Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

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Branching Out: Books for Fans of Harry Potter

If you like Harry Potter, try these…

The Harry Potter stories have undeniably charmed millions of readers who enjoy stories sparkling with magic, fantasy and adventure. The award-winning series has sold over 500 million copies worldwide and has been turned into eight hugely successful Hollywood films.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of Harry Potter. Fans of magic and spellbinding adventures will find solace in the exciting worlds of Nevermoor or Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. Readers who enjoy reading about young heroes fighting dark forces and fantastical beasts should try Percy Jackson or The Wizards of Once. If you’re looking for an immersive series set in mysteriously selective schools and colleges, we recommend Amari and the Night Brothers or Crookhaven.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for what to read next after Harry Potter…

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Storytime Favourite Books: Year 5 and Year 6 (Ages 9-11)

Best Storytime Chapter Books and Novels for Upper KS2

We have selected a list of storytime favourites for Year 5 and Year 6 (ages 9-11), which includes books that are particularly well suited for being read out loud. Storytime is still just as valuable in the older primary years as it is in the early years, and knowing the best books to choose to read aloud can elevate the storytime experience – whether you have fans of thrillers or readers who prefer magical worlds or thought-provoking animal tales. From the best class readers to favourite bedtime stories, browse our list of brilliant books for capturing the magic of storytelling with Upper KS2.

Dive into a thoughtfully curated assortment of stories that cater to a variety of tastes and interests. Experience the thrill of edge-of-your-seat adventures with Running Out of Time, lose yourselves in fantastical adventures like The Explorer and share a giggle together with the heartwarming humour found in The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh. For those seeking shorter reads, The Final Year or the Crooked Oak series await, while those who like something to provoke deeper thought and discussion should enjoy The Lost Whale or Front Desk.

Whether you’re a teacher enhancing the classroom storytime experience or a parent in search of the perfect bedtime story, our collection offers a diverse range of options. Explore the world of storytelling with BooksForTopics – your guide to engaging choices for Year 5 and 6 storytimes.

Storytime Favourite Books: Year 3 and Year 4 (Ages 7-9)

Best Storytime Chapter Books and Novels for Lower KS2

We have selected a list of storytime favourites for Year 3 and Year 4 (ages 7-9), which includes books that are particularly well suited for being read out loud. From the best class readers to favourite bedtime stories, browse our list of brilliant books for capturing the magic storytelling with Lower KS2.

This thoughtfully curated collection is designed to ignite the love of stories for children aged 7 to 9. Share together stories of enchanting fantasy adventures like The Land of Roar, embark on laugh-out-loud escapades with Charlie Changes into a Chicken and delve into favourite animal stories such as Varjak Paw. We’ve also included true classics for this age group like Charlotte’s Web and storybooks that stimulate thinking and discussion on real-life topics, such as Hannah Gold’s beautiful story of The Last Bear.

The books on this list cater to a range of interests, ensuring that every young reader finds a story that resonates with them and that shared storytimes are ones to treasure.

Recommended Storytime Chapter Books: KS1 (Ages 5-7)

Chapter book

Best Storytime Chapter Books and Novels for Key Stage 1

We have selected a list of storytime chapter books for Year 1 and Year 2 (ages 5-7), which includes books that are particularly well suited for being read out loud to younger children. From the best class readers to favourite bedtime stories, browse our list of brilliant books for capturing the magic storytelling with KS1.

Simple chapter books with a story that continues over short instalments make excellent choices for storytime at this age group. Many of the books we have chosen on this list have memorable characters, integrated illustrations and stories that are tried-and-tested favourites with the 5-7 age range.

Immerse young readers in the enchanting world of storytelling with our carefully chosen chapter books, featuring favourite animal stories like Einstein the Penguin and humorous adventures such as The Legend of Kevin. Explore timeless classics tailored for this age group, including the beloved Mrs Pepperpot and The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, or stories of family life like the Betsey Biggalow series. Our diverse list is chosen to create an engaging reading experience, fostering both entertainment and literacy development in Key Stage 1.

Discover these thoughtfully selected storytime favourites for KS1, and embark on a journey of lifelong reading joy.

