Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Topic: Reading for Pleasure

books for fans of horrid henryWhat books are similar to Horrid Henry?

The Horrid Henry books have seen incredible popularity among young readers who enjoy laugh-out-loud stories about family life and characters who get themselves into sticky situations.

Children who love reading about the escapades of mischievous characters should try The World Class in the World or Dirty Bertie – or perhaps foray into the madcap adventures of what happens when unconventional babysitters arrive in Marge in Charge. For more stories about the ups and downs of family life, try Mayhem Mission or the Tom Gates series. If you’re looking for a brand new story about children who take matters into their own hands when things go wrong, try My Parents Cancelled My Birthday or The Broken Leg of Doom. For readers who simply want a fun new series to get stuck into after reading Horrid Henry, we recommend The Boy Who Grew Dragons or the Flat Stanley books.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for what to read next after Horrid Henry…

best books for fans of diary of a wimpy kidIf you like Wimpy Kid books, try these…

The Wimpy Kid books are well known for turning reluctant readers into book fans, enjoyed for their easy-to-read style, laugh-out-loud humour and integrated cartoon-style illustrations. ​

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Fans of comic-style drawings and a high image-to-text ratio should try The Bad Guys or The 13-Storey Treehouse series, whereas children looking for similar stick-figure illustrations will feel right at home with Stick Boy or Konnie Huq’s Cookie series. Readers looking for more funny and relatable stories about school and family life might enjoy Planet Omar or the Sam Wu books. For those who need a new collectible series to get stuck into after reading Wimpy Kid, we recommend Tom Gates or the World of Norm books.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for what to read next after Wimpy kid…

 

Books for fans of Beast Quest
If you like Beast Quest, try these…

The Beast Quest series has gripped thousands of younger readers who enjoy action, adventure and fantasy. Fearsome battles, fantastical beasts and epic rescue quests all characterise this best-selling children’s series containing over one hundred titles.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of the Beast Quest books. Readers who love fearsome beasts and fantastic creatures might enjoy trying Krindlekrax or the adventures of Percy Jackson and those who want to get stuck into more fantasy adventure books like Beast Quest will enjoy Podkin One Ear.

Readers looking for a another collectable series after Beast Quest should try the Astrosaurs books or Cressida Cowell’s wonderful How to Train Your Dragon series. For more good-versus-evil quests of heroes and heroines in imaginative worlds, try the Dragon Storm books or Tom Nicoll’s gaming-themed adventure Level Up!.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for more books like Beast Quest…

books for fans of rainbow magicIf you like Rainbow Magic, try these…

The Rainbow Magic books are a huge hit with many younger readers, often making the ideal first steps into chapter books. Readers enjoy their themes of friendship, problem-solving and – of course – magic.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of the Rainbow Fairy books. Readers who love the world of fairies might enjoy Aziza’s Secret Fairy Door or Mummy Fairy and Me  – or if unicorns are more their thing then try Unicorn Academy or The Naughtiest Unicorn. If you are looking for another highly collectable series after Rainbow Magic, try The Rescue Princesses or Zoe’s Rescue Zoo. For those looking for a brand new adventure set in magical worlds, we recommend the Marnie Midnight or Tiny, the Secret Adventurer.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for what to read next after Rainbow Magic…

books for fans of David Williams
If you like David Walliams, try these…

David Walliams’ books are hugely popular with young readers and he is known as one of Britain’s best-selling children’s authors. From recounts of criminal grandmas to tales of terrible tooth fairy impersonators, Walliams’ stories have hooked in millions of readers who enjoy memorable characters, an easy-to-read humorous style and a good dose of silliness.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of David Walliams. Readers who love getting silly with weird and wacky stories like David Walliams’ books could try the Mr Gum books or the action-packed The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates. Those looking for a new child-led funny adventure to read after the David Walliams books might enjoy An Alien in the Jam Factory or Runaway Robot. For children who like giggling at unlikely scenarios, we recommend Charlie Changes into a Chicken or A Robot Squashed My Teacher – both of which meet our approval as laugh-out-loud favourites at BooksForTopics HQ.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for more books like David Walliams…

best books for fans of michael morpurgoIf you like Michael Morpurgo, try these….

