Format: Chapter book

Storm Bird Magic

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Amidst island tales of long-lost fairies and pirate chickens, Tia discovers the true magic of the elusive storm petrel in this uplifting tale of conservation from Gill Lewis.

Long-lost fairies hiding near the lighthouse?

Chickens belonging to a sea witch that warn sailors of coming storms?

There are a lot of wild stories going about as some tall ships seek shelter in Gull Have Bay. Tia and Nat don’t believe any of them to begin with. But when Nat’s dad helps unravel the truth, they learn about a seabird that’s in danger.

Can Tia and Nat find a way to help, and will it allow them to rediscover the magic of the real world all around them in their island home?

Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 7.

Under Fire

Sufiya Ahmed

Chapter book

If you want to learn about little-known corners of history or unsung narratives, Sufiya Ahmed is a great author to turn to. Under Fire is an engaging read that will help bring fresh understanding to classroom topics about World War 2. The story follows a 12-year-old Anglo-Indian boy called Hassan, who leaves Blitz-torn Coventry for Calcutta in 1943 to stay with his grandfather.

Once in India, Hassan and his friend Jaya confront the stark injustices of the British rule. Before long, the pair are plunged into a nail-biting plot to help the war effort.

It’s fast-paced and gripping, and yet beneath the dangerous escapade the story beautifully tackles themes of grief, injustice and letting go. Certainly a story to pack a punch – both historical and emotional!

The Ministry of Manners

David Solomons & Hazem Asif

Chapter book

This is a cleverly thought out dystopian story imagining what the world could be like with no freedom or privacy and an authoritarian regime controls every part of your life.

Society has broken down in the world due to a lack of manners, courtesy and respect. The Ministry of Manners now controls every aspect of daily life. All spoken and written communication is monitored and life has become a performance for the authorities.

The story follows quiet and well-behaved Alfie, his older sister Margot, who has rebellion in her heart, and their parents, who both work in minor roles for the Ministry. Then rumours surface about The Unsilenced – a group of rebels who are challenging the Ministry with disruptive acts and we hear of The Harmoniser – an AI system built to reshape human behaviour and render people hollow, passive and obedient. To Alfie’s horror, Margot’s resistance flags her to the Ministry and she is taken to a Manners Retreat for personality recalibration, and Dad turns out to be the Harmoniser project leader.

This would be wonderful read-aloud with tense plot moments interspersed with humour, and a set up for a sequel at the end. There’s even a section at the back to explain how a collapsing society had led to a takeover by The Ministry of Manners.

Operation: Evil Genius

Danny Wallace & Gemma Correll

Chapter book

We absolutely love Danny Wallace’s books for their signature dry humour and Operation Evil Genius is another brilliantly funny addition to the library.

Wallace has a wonderful knack for capturing the real-world niggles and grumbles that drive human behaviour, offering a witty take on the everyday frustrations that children will find honest and instantly recognisable, knowing that things go awry when retaliating to those niggles is left uncapped. This time, that trademark wit follows a protagonist whose elaborate plans to get back at a former best friend backfire hilariously at every turn.

A high illustration-to-text ratio makes this incredibly readable, ramping up the comedy while keeping the pages turning quickly for reluctant readers. Beneath the laugh-out-loud moments, the story cleverly tackles shifting friendships, handling envy and navigating grief. A fantastic, high-energy pick for KS2 bookshelves.

Bobby Bains Ain’t Playing

Bali Rai & Daniel Duncan

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

The second in a brilliant dyslexia-friendly series that is also perfect as a quick read for Upper KS2 readers.

In this instalment, a five-a-side tournament is on the horizon and Bobby and his friend Maisie can’t wait to join in. However, an injustice arises when Maisie’s girls’ team is no longer allowed to play. Not one to let unfairness go unchallenged, Bobby comes up with a plan to turn the tide.

It’s a short read with heartwarming characters and real-life issues, and Bobby certainly strikes a chord with children who love football.

The Unlikely Diary of Prince Kal the Alien

Ross Welford

Chapter book

We always enjoy Ross Welford’s dry and intelligent humour, and this diary-style adventure with a difference is a real treat. It follows Prince Kal, a tiny and somewhat haughty royal alien from the Imaginaria Forests, who ends up stranded on a Northumberland beach after a mishap. In his diary, he logs his experiences of encountering the ways of Earth.

