Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Publisher: Floris Books

Anya lives in a paper village, among delicate paper trees and paper houses, where the people are paper-light. Every year the villagers of Paperlee put stones in their pockets to avoid being blown away by the late summer winds.

The windy season has long past when Anya is knocked over by a great gust. What is causing the strange weather? Is it coming from Forestlee, the village on the neighbouring mountain?

Determined Anya has a plan to find out, making a delicate kirigami paper bridge to cross the chasm between the two villages. But what will she find on the other side?

Told through stunning, beautifully crafted kirigami scenes, Seng Soun Ratanavanh created a real paper world for debut author Joëlle Veyrenc’s wonderfully imagined story. Readers will be enchanted by constructed 3D houses, folded foliage and illustrated characters. The Paper Bridge is a unique modern fairy tale which explores distrust of the unknown and the challenge of living together through climate change.

Translated by Katy Lockwood-Holmes.

Beck is sad about moving to Grandma’s farm and leaving their old house and friends behind. But Beck isn’t the only one with a new place to live — a pair of beavers have come to live in the stream nearby.

As Beck settles in, they watch the beavers busily gathering sticks to build a dam, which creates a pool and wetland habitat where lots of other wildlife can live. When the beavers have kits, Beck realises how happy everyone is in their new homes.

By the Beaver Pool is a tale of new beginnings, rewilding, connecting with nature and feeling at home. Catherine Ward’s gentle story cleverly weaves in beaver facts to teach young readers about these incredible ecosystem engineers, which are being reintroduced in the UK due to their ability to transform their local environment and increase biodiversity. Phoebe Roze’s characterful, warm illustrations show the parallel stories of Beck and the beavers, set in stunning Scottish scenery.

This book gripped my heart from author Fidan’s opening note about her research, telling the story of the world’s “nobody children”. Anyone in denial of the plight of refugees needs to read this essential story, packed full of love and empathy and based on real experiences.

5 individual words to describe the book: Family, empathy, fight, survival and hope.

An island of magic and mayhem floating above the flooded Earth, Bastion has long been the last country left in the world. Then one day best friends Kurt (an eight-foot mushroom with a fear of heights) and Flicker (a tiny, tough-talking gemstone faerie) stand on the edge of the land and see the impossible: a plane from nowhere is heading straight for them.

Kurt and Flicker join forces with a brave gang of misfits — including wood-nymph twins (one bounty hunter, one bookworm) and a gruff, shapeshifting wolf — to rescue the pilot and face a dangerous enemy. Can the Cloudlanders save their floating island from crashing into the Endless Sea and the terrifying tentacles of a massive monster?

Cloudlanders is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud fantasy adventure with a unique cast of characters, tonnes of heart, and gasp-inducing moments. Fans of Ben Miller, Tom Fletcher and Terry Pratchett will love this quirky and sharply written debut novel from Kelpies Prize winner, Christopher Mackie.

Perfect for dog lovers, this book causes a smile with the ‘Tail of Happiness’- a wagging tail!

The main character, whose name we never find out, has a special bond with his dog ‘Sam’ – whose superpower is happiness. When the main character’s dad goes to work, he feels sad and the story is about the journey of following Sam to help him find happiness. They do all the usual fun games for a dog such a sniffing a shoe and chasing a ball. Once his dad comes home, he feels very happy but realises that he can now find happiness on his own, although it is even better to find it together.

The illustrations throughout the story stand out due to the white background. For children who prefer a less busy background, this story is ideal. The main character has a hearing aid, which is not mentioned during the story, supporting positive representations of characters with hearing loss.

This story is a celebration of man’s best friend as well as taking joy from all around us. Sam the dog is a great role model in finding happiness in both likely and unlikely places. This story is a wonderful addition to an Early Years/ KS1 classroom to read aloud or have in the book corner.

“The cool on my toes felt kind of nice.
As Mama held me tight, I thought:
Maybe I’ll go in next time.”

A child’s first encounter with the sea leaves them feeling small and scared. What could be hiding in the dark depths below? When the family visits a lake and a river, the child’s fear of water gradually starts to ebb as curiosity begins to flow. But playing in the water still doesn’t feel right. Mama says there is no rush to try swimming, and that the water will wait. Maybe next time?

This gently powerful story about taking your time and listening to yourself, with lyrical words from Emily Joof, reminds us that it’s okay for progress to be gradual. Bold and dynamic illustrations from Matilda Ruta bring the journey to life with warmth and vibrancy. A perfect book for any child who is feeling nervous about new experiences.

Join Katie as she steps into some of the most famous paintings in the world for an exciting art adventure!

Katie can’t decide what she wants to be when she grows up. Perhaps a trip to the gallery will be an inspiration, as the characters in five famous paintings come to life! Will she be an explorer, a train driver, a horse rider or an artist . . . ?

‘A wonderful way to engage children with art. A brilliant combination of education and storytelling’ – Parents in Touch (Katie’s Picture Show)

This art adventure features five famous British paintings:The Cornfield by Constable, Rain, Steam and Speed and The Fighting Temeraire by Turner, Whistlejacket by Stubbs, and The Painter’s Daughters Chasing a Butterfly by Gainsborough.

A moving and compassionately-told story from the author of the The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle. Also told through a dual narrative, this is a story with weighty themes including blended families, life with ADHD and the search for acceptance. Hugely relevant for today’s generation, Victoria Williamson writes with a galloping pace packaged at every turn with extraordinary compassion, delivering an enjoyable and empathy-building reading experience. The narrative offers powerful insights into life with ADHD…

This book was the winner of the prestigious Kelpies Prize for new Scottish writing and, set on the Isle of Cumbrae in southern Scotland, it deserves much wider attention. Lily’s family is less than perfect, but when she hears a ghostly voice warning her not to go to the island, things get messier. A beautifully written and funny adventure, but with depth and heart.

Nominated for Favourite Books of 2018 by: Sophie Merrill (@MissSMerrill ), Year 6 Teacher & Curriculum Lead

A stunning and magical story. A fabulous sequel. Beautifully written, filled with rich and vivid descriptions. Well rounded and engaging characters with a hint of darkness to engage older readers and keep them on their toes. A remarkable piece of writing. Loved it!

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