Michael Morpurgo has a loyal fanbase among readers who enjoy his stories of wartime, animals and adventure. With hundreds of books to date, Michael Morpurgo’s award-winning stories have become modern classics in primary school classrooms.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of Michael Morpurgo. Fans of Morpurgo’s animal stories might like to try The Last Bear or When the Mountains Roared. Readers looking for gripping historical fiction could try The Week at World’s End or Tom Palmer’s D-Day Dog. Many of Morpurgo’s stories offer individual perspectives on wartime events, and readers who enjoy this style could try Girl 38 or Bali Rai’s Now or Never to diversify their collection.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for what to read next after Michael Morpurgo…

.  

books for fans of harry potterIf you like Harry Potter, try these…

The Harry Potter stories have undeniably charmed millions of readers who enjoy stories sparkling with magic, fantasy and adventure. The award-winning series has sold over 500 million copies worldwide and has been turned into eight hugely successful Hollywood films.

We’ve put together a list of ten similar books for fans of Harry PotterFans of magic and spellbinding adventures will find solace in the exciting worlds of Nevermoor or Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. Readers looking to hop on board to magical lands should try  The Secret of Platform 13 or sail away to the fantasy islands of Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures. Meanwhile, those who enjoy reading about young heroes fighting dark forces and fantastical beasts should try Percy Jackson or The Wizards of Once. If you’re looking for an immersive series set in mysteriously selective schools and colleges, we recommend Amari and the Night Brothers or Crookhaven.

Browse the full list below of books for children looking for what to read next after Harry Potter…

.

Best Storytime Chapter Books and Novels for Upper KS2

We have selected a list of storytime favourites for Year 5 and Year 6 (ages 9-11), which includes books that are particularly well suited for being read out loud. Storytime is still just as valuable in the older primary years as it is in the early years, and knowing the best books to choose to read aloud can elevate the storytime experience – whether you have fans of thrillers or readers who prefer magical worlds or thought-provoking animal tales. From the best class readers to favourite bedtime stories, browse our list of brilliant books for capturing the magic of storytelling with Upper KS2.

Dive into a thoughtfully curated assortment of stories that cater to a variety of tastes and interests. Experience the thrill of edge-of-your-seat adventures with Running Out of Time, lose yourselves in fantastical adventures like The Explorer and share a giggle together with the heartwarming humour found in The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh. For those seeking shorter reads, The Final Year or the Crooked Oak series await, while those who like something to provoke deeper thought and discussion should enjoy The Lost Whale or Front Desk.

Whether you’re a teacher enhancing the classroom storytime experience or a parent in search of the perfect bedtime story, our collection offers a diverse range of options. Explore the world of storytelling with BooksForTopics – your guide to engaging choices for Year 5 and 6 storytimes.

Best Storytime Chapter Books and Novels for Lower KS2

We have selected a list of storytime favourites for Year 3 and Year 4 (ages 7-9)which includes books that are particularly well suited for being read out loud. From the best class readers to favourite bedtime stories, browse our list of brilliant books for capturing the magic storytelling with Lower KS2.

This thoughtfully curated collection is designed to ignite the love of stories for children aged 7 to 9. Share together stories of enchanting fantasy adventures like The Land of Roar, embark on laugh-out-loud escapades with Charlie Changes into a Chicken and delve into favourite animal stories such as Varjak Paw. We’ve also included true classics for this age group like Charlotte’s Web and storybooks that stimulate thinking and discussion on real-life topics, such as Hannah Gold’s beautiful story of The Last Bear.

The books on this list cater to a range of interests, ensuring that every young reader finds a story that resonates with them and that shared storytimes are ones to treasure.

Best Storytime Chapter Books and Novels for Key Stage 1 

We have selected a list of storytime chapter books for Year 1 and Year 2 (ages 5-7)which includes books that are particularly well suited for being read out loud to younger children. From the best class readers to favourite bedtime stories, browse our list of brilliant books for capturing the magic storytelling with KS1.

Simple chapter books with a story that continues over short instalments make excellent choices for storytime at this age group. Many of the books we have chosen on this list have memorable characters, integrated illustrations and stories that are tried-and-tested favourites with the 5-7 age range.

Immerse young readers in the enchanting world of storytelling with our carefully chosen chapter books, featuring favourite animal stories like Einstein the Penguin and humorous adventures such as The Legend of Kevin. Explore timeless classics tailored for this age group, including the beloved Mrs Pepperpot and The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, or stories of family life like the Betsey Biggalow series. Our diverse list is chosen to create an engaging reading experience, fostering both entertainment and literacy development in Key Stage 1.

Discover these thoughtfully selected storytime favourites for KS1, and embark on a journey of lifelong reading joy.

 

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