Storytime Favourite Books EYFS (Ages 3-5)

Best Storytime Books for the Early Years

We have selected a list of favourite storytime books for EYFS (ages 3-5), which includes books that are particularly well suited for being read out loud to younger children. From the best classroom read-alouds to favourite bedtime stories, browse our list of brilliant books for capturing the magic of storytelling in the Early Years.

Our curated collection of stories for the Early Years helps to immerse young minds in the enchanting world of storytelling, featuring beloved tales such as What the Ladybird Heard – perfect for introducing children to the wonders of animal characters and rhyming narratives. We also recommend whimsical and humorous adventures with titles like Aliens Love Underpants, adding a delightful touch of laughter to story sessions. Our selection includes timeless classics like The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Elmer, featuring favourite characters that have been entertaining little ones for generations.

Explore these and other carefully chosen stories picked by BooksForTopics, especially for young readers. These stories promote language development and fire up imaginations as well as making for special storytimes together that create lasting memories and foster the joy of shared reading experiences.

Toys

From dolls and teddies to sticks and balls, toys can hold a special place in the hearts of children. It’s no surprise that the topic of toys and games is always a hit with children, who love learning about toys from the past and toys around the world. We’ve put together a selection of the best children’s books about the topic of toys.

Dinosaur Children’s Books

Best Children’s Books about Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures are often a topic of great interest to children. From the terrific T-Rex to the brilliant Brachiosaurus, we’ve selected a list of recommended children’s books about dinosaurs to help you to dig deep into the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods!

For young kids that love dinosaurs, My Encyclopedia of Very Important Dinosaurs is bursting with up-to-date facts and discoveries and is easily accessible to young readers or try The Dinosaur Department Store – a truly wild picture book that will appeal to dino-loving, adventurous children everywhere.

So, if you are looking for recommended dinosaur story books for children, this specially selected reading list for EYFS and KS1 has got you covered…

Books With Minority Ethnic Characters

Children’s Books with Minority Ethnic Characters

A recent study by CLPE has shown that just 9% of children’s books published last year featured a main character from a minority ethnic background. Although the number is increasing over time, there still exists a major under-representation, considering that 33.9% of children of primary school age in England are from a minority ethnic background. To help schools and families balance the representation in their book collections and to accurately reflect the diverse experiences of all pupils, we’ve put together a list of recommended children’s books featuring Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and characters.

Diverse & Inclusive Books for Upper KS2

Best Diverse Children’s Books for Ages 9-11

We have selected a list of recommended diverse and inclusive books for children in Year 5 and Year 6 (Upper KS2), which feature characters that are traditionally under-represented in children’s books.

This list of the best diverse books for children aged 9 to 11 includes books with minority ethnic main characters and books with representations of cultural diversity, different types of families, physical disabilities, visual impairment and neurodiversity.

The selection includes the entertaining story of Danny Chung and his Nai Nai in Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths and an exciting fantasy story inspired by Hindu legends in Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom, as well as Sophie’s compelling story of hearing loss in Can You Feel the Noise and the coming-of-age graphic novel following an autistic girl who finds friendship where she least expects it in Speak Up!.

You can find Diverse & Inclusive children’s book lists for other primary year groups here:

Diverse Books for EYFS (Ages 2-5)
Diverse Books for KS1 (Ages 5-7)
Diverse Books for Years 3 and 4 (Ages 7-9)

Schools can purchase full packs of our diverse book lists via Peters.

Diverse & Inclusive Books for Lower KS2

Best Diverse Books for Years 3 and 4

We have selected a list of recommended diverse and inclusive books for children in Year 3 and Year 4 (ages 7-9), which feature characters that are traditionally under-represented in children’s books.

This list of the best diverse books for children in Lower Key Stage 2 includes books with minority ethnic main characters and books with representations of cultural diversity, different types of families, physical disabilities, visual impairment and neurodiversity.

The selection includes the entertaining story of young Yusuf’s schemes at a British-Bengali family wedding in Mayhem Mission and the tale of one child’s experience of the joy of Eid-ul-Fitr in Ramadan Moon, as well as deaf character Max’s compelling quest for friendship in Max and the Millions and the fast-paced story of limb loss and sport in Paralympian Ellie Robinson’s Thief on the Track.

You can find Diverse & Inclusive children’s book lists for other primary year groups here: