Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Home > Books

Topic: Reluctant Readers Upper KS2

Graphic Novel

From Eisner Award-winning creator Aron Nels Steinke, a vibrant, funny new series that charmingly captures the everyday antics of a Year 5 classroom!
Mr. Wolf has just started teaching at Hazelwood Elementary. He wants the first day of school to go well, but he’s got his hands full with his new class. Some of his students include: Margot, who is new in town and is trying to make friends. Sampson, who brought something special to school for show-and-tell. Aziza, who just wants everyone to be quiet and do their work. And Penny, who is VERY sleepy because she has a new baby brother at home, goes missing! This delightful new series captures the everyday — and unexpected — ups and downs of a fourth-grade classroom.

Chapter book

The first book in the Pig series of chapter books in diary form – with Pig’s hilarious illustrations on every page. We love Pig (we can’t help it), but Pig loves Farmer, and he can’t help it either.

After all, Farmer gives Pig yummy slops and special back scratches, and calls him Sausage and seems to love him more, the fatter he gets.

Just as well Pig doesn’t speak any Farmer.

But Duck does (Duck’s clever like that), and he’s determined his best friend should know the truth.

This is tough for Pig.

But Pig won’t just sit there and weep (though we may do, on his behalf), because there’s help from an unexpected quarter: the Evil Chickens have a plan…

children will laugh themselves silly with Pig’s unique voice, terrible grammar, and super funny illustrations throughout each book.

Chapter book

A crumbling stone soldier sits on a bench in the park. Only Owen understands how important he is.

At home, Owen and his mum are struggling and there’s nobody he can talk to. Hidden away in the park, Owen feels free to be himself. When the war-weary soldier is listening, his worries slip away.

But nobody else cares about the soldier, and the town council want to tear him down. Owen’s the only one who can save him but can he find the courage to speak up before it’s too late?

A touching story of loss and remembrance from Lisa Thompson, the award-winning author of The Goldfish Boy.

Chapter book

Ella is the new girl at school. She doesn’t know anyone and she doesn’t have any friends.

And she has a terrible secret.

Ella can’t believe her luck when Lydia, the most popular girl in school, decides to be her new best friend – but what does Lydia really want? And what does it all have to do with Molly, the quiet, shy girl who won’t talk to anyone?

A gripping story of lies, friendship, and blackmail…

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