Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

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Topic: PSHE

Recommended Children’s Books About The Slave Trade

Our list of the best children’s books about the slave trade is an essential guide to educating children about slavery in history in an age-appropriate way.

Children can discover stories of how Harriet Tubman helped to free hundreds of slaves in Trailblazers: Harriet Tubman, or how Mary Prince escaped slavery to become a key figure in the abolitionist movement in Mary Prince. Younger readers can join Paloma as she discovers her family’s history in Our Story Starts in Africa.

Rich with memoirs and tales of bravery and extraordinary journeys as well as exploring the wider themes of racism and exploitation, this varied selection of titles aims to illuminate the important topic of slavery in a way that children can engage and relate with.

 

Best Children’s Books about New Beginnings

Whether it’s books to begin a new year, stories that explore fresh starts or tales of resolutions and new challenges, we’ve put together a list of picturebooks about new beginnings and starting afresh. These books could be used in school assemblies, at home or as classroom stories.

Children’s books that celebrate fantastic females

We’ve selected a list of recommended books for children that celebrate fantastic females, from favourite fiction books with strong female leads to non-fiction about real-life inspirational heroines.

We believe that it is important for children to see diverse representations of strong, powerful, smart, creative and change-making women in children’s books. That’s why we have collected some of the most inspiring and empowering books that feature female protagonists who challenge stereotypes and break down barriers.

From real-life heroines like Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie to fictional characters like Rosie Revere and Jaz Santos, our list celebrates women and girls who overcome obstacles, pursue their dreams and make a difference in the world. Whether you’re looking for stories about fierce princesses or fearless astronauts, this list of children’s books about inspirational women and girls has got you covered – perfect for International Women’s Day and throughout the whole year.

So if you want to inspire your little ones with tales of courage, determination, and resilience, keep scrolling and discover our top picks for the best children’s books about strong women.

Picturebook

An inspiring and empowering rhyming story that’s a joy to read aloud, all about the power of children to change the world.

Sally McBrass is the smallest girl in the youngest class – but Sally knows you don’t have to be big to be strong. From kites stuck up trees to howling dogs to stray cats in the car park, little Sally notices things that others don’t, and when she sees people being mean at school, she is brave enough to speak up.

The Smallest Girl in the Class by Justin Roberts and Christian Robinson is a moving and gorgeously illustrated story about bravery and changing the world for the better. The perfect book to build empathy and start discussions about kindness with young children.

Picturebook

A beautifully illustrated, funny and thought-provoking book for building confidence and encouraging children to express their feelings – about anything and everything. This book will help enable a much broader conversation about individuality, fear and hopes.

All author royalties are being donated to the NSPCC.

Non-fiction

In Hair-raising Human Body Facts, you’ll learn about some of the most incredible things going on inside you right now! Giggle and gasp as you read about and see some truly astonishing (and sometimes silly) parts of the human body, such as your super-cool cornea, which gets its oxygen from the air and has no blood at all flowing to it, or your secretly clever nostrils, which take turns breathing – that’s some amazing teamwork!

Picturebook

A pirate skeleton seeks to put its bones back together in this rhyming first book of anatomy!
A stormy night at sea has uncovered some long-buried secrets and surprises. Is that the mast of a shipwreck? A faded pirate hat? And what’s that hiding in the sand? A mandible and a clavicle, phalanges and femurs, a tibia and a fibula – could there be a complete set of bones scattered across the ocean floor? And who might they belong to?
A jaunty rhyme takes readers on an underwater scavenger hunt as a comical skeleton tries to put itself back together piece by piece. Make no bones about it – this rollicking read-aloud will have young ones learning anatomy without even realising.

From ‘What’s wrong with the idea of ‘race’? and ‘Why is life harder for people with darker skin?’ to ‘Don’t ALL lives matter?’ and ‘What’s racism got to do with me?’ this book tackles powerful, pertinent questions in a direct, accessible and thought-provoking way. Discover why racism is everyone’s problem to solve, and how we can all be part of the solution.

A doctress

An activist

An inspiration

Mary Seacole is now known for her medical work in the Crimean war, and as a brilliant woman who combated the racial prejudice she experienced in her lifetime. But for a long time her story was lost.

From growing up in Kingston, Jamaica as the daughter of a doctress to helping soldiers in the war, discover the details of the amazing life that Mary Seacole led in this beautifully illustrated book with real-life stories, timelines and facts.

How did Simone Biles become a superstar athlete and gold medallist? On a daytrip to the local sports centre, Simone discovered her natural talent for gymnastics. She signed up for regular training sessions and was soon performing incredible routines at competitions. Despite a challenging start in life, Simone went on to become one of the world’s greatest athletes. Find out how this gymnast toughed it out in training and went on to win four Olympic gold medals.

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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