Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Our Planet

Matt Whyman & Richard Jones & Sir David Attenborough

Non-fiction

This stunning children’s non-fiction hardback is the accompaniment to the Netflix series Our Planet. This is the kind of book that readers young and old will love to pore over, from the powerful photographs of melting ice caps to the facts and figures about palm oil plantations and endangered sea life. There is so much to learn and think about.

The book has a foreword by Sir David Attenborough. What follows is a visual ode to Planet Earth told through extraordinary photography combined with appealing illustrations that draw in younger readers and help them to understand nature’s amazing interplay of habitats and ecosystems. Small sections of text further explain the images, giving snapshots of animals’ lifestyles as well as presenting hard-hitting facts about the dangers they face. We learn how orangutans have incredible mapping skills to navigate their jungle homes, but also how we lose 100 orangutans a week due to human actions like hunting and deforestation. We find out how beautiful lantern-fish light their way along with 17-metre long oarfish in the high seas, but also how plastic peril and high-seas fishing put the incredible marine life there in danger.

The tone of the book is one to inspire rather than to frighten readers into action. The book is not at all without hope for the future, and the nudge to make personal changes comes through simple tips like choosing products carefully and supporting sustainable fishing. Moreover, with photographs as stunning as these, it is hard for readers of all ages not to feel inspired to take steps to protect the natural world.

The 1000 Year Old Boy

Ross Welford

Chapter book

Alfie is like any other nearly teenage boy – except he’s a thousand years old and can remember the last Viking invasion of England. When Alfie finds himself alone in the world following the death of his mother, he has to learn to trust newly found friends if he is going to succeed on his quest to grow old naturally.

Older primary children will enjoy this compelling and thoughtful race against time by Ross Welford. With moments of laugh-out-loud humour, heartbreaking grief and high-octane action, this is a touching, truly unforgettable story of finding friendship and acceptance.

A teaching resource pack is also available to download.

A Pocketful of Stars

Aisha Bushby

Chapter book

A magical middle grade book about family, friendship and finding out who you are, full of emotion and a secret fantasy world to discover. Perfect for 10 year olds and fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Ross Welford, Kiran Millwood-Hargrave and The House with Chicken Legs. From a rising star of children’s books.

This place is magic … but it’s not the sort of magic that comes from wands and spells …

Can piecing together the past help you change the present?

Safiya and her mum have never seen eye to eye. Her mum doesn’t understand Safiya’s love of gaming and Safiya doesn’t think they have anything in common. As Safiya struggles to fit in at school she wonders if her mum wishes she was more like her confident best friend Elle. But then her mum falls into a coma and, when Safiya waits by her bedside, she finds herself in a strange and magical world that looks a bit like one of her games. And there’s a rebellious teenage girl, with a secret, who looks suspiciously familiar …

Star in the Jar

Sam Hay & Sarah Massini

Picturebook

This is a warm-hearted picture book that taps into the awe and comfort brought about by the presence of the stars in the sky. A little boy finds a special star and does exactly what small children do when they discover something interesting; keeps it in a jar to carry around and treasure. However, as darkness falls the other stars create a message calling for the special star to be returned to its rightful place, leaving the boy and his sister (who narrates the story) to figure out that they can set it free and still take comfort in its splendour. We love how the illustrations enchantingly contrast the dark blanket of the night sky with the illuminated star that almost seems to be glowing from the pages. This is a real story-time treat that is well suited to Reception and KS1 classrooms.

The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors

Adam Rex & Drew Daywalt

Picturebook

Highly original and likely to appeal to reluctant readers, this humorous picture book conjures up the legend behind the popular playground game of ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’. The three characters of Rock, Paper and Scissors are transformed into superhero-style warriors on a quest to become all-time battle champions, until they each encounter the other two and reach a hilarious deadlock. Filled with hyperbole, visual gaffs and a little bit of cheekiness (like describing an apricot as a “a fuzzy little butt”), this clever and boisterous picture book from the author of The Day the Crayons Quit is an excellent choice for KS1 and lower KS2. Now available in paperback.

Boy Underwater

Adam Baron

Chapter book

Boy Underwater is brilliantly funny, unexpected and deeply moving. The plot is likely to bring both tears of laughter and of sadness, and also had me gasping out loud in places too. The book has been awarded the sought-after title of Waterstone’s Children’s Book of the Month for June 2018 and I’m recommending it for Y6+.

Cymbeline and his classmates are ready for their turn to start swimming lessons and most of the pupils are really excited to dive in. But Cymbeline has never been swimming before and the more he thinks about it the more he realises that his mum has actively avoided going to the swimming pool or the seaside. Not wanting to lose face in front of his classmates, Cymbeline googles front crawl, borrows Dad’s old swimming shorts and has a practice in the bath. A sound plan, thinks Cymbeline, until he is unexpectedly pushed into the water at the pool and his whole world begins to unravel.

Little does Cymbeline expect that Mum’s reaction to what happens at the pool might lead to her being isolated in a special hospital, nor does he anticipate the family secrets that begin to rise to the surface. With the help of old and new friends, Cymbeline races against time to uncover the truth about his family and to get Mum back home.

Cymbeline’s narrative voice carries a mixture of cheeky humour, sincerity and a level of naivety that makes him hugely likeable and has the reader rooting for him from the start. Although Cymbeline is just nine, the book is most suitable for readers a few years older as it is tremendously sad in parts (as always I suggest reading it first to assess suitability based on your knowledge of the pupils in your classroom) and the narrative touches on some difficult topics including mental health, domestic abuse and family separations.

