Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK

The Big Book of the UK

Imogen Russell Williams & Louise Lockhart

Non-fiction

Introduce children to the wonders, history, culture and customs of the United Kingdom with The Big Book of the UK. Learn about the sport of “dwile flonking”, find out where black diamonds come from, ,eet the supernatural animal that haunts the Scottish Highlands and discover the British sweets that helped Hillary and Tenzing scale Everest. Filled with facts about wildlife, food, sports, geography, language and some very silly place names, this book will help you uncover national secrets and unearth local legends from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Katie Morag: Island Stories

Mairi Hedderwick

Short story collection

Follow the adventures of young Katie Morag, who lives on the Scottish Island Of Struay. These endearing stories, which have now been turned into a popular CBBC series, will help children learn about the ups and downs of coastal life on a small island.

Hurricane Betsey

Malorie Blackman

Chapter book

A hurricane is on it’s way . . . And Betsey can’t wait! Join her as she helps prepare for the storm, is entered into a very strange contest, and even attempts to eat a MONSTER hamburger in four fabulously funny adventures. This book is one of five collections featuring Betsey Biggalow from Children’s Laureate, Malorie Blackman. Beautifully illustrated by Jamie Smith, these stories are ideal for building confidence in young readers, whether reading aloud or alone.

The Brockenspectre

Linda Newbery

Chapter book

This is the story of Tomas, whose father is a climbing guide in the Swiss mountains. When his father disappears, Tomas worries that a mountain monster called the Brockenspectre might be at work and sets about to brave the treacherous mountain terrains to find his father before it is too late. Covering themes of family relationships and grief, this is a gripping story for upper KS2.

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table

Roger Lancelyn Green

Chapter book

The granddaddy of them all – what medieval knights and castle game is not inspired in some way by Arthurian legend? This is a compelling collection of the best known Arthurian tales, retold for children and suitable for Upper Primary school.

The Queen’s Knickers

Nicholas Allan & Sue Buswell

Picturebook

It’s a busy year for the Queen – she has lots of important events to attend. Meanwhile, a little girl is wondering what knickers Her Majesty will choose to wear on a school visit! Will they be her ‘at home’ knickers – adorned with corgis – or her ‘garden party’ knickers, or perhaps her woolly Balmoral ones…?

Both children and adults will love this very special and endearing insight into a child’s imagination, from the best-selling author-illustrator of Father Christmas Needs A Wee and Jesus’ Christmas Party .

How High the Moon

Karyn Parsons

Chapter book

Boston was nothing like South Carolina. Up there, colored folks could go anywhere they wanted. Folks didn’t wait for church to dress in their fancy clothes. Fancy was just life. Mama was a city girl . . . and now I was going to be one too.

It’s 1944, and in a small, Southern, segregated town, eleven-year-old Ella spends her summers running wild with her cousins and friends.

But life isn’t always so sunny.

The deep racial tension that simmers beneath their town’s peaceful facade never quite goes away, and Ella misses her mama – a beautiful jazz singer, who lives in Boston.

So when an invitation arrives to come to Boston for a visit Ella is ecstatic – and the trip proves life-changing in more ways than one. For the first time, Ella sees what life outside of segregation is like, and begins to dream of a very different future.

But her happiness is shattered when she returns home to the news that her classmate has been arrested for the murder of two white girls – and nothing will ever be the same again.

A beautifully written and deeply moving story about finding and fighting for your place in the world.

Product Details

Sulwe

Lupita Nyong’o & Vashti Harrison

Picturebook

From Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o comes a powerful, moving picture book about colourism, self-esteem and learning that true beauty comes from within.

Sulwe’s skin is the colour of midnight. She’s darker than everyone in her family, and everyone at school.

All she wants is to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister.

Then a magical journey through the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.

In this stunning debut picture book, Lupita Nyong’o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.

Little Leaders: Exceptional Men in Black History

Vashti Harrison

Non-fiction

Meet the little leaders. They’re brave. They’re exceptional. They changed the world.

Did you know that the father of African cinema was originally a bricklayer? Or that Vogue’s editor-at-large read his first Vogue magazine in his local library?

Learn all about the exceptional black men who broke barriers and fought injustice to realise their dreams and make the world a better place. With Vashti Harrison’s beautiful illustrations and illuminating writing, discover the stories of black men from all walks of life, including:

Doctor Harold Moody
Diplomat Kofi Annan
Activist Paul Stephenson
Architect Sir David Adjaye
Comic book author Dwayne McDuffie
Musician Prince

Your own little leaders will be inspired to take on the world after learning about these incredible men.

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

Vashti Harrison

Picturebook

Meet the little leaders. They’re brave. They’re bold. They changed the world.

Did you know the treatment for leprosy was developed by a young scientist called Alice Ball? And Josephine Baker- world famous cabaret singer and dancer- was also a spy for the French resistance?

Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in the world’s history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women who broke boundaries and exceeded all expectations. Debut author/illustrator Vashti Harrison pairs captivating text with stunning illustrations as she tells the stories of both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history, including:

Nurse Mary Seacole
Politician Diane Abbott
Mathematician Katherine Johnson
Singer Shirley Bassey

Inspire your own little leader with the stories of these amazing women.

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Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK

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