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Teachers' Favourites

Books of the Year: Winners

We love to hear about which books are popular among our community of primary teachers! We asked our community to vote for their favourite children’s books published in 2023 (see the full shortlist here). We invited teachers to vote for their best classroom read-alouds, the books that were the biggest hit with pupils and the top books to support the curriculums.

Here are the books that our community of teachers and librarians voted as their favourites.

books of the year 2023

Category Winners:

Upper KS2 (Ages 9-11)

Upper KS2
Best
Classroom Read-Aloud

Our comments:

“This is an extraordinary verse novel about the final year of primary school, told through poetry.

Year 6 is a difficult year for many children and whilst they are unlikely to have it quite as difficult as Nate, the book still captures some of that flavour, including the run-up to SATs, friendship issues and anxiety during a time when a sense of big changes is in the air.

The verse captures the character of Year 6 pupil Nate as he navigates issues of school, family illness, emotions, change and friendships.

Through his powerful verses, ex-primary school teacher Matt Goodfellow pays testament to the impact of a great teacher in supporting pupils through this time as well as the power of words and writing to help manage big emotions…”

Upper KS2
Best
Children’s Favourite

Our comments:

“This is the beautiful sequel to the widely acclaimed ‘The Last Bear’ by Hannah Gold. The narrative is clear about the negative impact of climate change on wildlife in the Arctic – in particular, there is a resonating scene in which April finds a polar bear who has died of starvation. The greatest impact of the book however is that it leaves you with a sense of the incredible natural beauty of the Arctic and the importance of doing all we can to preserve it. 

April is a fierce advocate for the wildlife of the Arctic. Her voice speaks out strongly in anger over the impacts of climate change, yet the book ends with hope as she realises the power of leading with her heart and her passion on display to inspire others.

Beautiful and moving, Hannah Gold has again produced a treasure of a story not to be missed.”

Upper KS2
Best
Curriculum Support

Our comments:

“Set in Victorian times, this is the story of the children who worked on the dangerous job of building the famous Forth Bridge. This is a truly exciting adventure that brings a real historical scenario to life. The thought of being perched up on top of the bridge with no safety measures at all made our blood run cold! Add into that some villainous villains and a child hero and you have a recipe for breath-taking episodes and action-packed escapades, with a seamless blending of fact and fiction.

The topic of Victorian child labour is often covered in schools and this story has a new dimension to add to the more commonly covered workplace scenarios of mines and factories. The story will also appeal to budding engineers, with fascinating insights into the construction of one of the UK’s most iconic bridges.”

Category Winners:

Lower KS2 (Ages 7-9)

Lower KS2
Best
Classroom Read-Aloud

Our comments:

“Set in a Sri Lanka, this adventure story tells the story of a friendship between a boy and a bear.

 The way the bear’s character and personality were written helps the reader to develop empathy and see the bear in a different light, not just as a dangerous animal.  Nuwan’s journey is really one of self discovery as he realises that he is special and loved, not in the shadow of his older brother as he thought. The evocative settings pull you right into the story, whether it’s a bear cave, big city or rainforest, you’re there.

Highly recommended for classrooms, the super choice of a story covers themes close to the hearts of of KS2 children including animal protection, self-understanding and friendship.”

Lower KS2
Best
Children’s Favourite

Our comments:

“Alice Eclair, Spy Extraordinaire is a heroine for modern times and a brilliant role model for young girls. She is strong-willed, determined and resourceful. Yet, she is fallible at the same time. This is part of what makes her so endearing.

Sarah Todd Taylor is a splendid writer with a knack for creating stupendous characters that leave a strong impression on the reader. All of the main characters are dynamic, each contributing in their own way to the story.

This is an easy-to-read series laced with a good potential for collectability and a super introduction to the detective fiction genre, laced with excitement and enough clues to keep you guessing. We do hope that there will be many more adventures for Alice!”

Lower KS2
Best
Curriculum Support

Our comments:

“Teachers have been waiting for a laugh-out-loud and thoroughly lighthearted addition to the bank of book available for the Romans topic, and this year they’ve finally been gifted with the very thing.

Full of Ancient Roman trivia and Latin asides (with a handy glossary to make sense of them at the end of the book), the story of how Silvia discovers her true demigoddess identity won’t fail to hook in enthusiasts of all things Roman. The plot is fast-paced and contains a particular blend of pre-teen contemporary lingo. For children already familiar with and enjoying a topic on Ancient Rome, it’s a fun read, and may well be a hit with reluctant readers.

If you are looking for a quirky, fun (and just a little bit silly!) addition to classroom shelves for a topic on Ancient Rome then look no further!”

