List of Classic Children’s Books

Packed with delightful books that have more than stood the test of time, this hand-picked collection of classic tales welcomes readers into whimsical worlds filled with humour and adventure, imagination and intrigue.

Our youngest readers will love joining the intrepid explorers in We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, and laugh out loud at the timeless humour of Funnybones. Readers in Key Stage 1 will delight at the story of Dave and his favourite toy Dogger, and take comfort from the tale of The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark.

Those entering Key Stage 2 can soar through the sky on Mildred’s broomstick in The Worst Witch, or step into the magical land of Narnia in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Thrilling and enchanting in equal measure, Tom’s Midnight Garden and The Wolves of Willoughby Chase are among our picks for those at the upper end of primary school.

These classics, with their familiar characters and timeless themes, will build a love of reading that lasts a lifetime.

Best Poetry Books for Children Aged 9-11 – Upper KS2

Introduce your Year 5 and 6 children to a range of poets with our selection of poetry books for Upper KS2. From classic poems and nature verses to laugh-out-loud rhymes and award-winning collections, we’ve picked out a range of our favourite books that encourage a love of poetry for children aged 9-11.

We recommend introducing youngsters to a range of different types of poems, both for pleasure and for study. Upbeat collections like Matt Goodfellow’s Bright Bursts of Colour of Mandy Coe’s Belonging Street are always a hit for dipping into in the classroom. For more real-life and thought-provoking verses, try Joseph Coelho’s Overheard in a Tower Block or Sharon Creech’s much-loved verse novel Love That Dog. If you want something that’s always popular in the classroom for hooking KS2 children on poetry, try Karl Nova’s award-winning Rhythm and Poetry, which draws on the poet’s Hip Hop roots, or Benjamin Zephaniah’s collection Funky Chickens. For classic poetry, Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year is a handy addition to any teacher’s desk for a burst of verse in those spare few minutes at the end of a lesson.​

If you are looking for other Year 5 and Year 6 recommendations, be sure to check out our Reading for Pleasure booklists, and for more poetry ideas try our whole school poetry booklist.