Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Publisher: David Fickling Books

Emmeline Pankhurst (First Names)

Non-fiction

First Names is a series of fun, lively and highly illustrated biographies that introduces some truly amazing individuals who lived incredible lives, to an audience of young readers.

EMMELINE fought a tough battle to win the vote for many British women and inspired others around the world to do the same.

Find out: – Why she hated school, – How she had to take lessons in stone throwing, – What she thought when her daughter spat at a policeman . . . And an awful lot more besides.

Get to know EMMELINE on First Name terms!

Ettie and the Midnight Pool

Julia Green & Pam Smy

Chapter book

A hauntingly beautiful story about growing up, exploring the secrets of the past, and facing the darkness within.

Ettie has lived blissfully with just her grandma for company and the wild woods as her playground. Until she meets the mysterious Cora and she starts to crave more – now she wants to explore further, to discover secrets of her own. So, when Cora leads her to the hidden quarry pool – deep, cold, beautiful and dangerously inviting – Ettie is ready to jump straight in. But the quarry has secrets too, and Ettie will have to dive deep into the darkness to uncover them…

This poignant story of courage and hope makes links to ancient myths and fairy stories to show the darkness and light in stories, and show that not all stories end with happily ever after. Gripped, I read this haunting adventure story in one sitting as I was intrigued by the characters in the book. Having so few characters made me more connected with them and their story and want to find out what was going to happen next.

An easy independent read for a more mature Year 5 or Year 6 reader. The author shares her love and knowledge of nature throughout the story with beautiful descriptions to share the power of nature from gardening to swimming in tarns and caves, whilst telling the story of Ettie uncovering the truth about her family and what has happened in the past.

Corpse Talk: Dead Good Storytellers

Adam Murphy & Lisa Murphy

Non-fiction

Adam himself interviews the dead famous who made names for themselves in history by creating the greatest and most ground-breaking works of fiction ever – many you’ll have heard of, and many you should have heard of! And then discover their most famous stories – as told in the inimitable Corpse Talk style!

Let William Shakespeare keep you on the edge of your seat with Macbeth, Charles Dickens thrill you in Great Expectations, and Mary Shelley send shivers up your spine in Frankenstein. Learn about the greatest stories ever told, and the people who made them up!

Bunny vs Monkey: The Impossible Pig

Jamie Smart

Chapter book

The Woods are in uproar! Pig has vanished! What could have happened to him? And who is this familiar-looking bearded figure sitting on a cloud? Could they be connected?

Adventuremice: Mice on the Ice

Philip Reeve & Sarah McIntyre

Chapter book

The Frost Fair is coming! But when a surprise snowfall puts the mice’s plans at risk, it’s up to Pedro and the team to save the Fair and bring joy to the town! Guaranteed to warm hearts everywhere.

Max and Chaffy 3: Search for the Ice Chaffy

Jamie Smart

Chapter book

Max and Chaffy can’t wait to search for more CHAFFIES.

And today is a very SPECIAL day – a snow day!

So, a SURPRISE visitor has arrived to look for one of the rarest chaffies of all, and YOU CAN HELP!

Merrylegs

Pam Smy

Picturebook

Merrylegs is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book about a riding school pony who yearns to have a more exciting life. He doesn’t realise that all the children love him as he is, despite his friend Feathers telling him so, and wishes he could be like the tall beautiful racehorses that he sees from his paddock. Day in and day out he gives rides to children, plodding and clomping around the riding school, and even though he makes so many children very happy, he is not happy at all as his life isn’t as exciting as the racehorses.

Then a fair comes to town and in the middle is a beautiful carousel with the most beautiful painted horses. Feathers and Merrylegs visit the fair and all Merrylegs wants to do is be a carousel horse, and be surrounded by laughing and smiling children. That night as he falls asleep he dreams that one of the carousel horses comes to take him away on a magical adventure, flying through the night and dancing among the stars. The next day he is the happiest he has ever been because now he has hope, and with that hope he has learned to love himself as he is, changing Merrylegs’ view of himself forever, his stumble clop turning into a clippetty trip.

This is an uplifting, satisfying story of friendship and self-belief, told through Pam Smy’s illustrations and gentle text, with the aim of showing that you can achieve your dreams. The illustration style is clear and accurate with many details to spot. The nostalgic palette colours almost everything apart from the appearance of the carousel horses, which enhances their magical properties. The rhythm of Merrylegs’ strides, repeated often in the text, will encourage young children to read along.

Felix Unlimited

Andrew Norriss

Chapter book

Felix is no ordinary boy. With the help of his friends, he’s started his own business, and he already has thousands of pounds stashed under his bed. But it’s not all smooth sailing . . . especially because he hasn’t told his parents yet!

Friendship troubles, family drama and fast cars – it’s a lot for one boy to cope with.

But this is Felix – and he’s not going to let anything hold him back.

Bunny vs Monkey: Rise of the Maniacal Badger

Jamie Smart

Chapter book

Jamie Smart’s big-selling comic-book success story continues!

The Maniacal Badger has arrived, and he’s determined to take over the Woods! Wasn’t that Monkey’s plan? This cannot happen! What japes await in this brand-new adventure, when Bunny and Monkey team up to beat this new menace?! They’ve never managed to work together before. . . And will Skunky rediscover his passion for evil inventions, to defeat his rival at their own game? One thing’s for sure . . . Laughs are guaranteed!