Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Topic: United Kingdom

No Such Thing as Nessie!

Picturebook

Finlay is going on a Nessie hunt. While visiting his Gran, who lives beside Loch Ness, Finlay is determined to get proof that Nessie, the famous Loch Ness Monster, really does exist. Finlay’s Gran might believe him but his big sister Sarah keeps telling him there’s no such thing. Until they spot a monster-ish shape under the water … There’s no such thing as Nessie: is there? Travel to the shores of Loch Ness with Kirsteen Harris-Jones’s bright, playful illustrations of the Scottish landscape accompanied by Chani McBain’s fun monster-hunting story.

An Amazing Animal Atlas of Scotland

Anders Frang

Non-fiction

Meet the amazing animals of Scotland in this beautiful book, packed full of fun facts, vibrant illustrations and maps showing where to spot these wonderful creatures. Young conservationists will love exploring Scotland’s distinct habitats — sea and coast, mountains and forests, rivers and lochs, and grasslands — and learning about the incredible creatures that live there. Discover exciting facts about Scotland’s most famous and best-loved animals — including puffins, seals, red squirrels, golden eagles, otters and Scottish wildcats — and reveal the amazing secret lives of unexpected creatures such as limpets, lizards, ants, eels, water voles and sharks!

Maps of the United Kingdom

Rachel Dixon & Ms. Livi Gosling

Non-fiction

Take a tour of the United Kingdom as you’ve never seen it before in this fully illustrated set of colourful and fact-filled county maps. Travel through England , Northern Ireland , Scotland and Wales and meet the incredible people born there, learn about the UK’s proud history and discover ancient castles, modern feats of engineering and natural highlights. Maps of the UK is also a beautiful atlas of the UK’s history and culture , showing how Britons from all over the world have shaped the country for thousands of years. A fabulous introduction to the UK’s geography, history and culture, for readers young and old.

The Big Book of the UK

Imogen Russell Williams & Louise Lockhart

Non-fiction

Introduce children to the wonders, history, culture and customs of the United Kingdom with The Big Book of the UK. Learn about the sport of “dwile flonking”, find out where black diamonds come from, ,eet the supernatural animal that haunts the Scottish Highlands and discover the British sweets that helped Hillary and Tenzing scale Everest. Filled with facts about wildlife, food, sports, geography, language and some very silly place names, this book will help you uncover national secrets and unearth local legends from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

See Inside: The History of Britain

Barry Ablett & Rob Lloyd Jones

Non-fiction

With stunning illustrations and over 60 flaps to lift, children can explore plague-ridden London, the British Empire, a Victorian factory and other key events in Britain’s incredible history. Scenes include “The Middle Ages”, “Tudor Times” and “Britain at War”. A “Famous People” section at the back of the book features Britons of note such as Oliver Cromwell, Emmeline Pankhurst and The Beatles.

A Street Through Time

DK & Steve Noon

Non-fiction

This wow-factor history book takes the reader on a 12,000-year journey to find out the story of a single UK street, showing the street during a different historical period on each page.

Many young readers love any non-fiction books that explore or peek behind closed doors. A Street Through Time does this in the best possible way and over thousands of years. You can see what people’s kitchens and bedrooms (and loos!) looked like from the Romans to the Victorians (Roman toilets I’d avoid….!).

We also love how busy this book is, so many brilliant details to explore again and again and how it shows the change in a single place over a long period. A classic among children’s non-fiction – and for good reason.

Katie In London

James Mayhew

Picturebook

Come on a magical tour with Katie and discover London’s most famous sights! When Katie and her brother Jack visit London with Grandma, something very unexpected happens . . . One of the Trafalgar Square lions comes to life and takes them on a wonderful tour of all the best sights! Including Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Big Ben and the London Eye. Featuring many of London’s key landmarks, this storybook has become a bestselling introduction to London, and is perfect for children visiting the city for the first time.

The Buildings that Made London

David Long & Josie Shenoy

Non-fiction

Take an incredible journey through the streets of London and see beautiful buildings as you’ve never seen them before! An elegant horizon of historic masterpieces mixed with sleek modern skyscrapers, the familiar London skyline seems to change every year. Using original architectural drawings from The National Archives brought to life by stunning artwork by Josie Shenoy, discover the rich heritage of some of London’s most iconic buildings.

Our Queen Elizabeth: Her Extraordinary Life from the Crown to the Corgis

Helen Shoesmith & Kate Williams

Non-fiction

Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee with this colourful and charming picture book by historian Kate Williams, taking young readers on an amazing journey through Queen Elizabeth II’s seven decades on the throne.

Discover everything there is to know about the life and the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II in this beautifully illustrated book. Readers will learn all about Elizabeth II’s youth growing up during WWII, how she came to the throne and what it really means to be the Queen. Along the way, they’ll see her sparkling crown jewels and magnificent palaces. They will meet her beloved corgis, horses and of course, her very famous family. Plus they’ll discover lots of amazing facts – such as why she has two birthdays, always wears bright clothing, and is a world record breaker!

This is a perfect gift for all the family, celebrating the extraordinary life of Queen Elizabeth II – from the Crown to the Corgis.

Coming to England (Picturebook)

Baroness Floella Benjamin & Diane Ewen

Picturebook

Baroness Floella Benjamin offers her own story of the 6000-mile journey from Trinidad to England, told for the youngest children in a picture book called Coming to England – An Inspiring True Story About the Windrush Generation.

The story explores and celebrates what it means to be a British person with Black Caribbean heritage, as well as opening doors to learning about the impact of Operation Windrush and experiences of racism. Speaking about the background to the book, Baroness Floella says,”Britain has always been a nation that’s evolved due to different races coming in, from as far back as you can go. I hope Coming to England makes people of colour feel worthy, appreciated and that they belong and that it makes white people say, ‘That could be me, what would it be like if I moved somewhere else?’.”