Format: Chapter book

Postman Planet

Chapter book

Postman Planet is a laugh-out-loud funny book that’s perfect for young readers who enjoy action, humour and a bit of chaos. With short chapters and plenty of illustrations, the book is presented in a way that feels inviting rather than overwhelming, making it an excellent choice for children building confidence with longer stories.

The story follows Postman Planet, whose job is to deliver mail to some very dangerous and unusual places across the galaxy. The twist is that he’s actually a secret nine-year-old boy, doing his best to survive space deliveries while teamed up with Stamp, his annoying (but very funny) assistant, who is part robot and part dog. The fast pace, silly situations and visual humour will keep children engaged and the accessible layout makes it easy to read in short bursts. Despite the comedy, the book also explores positive themes such as friendship, teamwork and problem-solving, showing how working together can help overcome even the most challenging situations.

As the first book in a new series, Postman Planet does a great job of hooking readers and leaving them eager for more adventures. It’s a strong choice for reluctant readers, independent reading or for children who enjoy humorous stories with a sci-fi twist.

Guardians of the New Moon: The Year of the Tiger

Eric Huang & Phung Nguyen Quang

Chapter book

A fun adventure and part of the ‘Guardians of the New Moon’ series, ‘The Year of the Tiger’ focuses on feisty Biao the Tiger.

Ming and Miaow are Guardians of the New Moon and are tasked with making sure Biao, the honorary tiger, is at the Heavenly Palace at the right time for the celebrations for the Year of the Tiger. But Biao has got more important things on her mind – she’s concerned about the destruction of the Western Forest but can’t get anyone, including the emperor, to listen to her.

Biao is extremely passionate about saving the Western Forest but doesn’t always get her ideas across in the right way. There’s an important message in the story about listening to others but also accepting help when you need it, as well as the theme of conservation. This would be a great first chapter book for children as each chapter is relatively short. There are illustrations throughout as well to break up the text further.

Boy vs Reality

James Fox

Chapter book

Most children will be more familiar than I with the trials and temptations of vlogging: seeking to present perfection; aiming for maximum likes; transitioning from hobby to business while simultaneously upping the fun factor and the revenue; not to mention losing sight of life’s priorities.

Y5 Ethan seems to have a better handle on what really matters in life (families, friends and wellbeing) than Mum, with her million followers, Dad, with his ‘Dad on the Rocks’ channel, or older brother, Mason, who kickstarts his own YouTube ambitions by recording and publishing the meanest possible pranks on his Little Loser Bro. When the perfect influencer family is actually tearing itself apart, when the smiles are forced, and the offline chat fractious and hate-filled, the grown-up plan is ‘fake it’ and keep shtum. No wonder chilling with his good mates, Arlo and Omar, brings Ethan welcome relief; no wonder he goes to Grandad and Colin the Dog for sanctuary and solace. Because confiding in and collaborating with true friends and, eventually, accepting professional counselling and moving towards reconciliation, is surely the better way.

What makes this book a winner is its contemporary and engrossing storyline, for sure. But it is also to be recommended for its humour, the Gen Z/Gen Alpha slang (for those in the know), and even the laying bare of Ethan’s ‘sticky thoughts’, helping real kids to see they’re not alone or ‘weird’. At 373 pages, Boy Vs Reality is a satisfyingly chunky volume: too long probably for a class read, but definitely one to have in the UKS2 library or classroom.

The Domesday Cows

Iszi Lawrence

Chapter book

Who could resist a book with the title The Domesday Cows? Coupled with being written by Iszi Lawrence, whose books I have enjoyed in the past, this was an irresistible draw for me.

This is a story about the culture clash between the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans. Billed as a comedy, this is a romp through the early days of the Norman Invasion and how it impacted the Anglo-Saxon people already living in England (and Wales). It is full of historical details, all cleverly disguised as a funny story. The fact that deer, for example, were no longer permitted to be killed as they belonged to the Normans is all wrapped up in an episode where a deer behaves incredibly stupidly, and the villagers can do nothing about it. I also did not realise the Normans brought rabbits into the country.

The amusing illustrations by Davide Ortu start each chapter with a hint of what is to come, and the tiptoeing cows are very funny. There is a lot to unpack in what seems like a simple book.

Sadie Jones and the Ball

Ashley King & Sally Nicholls

Chapter book

‘Sadie Jones and the Ball’ is a dyslexia-friendly retelling of the traditional Cinderella story.

