Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Format: Dyslexia-friendly

Chapter bookDyslexia-friendly
dyslexia-friendly

Critically acclaimed author Keith Gray masterfully grapples with the difficult dynamics of a tumultuous family environment in this compelling and bittersweet tale.

When Ben sees a monstrous gargoyle creeping across the midnight rooftops, he’s desperate to tell someone. But Ben feels alone in his new home and is finding it hard fitting in at his new school.

Ben’s dad doesn’t believe him. He’s always angry. He says Ben needs to act his age, stand up to the school bullies and “be a man”. But can Ben find the courage to stand up to the biggest bully of all? And every night the gargoyle creeps closer.

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Chapter bookDyslexia-friendly
dyslexia-friendly

The portrait of a beautiful girl with tumbling red hair takes on sinister undertones in this unnerving tale from much-loved, multi-award-winning author Anne Fine.

Jess is delighted when she finds the perfect picture to cover up a dirty mark on her bedroom wall. The beautiful portrait of a girl with tumbling red hair is exactly the right size, and she doesn’t even have to pay for it!

But when she hangs the painting in her room, Jess is tormented by disturbing nightmares featuring Araminta from the portrait.

Her mum thinks Jess is making it all up, but she’s in for a shock when she experiences the power of the painting for herself …

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 7.

Chapter bookDyslexia-friendly
dyslexia-friendly

Caiden and Sam find themselves trapped and alone in a vast warehouse with a soul-feeding demon in this hair-raising horror from bestselling and award-winning author Jennifer Killick.

Caiden and his best friend Sam are used to coming across some pretty weird stuff while helping Caiden’s dad in his house-clearing business. But they’ve never seen anything like the grotesque mounted heads of bizarre, other-worldly creatures they find in what was Sasha Kinski’s home. It’s clear that something awful has happened here, and it’s not over yet …

Alone at the company warehouse that evening, the boys make the terrifying discovery that they have brought an uninvited evil passenger back with them from Miss Kinski’s house.

With their very souls in peril, can Caiden and Sam unravel the mystery in time to save themselves …?

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Chapter bookDyslexia-friendly
dyslexia-friendly

Award-winning Hilary McKay brings the childhood of Victorian heroine Grace Darling to life in this heartfelt reimagining of her life up to and including the Forfarshire shipwreck.

Despite her fear of boats, Grace Darling loves her life as the daughter of a lighthouse keeper and spends fun-filled childhood days with her three sisters, four brothers, numerous goats, chickens, cats and her beloved dog, Happy.

The only shadows come from the many shipwrecks caused by the poor location of their lighthouse, a problem that seems to be fixed when a new one is built further out on the remote Longstone Rock.

But in September 1838, a steamship called the Forfarshire is wrecked on the dangerous Harcar Rock. Grace alerts her father to survivors, but can she find the courage to help him row out through the mountainous waves to rescue them?

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Chapter bookDyslexia-friendly
dyslexia-friendly

With the spectre of a Nazi invasion looming over Britain, three children are forced into an unlikely allyship in this gripping wartime tale from multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer.

June 1940 – after the devastating defeat of the British forces at Dunkirk, the terrifying prospect of a Nazi invasion of Britain seems ever more likely. In these dark days, three children whose parents are involved in top-secret war work are brought together in unlikely ally ship, covering for their parents and facing down malicious gossip as they come under suspicion from their local community.

Forced to confront the brutal realities of war as it affects every aspect of their lives, the children find the courage to play their part, rescuing survivors and refugees at sea, and undertaking river patrols to detect German E-boat incursions.

But when it appears that the invader is at their shores, will they be able to pull off the most daring feat of all?

Chapter bookDyslexia-friendly
resources-availabledyslexia-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.

Chapter bookDyslexia-friendly
resources-availabledyslexia-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.

Chapter bookDyslexia-friendly
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.
Chapter bookDyslexia-friendly
dyslexia-friendly

Cousins Yasmin and Ruby have always been rivals, but both sides of the story are exposed in this cleverly composed clean-teen novella from Karen McCombie.

Ruby can’t stand her “perfect” cousin Yasmin. Yasmin is pretty, popular and has a gorgeous boyfriend Max. She’s set to get excellent grades in her GCSEs and her parents won’t stop going on about how brilliant she is.

Ruby always feel small and hopeless around Yasmin, and whenever she gets any attention, Yasmin tries to make sure the spotlight turns back to her.

Or that’s how Ruby feels anyway. But is there another side to the story?

Chapter bookDyslexia-friendly
dyslexia-friendly

A dramatic coach crash forces Hailey to re-examine her relationships with her fellow singing-club members in this gripping drama from queen of teen thrillers Sophie McKenzie.

A singing-club trip ends in disaster when the coach carrying the members spins out of control. Hailey is trapped at the back of the coach with her nemesis Bex, who’s taken the lead role in their latest performance, and handsome Kit, on whom Hailey has a massive crush.

As the coach hangs over the edge of a precipice and Kit escapes to find help, Hailey and Bex have to get over their initial judgements about each other and work together if they are to stand a chance of survival. Will they find a way to safety?

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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