Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Home > Books

Format: Chapter book

Chapter book

It was Benjamin Postlethwaite’s job all his long life to make sure the light shone brightly high up in the lighthouse on Puffin Island. Not once in all his years as the lighthouse keeper had he ever let his light go out. But sometimes even the brightest light on a lighthouse cannot save a ship.

This is a story of a life-changing friendship, a lost puffin, and a lonely artist. It’s the story of an entire lifetime, and how one event can change a life forever. From masterful storyteller, Michael Morpurgo, and world-class illustrator, Benji Davies, comes a magical new story. This truly beautiful tale will enchant readers of all ages.

Chapter book

Join Lizzie and Lucky on another mystery-solving adventure! Perfect for fans of Holly Webb and Anisha, Accidental Detective .

When Lizzie and her cute puppy Lucky go on a family trip to the seaside, something doesn’t seem right. There’s talk of missing treasure no one has been able to find for years and years, and artefacts are mysteriously disappearing in the local museum. Anyone else would shrug it off but this dynamic duo just know there is a mystery to be solved here – and they won’t leave until they figure it out!

Chapter book

Marvin is an ordinary boy who loves spending time with Grandpa, reading comics, and making science experiments with his best friend Joe. But everything changes when he discovers a mysterious superhero suit hidden in the attic . . . to his amazement, Marvin learns that he is next in a long line of superheroes. Now the time has come to meet his destiny!

When the Science Fair is thrown into chaos by super-villain Mastermind and her giant robot, Marvin is the only one who can stop them. Will Marvin be brave enough to step into his power-and into his superhero suit-to become the great and marvellous superhero Marv?

The first book in a powerful series of one boy’s journey to unlock the superhero within.

Chapter book

The first magical story in the Faraway Tree series by one of the world’s most popular children’s authors, Enid Blyton.

Joe, Beth and Frannie find the Enchanted Wood on the doorstep of their new home, and when they discover the Faraway Tree they fall into all sorts of adventures!

Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree. Will it be the Land of Spells, the Land of Treats, or the Land of Do-As-You-Please? Discover the magic!

First published in 1939, this edition contains the original text. Inside illustrations are by Jan McCafferty, and the cover by Mark Beech (2014).

Chapter book

WARNING: DO NOT try to make George’s Marvellous Medicine yourselves at home. It could be dangerous…

George Kranky’s Grandma is a miserable grouch. George really hates that horrid old witchy woman.

One Saturday morning, George is in charge of giving Grandma her medicine. So-ho! Ah-ha! Ho-hum! George knows exactly what to do.

A magic medicine it will be! One that will either cure her completely of her horrible grouchiness… or blow off the top of her head!

Chapter book

WARNING: EPIC INVENTIONS AND SECRET SOCIETIES AHEAD . . .

Leonora Bolt spends her days creating incredible inventions in her TOP SECRET laboratory, under the watchful eye of her terrifying uncle.

Everything changes one day when a strange boy washes up on an inflatable lobster and reveals that Uncle Luther has been stealing her inventions and selling them on the mainland. Leonora, armed with her most important inventions, must leave Crabby Island for the first time EVER to embark on an unforgettable journey that will test her brainpower to its limits.

With the help of an otter with a special skilll, a questionable cook and a singing sea captain, can Leonora dream up an invention that will defeat her evil uncle once and for all?

Violet Baudelaire meets Peanut Jones in this epic STEM-themed adventure about believing in your brainpower – and yourself!

Chapter book

Small but very determined, Sophie is everyone’s favourite farmer-to-be! A bind-up of three classic stories for young readers by the beloved author of Babe.

The inimitable Sophie is Dick King-Smith’s most adored (human!) character, beautifully re-imagined twenty years later by the witty, perceptive paintbrush of the award-winning Hannah Shaw. Sophie loves animals of all kinds, but how will she grow up to be a farmer if she is not allowed any of her own? She goes looking for creatures to keep in her menagerie, but all she seems to find is trouble – yikes! And there is one pest she certainly doesn’t want around: her prissy new neighbour, Dawn…

Chapter book

Phizzwhizzing new cover look and branding for the World’s NUMBER ONE Storyteller!

Boggis is an enormously fat chicken farmer who only eats boiled chickens smothered in fat. Bunce is a duck-and-goose farmer whose dinner gives him a beastly temper. Bean is a turkey-and-apple farmer who only drinks gallons of strong cider. Mr Fox is so clever that every evening he creeps down into the valley and helps himself to food from the farms. Now the farmers have hatched a plan to BANG-BANG-BANG shoot Mr Fox dead. But, just when they think Mr Fox can’t possibly escape, he makes a fantastic plan of his own…

Chapter book

Laugh-out-loud school-based fun in two-colour stories, perfect for encouraging independent reading!

Life at Wigglesbottom Primary is often lived on the edge. Is the Classroom Cat trying to tell them something! YES! Can eating a puddle crisp make you ill? YES! Can Class 2R cure PUDDLE-POX? Is Imaginary Margaret a bit of a prankster? YES! So what are Class 2R going to do about it all? HAVE A LOT OF FUN!

Three short stories in each book keep just confident readers engaged while lively two-colour illustrations bring these hilarious early readers to life and perfectly bridge the gap between picture books and chapter books.

Written by the bestselling, Blue Peter award-winning author Pamela Butchart and illustrated by Becka Moor.

Chapter book

Meet the princess who loves breaking the rules and her Royal Unicorn, who happens to be a pig!

A madcap new adventure series for 6-8 year olds, perfectly bridging the gap from picture books to chapter books, from award-winning author-illustrator Hannah Shaw, filled with pictures in all the colours of the rainbow and interactive extra material.

Welcome to Twinkleland Kingdom, where everything is 100% perfect. Except Princess Pea… Today’s the day the princess has to choose her own perfect unicorn at the Royal Unicorn Parade. All is well until the muddy Unipiggle appears and creates a very big muddle. It looks like Princess Pea has met her perfect match…

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review

Stone Girl Bone Girl

review

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?

yes

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Any other comments

Any other comments