Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Home > Books

Publisher: Scholastic

Picturebook

A perfectly-pitched tale of fun and friendship, from master storyteller Michelle Robinson and illustrator extraordinaire Tom Knight.

Kevin the cucumber is so cool – everybody knows it! Whenever anyone gets hot and bothered, Kevin is always there to cool them down.

But when Kevin starts to feel like his friends are leaving him out, something happens that has never happened before:
KEVIN.
LOSES.
HIS.
COOL!

Will Kevin’s friends be there for him when he needs them most?

Rhyming text by Michelle Robinson is full of energy and rhythm. Bright, bold illustrations by Tom Knight bring the brilliant story to life.

This laugh-out-loud story is a super fun way for children to think about emotions – whether it’s their own or someone else’s.

Picturebook

A touching, heartfelt picture book, this is the perfect gift for celebrating any of life’s big moments. To fetch! To play! To wag tails all day!

When a young puppy needs reassurance, a wise dog is there to offer canine tips for living life to the fullest.

Picturebook

Imagine a world where everyone is kind – how can we make that come true? With gorgeous pictures by a host of the world’s top illustrators, Kind is a timely, inspiring picture book about the many ways children can be kind, from sharing their toys and games to helping those from other countries feel welcome. With a foreword by Axel Scheffler.

Picturebook

All Frankie wants is to be fabulous!

But, SIGH!, he’s literally surrounded by so many fabulous flamingos, so how on earth can he stand out from the crowd?

Maybe, just maybe, Frankie’s friends will help him learn the most important thing of all:

the best way to be fabulous is to be YOU!

Wonderfully funny story by award-winning author, Simon James Green

Chapter book

With diary entries written by eleven-year-old Libby Scott, based on her own experiences of autism, this pioneering book, written in collaboration with esteemed author Rebecca Westcott, has been widely praised for its realistic portrayal of autism.

Tally is eleven years old and she’s just like her friends. Well, sometimes she is. If she tries really hard to be. Because there’s something that makes Tally not the same as her friends. Something she can’t cover up, no matter how hard she tries: Tally is autistic.

Tally’s autism means there are things that bother her even though she wishes they didn’t. It means that some people misunderstand, her and feel frustrated by her.

People think that because Tally’s autistic, she doesn’t realise what they’re thinking, but Tally sees and hears – and notices – all of it.

And, honestly? That’s not the easiest thing to live with.

Chapter book

Billy Plimpton is an eleven-year-old boy with a big dream.

He wants to be a stand-up comedian when he grows up: delivering pinpoint punch-lines and having audiences hang on his every hilarious word.

A tough career for anyone, but surely impossible for Billy, who has a stammer. How will he find his voice, if his voice won’t let him speak?

The idea for this story came from Helen Rutter’s son, who has a stammer: she wanted to write the book that he would love to read, starring a child like him.

Graphic Novel

A coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel featuring a girl with severe allergies who just wants to find the perfect pet!
At home, Maggie is the odd one out.

Her parents are preoccupied with the new baby they’re expecting, and her younger brothers are twins and always in their own world.

Maggie thinks a new puppy is the answer, but when she goes to select one on her birthday, she breaks out in hives and rashes. She’s severely allergic to anything with fur!

Can Maggie outsmart her allergies and find the perfect pet?

Chapter book

Join Effie Kostas as she fights to become Student Council President in her new school. With a campaign team of loveable misfits, she tackles the truly important subjects:

gender imbalance

outdated school conventions…

and good-looking boys stealing the last slice of chocolate cake at lunchtime.

A laugh-out-loud rallying call for switched-on kids everywhere.

Vibrant illustrations by Mirelle Ortega bring Effie and her friends to life in this joyful celebration of one girl’s mission to change the world.

Picturebook

A magical, inspiring story about making friends.

Little Bird is on a mission: to help lonely children make friends. One day she spots Sami, a little boy in a new country, who’s always playing on his own. With Little Bird’s help, Sami discovers that the world is full of friends, if only you know where to look.

With rich, magical illustrations and a gently humorous story, Devon Holzwarth’s debut picture book will strike a chord with shy children everywhere.

Non-fiction

The go-to mental health guide for kids from expert Anna Williamson – therapist, Childline counsellor and ambassador for Mind and The Prince’s Trust. Exam stress? Friendship issues? Panic attacks? How Not to Lose It will help you be the boss of all of this, and more.

It’s not just your body that should be fit and healthy – your mind needs to be, too! How Not to Lose It is the go-to guide for achieving a balanced mind and strong emotional well-being.

With immediate, heart of the matter advice and a chatty yet honest tone, Anna Williamson addresses all of the key issues affecting children today.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review

Stone Girl Bone Girl

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)

Any other comments

Any other comments