Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table

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: 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.

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.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

Job Scieszka & Lane Smith

Picturebook

A tongue-in-cheek twist on a well-loved fairy tale. This version of the Three Little Pigs story is retold from the eyes of the wolf, who claims the whole story was a misunderstanding and that he has been wrongly framed for his crime of killing the pigs. This picture book can be used in KS2 to explore themes of objectivity, prejudice and the importance of hearing different sides of the same story before reaching a verdict.

George and the Dragon

Christopher Wormell

Picturebook

This is the story of a mighty dragon who seems ferocious, until we discover that he is terrified of George, a tiny mouse who pops round to borrow some sugar. This is a beautifully illustrated story coupled with the kind of gentle humour that draws readers in and makes them want to read it over and over again.

The Tulip Touch

Anne Fine

Chapter book

This is a powerful story exploring the question of how children can turn into criminals. Tulip, who has experienced deep cruelty at home, makes herself unpopular by skiving school, back talking the teachers and telling awful lies. Drawn in by Tulip’s strange actions, a girl called Natalie witnesses Tulip becoming increasingly sinister and wonders exactly how far Tulip will go. This is a mesmerising book that grapples with sensitive and complex issues and is most suitable for 10-14-year-olds ready to handle tough topics.

Goodnight Mister Tom

Michelle Magorian

Chapter book

This moving and evocative novel has won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award. Goodnight Mister Tom tells the story of a young boy called Willie Beech, who is evacuated to the countryside during World War II, and the relationship he develops with his new carer Mr Tom. There is also a very good film version available .

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Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK

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