Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

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Non-fiction

Why do I have to exercise? Why is it fun to play? The answers to these and many other questions about exercise and play can be discovered in this lively and informative series. The topics of fitness and fun are complemented by charming and humorous illustrations. This book is designed for children to begin to learn about the importance of being healthy, and the ways in which we can look after our bodies to keep fit and well.

At the back are notes for parents and teachers that provide additional advice and support as well as further activity ideas and information.

Non-fiction

Why do I have to wash? What’s wrong with biting my nails? Why can’t I pick my nose? Why can’t I wear the same socks each day? The answers to these and many other questions about hygiene can be discovered in this lively and informative series. The topic of keeping clean is complemented by charming and humorous illustrations.

This book is designed for children to begin to learn about the importance of being healthy, and the ways in which we can look after our bodies to keep fit and well. A clean body is very important for keeping illnesses at bay and for feeling good about yourself. Creating good hygiene habits from an early age is vital.

At the back are notes for parents and teachers that provide additional advice and support as well as further activity ideas and information.

Non-fiction

How much sleep do I need? What happens when I sleep? Why do I dream? Will screen time affect my sleep? Why should I rest? The answers to these and many other questions about resting and sleeping can be discovered in this lively and informative book. The topics of fitness and fun are complemented by charming and humorous illustrations. This book is designed for children to begin to learn about the importance of being healthy, and the ways in which we can look after our bodies to keep fit and well.

At the back are notes for parents and teachers that provide additional advice and support as well as further activity ideas and information.

Non-fiction

Why should I eat fruit and vegetables? What’s wrong with chocolate and crisps? What are proteins and carbohydrates? The answers to these and many other questions about healthy eating can be discovered in this lively and informative book, where the topic of healthy eating is complemented by charming and humorous illustrations.

This book is designed for children to begin to learn about the importance of being healthy, and the ways in which we can look after our bodies to keep fit and well. At the back are notes for parents and teachers that provide additional advice and support as well as further activity ideas and information.

Picturebook

Once there was a baby in the house – and to that baby, Mum and Dad and Jill and John and Uncle Tom were giants. But little by little, that baby grew up – until she became a giant too! Martin Waddell says of the book, “Small children live in a world designed for big people. I wrote this story to help them understand it, and the idea of growing older.”

Picturebook

All the Nonsense in my Teeth is a fantastical, dream-like story about teeth brushing, that takes readers on a journey into the narrator’s imagination and encourages good personal hygiene and following a daily routine.

Tonight I brushed my teeth.
They really needed a good clean!
Oh, let me tell you about all the things that I found in them…
There were breakfast hoops and ice cream scoops
An aeroplane doing loop the loops
An aeroplane, now that’s absurd!
Then to my shock… a flock of birds!

The charming artwork and sing-song rhyme scheme take readers on an adventure filled with fantastical imagery, as all kinds of things from cyclists doing stunts to an animal brass band are revealed inside the protagonist’s mouth as they brush their teeth!

With entertaining illustrations from Barbara Bakos, let this wonderful picture book transport you and your children to another world before they go to sleep.

Best Children’s Books about the Human Body

In the younger primary school years, children learn the basics of human anatomy, including learning to name and identify body parts and finding out about the senses – as well as learning about basic human needs and the importance of healthy lifestyles.  To support children in finding out more about their amazing bodies, we’ve put together a list of the best children’s books about human bodies and health.

NB: This human body topic booklist is designed to cover Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7). For human body books for older children, try our Healthy Humans (KS2) booklist.

Poetry

It hums and it thrums
through day and night
the magical, mystical
rhythm of life!

Follow the story of music back to the very beginning.
Did it start with a stomp or a clap?
This playful poem is an ode to the colourful world of music and rhythm.

Chapter book

Everyone’s always telling Will to stop making so much noise. That is, until he meets music teacher Mr Brand. He thinks Will’s not just noisy but that he has a gift and must learn to play the violin. But Will doesn’t feel special . He can never find peace to practice at home and carrying a violin around school is too embarrassing. There’s also the small matter of his stage fright … Can he really become the star Mr Brand believes in? Beloved and award-winning author Anne Fine returns with a touching, musical story of patience, practice and courage. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+.

Non-fiction

How on Earth do you play a bass that’s 3.5 metres tall? How can you play a theremin without touching it? Can you turn a cave’s stalactites into an organ? (Spoiler alert: yes, you can!)

Including a stunning central gatefold that opens out to reveal the family tree of musical instruments, this book is a visual celebration of the huge variety of instruments played across the world, from those you know to those you almost certainly don’t. Grouped into percussion instruments, wind, and string, as well as the weird and wonderful that defy categorization, readers will discover how they are all related to each other in ‘families’, and enjoy exploring the musical family tree as a fold-out poster.

Around the World in 80 Musical Instruments covers traditional instruments from various cultures, such as the gamelan and mbira, as well as the creations of modern artists and musicians, such as the Wintergatan Marble Machine and the eerie-sounding yaybahar. Readers will even discover a band that plays exclusively on instruments fashioned from fresh vegetables, and makes the offcuts into soup to serve to the audience!

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