From the perspective of Sadie Jones, a kitchen maid at the palace, this is a funny tale about all the other people who get invited to the ball, rather than just Cinderella and her stepsisters. The story also carries an important message about fairness – why is it just the female servants that are invited to the ball? Can’t the male servants go as well? Prince Charming isn’t happy about the rules being broken though so Sadie has a challenge on her hands to convince him that everyone should be invited.

Perfect for children who are new to chapter books as if they are familiar with the story of Cinderella, it will feel like a familiar setting. Also a great read aloud as it raises plenty of discussion points throughout about friendship and fairness.

The Accidental Vikings

Anneli Bray & Karen McCombie

Chapter book

The Accidental Viking is an easy-to-follow and entertaining adventure story, with a few twists and turns along the way.

In true Barrington Stoke fashion, the text and print used mean this story is inclusive and accessible for all readers. The story is told through short, manageable chapters with illustrations running alongside.

The Accidental Viking also includes interesting historical facts about Viking life, which would further support the understanding of any reader learning about this era of time, in particular those linking to a Viking village. Some of the facts are quite humorous, particularly those about Viking toilets!

The story has a funny, playful undertone throughout, and readers will no doubt like the personalities of Alfie and Kat – the two main characters – as well as their approach to managing life as Vikings and their reasons behind this. This book would be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in Vikings or as part of a reading bank to support learning about Vikings in a classroom.

George and the Mini Dragon

George Webster & Helen Harvey & Tim Budgen

Chapter book

The start of a fabulous new series for kids aged 6 and older by CBeebies star George Webster.

Most of George’s classmates have cats and dogs as pets, but George’s parents are not pet lovers and despite George’s pleading they refuse to get him either.

On George’s birthday, he decides to wish for a pet Labrador, but at the last minute he changes his mind… a pet dragon would surely be more fun?!

When George finds a dragon at the end of the garden, he realises his wish has come true, but this dragon has a mind of its own, and it’s going to be hard to conceal its antics at school and to his parents.

Can George and his friends keep Lava a secret together?

The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away

Elisa Paganelli & Sophie Anderson

Chapter book

Marinka, Benjamin and the House with Chicken Legs are back in a fabulous sequel to the original The House with Chicken Legs.

Marinka and her House have finally stopped wandering and settled down to live near her best friend, Benjamin. But all is not well with the House; it seems tired and distant. In an effort to help the house regain some of its sparkle, Marinka and Yaga Tatyana decide to host a guiding but it goes disastrously wrong, plummeting Marinka and Benjamin into a breathtaking adventure which makes Marinka question her past, her future and everything she thought she knew. Testing her friendships to the limit, can Marinka save her House? Can she get Benjamin safely back to his family? And will she finally find out who she really is?

I usually find that sequels are rarely as good as the original, but this is most definitely an exception. Fast-paced and as well-written as we have come to expect from Sophie Anderson, this is a welcome addition to any bookshelf and an exciting return of a much-loved story.

The Thing About Giants

Christopher Galvin

Chapter book

Told through the alternating voices of two unlikely allies, this quest is a shake-up of the stories we think we know. The plot follows Corman, a gentle giant living in fear of the metal birds that hunt giant kind, and Jacq, a human recruit raised by society to believe giants are nothing more than raw materials for the city’s expansion.

The narrative cleverly flips the ‘Jack the Giant Killer’ trope on its head through Jacq, a girl who starts out hunting giants but ends up questioning the very world she’s been conditioned to know and ultimately finds courage to become the giants’ protector instead.

Perfectly pitched for Year 5 and 6, this meaty read doesn’t shy away from big questions about prejudice and systemic lies. The grim reality of the factory, where giants are processed for their bones, demonstrates the guts it takes for Jacq to stand against the status quo in the face of politically spun narratives about ‘outsiders’.

With rich world-building, a cinematic quality and high-octane tension, this is a must-read for upper KS2 classrooms looking for a fresh, thought-provoking adventure that packs an emotional wallop.

The Unchosen One

Amy Sparkes

Chapter book

The first in a hilarious, super readable and magical new adventure series from the New York Times bestselling author of The House at the Edge of Magic.

Tassie has grown up in the Citadel under careful watch, well away from any form of danger – and adventure. When the Wisest of the Wise Witches comes to visit and proclaims her the Chosen One, destined to save her people from death and destruction, Tassie realizes why she’s spent her life wrapped in cotton wool.

Tassie needs to find a new Chosen One, so along with her best friend, a griffin called Spin, and an enigmatic elf, she sets off on an epic (and somewhat chaotic) quest through magical lands in a race against time. Unfortunately, she’s never been on time for anything.

The wit and wackiness of Terry Pratchett’s young fiction combines with the jaunt and unlikely hero story of Kung Fu Panda in this unputdownable adventure.

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