Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Home > Books

Topic: Reading for Pleasure

Chapter book

Brilliant new young fiction from comedy genius, Elys Dolan, creator of Steven Seagull, Weasels, and Nuts in Space. High in the mountains are the Dragon Caves, and inside the deepest, darkest dragon cave, lives the most terrible dragon. And his name is Dave. Dave’s terrible (as in rubbish) at all dragony things. So when he finds a book called Knighthood for Beginners he decides to learn how to be a knight instead. Dave sets out on a quest with his trusty steed, Albrecht the goat (all the best horses were taken), to be brave, chivalrous, and knightly in all ways. He’ll be up against Sir Gnasty, who scoffs at the idea of a very small, strangely green knight and has an absolutely massive sword. Hilarious fiction for young readers and fans of dragons, knights, and quests!

Chapter book

Bored of the same old routine? Longing for a bit of adventure in your life? Love living life on the edge?

Then join Alfie Fleet and discover a whole universe of wonders (and things that are not so wonderful too, but we won’t go into that now). From giant sand lobsters on planet Maureen and the Twang Bears of Mumsy, to the eerie (yet oddly quite boring) brains in jars on Brains-in-Jars World – there is something for everyone. And if danger’s your thing you won’t want to miss Outlandish, with its gold-hoarding dragon, take-your-life-in-your-hands cuisine, and welcoming locals who’ll fire lightning bolts at you. Thrills and adventure await, just hop on board the slightly old and rusty moped of infinity! More than funny fiction – this story does for travel guides and maps what Wimpy Kid did for diaries and Tom Gates did for doodle books. With amazing illustrations by Chris Mould throughout, this book is a visual feast and will appeal to readers everywhere.

Chapter book

Are you stuck in a holiday rut? Need a change from your usual two weeks in Boredom-on-Sea? Want to explore more far flung destinations but not sure where to start? Well look no further because Alfie Fleet’s Guide to the Universe will show you the best and worst holiday destinations that are literally out of this world! Enjoy a flight around the bird-planet of Winspan, enjoy a cocktail on beautiful planet Blyssss, or rent a giant hollowed-out mushroom to sleep in on planet Nomefulch – the universe is yours for the taking. And if you’re a thrill-seeking adventurer then head for Solstice and join the pirates on a cruise around the planet – but watch out for the hostile mermaids and the strange recluse who inhabits the Isle of Sheds . . . Alfie Fleet and the Professor are on a planet-hopping quest-keep up if you can! More than funny fiction – this story does for travel guides what Wimpy Kid did for diaries and Tom Gates did for doodle books. With amazing illustrations by Chris Mould throughout, this book is a visual feast and will appeal to readers everywhere.

Chapter book

Shabba me whiskers! It’s a bold new look for Mr Gum, the best-selling cult classic, ready for a new generation of nibbleheads.

Can it really be true that there’s an ancient curse on the town of Lamonic Bibber? And you guessed it, that old roo-de-lally Mr Gum and his trusty sidekick Billy William the Third have something to do with it. But … our favourite heroes Polly and Friday and the gingerbread biscuit Alan Taylor (only 15.24 cm tall) are determined to save the town (sigh of relief).

Mr Gum and the Power Crystals is the fourth book in the internationally best-selling series by Andy Stanton, which has won everything from the Blue Peter Book Award (twice) to the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Red House Children’s Book Award.

Chapter book

Come with Claude on a smashing adventure! These waggy tales are perfect for new readers, with illustrations on every page. As seen on TV – Claude is the star of his very own TV show!

Sir Bobblysock and Claude go on holiday for the very first time. They build sandcastles, eat ice cream and sunbathe. It is all very normal until … Claude meets a band of pirates and discovers buried treasure.

Picturebook

Winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize 2020 and the V&A Book Cover Award 2020! When Sadness arrives, try not to be afraid: give it a name, listen to it and spend some time together. Maybe all it wants is to know that it’s welcome. This beautiful debut by author-illustrator talent Eva Eland takes a poignant but uplifting look at dealing with sadness.

Picturebook

Bobo is sure one of his jungle friends will be able to help. He plucks a feather here and a tuft of hair there but only causes upset! Bobo is left despondent and still without a pillow. But when Elsie the elephant enthusiastically strokes Bobo and wraps him up in her trunk in an effort to play, Bobo gets very upset indeed. Will Bobo and Elsie both learn and important lesson about asking permission?

Picturebook

One night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him ‘Wild Thing’ and sends him to bed without his supper.

That night a forest begins to grow in Max’s room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are.

Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king, and then the wild rumpus begins!

But when Max has sent the monsters to bed, and everything is quiet, he starts to feel lonely and realises it is time to sail home to the place where someone loves him best of all.

Chapter book

London street urchin Smith is 12 years old, and an experienced pick-pocket. One day on Ludgate Hill, he robbed an old gentleman, and one minute later watched him silently murdered by two men, who chased him for the document he had stolen but could not understand.
Smith artfully dodges the two men and winds up in the odd company of a wealthy blind man, who takes Smith into his home and provides him with an education. But this new comfort is lost when Smith himself is suspected of the very murder he witnessed.

Leon Garfield was a British novelist, born in 1921. He is best known for children’s historical novels, though he also wrote for adults. He wrote more than thirty books including Shakespeare’s Stories – retellings of Shakespeare’s plays for children, and he won many awards including the Guardian Award and the Carnegie Medal. He died in 1996, aged 74.

Picturebook

The longest-running picture book on the New York Times bestseller list, now available in a board book

Press the yellow dot on the cover of this interactive children’s book, follow the instructions within, and embark upon a magical journey! Each page of this surprising touch book instructs the reader to push the button, shake it up, tilt the book, and who knows what will happen next! Children and adults alike will giggle with delight as the dots multiply, change direction, and grow in size! Especially remarkable because the adventure occurs on the flat surface of the simple, printed page, this unique interactive picture book about the power of imagination and interactivity will provide read-aloud fun for all ages!
This interactive board book teaches kids how to interact with the world around them.
Perfect as a read aloud book for preschool or bedtime.
Surprising and fun, Herve Tullet’s adventures are great for the whole family.
PRESS HERE , MIX IT UP! , LET’S PLAY! , and SAY ZOOP! Collect all four interactive books from Herve Tullet.

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