Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Format: Short story collection

Non-fictionShort story collection

Read real stories about moments that changed history, and find out what you can do to make a difference!

“Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
– John Lewis, Twitter 2018

Inspired by civil rights activist and congressman John Lewis’s call to challenge injustice, explore famous moments of global activism throughout history with more than 70 narrative stories.

Featured stories include the Newsboys’ strike of 1899, the Freedom Summer Project of 1964, Greta Thunberg’s first School Strike for Climate, and students against book banning.

A must-have, illustrated narrative non-fiction guide through stories of exemplary activism:

Topics for every interest: Stories cover protests about climate change, racism, feminism, LGBTQIA+ pride, disability, and more from around the world.
Beautifully told stories and useful resources: Alongside the moving narrative retellings of historical moments, kids can find information about how they can be activists in a safe way, alongside a glossary and key dates for annual activism moments from across the globe.
Written by Jamia Wilson: The acclaimed author of Shining Bright, Shining Black, Big Ideas for Young Thinkers and Young, Gifted and Black.

Each true story in Make Good Trouble shares how activists across a variety of beliefs, ages, and backgrounds called for change, empowering young readers of all ages, abilities, and circumstances to make a difference. Brimming with illustrations and additional resources, including a timeline and information about how kids can get involved, this is essential reading for budding activists.

Non-fictionShort story collection

COME ON A JOURNEY THROUGH CHILDHOOD with this anthology of twenty-two autobiographical stories from the very best writers in the disabled community.

From birthday parties, to navigating the sports field, to being given random free stuff, to juggling hospital visits alongside social lives . . .

These twenty-two true stories capture the highs and lows, the tears and laughter, the friendships and fallouts of growing up with a disability.

Whether you’re disabled yourself, or know someone who is, or want to better understand the experience, this book is a window into the young lives of these disabled writers: their stories, in their own words.

Edited by James Catchpole, Lucy Catchpole and Jen Campbell. With contributions from Ali Abbas, Polly Atkin, Imani Barbarin, Jen Campbell, James Catchpole, Christa Couture, Carly Findlay, M. Leona Godin, Eugene Grant, Jan Grue, Matilda Feyisayo Ibini, Ilya Kaminsky, Sora J. Kasuga, Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, Elle McNicoll, Daniel Sluman, Nina Tame, Rebekah Taussig, Steven Verdile, Alex Wegman, Ashley Harris Whaley and Kendra Winchester. Illustrated by Sophie Kamlish.

Short story collection

This is a wonderful collection of stories set in five different countries. Perfect for a rainy autumn day, dip in and be transported far, far away.

To sum it up in five words – epic, stunning, adventure, courage and resilience.

Myths, Gods and Gladiators in Ancient Rome is part of the Comic Strip Myths series, focusing on the myths of Ancient Rome intertwined with information and facts describing the era.

The book begins with an introduction to Ancient Rome and the Roman Myths, before retelling the Creation Story in a comic strip style. The rest of the book follows a similar pattern: information pages on subjects such as the gods, Roman emperors, the Roman army, religion, inventions and gladiators, followed by cartoon strip myths linked to the information: Dido and Aeneas; Romulus and Remus; Horatius at the Bridge and so on.

Some of the myths selected the children will not have encountered before, others likely through their Greek versions, which provides an interesting discussion opportunity.

The comic strips themselves are engaging and fun. Dido and Aeneas, for example, is told in rhyme. Whilst many of the stories cover quite dark elements, their portrayal is often fun or silly. The information pages are a visual treat, with boxes of information and larger cartoons depicting the key details.

Overall, Comic Strip Myths: Myths, Gods and Gladiators in Ancient Rome is an excellent introduction to Roman mythology and history. It successfully combines education and entertainment, making it a great choice for young readers interested in myths, comics or the ancient world.

