Millions is the humorous tale of a not-so-great train robbery. Damian and Anthony are brothers who unwittingly find themselves in possession of a large amount of money after being caught up in a train robbery. The pair have big decisions to make, needing to reconcile their wildly different ideas about what to do with the cash. You may also like Framed by the same author.
Written especially for young readers, Toby and The Great Fire of London tells the story of Toby’s experiences of the Great Fire of London. A great short story for KS1, with detailed cartoon-style images that bring the events of the Great Fire to life.
Delve into the fascinating tales of outlaw Robin Hood and his merry men. The tales are retold in Marcia Williams’ distinctive comic book style, with speech bubbles and many humorous details in both the text and illustrations that pupils will love.
An exciting non-fiction text that will capture pupils’ interest through its quest to find the real story behind the Great Fire. The Great Fire of London Unclassified is a popular choice for guided reading, especially for those looking for a text with a less ‘cartoony’ feel to it than most of the other non-fiction options for this topic.
This non-fiction book was written especially for KS1 and is a good way of introducing the conventions of information texts, including a full glossary, captions and an index. The accessible text of The Great Fire Of London is accompanied by detailed illustrations and photographs of artefacts.
This exciting chapter book brings the tale of the great fire of London to life for young readers.
When Will Farriner wakes to the sound of crackling flames and the smell of smoke, he knows something is terribly wrong! As his family escape the flames engulfing their bakery, Will realises he must stop the fire from spreading. But what can be done before all of London goes up in smoke?
Full of adventure and danger, this chapter book is aimed at KS1 and lower KS2.
Samuel Pepys is famous for the diary he wrote 400 years ago. The diary tells us about lots of important events such as the Great Fire of London and the Great Plague.
Find out why people thought his diary was written in code, why Pepys was known as the ‘father of the modern navy’ and why he was arrested and sent to the Tower of London.
A simple, friendly first history series that takes a close look at some key events and personalities through history and reveals how and why they are still important to us today. Each book uses a rich variety of historical sources, from diaries to paintings, to bring events to life, while simple historical vocabulary is introduced and explained.
An absorbing crime-and-punishment themed read and a Year 6 classic about an American boy who is unfairly sent to a juvenile detention centre called Camp Green Lake. There, he and the other prisoners are forced to dig a large hole each day in the intense heat of the desert, because the warden claims it is character-building. He soon discovers that much more is at play, and themes of prejudice, survival, family, fate, identity, and justice emerge as he digs for the truth.
Some of the dialogue and themes warrant sensitive discussion with guiding adults. A popular choice in Upper KS2/Lower KS3 classrooms and certainly a memorable read.
The Secret Diary of Kitty Cask: Smuggler’s Daughter is set in 18th-century Cornwall. It’s an exciting, action-packed adventure told in diary form. Kitty and her family live in a small fishing village. Her father is the head of a gang of smugglers who are trying to keep their contraband and illegal activities hidden from the excisemen. Kitty is supposed to stay safely at home but she regularly creeps out at night to watch her father and his men at work. Very soon she gets caught up in the action. There’s a shipwreck, secret caves, betrayal and a prison break.
I enjoyed how the book is a mixture of fact and fiction. The characters and settings are fictional but the book is packed with interesting factual detail – much of which is included in the footnotes. The Secret Diary of Kitty Cask is highly entertaining historical fiction for a young audience; it really brings a place, a time and a way of life alive for its readers.
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
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Curriculum links (if relevant)
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Any other comments