Interspersed with humorous observations and comical illustrations, this is an enjoyable blend of science fiction, satire and sharp wit.

Starminster

Megan Hopkins

Chapter book

There is something about a girl being brought up in a rhubarb shed that is instantly interesting and captivating! We only find out why at the end, but it is so compelling and awful and yet at the same time the reader knows there must be a good reason. That is how the story starts and the contrast between the enclosed space and the wide-open spaces is very much in evidence as the story progresses.

As a Londoner I loved the London setting. This is exactly the sort of story I love, combining fantasy and real places and there is even the ubiquitous school to train the students who have magical abilities – in this case wings. The school setting (the Starminster of the title) is actually St Paul’s Cathedral, which is such a fun place for a school.

Suitable for Key Stage 2, this is a wonderful and original story which fantasy lovers (and bird lovers!) will really enjoy.

Tadpole Summer

Catherine Bruton

Chapter book

From the multi-award-winning author of No Ballet Shoes in Syria, comes a story of sibling love and loss, healing and hope.

Frog has always known her younger brother Tad is unwell. He has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (called SMA-PME for short) but that has never been an obstacle for their unbreakable bond. They share a room and do everything together, Frog happy to do whatever Tad needs.

But when Tad is taken into hospital, Frog finds it difficult to be in their bedroom alone and starts camping in the garden. She only plans to be there while Tad is away but she finds an unexpected calm amongst the sounds and smells of nature and a space of her own that she’s never had before.

When Tad comes up, their bedroom has to change to accommodate all his hospital equipment and Frog isn’t sure where she fits in their family anymore. She retreats back into the garden, using the excuse of a sponsored camp out for charity. But as Tad’s condition worsens, Frog needs to face the truth that she may not have much longer with him.

Working to bring the small wonders of the natural world to Tad, can Frog find a way to make this last summer together unforgettable?

More beautiful stories by Catherine Bruton:
No Ballet Shoes in Syria, Nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2020
Bird Boy, Nero Book Awards Shortlist for Children’s Fiction 2024
Following Frankenstein
Another Twist in the Tale

Kamizen: Fortress of Lost Memories

Sawa Oikawa & William Yamaguchi Dobson

Chapter book

In Kamizen, Jonty is 12 and his grandfather has dementia. He is determined to recover some of his lost memories before it is too late and wants Jonty to help him. Jonty and his mother have moved in with his grandfather for the summer in order to look after him. Jonty’s grandfather has a list of the memories he needs help recovering so Jonty thinks he will have to help him by doing research on the internet, until one day, he meets a talking bonobo ape who says he can help Jonty pass through the Gate of Memory to recover his grandfather’s memories in person. Every time Jonty goes through the Gate of Memory though, there’s an evil pirate crew trying to stop him retrieve his grandfather’s memories.

An exciting adventure rooted in Japanese folklore. I also love the style of the illustrations that accompany this story. This would be a great read for children in Upper KS2 who like adventures, fantasy, myths and legends, or manga. It deals with the subject of dementia really sensitively and the importance of helping people keep hold of treasured memories.

If the Invader Comes

Tom Palmer

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

A book by Tom Palmer is a guarantee of quality. He is well known to write exciting historical adventures and makes them easy to read and genuinely accessible.

This latest book, the first of a series, is no exception. It takes place in 1940 in Cornwall and involves three children from very different backgrounds, getting to know each other and working together In the war effort and, as always, is meticulously researched. Slightly chunkier than the usual Barrington Stoke offering, it allows the story and the characters to develop nicely and for the reader to become very invested in the adventures. It is not without the horrors of war and includes a death scene which readers should be aware of.

The cover and inside illustrations, by Paul Blow, capture the danger and the excitement perfectly. The book also includes a map by James Innerdale and as I love a good map, this was a great addition. I have also visited Falmouth so some of the places mentioned were easily brought to mind as I read. Whilst the readability is probably Yeat 4 up, I would say that this would work best for Year 6 and fit in very well with the already large numbers of stories about World War 2, offering a different setting and perspective on this well known topic.