Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Topic: Seasonal Events

Shu Lin’s Grandpa

Picturebook

Shu Lin’s Grandpa is perfect for use with a new starter to your class, particularly if they speak English as an additional language. It would also be a great story to support work on empathy and inclusion, whether or not there is a new starter at school. The artwork in the book is fitted carefully around the text and brings it to life – the star piece being a beautiful double-gatefold picture by grandpa. The illustration provides a good opportunity to look at this style of oriental art and have a go in school, as well as a chance to discuss celebrating difference, sharing heritage and welcoming others…

Who Are You?

Ali Pye & Smriti Halls

This is a joyful celebration of all the pieces, places and people that make us who we are. It is a wonderful way to get children thinking about and learning about their own families, and also opening up discussions about all of the other pieces that come together to make us all unique: from our friends and food we eat, to activities we get up to and the places we go.

Children will enjoy finding out more about themselves and their families, and thinking about other families and friends who are similar or different to their own.

What Makes Me a Me?

Ben Faulks & & David Tazzyman

Picturebook

Who am I? I ask myself. What makes me a ME? I think hard with all my might, And look around to see.

What makes you a you? Are you like a sports car – lightning fast? Or maybe you’re like a tree … Do your arms stick out like branches? No? Then perhaps you’re like a snail – very slow (especially when it’s time for school!).

A funny and thought-provoking look at what makes us us, from Ben Faulks (known as Mr Bloom from CBeebies) and David Tazzyman (bestselling illustrator of You Can’t Take an Elephant on the Bus ). Guaranteed to feed the imagination, this celebration of being who we are is perfect for inquisitive (and inventive!) little minds.

Hello, Friend

Rebecca Cobb

Picturebook

A beautifully illustrated, wittily observed picture book about kindness, empathy and friendship from the award-winning Rebecca Cobb.

Hello Friend! tells the story of one big-hearted and enthusiastic little girl who is insistent on making friends with a certain little boy. And why wouldn’t he want to be friends with her? She’s very good at sharing – even if it’s a sandwich that he doesn’t like. And she’s certain that playing outside is their favourite thing to do, even if he is not so sure. But while he doesn’t seem keen on many of the things that she loves to do, there is one thing he’s very keen on after all . . . being friends.

It’s Only One

Tony Neal & Tracey Corderoy

Picturebook

This is a book to choose when introducing the importance of class rules, demonstrating how shared environments work best if everyone sticks to the agreed rules and works together to take responsibility for making somewhere a happy place to live, work and play.

Sunnyville is the perfect place to live. The animals live in peace and harmony and everyone is friendly to one another. Until one day, Rhino tosses a sweet wrapper over his shoulder. It’s only one, he thinks – until everyone is doing the same. This one action begins a domino effect which results in Sunnyville being a lot less than perfect with everyone being grumpy and doing as they please. Then little mouse has an idea, and ‘only one’ small act starts a whole wave of small acts and turns Sunnyville around.With appealing animal characters to draw in the reader, this is a wonderful story about being good community members and caring for the world around us. The story provides a great example of how ‘only one’ small act can start a whole chain of events.

The bright illustrations are eye catching and full of detail, with plenty of things to talk about for the start of a new year, including personal responsibility, keeping the classroom tidy, treating equipment with respect and working together to improve things.

Starting School

Allan Ahlberg & Janet Ahlberg

Picturebook

A classic picture book by Janet and Alan Ahlberg, all about a class of children starting school. The story walks through the experiences of the first term of school for a group of children, exploring the different activities and equipment they come across. A gently positive story that also explains that starting school is about more than just the first day!

Story Path

Kate Baker & Madalena Matoso

Picturebook

Travel along the story path and discover an enchanted world where fairy princesses battle with monsters from the deep and vampire cats zoom through the galaxy on silver unicorns.

This innovative twist on the classic quest tale allows young readers to choose their own characters, settings and plots at every turn. With a simple, easy-to-follow structure and bold, quirky imagery by award-winning illustrator Madalena Matoso, this is an imaginative storytelling experience for children of all ages.

Who will you meet? Where will you go? What will you do next? It’s all up to you…

Lulu’s First Day

Anna McQuinn & Rosalind Beardshaw

Picturebook

Lulu is going to preschool for the first time. She has visited school before with Mummy, but this time she will go on her own.

She’s excited, but a bit nervous. She gets dressed, packs her bag and makes sure she has her cat Dinah with her. When Lulu gets to school, she quickly settles and makes a friend with Mummy watching close by. When Mummy leaves, Lulu is nervous, but soon finds her way forward on her new adventure.

We highly recommend this starting school book and the whole Lulu series, which gently reassures preschool children about all sorts of relatable scenarios from getting a pet and planting flowers to starting school and shows them how to tackle new challenges head-on.

When a Dragon Goes to School

Caryl Hart & Rosalind Beardshaw

Picturebook

A fun and gentle introduction to expectations about what to do when you go to school. When a dragon goes to school, will she stamp her feet, hide from the teacher or throw crayons around? Or will she choose to put her belongings on her peg, enjoy the toys and books and eat her lunch politely with her friends? A lovely exploration of how to enjoy the routines, relationships and responsibilities that come with being big enough for school.

Mouse’s Big Day

Lydia Monks

Picturebook

It’s the first day at school for Mouse and she has already decided that she doesn’t want to go. The teacher sets a challenge for the new children and before long, Mouse finds out plenty of interesting and fun things about her classmates. A gorgeously bright and cheerful picture book exploring feelings of shyness about starting a new setting, from the illustrator of What the Ladybird Heard.

Best Books by Age

Life Changes Booklists

Values-Based Booklists

Real-World Issues Booklists

Popular Children's Authors

Topic: Seasonal Events

10 Children’s Books to Read Around the Solar Eclipse

Nature Art and Storytelling: Andy Shepherd

Top Children’s Books to Pack for a Holiday: Summer 2026

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review