Would you rather drink snail squash or eat mashed worms? Help a witch make stew? Tickle a monkey? Or maybe – if you could really be anyone or do anything in the world – would you rather just be…you?
Mr Creep the Crook and his family are criminals. Even his dog Growler is bad. When he escapes from jail and heads to the seaside, Mr Creep finds out that breaking the law is not such a good idea after all. This is part of the Happy Families series, which remains very popular with KS1. We also recommend Cops and Robbers and Burglar Bill by the same author.
Would you rather drink snail squash or eat mashed worms? Help a witch make stew? Tickle a monkey? Or maybe – if you could really be anyone or do anything in the world – would you rather just be…you?
Every day, John Patrick sets off along the road to school, and although he hurries, strange and improbable happenings repeatedly make him late. To make things worse, his teacher never believes his story.
You might think a book with no pictures would be boring and serious.
Except . . . here’s how this book works:
Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say BLORK . Or BLUURF .
And even if they have to say things like BLAGGITY BLAGGITY and MY HEAD IS MADE OF BLUEBERRY PIZZA!
That’s the rule. That’s the deal.
US comic writer and actor, B. J. Novak’s brilliantly irreverent and very, very silly The Book With No Pictures will delight kids and grownups alike!
A classic picture book by Janet and Alan Ahlberg, all about a class of children starting school. The story walks through the experiences of the first term of school for a group of children, exploring the different activities and equipment they come across. A gently positive story that also explains that starting school is about more than just the first day!
Familiar favourite characters Topsy and Tim make the transition from their nursery to primary school. The twins demonstrate a positive attitude and enjoy meeting their new classmates and teacher. A reassuring story exemplifying typical first day experiences.
This book offers a fresh perspective on growing up different and not understanding why, describing childhood from the perspective of someone diagnosed with autism in adulthood. It’s easy to read but (like many of the best books), difficult to classify being partly autobiography and partly a thorough informative guide to autism and wider neurodiversity issues. The bright, attractive illustrations along with the chatty style make the book very accessible. It’s marketed for 8-12-year-olds, but would also be a useful read for older teens. It might be particularly attractive to neurodiverse children, whether or not they have a diagnosis yet, but it has many important messages about acceptance of self, confidence and wellbeing that are applicable much more widely. The way the author reflects on her experiences in childhood makes this a very hopeful and helpful book, particularly for those children struggling with school and friendships and wondering whether things will ever feel less challenging. It’s a lovely celebration of difference and individuality.
Barbara is in a very bad mood. She won’t admit it, but she is.
She has a problem with a sock, and at lunchtime there’s a strange pea… And even though she’s at the park with her friends, it all just gets a bit much. Suddenly Barbara’s WOBBLER is out of control!
But what if Barbara and her Wobbler can work together, so she can be cheerful again?
A brilliantly funny and sensitive way to understand and deal with tantrums.
Fiction meets political history in this gripping and moving story from popular author Jacqueline Wilson. When Opal’s father is sent to prison, Opal must start work at the Fairy Glen sweet factory instead of following her dreams of going to university. But when Opal meets the legendary Mrs Pankhurst and her fellow suffragettes, she gains a growing awareness of just how far these women will go to pursue their democratic rights. Set during a significant turning point of British history when the Votes for Women movement was gaining traction and WW1 was about to begin, Opal Plumstead is an important book that offers an insight into how the suffrage movement helped to shape British democracy and one that carries a powerful message about fighting for what you believe in.
Full of suspense and cliff-hangers, this book is proving very popular in Upper Key Stage 2 classrooms. The story follows Jamal, a boy from a war-torn part of Afghanistan. When the government discovers that Jamal’s mother is illegally running a school, his family is forced to leave home and they try to seek asylum in Australia. The journey is frightening and full of dangers and when Jamal finally reaches Australia, it does not turn out to be quite as welcoming as he expected. A gripping text that tackles difficult issues head on in a sensitive but realistic way. We also recommend the sequel Girl Underground.
review
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?
yes
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Curriculum links (if relevant)
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Any other comments