Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

A brand-new Christmas classic adventure about the magic of Santa Claus, set in North London and the North Pole – from the bestselling author of Artemis Fowl

IT ALL STARTED IN CHRISTMAS PAST . . .

It’s been ten years since Santa Claus performed his Christmas duties, but when Juniper Lane discovers the mysterious Niko, who lives in her local London park surrounded by Christmas trees and reindeer that can fly, she steps into a Christmas story like no other.

When Juniper’s mum goes missing and the park comes under threat from an ambitious park keeper, Juniper enlists Niko, who is surely Santa Claus, to help.

As the countdown to Christmas begins, Juniper must find her mother, restore the festive spirit, bring to life the true magic of the season and learn to ride her very own reindeer.

A brand-new festive classic, Juniper’s Christmas is a rip-roaring magical adventure filled with heart and humour – where one girl’s love might just be strong enough to save her family and Father Christmas himself.

Share in fifty years of a really remarkable cat…

Everyone’s favourite family cat first appeared fifty years ago and is loved by children everywhere for her funny and warm-hearted escapades.

From the creator of The Tiger Who Came to Tea comes six delightful family adventures about a really remarkable cat! Mog the Forgetful Cat is the classic picture book story of a very forgetful cat, her family, and a very exciting adventure, and you can celebrate fifty years of Mog with this beautiful hardback story collection of her funniest family adventures.

The stories included are:
Mog the Forgetful Cat
Mog and Bunny
Mog and the Baby
Mog on Fox Night
Mog’s Bad Thing
Mog’s Christmas

Mog the Forgetful Cat was first published in 1970 and has never been out of print, making these timeless stories the perfect gift for families, boys, girls, fans of Judith Kerr, and anyone who has ever known or loved a cat!

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.

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!

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 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.

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!

A beautifully lyrical and empowering picture book about the importance of dreaming big, from award-winning author Manjeet Mann and the exceptionally talented debut illustrator, Amanda Quartey.

Small lived in a small house.
She had a small room
with a small window
and at night
she slept in a small bed
with a too small blanket.

Despite being small,
Small had BIG dreams.

In Small’s world, everything is small – her shoes, her bed, everything. But her dreams are big. And Small discovers that when you dream big, anything – and everything – can happen.

Small’s Big Dream is the first picture book from Manjeet Mann, with artwork by exciting debut illustrator Amanda Quartey. Manjeet Mann is the author of the Costa Children’s Book Award winning The Crossing and critically acclaimed and Carnegie-shortlisted Run, Rebel.

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 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 . . .

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