Category Winners:

KS1 (Ages 5-7)

KS1
Best
Classroom Read-Aloud

Our comments:

“This is an absolutely beautiful book – one that is positive and empowering. In the author-illustrator team’s previous book The Proudest Blue, we saw the beautiful bond between sisters Faizah and Asiya and heard the supportive and uplifting words of their mother. In The Kindest Red we see this again throughout the story as we ponder the question posed by Faizah’s teacher, ‘What kind of world would you like to live in?’ A beautiful world? A strong world? A kind world?

.The central theme of ‘passing things on’ between family members, and to friends and strangers, is beautifully woven through the story, along with the idea of sharing kindness with others. The author’s note beautifully links the theme to her faith too, causing the reader to think about the impact of our actions and behaviour on others around us.”

KS1
Best
Children’s Favourite

Our comments:

“Pedro is an endearing main character. His longing to have an adventure, and the obstacles to achieving that, are what strike a chord with so many KS1 children. Readers love to cheer him on, through danger and disappointment, to his enrolment as a fully signed-up member of the Adventuremice team.

This is a colour-illustrated chapter book to inspire (day-)dreams and great ambition. It is a short book (a little over 100 pages) with a big heart that carries a message about humans looking after the marine environment, and about what courage and kindness look like in practice. 

The final pages – a map of The Mouse Islands, ‘How to Draw Pedro’ and ‘About the Authors’ – are a great addition to this latest book from the talented Reeve-McIntyre duo, which reflect their humour and their generosity.”

KS1
Best
Curriculum Support

Our comments:

“The Emerald Forest is a gorgeous and moving picture book bringing to life the plight of orangutans on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. 

The size of the pages and the scope of the stunning pictures, bursting with the greenery and light of the Indonesian forest, create an immersive experience. In one illustration, it feels as if orangutan is looking right at you. Because of this, the experience of the orangutans as their habitat comes under attack is felt on an emotional level too. The plight of the orangutans is unsettling, but the message overall is one of hope, and the book encourages the reader to look towards a future where the forests of Sumatra might recover if people play a part in protecting them.

This stunning picturebook is invaluable for use in a class topic about the impact of human activity – for better and for worse – on the environment.

Category Winners:

EYFS (Ages 3-5)

EYFS
Best
Classroom Read-Aloud

Our comments:

“Told in rhyme, this is an utterly delightful story. The quality of the rhyme is just wonderful; when rhyme works like this, nothing forced, just clever use of language, you can tell this is a book that is destined to be a classic.

The story is about finding courage, told through hilarious farmyard escapades with a fun cast of characters. The chicken who knits (her friend Marge wears a fantastic jumper!) is scared of everything. She is such a wonderful character, the reader can’t help but fall for her. The chicken with the tractor ranks as my favourite; no-one would mess with her. It brings to mind the Aardman films with Shaun the Sheep and the Chicken Run, mainly because of the force of personality that shines out from the illustrations.

With the tagline “There’s a bright spark of braveness inside us all!”, who could fail to be won over by this book? There is something to enjoy in this book for all ages and we are very much hoping we will see more of Mavis in the future.”

EYFS
Best
Children’s Favourite

Our comments:

“Gigantic by Rob Biddulph is a heartwarming tale that casts a vast net, capturing themes of perseverance, friendship, and self-belief in a vibrantly illustrated, marine-filled adventure.

The rhythmical prose lends itself beautifully to read-aloud sessions, with the alliterative play and evocative imagery poised to capture children’s imaginations. Biddulph’s illustrations are equally engaging, using a palette that mirrors the stormy yet spirited oceanic setting. Beyond the narrative, the book serves as a springboard for discussions on marine life, ecosystems, and the importance of determination. It illustrates that even the smallest creature has value and strength, a message that resonates with children navigating their place in the world.

‘Gigantic’ is a tale of little fins and a lesson in big hearts and the power of believing in oneself. It’s a testament to the notion that no one is too small to make a difference, making it a standout addition that both entertains and resonates well with EYFS children.”

EYFS
Best
Curriculum Support

Our comments:

“Adam Kay’s ‘Amy Gets Eaten’ is a grewsome yet hilarious book, which explains what happens in our bodies when we eat food. Despite getting eaten, Amy (a positive and chirpy piece of sweetcorn), explains in child-friendly language the journey she takes from the mouth, through the stomach and out again into the toilet. Although told in the style of a narrative, this is really a non-fiction book that teaches young children the science behind some of our human anatomy.

Throughout the story, while travelling through the small intestine, a wise old raisin teaches the reader how different food types help to make your body strong, active and healthy. The children get opportunities to interact with the book and recap, through cartoons, where the sweetcorn has travelled. Readers are also invited to make opinions on the strange food combinations the character of Noah has chosen to eat. EYFS children will read this over with story times ending in fits of laughter.

A highly recommended short picture book for younger children.”

Congrats to our winners - voted by our community of teachers and booklovers!

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Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?

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