What is your favourite children’s story? Goldilocks and the Three Bears? The Enormous Turnip? These age-old tales still hold incredible charm and memorable story lines – with many variations. Did your gingerbread man survive or not? Did your tortoise and hare become friends at the end? What happened to your big bad wolf? Nursery tales, handed down from storyteller to storyteller, have countless variations. This new collection contains eight well-known traditional tales retold by James Mayhew with spell-binding storylines and vivid descriptions, each beautifully illustrated with thoughtful, modern and quirky artwork by the author. My favourite part of this book is the double-page spread at the back of the book, giving a potted history of each of the tales. Who knew that the earliest version of The Three Little Pigs was actually about three little pixies? And would you have guessed that The Tortoise and the Hare dates from more than two thousand years ago? Some of these tales you will remember, some you may not know, but all of them are special and worth sharing with the youngest generation.

A beautiful new edition of retellings – including tales from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan!

Enjoy a rich collection of folktales, myths and legends from all over South Asia, re-told for young readers.

This book includes traditional favourites such as the story of Rama and Sita and classic folktales and mythology.

Includes 19 South Asian folktales, myths and legends in a perfect, child-friendly package.

Part of the Scholastic Classics collection: introducing generations of book lovers to timeless stories, repackaged especially for young readers

Classic stories told from a modern perspective

Award-winning children’s writer and former Children’s Laureate Sir Michael Morpurgo has collected classic tales of heroism and adventure and put them all in one place. Here! From brave heroes and battling beasts to mighty gods and magic spells, these are timeless tales to treasure forever. Eye-catching colour illustrations bring the magic of these myths and legends to life. There are lots of stories to choose from, including Mulan, Icarus, and Hercules the Hero, plus a retelling of Gawain and the Green Knight written by Sir Michael himself, so whether you’re looking for a quick read or a longer story to lose yourself in, something to read alone or a tale to share, there’s an enchanting story within for everyone to find. A sumptuous gift edition for young readers to treasure, and a perfect companion to Greatest Animal Stories and Greatest Magical Stories.

Short story collection

This collection contains more than 20 enthralling new retellings of famous Celtic myths for children, plus exciting profiles of all the major characters of Celtic legend.

Children will love exploring each myth, told in a straightforward and compelling way that is easy for children to understand while retaining the romance of the original tales. Striking illustrations by multi-award winning artist Katie Ponder breathe new life into each story.

This Celtic myths book for children offers:

Over 20 fascinating Celtic myths, covering famous classics and lesser-known stories.
Beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist Katie Ponder.
A beautiful gold foil cover and gilded edges.
Profiles of the gods, heroes and creatures of Celtic legend complete with a pronunciation guide
This book brings Celtic myths to life and is the perfect gift for children who love history and mythology. Learn key background information on Celtic lands and history, as well as exciting characters, from the demigod Cú Chulainn to the warrior-hero Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the beautiful princess Gráinne. Children will love exploring the tales by themselves or as bedtime stories.

Short story collection

Step inside twelve magical mythological worlds. You might want to take a map.But the maps in Myth Atlas are special: they show how twelve extraordinary cultures saw the world. For some it’s a giant tree or an upside-down mountain. Others reckon we’re living on the back of a giant turtle. All of them are fascinating.

As you travel the world from Egypt to Japan, you’ll meet an incredible array of gods, monsters, heroes and fantastical beasts. Just watch out for werewolves and banshees along the way . . .

Myth Atlas is a magnificent gift book that will captivate children and adults alike.

The Amazing Book of World Mythology offers short and accessible retellings of mythical stories from around the world.

It is pleasing to see the stories grouped not by place of origin but by their themes. This emphasises the commonalities of the global tradition of storytelling and the connections between the stories we have all told and been told. Each of the six themed chapters is divided into four or five stories, which can be read in isolation and are well-suited to reading aloud, whether as a short bedtime story or to a whole class. Each chapter finishes with a double-paged spread introducing more stories, objects or characters relating to the theme, further emphasising the similarities in storytelling across the world.

The book is attractively illustrated, and using a different illustrator for each of the myths is particularly effective. The diversity of the artists and their art styles is an essential part of why the book works so well and how it offers such an effective broadening of horizons. In combination, the quality of the storytelling, the illustrations and the breadth of the stories offered mean this is one of those books that every child should have access to. It’s a perfect addition to any collection of mythology books for children.

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