As the air turns chilly and mornings become frosty, why not cosy up inside with a book all about the season of Winter? Our selection of best children’s books about Winter covers everything from magical snowmen and beautiful snowflakes to winter bird migration and hibernating animals…
We love to hear about which books are popular among our community of primary teachers, TAs, librarians, authors and children’s book lovers.
We searched for your top children’s books published in 2021. Browse the SHORTLISTED books in each category below or head to the Books of the Year page to see the category winners.
If you are looking for a library top-up of new books for your school, you can purchase the full selection in one pack.
See the 2022 version of this list here…
Favourite books of the year, voted by thousands of teachers
We love to hear about which books are popular among our community of primary teachers! We asked our community to vote for their favourite children’s books published in 2024 (see the full shortlist here). We invited teachers to vote for their best classroom read-alouds, the books that were the biggest hit with pupils and the top books to support the curriculums.
Here are the books that our community of teachers and librarians voted as their favourites.
Upper KS2
Best
Classroom Read-Aloud
Our comments:
“In this collaboration with the National Literacy Trust, Tom Percival has written a book that should be in every school library in the country. For Will, things just keep going wrong. Bullied for having cheap shoes, misunderstood by his teachers, and struggling to come to terms with the bleak and hungry life he leads after his dad lost his job, life seems to be pushing him down a path of self-destruction.
The love of his family, the persistence of his friends, and a freak encounter with nature keep filling him with just enough hope to keep doing the next right thing.
Will is living on the poverty line, and this will be a sensitive issue for some children. Life for Will is hard, but he learns that he is still powerful, and in a position to make choices about his future and the path he wants to take.
The Wrong Shoes is a story that will increase empathy in children whose lives are easier than Will’s, and empower those who relate to him. Suitable for Upper KS2 and beyond.”
Upper KS2
Best
Children’s Favourite
Our comments:
“11-year-old Silver’s life changes when her father is offered a four-month job in Costa Rica, painting pictures of turtles for a rescue centre. As Silver settles into her different 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.
Friendship, self-doubt, bravery and resilience weave through the chapters alongside thorny issues such as depression and family strife. The characters are all likable 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 and the illustrations – as in the previous books – are fantastic. I am sure that this is going to become a classic.“
Upper KS2
Best
Curriculum Support
Our comments:
“Based on a fascinating real-life story, this recreated autobiography tracks the life of Hardit Singh Malik. With the outbreak of World War 1, he is as keen to join up as his friends are. Astonishingly, as a British Indian, he cannot. It is only through the intervention of some well-connected English friends that exceptions are made and he can fulfil his dream to become a pilot. Adventures and jeopardy follow. Hardit will need resourcefulness, courage and training to survive.
Hardit is an impressive scholar and cricketer but most impressive of all is the way he successfully faces down prejudice with dignity and firmness. His resolution to overcome difficulties (he even has a special flying helmet made to fit over his turban, for example) is inspiring.
His narrative celebrates the historic contribution made by British Indians to the Great War.
This is an excellent book to help deepen and round out the study of both World War I.“
Lower KS2
Best
Classroom Read-Aloud
Our comments:
“This collection of poems by Michael Rosen is designed to make you ‘laugh, smile and think’.
The book includes a poem on the life of a red blood cell and its journey round your body, a monster who slowly eats the entire alphabet (how do you speak if you’ve run out of letters?) and a day in the life of a cat – sleeping, eating and manipulating your pet human.
All told with Rosen’s usual sense of humour and ear for rhythm, these poems are perfect for reading aloud in class and make for a wonderful shared experience for a class of children to listen to together (and therefore to laugh, smile and think together too). The book is beautifully illustrated throughout by the brilliant Ed Vere who manages to bring Rosen’s imaginings creatively to life.
Perfect for children (and adults) of any age.“
Lower KS2
Best
Children’s Favourite
Our comments:
“An absolutely first-class, laugh-out-loud, cartoon-filled adventure series for 7+ readers.
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 and fairy adventures don’t always go to plan.
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.
Comedy claims the reader’s attention in this illustrated laugh-out-loud book and another KS2 favourite is born.“
Lower KS2
Best
Curriculum Support
Our comments:
“An engaging and informative text full of interesting facts and vibrant illustrations perfect for a Key Stage 2 audience. The book supports the National Curriculum areas about 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.
What makes the book particularly unique is the inclusion 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.
This volcano themed children’s book is a fascinating read from start to finish.“
KS1
Best
Classroom Read-Aloud
Our comments:
“We are 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..”
KS1
Best
Children’s Favourite
Our comments:
“Matty Long – known for Super Happy Magic Forest – has an iconic illustrative style that appeals to younger children. The main character Croaky Hopper is funny and the storyline moves quickly.
