Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Format: Chapter book

Jake Atlas and the Tomb of the Emerald Snake

Chapter book

Jake Atlas and the Tomb of the Emerald Snake by Rob Lloyd Jones is a fast-paced, tomb-raiding adventure through Egypt, featuring adventure, secrets, Egypt, treasure and gadgets!

The Last Day of October

Oriol Vidal & Phil Hickes

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Three friends, looking for a thrill on Halloween night, find something more terrifying than they could ever have imagined. Phil Hickes doesn’t hold back in his deliciously scary tale of a haunting in the woods of Oregon.

Spooky, Autumnal, chilling, mysterious and haunting.

The Far Distant Oxus

Katharine Hull & Pamela Whitlock

Chapter book

Written while the authors were still children themselves, this timeless blend of landscape and adventure has stayed with me for years.

In five words: powerful, mysterious, freedom, exciting and fun!

The Lucky House Detective Agency

Scarlett Li & Sian James

Chapter book

The Lucky House Detective Agency is a wonderful detective story set in the Lucky House Chinese takeaway. It’s a great mystery book for KS2. Perfect for fans of Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths and Anisha Accidental Detective.

5 individual words to describe the book: Fun, Diverse, Crime, Food, and Bamboo!

Aliya to the Infinite City

Laila Rifaat

Chapter book

A sparkling magical debut, set in a fantastical Egypt full of flying carpets and mythical creatures!

At home in Cairo, an unexpected gift arrives for Aliya, promising to grant her greatest wish – to know more about her lost parents.

To her surprise, she’s whisked off by flying carpet to a parallel Egypt, where she’s enrolled at an academy for … time-travellers!

But while she’s there, an enemy is watching – a master of forbidden magic.

If they can unlock Aliya’s inherited talent, they can change history forever …

A stunning adventure story for readers aged 9 and up Shortlisted for the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition 2021 For fans of Nura and the Immortal Palace and The Kingdom Over the Sea ‘An epic adventure packed with richness, history and a brilliant new magical school!

Koku Akanbi: The King of Lost Souls

Maria Motunrayo Adebisi

Chapter book

Demon dads. Flaming warriors. Ghostly powers. Welcome back to Olori …

Koku Akanbi’s newfound ghostly powers have been wreaking havoc, landing him in detention and a whole heap of trouble.

Having to find a way back to Olori – his family’s homeland – is tough enough, but he is soon sent on a dangerous quest to find the three most powerful objects in the world. If that’s not enough, Koku is also faced with the biggest decision of his life.

With the fate of Olori in his hands, can Koku and his super-powered friends save the day before it’s too late?

Set in a unique magical world inspired by West African mythology, this is the second book in an unmissable new fantasy adventure series. Perfect for fans of Marvel and Percy Jackson.

Fablehouse: Heart of Fire

E. L. Norry

Chapter book

Protect your home. Conjure your fire. Fulfil your fate. A gripping story about children finding their power within, with the guidance of the Black Knight from King Arthur’s Round Table.

Fablehouse is a children’s home like no other. Heather and her friends who live here have magic at their fingertips. The children have a powerful friend in Pal, an Arthurian knight. But not everyone the children meet is on their side.

Fablehouse is threatened by an inspector who is searching for a reason to close down this safe haven for mixed-race children. The kids are desperate to save their home, but Pal is distracted. He cannot rest until he’s completed the quest given to him by King Arthur centuries ago.

Can magic help the children to fulfil their destiny, or will they be more isolated than ever? Heather can conjure up fire, but is scared that she can’t control it. Fire can destroy – but could Heather also use its warmth and protection to save her friends and their home?

Murder at Christmas

Fleur Hitchcock

Chapter book

Murder at Christmas is a gripping festive cosy crime novel that perfectly blends Christmas fun with suspense and intrigue.

After a long term at school, Grace arrives in Bath excited to spend Christmas with her mum and younger brother, Billy. Her hopes of a joyful holiday are quickly shattered when a shocking murder takes place at their hotel. Soon after, Grace’s mum mysteriously disappears.

With Billy relying on her, Grace teams up with two new friends, Olive and Doug. Streetwise, clever, and resourceful, they help Grace piece together what really happened and why her mum left the hotel. As the four friends investigate, they uncover secrets that suggest not everyone staying at the hotel is who they claim to be.

The story is full of twists and turns, keeping the tension high and the pages turning. The hotel setting adds to the atmosphere, making every character a potential suspect. Alongside the mystery, the strong friendships between the children bring warmth and heart to the story, balancing the darker elements of the plot.

Exciting, atmospheric, and a clever plot, Murder at Christmas is the perfect read for fans of cosy crime. It captures the magic of the festive season while delivering a thrilling mystery that will keep readers hooked until the very last page.

Ice Dancer

Alex Cotter

Chapter book

A gripping adventure, with the power of friendship at its heart, Ice Dancer is the thrilling new story from Alex Cotter, author of The House on the Edge, WH Smith Travel Book of the Month

Angry and frustrated at having to stay with her miserable aunt in Sheffield, Dina is determined to pursue her lifelong passion for skating – even if it has to be in secret. But being a stranger in an unfamiliar city, far from the remote countryside of her home, is hard to handle. Shy and lacking in confidence, Dina must overcome her misgivings and find a way to be accepted.

Desperate to escape the oppressive atmosphere of her aunt’s house, and feeling the weight of responsibility for her younger brothers, Dina makes her way to the Ice Arena. There, captivated by the skills of the young skaters she sees, she is filled with the overwhelming desire to compete. But it’s only when all the odds are against her, that she finds the courage to follow her dream.

However, dreams can unravel, and when the family’s past starts to catch up with Dina, a chance encounter at the ice rink sets off a series of events that lead to an unexpected discovery.

Perfect for fans of Emma Caroll and Fleur Hitchcock

What Are We Fighting For?: Poems About War

Brian Moses & Roger Stevens

Chapter book

Approximately 100 pages of new poems about war and conflict, written and collated by two well established poets. A contents page by title and an index of first lines help readers to navigate the poems. The collection is split into three sections: First World War, Second World War and the title question of, What Are We Fighting For?

Most pages are thoughtfully illustrated with black and white line drawings by Nicola Robinson. Accessibly written, thought provoking and important ideas are explored in the poems, which differ in length, style and composition. The collection would suit being read aloud and discussed as a class or small group. Some of the poems have extra footnotes to explain the context, or background to the story within the poem, or the people and places that it refers to. This poems may encourage readers to think more deeply about the meaning of war, and the impact of war.