Format: Chapter book

Into the White: Scott’s Antarctic Odyssey

Chapter book, Non-fiction

This story tells the tale of Robert Falcon Scott’s Expedition to Antarctica in an attempt to be the first to reach the South Pole. This expedition – The Terra Nova – is told in detail in the story, including the stories of the men who followed him. The very first sentence, ‘If you’re into happy endings, you’d better look elsewhere,’ is an instant hook and sets a precedent for what may come.

The story explores important themes of perseverance, responding to failure and keeping hope in difficult times.

This book would make for a great reference tool when learning about the different polar regions and Scott as one of the great British explorers, as well as an exciting and perilous adventure story for ages 10-14. Scott’s previous expeditions are also mentioned, including the expedition with Earnest Shackleton, and photographs from the expedition are also included.

Hotel Flamingo: Frosty Fiesta

Alex Milway

Chapter book

This is the fourth book in this early chapter book series and all of the Hotel Flamingo books are wonderful books to read.

From KS1 children through to KS2, there is something for everyone in this short chapter book. The gorgeous colours and shimmery snowflakes on the front cover are enough to draw anyone’s attention.

The workers at the hotel are preparing for a quiet winter, the temperatures are dropping, and Mrs Turpington – the hotel’s resident tortoise – needs to hibernate. Then, it snows more than anyone could have imagined, and the hotel becomes overrun with guests. What follows is how the hotel’s community comes together to help many of its guests in so many different ways at a time when the hotel is full to the brim. First, a party (Frosty Fiesta) with some very wise words from Mrs T the tortoise (‘We are nothing without each other) and the White-Out Games with bunnies performing record-breaking stunts. Then, the birth of a polar bear cub and an external ice hotel for some guests. This truly is a fiesta of fun, and who could resist a stay at Hotel Flamingo, even if Madame Le Pig seems terrifying?

The Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good

Kirsty Applebaum

Chapter book

A hidden garden. An ancient tale. A missing child. This is an addictive mystery with crossing narratives that’s impossible to put down.

Fran doesn’t want to stay with her aunt and uncle and her annoying cousin, Imogen. Imogen is rude and unfriendly and, it turns out, missing… But her parents don’t seem to know who Fran means – don’t be silly, we don’t have a daughter, you know that. So it’s up to Fran, and Imogen’s best friend, Bex, to find out what’s happened to her.

Except Bex doesn’t know who Imogen is either. All Fran knows is that it’s got something to do with the hidden garden at Stillness Hall and the twelve statues that belong there. Could a mysterious old tale, a story of enchantment and death, hold the answers?

Unicorns in Uniforms: The Yeti’s Sneeze

Steve Wood & Tracy Curran

Chapter book

The Yeti’s Sneeze is playful, bright, and full of energy — but it also quietly champions empathy, inclusion and emotional understanding.

This is one of those books that feels delightfully silly on the surface but has a surprising amount of emotional and curriculum – friendly depth underneath. It follows the Unicorn School crew as they deal with a gigantic, chaotic sneeze from a very anxious yeti — and everything that sneeze sets off.

As both a primary teacher and a parent of an SEN child, it hits that sweet spot where fun, feelings and learning all sit together comfortably.

A Stocking Full of Spies

Robin Stevens

Chapter book

‘It’s hard to know where to start. There’s so much to say – about the murders, and the codes, and the spy, that I’m getting tangled up in the story already…’

It’s December 1941, and almost Christmas, when a bomb falls on Deepdean School for Girls. May and Nuala are whisked away from the chaos and sent to stay with May’s big sister, Hazel Wong, who is working at Bletchley Park.

Within seconds, they’re thrown straight into their most dangerous case yet. A codebreaker has been shot in what appears to be a tragic accident – until a suspicious and top-secret message is discovered in his pocket. Was he a spy, working for the other side? Was the message planted on him? Most importantly – was this murder?

Worst of all, Daisy’s big brother, Bertie Wells, is being blamed. It’s up to May, Nuala and their friend Eric to prove Bertie’s innocence and solve the mystery. But Bletchley is a strange and secretive place, full of Britain’s most ingenious minds. They’ll need to watch, listen, and puzzle out the incredible, unthinkable truth…

The thrilling brand-new mystery from the million-copy-bestselling author of Murder Most Unladylike.

