Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

An Animal a Day

Non-fiction

A fascinating animal for every day of the year!

Dip in each day to discover a new animal to enjoy sharing with friends or family – make sure to find YOUR birthday animal!

Travel through the incredible ecosystems and habitats of our beautiful planet, and meet some of the most fascinating animals that call them home. Dive into the oceans to find whales and giant squid, journey across the icy poles with penguins and polar bears, race across the African savanna with lions and wildebeest – and so much more.

Each day’s entry is filled with fascinating facts – learn about completely new animals, and find out some incredible new sides to animals you might see often in everyday life.

This stunning book is packed with breathtaking illustrations to bring each animal to life. It also features information about conservation, and how we can protect endangered animals and the places they call home.

The ULTIMATE gift for animal lovers aged 6 and up.

If the World Were 100 People

Aaron Cushley & Jackie McCann

Non-fiction

Winner of The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2022.

There are almost 8 billion humans living on Earth, but it’s tricky to picture so many people! So instead, let’s imagine the whole planet is a village where 100 people live – each person representing around 80 million people in the real world.

So what does our global village of 100 people look like? Are they all grown-ups? Are there more males or females? How many have black hair or blue eyes? What languages do they speak? Who can read and write? How many have access to the internet or have enough food to eat? Does everyone have access to electricity or clean water?

This thought-provoking book answers all of these questions and much, much more! Big ideas are broken into bitesize chunks through clever illustration and graphic design. By focussing on just 100 people, it’s easier to see the things we have in common, and the things that make us unique. If the World Were 100 People is a perfect introduction about the world we live in for children aged 5+ and a wonderful way to support them in becoming global citizens. Great to read at home or in the classroom.

So come and meet the people in our global village, and think about the big questions that affect us all!

Mystic and the Midnight Ride

Stacy Gregg

Chapter book

The first Pony Club Secrets mystery adventure by bestselling author of The Princess and the Foal.

Issie loves horses more than anything!
And she especially loves her pony Mystic at Chevalier Point Pony Club. So when the unthinkable happens, Issie is devastated.

Then her instructor asks her to care for Blaze, an abandoned pony, and Issie’s riding skills are really put to the test. Will she tame the spirited new horse Blaze? And can Mystic somehow return to help her…

Find out in the first Pony Club Secrets mystery adventure from the bestselling author of ‘The Princess and the Foal’.

Spellbound Ponies: Rainbows and Ribbons

Stacy Gregg

Chapter book

Spellbound Ponies: Rainbows and Ribbons is a delightful story, perfect for bedtime or independent reading for children aged 7 and above.

This charming tale of friendship and magic follows Olivia and her best friend Eliza as they encounter a new Spellbound Pony at Pemberley Stables. The story quickly pulls readers into a world where magic is real, and friendship is the key to solving mysteries. Their relatable and endearing characters make it easy for young readers to connect with them and understand the importance of teamwork and empathy. The ending is particularly satisfying, leaving readers eager for more adventures with Olivia, Eliza, and the Spellbound Ponies.

Flat Stanley: The Australian Boomerang Bonanza

Josh Greenhut

Chapter book

G’day, Stanley!

Flat Stanley and his brother Arthur have just won a trip to Australia! They fly down under on a private jet and go diving in the Great Barrier Reef. But when Arthur launches him into the air for a game of boomerang, Stanley is accidentally sent spinning off into the heart of the Australian outback!

Small’s Big Dream

Amanda Quartey & Manjeet Mann

Picturebook

Small’s Big Dream is a beautifully illustrated book that carries a vital, empowering message at its heart.

The story introduces the reader to a young girl called Small. Everything in Small’s world is small, yet despite everything in her world being small, this young girl with a curious and creative mind has big dreams. But Small has heard that small people shouldn’t have big dreams, so she tries her best to lock her dreams deep inside her. However, when night falls, her dreams refuse to be contained. They begin to grow rapidly, becoming far too magnificent and powerful to hide. Eventually, they take over completely, freeing Small to truly believe in herself and realise that anyone can achieve greatness, no matter how small they may seem.T

his is a wonderfully empowering book about the importance of self-belief and resilience, which is likely to capture the imaginations of its readers encouraging them to dream big and stand tall.

You Need To Chill

Juno Dawson & Laura Hughes

Picturebook

The sparklingly funny debut picture book from Juno Dawson, bestselling writer and activist.

Sometimes people say to me: ‘What happened to your brother, Bill?’
That’s when I look them in the eye and say: ‘Hun, you need to chill.’

When Bill can’t be found at school one day, the imaginations of the other children run wild. Is he on holiday? Is he lost in the park? Has he been eaten by a shark?! It’s up to Bill’s sister to explain…

Juno Dawson’ debut picture book is a witty and fun-filled rhyming story about family, identity and allyship. Bold, joyful and warm-hearted, its message of love and inclusivity shines through on every page.

A Flash of Fireflies

Aisha Bushby

Chapter book

A magical middle grade book about family, friendship and finding your place, with a delicate touch of magic. Perfect for 10-12 year olds and fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Michelle Harrison and Kiran Millwood-Hargrave and The Girl Who Speaks Bear.

Hazel’s new life in England should have been the stuff of fairy tales; after all her Great Aunt’s cottage looked just like a gingerbread house, with a magical garden and whispering fireflies promising quests and adventures.

But as Hazel struggles to deal with the challenges of the everyday world –⁠ making friends, missing her family –⁠ she
also learns that every fairy tale has a dark side. And there are terrifying creatures that lurk in the shadows . . .

Murray the Viking

Adam Stower

Chapter book

Murray is a cat that loves his peace and quiet but sadly, living with a rather incompetent wizard means that his life is anything but. On occasion, a happy accidental spell provides something of value and for Murray this arrives in the form of a magic cat-flap and Bun, a bun turned bunny. What Bun lacks in vocabulary, he makes up for in enthusiasm, leading Murray on to adventure, whether he likes it or not.

Adam Stower is best known and loved for his illustrations (most notably for David Walliams), but a smidge of research reveals that he is also a prolific writer and, if this book is anything to go by, this latest series is set to put his writing on a par with his illustration.

The witty dialogue between our unlikely friends leads to a book that will appeal right from Year 2 to Year 6. In fact, my copy was in hot demand with my Year 6 class, accompanied by snorts of laughter and loud exclamations of “Bun!”. Granted it isn’t a text to challenge UKS2 (making it accessible to much younger age groups) but they loved the humour and for more reluctant readers, this could be just the sort of book that they will return to and enjoy time and again.

Mama’s Sleeping Scarf

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie & Joelle Avelino

Picturebook

Chino has to stay at home with her Papa while her Mama goes out to work. When Chino is worried that Mama might not come back, Mama leaves her sleeping scarf for her– the one she wears ‘to keep her hair all soft and nice’ – to play with for the day. The scarf weaves its way through Chino’s day with her, helping her play games and forming part of her conversations with both her grandparents and her Papa. The scarf is a reminder throughout the day of the love of her Mama and of the rest of her family, too.

Through this charming and seemingly simple story, Adichie explores the reversal of traditional home roles, the value of multi-generational family bonds, and the simple anxiety of a child who wants to know their parent will return. It’s a bright and colourful text to read aloud.

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Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

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