Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Home

Topic: Inspirational Real Life Stories

Inspirational Real Life Stories

Zoë Armstrong, author of Find the Spy, has selected five books featuring inspirational real life stories.

Zoë says, “I have a huge soft spot for picture books that explore the lives of real people – especially those that inspire us or teach us something new. I’ve always been curious about other human beings – I think we all are. So in the week that Find the Spy (my real-life spy book with super-illustrator Shelly Laslo) is published, I’ve put together a list of five great books featuring fascinating real-life stories.”

On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein

Picturebook

Travel along with Einstein on a journey full of curiosity, laughter, and scientific discovery. Parents and children alike will appreciate this moving story of the powerful difference imagination can make in any life.

Find the Spy

Picturebook

Psst! Calling all super-cunning spies. Yes, I mean YOU.

Can you find the real-life spies hidden throughout this book? With 8 fiendish spotting scenes, only the most cunning reader will be able to find these spies.

Discover the true stories of 8 fascinating spies: one who crawled across the rooftops of Paris, one who hid secrets in her wooden leg, and even the grandma-next-door who turned out to have been a spy . . .

Along the way you’ll learn top-secret skills such as the art of disguise, coding secret messages and writing in invisible ink.

With spotting scenes, real-life incredible stories from throughout history, and devious spy skills to learn – this book will keep all budding spies busy. Published in partnership with the experts at the Imperial War Museums.

How To Be Extraordinary

Non-fiction, Short story collection

Could you be EXTRAORDINARY? This book will inspire you with the real-life stories of extraordinary people, showcasing a total variety of personalities and talents. Whoever you are, and whoever you want to be, read about the extraordinary stories of these 15 people, and decide how YOU will be extraordinary too!

From around the world and throughout history, discover unsung heroes – and some well-known faces – brought to life with astonishing story-telling and illustration.

Meet an artist, scientist, medic, environmentalist, musician, activist, writer, politician, and even a spy . . . above all, discover that there are MANY ways to be extraordinary and to make a real difference in the world.

Yayoi Kusama Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn’t Sorry

Non-fiction

A clever, quirky book about one of the world’s most beloved contemporary artists – aimed at young readers and written from Kusama’s point of view!

Yayoi Kusama covers her paintings in hundreds and hundreds of dots. Her dots come off her canvases to cover dresses, tables, walls, and more!

She creates mirrored rooms and fills them with glittering balls and lights, until there is an infinity of dots – just like in her paintings. Fausto Gilberti brings movement, life, and whimsy to the true life story of one of the most important contemporary Japanese artists of our time – an artist who is still dazzling museum- and gallery-goers around the globe today.

What's new on BooksForTopics?

Join our Mailing List

For the latest news on primary books and our booklists, as well as a chance to win in on one of our regular giveaways, sign up to our mailing list!

Subscribe
BooksForTopics
Email: [email protected]
Subscribe to our Mailing List
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Tiktok

Booklists by Topic

Booklists by Age

More About Us

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, BooksForTopics earns from qualifying purchases.

As an affiliate partner of Bookshop.Org and Peters, BooksForTopics may earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to learn more.

Website designed by Speckled Frog

© BooksForTopics 2015-2024

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