Adam Baron has masterfully created the perfect blend of humour and pathos, and (without wanting to give away any spoilers) the twists and turns in the plot are simply brilliant and I never predicted the ending. This is a stunning and entertaining narrative that leaves an impact long after you close its pages.

The Taylor Turbochaser

David Baddiel & Steven Lenton

Chapter book

Amy thinks the world of her Dad, but ever since the accident happened, Amy’s Dad can’t bear to see Amy. Following a car accident, in which Amy’s Dad was driving the car, Amy is left in a wheelchair but she is determined to prove to him that being in a wheelchair doesn’t stop her from doing anything and, with the help of her friend and inventor Rahul, she might just do it. The stakes have never been higher!

Following on the back of the success of AniMalcom, The Person Controller, Birthday Boy and The Parent Agency, Baddiel whips up a fun adventure that explores the hopes and dreams of car-obsessed Amy Taylor. Tricky subjects such as life-changing accidents, divorce, sibling and evolving parent-child relationships are all handled sensitively, with Baddiel’s recognisable brand of sharp humour.

Steven Lenton’s illustrations capture each stage of the story perfectly. A real page-turner, each of the characters of the book balance and enrich the story, even poking light-hearted fun at those glued to their technology or struggling to keep up with it.

This book will be relished individually by readers in KS2, appealing to both girls and boys alike, and would also make fun, upbeat class read at the end of the day.

A Case of Grave Danger

Hannah Peck & Sophie Cleverly

Chapter book

A Victorian murder mystery that has plenty of twists and turns and is difficult to put down.

All Violet Veil has ever wanted is to be taken seriously and to become an apprentice in her family’s business, Veil and Sons’ Undertakers. Unfortunately, she is denied this opportunity simply because she is a girl. When there is a spate of killings, business appears to be good for Mr Veil. That is, until one rainy night when one of the dead bodies comes back to life! In the undertaker’s back room, Violet meets Oliver, a young boy who lives on the streets, and together they embark on an investigation to solve Oliver’s own ‘murder’. They are accompanied by Violet’s loyal greyhound, Bones, who has an affinity for the graveyard that lies next to the Veil’s house and business. In spite of her parents’ disapproval, plucky Violet vows to solve this mystery and Oliver is allowed to stay. When Violet’s father is later accused of these murders, Violet, Oliver and Bones must uncover the truth once and for all in a bid to save Mr Veil’s life.

This book has a strong female lead with a loveable sidekick. Violet’s headstrong nature and sense that justice must be done make her a character that you can’t help but root for. The story takes its readers along on the journey of the investigation and is nail-biting in places.

A must-read for lovers of detective stories, ghostly tales and historical fiction. There is a sense of dark adventure and foreboding throughout and this makes the spooky nature of the story very appealing.

Pages & Co.: Tilly and the Bookwanderers

Anna James

Chapter book

Here’s one for the booklovers! Pages & Co: Tilly and the Bookwanderers is a middle-grade adventure where classic children’s characters wander from the pages of their books out into a bookshop, where they lead 11-year-old Tilly back into their fictional worlds.

Tilly lives with her grandparents in their bookshop, ‘Pages & Co’. Tilly’s mum mysteriously disappeared when she was very small and she knows very little about her dad. Often lonely, Tilly finds solace among the pages of the wonderful books in the bookshop. One day, things take a thrilling turn when Anne of Green Gables appears in the shop, soon after followed by Alice in Wonderland. Tilly’s world is turned upside down when she realises that not only can characters from the books leave their stories and come into her world, but she can wander right into theirs too. Tilly is a bookwanderer!

Along with her best friend Oskar, Tilly embarks upon a bookwandering adventure beyond her wildest imagination. But among the sheer joy of visiting fictional worlds, questions begin to emerge about bookwandering. Is there a network of other bookwanderers like her? Why is the mysterious Enoch Chalk always loitering nearby? Can bookwandering help Tilly solve the mystery of what really happened to her mother all those years ago? Do her grandparents know more than they have let on about the world of bookwandering?

This is a clever story with a high appeal to booklovers. Readers with prior knowledge of the classic book characters will get the most out of this book, but this is by no means a prerequisite for enjoying the story with its convincing characterisation, creative world-building and enjoyable plot twists and turns. A delightful story set to charm readers young and old.

The Land of Roar

Ben Mantle & Jenny McLachlan

Chapter book

This story is full of imagination, adventure and excitement and makes for a perfect read-aloud choice for storytime. Land of Roar is an instantly gripping adventure where childhood games become a reality for two twins. I raced my way through it, wondering what dangers twins Rose and Arthur were going to encounter next, whilst simultaneously wanting to visit Roar myself!

Land of Roar makes for a fantastic portal story where you can’t help but be dragged into this magical land of make-believe in a story full of adventure, magic and friendship. I love the idea of childhood games coming to life and the idea appeals well to the imaginations of children aged 8 to 10 – old enough to remember make-believe games from a younger stage but still young enough to allow themselves to be swept away by imagination and magic.

Land of Roar is the kind of fantasy adventure that grips you from the first page to the last and keeps you wanting more…so it’s a good thing there’s a sequel!

Best Books by Age

Popular Children's Authors

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

News: Reflecting Realities Report 2025: Summary of Findings

NEWS: The Children’s Booker Prize is Established

Stories That Make You Feel: Simon Stephenson on The Snowman Code

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review