity to the value of teamwork and the excitement of competition, this carefully selected list of titles will bring the world of sport to life, with engaging stories and vibrant illustrations.

This list of books about sports is aimed at KS1 readers. For older children, try our Sports (KS2) list.

Eid and Ramadan Booklist

Best children’s books about Eid and Ramadan

Browse our curated list of recommended children’s books exploring Ramadan and Eid traditions. These children’s story books about Eid and Ramadan cover themes of community, giving, compassion and self-reflection, providing a way for young readers to connect with religious and cultural festivals.

Our team has handpicked recommended books for schools and families to learn about the traditions associated with this significant month of the Islam calendar, involving fasting, prayer and reflection, and culminating in the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast.

Branching Out: Books for Fans of The Final Year

If you like The Final Year, try these…

The Final Year is an extraordinary verse novel about the last year of primary school, told through poetry. The verse captures the character of Year 6 pupil Nate as he navigates issues of school, family illness, emotions, change and friendships. Year 6 is a difficult year for many children and whilst they are unlikely to have it quite as difficult as Nate, the book still captures some of that flavour, including the run-up to SATs, friendship issues and anxiety during a time when a sense of big changes is in the air.

Through powerful verses, ex-primary school teacher Matt Goodfellow pays testament to the impact of a great teacher in supporting pupils through this time as well as the power of words and writing to help manage big emotions.

The book has seen phenomenal popularity among teachers in Upper Key Stage 2, and has brought verse novels for primary into the spotlight as well as winning our Books of the Year ‘Best Classroom Read-Aloud’ category for Upper KS2.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of The Final Year. Readers who love the verse novel format will feel at home with The Way of Dog or In the Key of Code. For those looking for more school-based stories in a similar style, try Little Light or Malorie Blackman’s Cloud Busting. Some readers will be keen to find more verse novels that capture emotional situations through narrative poetry and we recommend The Stories Grandma Forgot or Sharon Creech’s much-loved verse novel Love That Dog.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for more books like The Final Year…

Download Printable Poster (PDF)

Suffragettes and Women’s Suffrage

Recommended Children’s Books About Suffragettes and Women’s Suffrage

Explore the history of women’s right to vote with this list of children’s books about suffragettes and women’s suffrage. Featuring everything from time-travelling historical fiction to real-life accounts of the key figures in women’s fight for the vote, this women’s suffrage children’s booklist offers young readers an exciting introduction to the KS2 topic.

India Topic

Best Children’s Books About India

Transport your primary school classroom to India with this curated selection of children’s books. Packed with colourful picture books, engaging chapter adventures, diverse short stories, and informative non-fiction, this list offers a hand-picked selection of children’s books to explore Indian culture, history, wildlife and landscapes.

This list of recommended children’s books about India invites primary readers to explore the vibrant culture, history, and traditions of this fascinating country. From traditional tales like Under the Great Plum Tree to historical chapter book fiction like Torn Apart, this booklist is here to help children find out more about the history and geography of India.

Maps and Mapping

Best Children’s Books about Maps and Mapping

All aboard for a voyage of discovery! This booklist offers young readers a richly illustrated introduction to the fascinating world of maps and mapping. Alongside beautiful atlases and map books, we also feature recommended stories about maps and the adventures that they may hold.

On our expertly-selected booklist, you’ll find everything from picture book stories about mapmaking adventures to engaging chapter books that weave tales of navigation and exploration. We’ve also curated a selection of the best children’s atlases, perfect for primary school children to learn about different countries, continents and landforms.

From The Atlas of Great Journeys to Martha Maps it Out, grab a compass and explore this list of the best children’s books about maps and mapping.

Healthy Lifestyles

Healthy Lifestyles Booklist

Browse our booklist of recommended children’s books about healthy eating, exercise, hygiene and mental wellbeing. This expertly curated list features a mix of fascinating fiction and non-fiction texts to support the Healthy Lifestyles topic.

Year Group Lists – New Additions

Best Books for Each Year Primary Group

New Additions – Updated 2025

Each of our Year Group Recommended Reads lists contains 50 books specially picked out for reading for pleasure in each primary year group, from Preschool to Year 6. The lists are designed to provide recommendations of age-appropriate and accessible books across a range of genres and styles. These lists differ from our topic booklists, as the books are purely selected to read for pleasure at each age group. The Year Group lists also come with printable posters and checklists.

We update our lists annually and schools can purchase sets of the packs from Peters. As well as the full book packs, schools can also purchase a top-up pack containing just the newly added titles for 2025-2026.

Some of the titles are newly published, whereas others are older favourites that have just been added to the Year Group lists for the first time. Browse the lists below to see the new additions for each year group, launched 3rd June 2025.