Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

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Topic: History

Non-fiction

It’s time for the Tudors! This turbulent period in history is known for beheadings, burnings, and bloodshed. Expect no holds barred in this comprehensive reference title for children from the best-selling DK Eyewitness series.

Tudor England was lifted by trade and exploration, but blighted by treachery and rebellion. Experience the historic highs and the lows firsthand with Eyewitness Tudor . Hold court with Henry VIII and his long-suffering wives before making merry with high society enjoying their feasts and fashion. Walk among the ordinary folk, including market traders and street entertainers, and decide whether you would have liked growing up in Tudor times. If you want a project pick-me-up to assist with school studies or simply a fantastic read about our colourful past, look no further.

This updated edition is more informative and interactive than ever before, thanks to new infographics, statistics, facts, and timelines. The giant fold-out wall chart presenting Tudor times will be a welcome addition to any bedroom or classroom wall.

Non-fiction

Part of Nosy Crow’s list of publishing in collaboration with the British Museum and developed in consultation with one of the world’s leading experts on ancient Greece.

A kid’s life in ancient Greece might sound like fun, what with all that brilliant sunny weather and watching the Olympic Games, but actually life for kids could be pretty hard. In this hilarious book, written by award-winning author Chae Strathie, children will learn just how tough life really was, from living on a diet of blood soup whilst wearing nothing but a cloak, to having to learn a poem that was over 15,000 lines long! Thanks, but no thanks, Homer!

Probably the first book about ancient Greece to feature a race between a go-kart and a goose, this is a must read for kids with a passion for horrible history!

Brought to life with rich, humorous illustrations by super-talented Marisa Morea.

Chapter book

All her life, Moss has lived in the Tower of London with her father, who serves as the executioner for King Henry VIII. Prisoners condemned to death must face Pa and his axe–and Moss catches their severed heads. Her father insists he has no choice: if he leaves the Tower, he will be killed. But Moss can’t bear to be the executioner’s daughter any longer. When she finally finds a way out of the Tower, she discovers the river holds more dangers than she imagined–including the Riverwitch’s curse. The Riverwitch once helped Moss’s family in exchange for a terrible bargain; now she expects Moss to pay the debt.

Short story collection

Discover the drama and thrill of sixteen classic Ancient Greek myths in this glorious story collection.

Featuring all of the best-known stories, including Theseus & the Minotaur , Heracles, Daedalus & Icarus , The Wooden Horse and Pandora’s Box . Retold by master storyteller, Geraldine McCaughrean, with full colour artwork throughout, this is an essential for every child’s bookshelf.

Stories included:
Theseus and the Minotaur
Pandora’s Box
Perseus and Medusa
Jason and the Golden Fleece
Daedalus and Icarus
Orpheus and Eurydice
Arachne
The Wooden Horse of Troy
King Midas
Persephone and the Pomegranate Seeds
Echo and Narcissus
The Twelve Labours of Heracles
Odysseus
Apollo and Daphne
Atalanta’s Race
Freedom for Prometheus

Non-fiction

Shang Dynasty China looks at one of the most fascinating and advanced ancient civilisations. Through structures as imposing as the tomb of a warrior queen or objects as beautiful and complex as a decorated bronze vessel, readers aged 9 and up gain a picture of who was who in ancient China and how the civilisation in which they lived worked.

Perfect for Key Stage 2, each book in Great Civilisations approaches its subject through a scene-setting spread Who/where were the… then introduces the achievements of the chosen civilisation through 12 structures or objects, each of which illustrates a key aspect or theme. Writing, architecture, industry, warfare, transport and learning are all covered in the same simple, colourful and engaging way. Fact boxes and panels present incidental information and point the reader to the importance of parallel developments in other parts of the world.

Chapter book

Half boy . Half God . ALL Hero .

I was just a normal kid, I went to school (got expelled a lot, but that wasn’t my fault), played sports and hung out with my best friend.

Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher.

Now, I spend my time at Camp Half Blood, battling monsters and generally trying to stay alive.

And now that Zeus thinks I’ve stolen his lightning bolt, staying alive is going to be even harder…

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PERCY JACKSON:
* Monsters
* Greek Gods
* Laughs (and terrified screams)

Short story collection

This collection of Chinese stories begins with the great legends of how Earth and Heaven came into being, and of how the archer Yi rid the Emperor Yao of the menace of the ten suns. There are folk-tales too, about ghosts and rain-makers, poor students and magicians, and the man who was nearly made into fishpaste. Throughout all these stories the author has kept the subtle oriental flavour of the originals and brings to life all the magic and mystery of China.

Non-fiction

Discover the adventures of Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, war and courage. From her extraordinary birth – sprung from the head of her father, in the midst of a thunderous headache – to her refusal to take no for an answer. Find out how she inspired powerful gods, goddesses and humans and the terrifying fate of those who dared to cross her path.

Follow Athena as she competes against her bad-tempered uncle; watch as she turns her enemy into a spider and join her as she keeps Odysseus safe on his remarkable journey home.

Prepare to be amazed as you uncover the story of one of the most fearless ancient goddesses, and the tales of a world where humans, gods and goddesses could meet. Illustrated and written by the brilliantly talented sister duo, Isabel and Imogen Greenberg, this is a story of daring for goddesses-in-the-making.

Picturebook

Any child who has ever imagined a journey into a two-dimensional expanse will be carried away by the passion Drummond brings to the subject. An IRA-CBC Children’s Choice. NCSS-CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies. American Bookseller Pick of the Lists. Full color.

Non-fiction

This humorous guide to Ancient Greece is crammed with information and advice for time-tourists. Each illustrated page is full of things to see and do, and there’s also quotations from notable Greeks, a glossary of new words, a timeline and more. A book for libraries and schools, with contents and index plus internet links to recommended websites.

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