Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Publisher: Wren & Rook

TEN Children Who Changed The World

Non-fiction

THE DEBUT CHILDREN’S BOOK FROM AWARD-WINNING AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND ACTOR PATERSON JOSEPH.

MEET THE TEN …

Goddaughter to the Queen of England. Human rights activist. Librarian and author. Former slave . . . These ten inspiring children grew up in a time when slavery was still legal in most of the world and people who looked like them weren’t expected to become important. But they did! The ten all went on to change the world through their acts of rebellion, bravery and adventure that helped secure their freedom and the freedom of so many from slavery.

But how did these inspirational people change the world? To answer that, we’ll have to go back in time and met the ten aged ten, where their stories truly began . . .

· Meet Seaman William Brown, real name unknown, who’s love of adventure finds her sneaking aboard a British Royal Navy ship disguised as a man to explore the world beyond Grenada.

· Get to know Ira Frederick Aldridge as he joins the Free African Americans School in New York and discovers his love of performing.

· Celebrate Billy Sancho’s tenth birthday around the corner from Downing Street, London. Little does he know that he will become the first black librarian.

· Return to Africa with Omoba Ina (know as Sara Forbes Bonetta), who has been sent to Sierra Leone by her godmother Queen Victoria, to become a missionary.

Discover the untold stories of these remarkable children as well as Phillis Wheatley, Ira Frederick Aldridge, Dido Elizabeth Belle, John Edmonstone, William Cuffay, and Mary Prince Daniels. From Wonka actor and award-winning author of The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, Paterson Joseph.

History’s Most Epic Fails

Athena Kugblenu & Nicole Miles

Non-fiction

History’s Most Epic Fails is a fantastically funny compendium of some of the most disastrous things to happen to historical figures ever! Athena Kugblenu achieves the rare feat of being able to present the facts in a witty and appealing way without losing historical authenticity. She doesn’t just mock the figures, she explores the context that made them possible. This reminds the reader that history is quite often a series of human mistakes, rather than a perfectly planned path towards the present day.

The book is a wonderful resource for the Upper Key Stage Two classroom as there are so many different historical figures discussed. Due the short paragraphs and page design, it’s also incredibly accessible, making it ideal to use with reluctant readers.It can be used to consider how ‘failures’ can often be a catalyst for positive change and how even the most powerful leaders in history had issues where things went wrong!

How to Talk to Your Pet: And Other Animals

Dr James Greenwood & Jack Viant

Non-fiction

Discover how to talk to your pet, with vet and star of Channel 4’s Fur Babies and CBBC’s The Pets Factor, Dr James Greenwood.

What does it mean when a dog’s tail wags round and round like a helicopter?
What is a cat is trying to say when its ears are pricked up?
And what on earth is a rabbit trying to tell you when it eats its own poo?

From cats and dogs to horses, hamsters, rabbits and more, animals all have something to say. Learn how to read the clues your pet is trying to give you, find out what they need, and discover how to communicate with them, too!

Buzzing with brilliant facts and packed with hilarious illustrations, this pet companion book is the perfect gift for young animal-lovers.

The Truth Detective: How to make sense of a world that doesn’t add up

Ollie Mann & Tim Harford

Non-fiction

Did you know that a toy spaceship can teach you about inflation?
Or that a pooping cow can show you how to invest your pocket money?
And that even the greatest detectives have been fooled by fake news and dancing fairies?

The world is often full of bamboozling headlines and numbers that don’t add up. But don’t panic. Within these pages you will transform into a Truth Detective, hunting down the truth about the world around you.

You will meet heroic truth detectives, such as Florence Nightingale who started a revolution with a pie chart. You will encounter dastardly villains who have tried to trip us up with dodgy data and misinformation. And you will learn how being smart and savvy with numbers, will help you be smart and savvy about everything else in life too.

So grab your detective cap, pick up your magnifying glass and start seeing the world like never before.

A must read for curious kids from presenter of BBC Radio 4’s “More or Less”, Tim Harford and with wonderful illustrations to enjoy by Ollie Mann.

History’s Most Epic Fibs

Athena Kugblenu & Nicole Miles

Non-fiction

Separate the FACTS from the historical fake news, and uncover some of history’s most EPIC FIBS.

History is full of brave knights, fearsome queens, legendary explorers and epic stories passed down through the ages. But how much of what we THINK we know about history is true? And how much is just an EPIC FIB? Athena Kugblenu – comedian, podcaster and writer on CBBC’s Horrible Histories – discovers the truth that lies behind the tall tales.

From harmless porkies that were just a bit of fun, to terrible untruths with HUGE consequences, it’s time to separate fact from fiction. Whether it’s revealing that Vikings never wore horned helmets and that famous Egyptian queen Cleopatra wasn’t actually, erm, Egyptian, to telling the truth about who really ‘discovered’ America and Australia, or how much we really know about what people looked like in the past.

With dynamic illustrations included throughout, History’s Most Epic Fibs separates the truth from the historical whoppers and shows that when it comes to history, things aren’t always what they seem . . .

Breakthrough: From the Streets to Success

Omar Sharif

Chapter book, Non-fiction

The unforgettable true story of former gang member and Pride of Britain Award winner, Omar Sharif, who transformed his life – and might change yours…

Omar Sharif grew up in London surrounded by gangs with fierce loyalties. Carrying a knife offered him protection; belonging; family. But after three of his friends were murdered, Omar sought to change his life. He is now a Pride of Britain Award winner and coach who inspires teens and young people with his story, helping them grow self-belief, resist peer pressure and reach their potential.

In this book, Omar shares his powerful and moving true story, showing how gang life creates a bubble that makes young people believe it is their only choice; that they’re not good enough. But that a shift in thinking saved his life.

Sharing his 6 ingredients for success – from finding your passion, seeking the right friendships and knowing your worth, to creating a vision for your future, avoiding short-lived hits and giving back – Omar provides encouragement to all young people on how to make great decisions, navigate challenges and achieve success.

Michelle Obama

Anna Doherty

Picturebook

This is the absolutely astonishing, fantastically feminist and, best of all, totally true story of one amazingly inspirational global icon!

Meet the marvellous Michelle Obama: A+ student, passionate piano player, and a girl who’s not afraid to dream big. Determined to make the world a better place, the grown up Michelle gets to work in helping the community in whatever way she can. But then she meets and falls in love with Barack Obama, who is equally passionate about changing the world and he tells her he wants to become the first African American President of the United States, Michelle knows it’s time to really find her voice…

An inspiring, empowering, fantastically feminist and totally true story, perfect for fans of Little People, Big Dreams and Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls!