Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Publisher: Little Tiger Press Group

This is a remarkably sophisticated picture book with a great sense of humour on every page, through the words and the pictures.

A story of revenge and how it never pays, filled with humour that an adult can also enjoy, with references to Bond villains and plenty of wordplay (he’s not only the Mushroom of Doom but also a fun guy!). The pictures are entirely in keeping with the zany plot, and giving mushrooms distinct personalities takes skill. A wonderful, ambiguous ending also means there is plenty to discuss in this story. The Mushroom is a stereotypical villain who may, or may not, get his comeuppance and a character who appears to fail to learn from his mistakes and the kindness of others.

It is rare to find a picture book that makes me laugh out loud as this one did. The very idea of a Mushroom as a villain will make readers of all ages intrigued to read the book, and this mushroom did not disappoint.

A human rights ambassador for Amnesty International, Sita Brachmachari is renowned for placing children’s rights, refugee rights and environmental rights at the forefront of her stories and When Shadows Fall encapsulates those struggles in a story that is at times distressing, but equally uplifting.

Voiced from the perspective of three friends, Brachmachari deftly weaves an account of how quickly someone’s life can unravel following the loss of a loved one, but also how help can come from the strength of a stranger, who has learned to not only survive the atrocities of war but also felt the isolation of rebuilding a life in a country where, as a refugee, they have not always been made to feel welcome.

A mature story that celebrates the joys of the innocence of childhood friendships, how dramatically one person’s life and mental health can deteriorate when that friendship fractures, how seeing those events from the other person’s perspective can help us to heal and rebuild what we might think was lost forever and how we can learn to love a new path in life.

From double Paralympic gold medallist, five time World Champion and award-winning children’s author Danielle Brown MBE comes a bighearted, empowering handbook about sport, confidence and self-belief.

Drawing on stories from inspiring athletes, as well as Danielle’s own gold-medal-winning experiences (including the hiccups along the way), Shoot for the Stars gives practical examples of how to overcome obstacles, find the courage to dig deep and discover sporting success on your terms – whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out!

Packed with awesome quizzes, team talks, advice from sporting champions, and all kinds of tips and tricks, this interactive handbook will have you covered for every sporting situation, offering reassurance and giving you the confidence to strike out and live your best your life!

Perfect for fans of Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World, HerStory and It’s a Brave Young World.

One puzzling mystery. Several slippery suspects. Endless possibilities!

Welcome to Haventry, a town where the ordinary and extraordinary collide! With ghosts, werewolves and zombies living side by side, trouble is always brewing. And when a fiendish crime is committed,?YOU?are the detective in charge of the case.

All aboard the Transylvanian Express! YOU and your yeti boss Klaus are headed to Castle Ursprung, home of the infamous vampire Count Fledermaus. But before you get there, you have a mystery to solve: Night Mayor Franklefink has vanished from the train.

Someone onboard must have played a role in his disappearance but who has the strongest motive? Could it be Franklefink’s archnemesis Bramwell Stoker? Or is Sandra Rigmarole, elf District Governor and colleague of the Night Mayor, a more likely suspect? Or perhaps Franklefink’s monster wife has suddenly turned against him? YOU decide!

With hundreds of paths to choose from and no dead ends, you’ll solve the mystery every time!

A fantastically imaginative detective story for readers looking for an interactive adventure.

If you have ever set yourself a New Year’s Resolution, then you will relate perfectly to Fig Fitzherbert, the hero of the novel, ‘Fig Swims the World’. Fig would certainly be considered a ‘higher achiever’; she is a fantastic pianist, loves maths (and is incredibly talented in this area) and also loves making lists! Whilst Fig’s talents are undeniable, they never seem enough for her mum, who sets her a (seemingly impossible) challenge each New Year.

In this novel, Fig decides to take matters into her own hands and set herself a challenge…to swim around the world. This challenge is made even more ambitious as, when she sets the challenge, Fig cannot swim at all! It is an inspirational roller coaster of an adventure, with relatable characters and warm humour throughout. Her relationship with Sage, an older swimmer whom Fig meets at the pool, is particularly wonderful.

