Topic: Reading for Pleasure

50 Best Books for Y3 (Children Aged 7-8)

This is the BooksForTopics list of 50 top recommended books for Year 3 (children aged seven and eight). Y3 reading collections are best when they contain a variety of selected storytime chapter books, independent reads, funny stories, picturebooks, poetry collections, graphic novels, non-fiction texts and more. On this Year 3 booklist, there’s something for all tastes, but keep an eye out for seahorse-riding mermaids, invisible spaceships, animal rescues and the odd time machine here and there, too…

As well as taking into account which reading trends are currently the most popular with Year 3 children, our team of experts at BooksForTopics loves to put each book through its paces to find the best quality books matched to the age, developmental stage and interest level of children in Year 3.

This booklist includes popular Year 3 stories such as The Boy Who Grew Dragons, Charlotte’s Web and Varjak Paw, as well as the most popular read-it-yourself choices like Dog Man and The 13-Storey Tree House. We also included some lesser-known storytime delights that we recommend for Y3, like The Boy Who Stole the Pharaoh’s Lunch, the wildlife rescue story Saving Sorya, and the beautiful tale of Adoette, a hundred-year-old tree.

As well as the Y3 booklist below to browse, we’ve also got a printable poster, a downloadable checklist and a handy bookmark for you, and schools can purchase full sets of the 50 books via Peters.

Browse the Y3 booklist below or scroll down to find more purchasing options and printable resources.

Best Books for Y2 (Children Aged 6-7)

This is the BooksForTopics list of 50 recommended books for Year 2 (children aged six and seven). Use this booklist to find the best books to top up your Y2 reading collections with our selection of storytime picturebooks, chapter books, funny stories, illustrated poetry collections, non-fiction texts and more. Keep an eye out for a duck that never blinks (or does it?), fish who can’t be trusted (or can they?) and hens that lay speckled eggs (or do they?) along the way…

Year 2 children often enjoy reading books featuring adventure, friendship, animals, magic and laugh-out-loud humour – and this specially selected Y2 reading list has got you covered with books that have all been carefully matched to the age, developmental stage and interest level of children in Year 2.

This booklist includes popular Year 2 stories such as Marge in Charge, Flat Stanley and George’s Marvellous Medicine, as well as some lesser-known storytime delights that we recommend for Y2, like Don’t Trust Fish, Einstein the Penguin and Jory John’s hilarious gadget-obsessed spud, The Couch Potato.

As well as the Year 2 booklist below to browse, we’ve also got a printable poster, a downloadable checklist and a handy bookmark for you, and schools can purchase full sets of all 50 books via Peters.

Browse the Y2 booklist below or scroll down to find more purchasing options and printable resources.

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​50 Best Books for Year 6 (Children Aged 10-11)

Welcome to BooksForTopics’ recommended reading list for Year 6. If you’re looking for a list of the best books for Year 6, you’ve come to the right place. Our team of experts has selected a list of the 50 best books for Year 6 to read. We’ve tried to include something for all tastes – so look out for off-the-map kingdoms, school photographers, Hollywood blockbusters and bubble tea…

With a mix of classic and contemporary titles, our selection of recommended reads is designed to provide Year 6 children with a diverse range of literature that will encourage them to develop a love of reading. Our list includes popular Y6 books such as Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, Murder Most Unladylike and Artemis Fowl as well as lesser-known treasures that are equally delightful, like The Viewer and Angel of Grasmere.

Best Books for Y4 (Children Aged 8-9)

This list of the top books for Y4 has been selected by experienced primary teachers, librarians and children’s book experts.

Year 4 children enjoy choosing from a quality selection of adventure stories, thought-provoking chapter books, funny books, animal tales, picturebooks, graphic novels, poetry collections, non-fiction texts and more. We hope that there will be something for everyone, but do keep your eyes open for alien chickens, DIY space explorers and magic wardrobes…

Our Year 4 reading list is carefully designed to match the age, developmental stage and interest level of children in Year 4. This booklist includes some of the most popular Year 4 stories such as The Land of Roar, The Boy at the Back of the Class and How to Train Your Dragon as well as some lesser-known storytime delights that we recommend for Y4, like David Almond’s AI-inspired Brand New Boy, Elizabeth Laird’s Song of the Dolphin Boy and the super fun choose-your-own-adventure style mystery The Monster Maker.

As well as the Y4 reading list below to browse, we’ve also got a printable poster, a downloadable checklist and a handy bookmark for you, and schools can purchase full sets of all 50 books via Peters.

Browse the Y4 reading list below or scroll down to find more purchasing options and printable resources.

Best Books for Year 5 (Children Aged 9-10)

Our primary school reading experts have selected a list of the top 50 recommended books for children in Year 5. There are so many books to love on this list, but do keep an eye out for houses that walk, a ten-year-old doctor, boarding schools for criminals and cats going viral…

Year 5 children benefit from being able to choose from a range of books by both classic and contemporary authors in different genres and formats. Our booklist includes popular Y5 books such as Percy Jackson, The Last Bear and Impossible Creatures as well as lesser-known gems that are equally delightful, like Torben Kuhlman’s stunning picturebook Edison and Bali Rai’s tale of a young Sikh footballer, Bobby Bains Plays a Blinder.

Our curated booklists are compiled by specialists in children’s literature, and we take pride in presenting a diverse range of voices and catering to different types of readers, ensuring that there is something for everyone. We have also provided accompanying Y5 resources to support parents and teachers, including a printable poster, a downloadable checklist and a handy bookmark, and the option for schools to purchase full sets of the 50 books through Peters.

Browse the Y5 reading list below or scroll down to find more purchasing options and printable resources.