A simple story for very young children about the joys of gardening and watching things grow.
Through the story of Sam planting a sunflower seed and watching it grow, readers will learn about the life cycle of a flowering plant and I’m sure it will inspire many children to get busy planting and growing flowers for themselves.
The interactive elements make this narrative non-fiction for preschoolers a real delight. Children will enjoy lifting the flaps to see what is happening underneath the soil or unfolding the surprise pop-up sunflower near the end.
Topics of germs and the importance of hand washing are not always easy for children to understand. BooksForTopics founder Alison Leach has picked out five books that help to address these concepts with children.
Maths Picturebooks List
Picturebooks can provide an excellent way of engaging pupils with maths. On this booklist, we have picked a selection of the best maths-themed stories that open opportunities to explore a range of mathematical concepts. Many thanks to Year 1 teacher Dean Boddington for working together with us to create this selection of the best children’s books about maths topics.
The books on the maths booklist cover topics of counting, number concepts, shape, space, measure and problem solving.
This varied booklist includes showstoppers like How Many Jelly Beans?, stories about doubling like Centipede’s 100 Shoes or Double the Fun and stories with big number concepts like How Big is a Million?
We’ve also included stories about counting, like the beautifully illustrated Counting Creatures, shape and measure stories like The Perfect Fit and How Much Does a Ladybird Weigh?, and problem-solving favourites like 365 Penguins.
Step into the digital realm with our carefully curated collection of children’s books about staying safe online.
These handpicked children’s books delve into the essentials of internet safety, cyberbullying, and digital resilience. From the superb picturebook Troll Stinks, which addresses online bullying and is suitable for the whole primary range, to the newer chapter book How to Be More Hedgehog which navigates the intricacies of upper primary children in the online world, these books help children and teachers to open conversations about internet safety.
As we celebrate Safer Internet Day, these stories go beyond rules, weaving lessons in kindness, empathy, and digital responsibility. Schools are vital in equipping today’s children to be safe online, fostering a generation of tech-savvy, compassionate and responsible digital natives, and these books are chosen to help in that role.
Are you looking for the best children’s books about computing, gaming, and coding? Whether you are a teacher looking to integrate STEM into your primary classroom or a parent searching for high-interest reads to engage a young gamer, our expert-curated booklist is designed to help you level up your library.
In today’s digital-first world, there is an ever-increasing thirst for stories that reflect the excitement of video games, the logic of computer programming and the appeal of the internet. Our collection bridges the gap between entertainment and education, featuring a mix of fast-paced gaming fiction, beginner-friendly coding guides and inspiring biographies of computing pioneers like Ada Lovelace and Steve Jobs.
These quality texts are perfect for KS1 and KS2 children, helping to build digital literacy, logical thinking and an enthusiasm for technology. Explore our top recommendations for gamers and computer science enthusiasts.
Come rain or shine, there’s always a good book to match the weather! From sunshine and showers to hailstones and hurricanes, we’ve put together a list of the best children’s books and stories about weather and seasonal changes.
Recommended for children aged 4-7, this collection features children’s books that explore the fascinating and ever-changing world of weather. From seasonal changes and snowy days to rainclouds and storms, these books offer insights into the science behind different weather patterns, as well as how weather can impact our daily lives.
With our recommended books for children, you can be sure that you’re providing your child with the best possible resources to learn about the weather and the changing seasons. Whether you’re looking to incorporate science into your curriculum, inspire a love of reading, or simply enjoy some quality storytimes, these books are a perfect fit – whatever the weather!
We also have separate booklists for each season:
Creepy crawlies, minibeasts, bugs or insects – dig deep into the miniature worlds of these fascinating creatures, with over 25,000 of the species found in Britain and many thousands more all around the globe.
From bluebottles and butterflies to wasps and wiggly worms, there’s plenty to discover in the minibeasts topic, including habitats, lifecycles and learning to recognise just how important these tiny creatures are to our planet’s ecosystems. From classic children’s stories like EYFS favourite The Very Hungry Caterpillar to beautifully illustrated non-fiction gems like The Big Book of Bugs, there are plenty of minibeast stories for children to discover on our list.
Dig deep into the topic with our list of the best children’s books about minibeasts and insects…
The topic of space is always a big hit with primary school children, who love to learn facts about the solar system and imagine the infinite possibilities of what lies beyond our galaxy. In KS2 Science, children learn about the Earth, Sun and Moon and how their movement affects our days, nights and seasons. Many children learn about the planets, space exploration and famous astronauts too. Blast off into the topic with our list of the best books for children about space.
This list is aimed at children aged 7-11. For recommended space books for younger children, try our KS1 Space Booklist.
Blast off on an intergalactic adventure with our stellar selection of the best children’s books about space. From planets and constellations to spacecraft and moon landings, budding stargazers and future astronauts will find plenty of top space facts to explore in our list of recommended children’s books for space topics.
This list is aimed at children aged 5-7. For space books for older children, try our Space Booklist for KS2.
There is nothing quite so magical as the process of watching a plant grow – from seeds and shoots to leaves and flowers. Learning about growing plants is part of the Science curriculum in primary schools, with children learning to name local wildflowers and trees, exploring the functions of different parts of a plant and investigating what plants need to grow and thrive.
We’ve put together a list of recommended books to support the topic of growing plants at KS1 and EYFS, covering everything from seed dispersal and life cycles to edible plant parts and activities for green-fingered budding gardeners. From stories about gardening like Lulu Loves Flowers and Oliver’s Vegetables, to beautifully illustrated non-fiction choices like The Big Book of Blooms, this booklist provides a handpicked selection of the best children’s books about growing plants.
NB: This selection of stories about growing plants is aimed at children aged 4-7. If you are looking for books for older children, try our KS2 Plants and Trees list.
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