Fig is an inspirational character, and her journey gives so much to discuss around perseverance, motivation and facing your fears. It’s a brilliant read and would be an ideal accompaniment to discussions around ‘setting goals and challenges’.

Horror movie enthusiast Charley is determined to keep a low profile when she’s enrolled at a girls’ boarding school on a remote island. That is, until someone starts killing off her senior class! From elaborate scare tactics to severed heads in fridges, Charley has found herself at the centre of a teen horror movie. And that’s not the only alarming thing that’s happening – she’s now seeing the ghosts of her former classmates!?

Haunted by her peers, and with everyone beginning to suspect her, Charley decides to do something about it. She and her only best friend Olive are going to solve the murders and find out who’s killing off the class before graduation. Charley just needs those pesky ghosts to shut up and give her a hand.

A fast-paced tongue-in-cheek YA novel about two friends trying to survive senior year – literally! Perfect for fans of Fear Street, The Midnight Club and the SCREAM franchise.

On the savannah, whatever the weather,

The animals must stick together.

A herd of elephants cross the trail,

Steadily walking, trunk to tail.

A gorgeous picture book by award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup!

Discover the incredible habits of animals and their families, from diving dolphins to marvellous manatees, and explore what family means to all kinds of creatures. Britta Teckentrup’s stunning artwork brings to life nature’s incredible stories of the ways in which animals protect and support each other. Lyrical rhyming text by Patricia Hegarty creates a calming tone, making this a perfect book for sharing with your child at bedtime or anytime! Die-cuts let young readers peep through the pages, revealing different horizons all across the world. In this latest addition to Britta Teckentrup’s bestselling series of nature-themed books, animal parents and their young help you celebrate families, love, and the wonders of nature.

Also available in the Peek-through Nature series: Don’t miss the full range of stunning picture books that focus on the natural world, including Sea, Moon, Bee, Tree and Home!

For more Britta Teckentrup books that explore social themes, don’t miss We Are Together, Under the Same Sky, Kindness Grows and A Happy Place.

For many children, moving to a new school, town, street or even within a block of flats, can be a daunting experience, not least because old friends may be lost and there is a fear of not making new friends. This book is perfect for children in situations of change (including class transitions) or for teachers and parents to explore with children what makes a ‘good friend’.

The character in the book creates a new friend from a variety of art materials, and this is a worthwhile activity to do for children, enabling them to talk about friendships and what is important to them about either their friends or about a friend they would like to have. Clearly, sensitivity is key to sharing this book.

The illustrations are bold and vibrant with a wide representation of children shown in the pictures. There is plenty to talk about in the pictures, providing scope for discussion and questions. This is a simple book with a clear and easy message to follow and useful for any early years or KS1 class.

When Little Red, a squirrel, finds just the right place to make his home, he isn’t exactly thrilled to share his Tree with a caterpillar, swifts or even an elephant, each of whom also finds Tree to be ideal landing spots. Tree is gentle, encouraging and welcoming, constantly reminding Little Red that there’s space for everyone. Each time Little Red says that Tree is all his, Tree says, “I’m not so sure about that! Look behind you!” As more and more animals arrive, Little Red decides that sharing has its benefits and decides to stay with his new friends.

Jessica Meserve is both author and illustrator of this engaging nature-themed picture book. All the woodland characters have individual personalities and a place in the setting. The dialogue brings the creatures into a world children will recognise while learning fun facts about some of the animals. The illustrations are bright, colourful and detailed.  A book for small children to explore the ideas of sharing and caring (and counting), but in a gentle way, using animals and the tree they all live in or use.

Laurie loves stories. She loves reading them in her mums’ bookshop in their small Scottish town. She loves sharing them with new readers. She also loves telling stories about people she’s not yet met and places she’s not yet been. But when one of these people comes crashing into Laurie’s world, it turns her whole life upside down.

Neon is the boy Laurie’s been dreaming of for the last six months, and he’s exactly as she had created him – down to his ability to play any instrument he picks up. And when he steps off the train and into Laurie’s world, he teaches her what it means to be real.

A fantastical story about imagination and friendship from the award-winning author of AWAY WITH WORDS.

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