Croaky is different to other frogs and not content to stay home when his dreams of wild adventures are just a leap away – especially when he signs up for Woggle Scouts and ends up on an expedition to find the legendary Sasquatch.
We love the vibrant character of Croaky and his energetic personality will resonate with readers in the age group of the intended audience. The book feels like a chapter book, but the printed format is familiar to those who like picturebooks or early graphic novels.
Boundingly great fun for 5-8 year olds, this is a winner of an early chapter book for newly independent readers.“
KS1
Best
Curriculum Support
Our comments:
“In this book, Snow is personified, sharing with us her journey and perspective as she goes on an adventure down a waterfall, along a river and out to sea. This is a fascinating take on the water cycle, enabling children to develop a sense of how water everywhere is connected.
There is plenty of pleasing vocabulary in this story – which is written in rhyming verse. Words like flurry, slushy and warm, big splishy splash, bobbing and bubbling, hazy and hot demonstrate playfulness with words.
The book explores themes of pollution, environment and geography, exploring how waste can have an impact on our water system and beyond.
The illustrations in this book are really powerful and emotive – it is sure to evoke children’s interest and curiosity and keep them coming back.“
EYFS
Best
Classroom Read-Aloud
Our comments:
“Mikey the Dinosaur absolutely does not want to share his donuts, but they keep going missing and he cannot work out where they’re disappearing to. He suspects and then challenges the reader – Did you steal them? Can you turn the page without touching the donuts? Or the crumbs? Or the frosting? Whose shadow is that in the background, anyway?
Poor old Mikey goes through all the emotions until he finally figures out all his friends have been sneaking the donuts…it wasn’t you after all! So you can share his last donut (and another plateful, if you’re lucky!).
Donut Touch is a really delightful read-aloud suitable for EYFS and KS1 classes, and would be brilliant shared between parent and child. Lots to giggle at with the opportunity to make silly faces and voices; but with a nice message about not jumping to conclusions and how nice it is to share. Highly recommended. Cheerfully illustrated without being garish, this will be a firm favourite for EYFS story times.”
EYFS
Best
Children’s Favourite
Our comments:
“it’s no surprise that this laugh-out-loud picturebook with bright illustrations and a hilariously relatable main character has been a gigantic hit with EYFS children.
Hank the Goose is a character with whom many of us will be familiar; he can upset others and struggles to deal with his impulsivity.Finding himself lonely, we see him try to manage his big emotions and start afresh, but that isn’t always easy for our goose.
Thanks to the kindness and tolerance of others, Hank learns to reflect on his behaviour and make positive changes.This book carefully delivers powerful messages to its readers in a fun and amusing way.
Children will laugh out loud with Hank while learning about tolerance and respect for others, building those core values, as well as the importance of being kind.
With wonderful illustrations and a story that interweaves simplicity with adventurous language, you cannot help but love Hank – flaws and all!”
EYFS
Best
Curriculum Support
Our comments:
“Tom Percival has become known for using words and drawings to distil the deep feelings of childhood. In this latest book to join the series that began with Ruby’s Worry, he addresses the disappointment of ruined plans.
Bea is brimming with excitement that she will be celebrating her birthday with her whole extended family. But a little snowfall means the postman can’t deliver her presents and then more and more snow means her family can’t make it to her party. As her plans are shattered, jagged lines splinter across the illustrations, symbolising very visually how Bea’s happiness has been broken by disappointment. The rest of the book shows how Bea, helped by the kindness of her family, finds a way to move forward and appreciate that there is more than one way to perfection.
It’s a sweet and hopeful book – fun to read in its own right but also a great way to learn about feelings with young children. Embedded in the story is a wise lesson about looking around for small pleasures to stop it ruining a whole day.“
Previous Winners – 2023 BooksForTopics Books of the Year
The Emerald Forest – Catherine Ward & Karin Littlewood
The Final Year – Matt Goodfellow
Finding Bear – Hannah Gold
Adventuremice: Otter Chaos! – Philip Reeve & Sarah McIntyre
Mavis the Bravest – Lu Fraser & Sarah Warburton
The Kindest Red – Ibtihaj Muhammad & S.K. Ali
Alice Eclair, Spy Extraordinaire: A Spoonful of Spying – Sarah Todd Taylor
The Boy Who Saved a Bear – Nizrana Farook
Amy Gets Eaten – Adam Kay & Henry Paker
Gigantic – Rob Biddulph
My Family and Other Romans – Marie Basting
Rivet Boy – Barbara Henderson
review
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?
yes
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Any other comments
Any other comments