Luna Grace: Girl from Outer Space

Emily Jones & Julie Sykes

Chapter book

Luna Grace is a girl who lives on a planet called Starbright. Starbright is a very colourful planet where the residents have some special abilities, such as moving things with their minds. Grace’s hair also changes colour to show the emotion she is feeling. Her family are sent to Earth to study the wildlife and report back to their home planet. Their main challenge is to fit in with the people living on Earth so they can continue their studies. Luna has to go to a new school, and that is quite challenging with her hair constantly changing colour and her moon cat, Twizzle, wanting to come along. The story follows Luna as she moves home and starts her new school.

This book is a great story about a child making a significant move from their home and the emotions children can go through when they have to go through such a major life change. The book also highlights how it’s okay to be different from your friends and appreciate those differences. This is a brilliant book for children starting to read chapter books. It has short chapters and engaging illustrations to break up the quantity of words.

Jellybean

Eve Ainsworth & Theo Parish

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

I really liked Jellybean. It’s a super quick read, but it actually packs a punch. It’s all about dealing with anxiety and that awful feeling of just not wanting to go into school, which I think a lot of children (and adults!) can relate to. However, the central theme is severe anxiety and school avoidance (EBSA).

Teachers should be aware of this in case it triggers conversations with children currently struggling with attendance or anxiety, but it is ultimately a hopeful story.

Blitzers

Alastair Chisholm & Francesca Ficorilli

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Another enjoyable read from the Barrington Stoke team, this story is a welcome addition to the gaming genre and should interest readers who have an interest in any of the major game platforms.

Blitzers are the latest craze: characters in handheld electronic games that fight against each other when their owners join their screens together. Danny is desperate to have one, so when his brother Jay brings one home, he starts to ‘train’ it to become a champion. However, Danny’s Blitzer, Chew Lip, is a bit different to the others and doesn’t want to fight. He is advised to reset it, but Danny takes a different approach, and Chew Lip surprises him. When all the Blitzers suddenly vanish from their screens and the manufacturers declare technical issues, Danny receives a mysterious message, and the hunt is on to find out what is really going on at the Blitzers Inc. headquarters.

There are themes of friendship, self-esteem and celebrating differences, as well as a message of concern regarding ‘big tech’. The story does play with the emotions too: it is genuinely funny in places as Danny tries in vain to make Chew Lip more combative, but there is a sorrowful side to it when the electronic game appears to have feelings and becomes emotional. This book does make you think!

Time Travel Diaries: Adventure in Athens

Caroline Lawrence

Chapter book

Adventure in Athens is an educational adventure that whisks readers back to ancient Greece. When Alex, a London schoolboy, is recruited by a mysterious billionaire to travel through time, he suddenly finds himself in classical Athens surrounded by philosophers, athletes and unexpected dangers.

Lawrence blends fascinating historical detail with humour and heart, making this book an ideal choice for upper KS2 readers who enjoy stories that mix fact and fiction. The ancient world is brought vividly to life through Alex’s modern-day perspective, offering plenty of opportunities for discussion and links to history topics in class.

Teachers could use extracts to support lessons on Ancient Greece or to explore how authors use time travel as a storytelling device.

Fright Club: Let’s Boo This!

Sibeal Pounder

Chapter book

What a brilliant book! I had such a laugh reading this book as well as goosebumps.

Things take a sinister turn when Joe Bones spies a cloaked figure leaving his gran’s house and discovers her dead. He, of course, thinks she’s been murdered and tries to get his mother, who’s a forensic pathologist, to investigate. She’s having none of it, given Joe’s gran was over a hundred years old.

Joe and his friends discover that Joe’s gran was part of a group called Fright Club, and the town where they live (Grim) is built upon the gateways to supernatural worlds. You can visit towns where vampires, skeletons, ghosts and demons live through gateways in Grim. In this mystery, you get to choose which character’s storyline to follow. However, I read the mystery from cover to cover because I couldn’t resist, but I can imagine how exciting children will be to follow either Joe, Hal, Rose or Debbie.

I give this book a 11/10! I’m so excited to read the rest of the series, and this is going to be one of my favourite series, along with Jennifer Killick’s Dread Wood series.

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Format: Chapter book

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