Book Recommendations

Can Bears Ski – Raymond Antrobus and Polly Dunbar

Published by Walker Books

Little Bear wonders why his dad keeps asking him “Can Bears ski?” as he takes us through his morning routine and his day in school. But Little Bear is deaf and so, in an age-appropriate way for Key Stage 1 children, this delightful picture book takes us with him as he meets an audiologist, has an audiogram and has hearing aids fitted.

There are few stories that deaf children can identify with, or for hearing children to understand how challenging hearing loss can be, so this book is much-needed. It explains the processes and tests children with hearing loss have to go through with a light touch and with wonderfully big and bold illustrations.

By the end of the story Little Bear discovers that the real question is “Can you hear me?” to which he is delighted to answer “Yes!”. We highly recommend this lovely book – it should have a place on every classroom bookshelf.

Where Snow Angels go – Maggie O’Farrell

Published by Walker Books

This is a book to share with a child, taking time to marvel at the gorgeous illustrations covering every page. Late one night, Sylvie discovers a snow angel in her bedroom and is determined not only to meet him again, but to ensure everyone she knows finds their own snow angel too. Inspired by a story Maggie O’ Farrell invented to comfort her own children, and drawing on both her experiences of their childhood illnesses and her own period of illness as a child, this beautiful book melds the magic of a fairy tale with the atmosphere of a Christmas story, and demands to be read again each winter.

Don’t Call Me Grumpycorn! – Sarah McIntyre

Published by Scholastic

Don’t Call Me Grumpycorn is a tale set in an explosion of colour. Unicorn and his friends, Mermaid, Narwhal and Jellyfish embark on a journey into space to discover the most ‘fabulous’ planet which in Unicorn’s mind, will have even more ‘fabulous’ unicorns. Things don’t turn out quite as Unicorn wished, as he comes to realise that the best place to be is where his friends are. Sarah McIntyre’s wonderful illustrations are rich and detailed and there is much to look at and to talk about with younger children. It is a book about kindness and friendship which you will want to feast your eyes upon again and again.

Oi Puppies! – Kes Grey and Jim Field

Published by Hodder Children’s Books

The latest installment in the Oi Frog and Friends series, is a perfect choice for any primary school child who enjoys silly things! With a contagious rhythm and rhyme pattern, and punchy illustrations, even struggling readers will be able to use context clues to decode the text. A teacher we work with told us she shared a book from this series with a child who had recently come to the UK as a refugee. The child told her that she found the book so silly that while she was listening to it, she forgot to feel sad. The teacher also told us these books provide a great opportunity for rhyming word play – a key skill for learning to read, for all children, including English language learners.

Hospital Dog – Julia Donaldson

Published by Macmillan Children’s Books

Dot is no ordinary dog – NO SHE IS NOT! For Dot is a hospital dog who in this delightful new Julia Donaldson story, is followed as she visits a variety of children in hospital with her owner Rose. The familiar rhyming language coupled with lively, colourful illustrations, creates a reassuring tale for all children, but especially for those who may have to experience a hospital visit. This is a story full of empathy and gentle humour, well-timed for the present.

Uma and the Answer to Absolutely Everything – Sam Copeland

Published by Puffin

Uma Gnudersonn has plenty of questions to ask but can’t find too many answers until the day when, with best friend Alan Alan, she finds Athena – a genius artificial intelligence. Together they take on the challenge of defeating dastardly and dangerous Stella Daw and her company Minerva whilst seeking ways to make Uma’s dad speak again.

This is a fast-paced, laugh out loud, crazy story with Copeland’s customary footnotes. There are enticing illustrations throughout by Sarah Horne, and what is subtly written underneath, is a tender story of a little girl grieving the loss of her family and searching for answers.

Does she find them? Maybe!

The Ghost Garden – Emma Carroll

Published by Barrington Stoke

Reluctant or dyslexic readers will be delighted by a new story set in the weeks before the outbreak of WW1 by award-winning, historic fiction author Emma Carroll (Letters from the Lighthouse, Secrets of a Sun King) and published by Barrington Stoke.

When a series of coincidences occur between discoveries made in the garden of Longbarrow House and events that happen to people around her, Fran begins to feel that they must be connected. Forced to look after wheelchair-bound Leo, her sense of  anxiety and fear for the future grows as he shares his theories of  impending war and separation.

This is a strangely unsettling story with an atmosphere of mystery and magic reminiscent of The Secret Garden. The juxtaposition of a developing friendship between Leo and Fran and the pathos of impending war serves to engage and maintain the reader’s interest with its final lines being very pertinent in our own difficult times.

Zombierella – Joseph Coelho

Published by Walker Books

At the back of a library rests the old, neglected books. Dust-covered, foul-smelling and broken, our narrator uncovers the fairy-tales which have gone bad. Welcome to the first of three stories by poet and author, Joseph Coelho, Zombierella – his reimagining of Cinderella.

This retelling of such a well-known fairy tale is not for the faint-hearted! Coelho writes about death, mutilation, dismemberment and many other grisly bits, all brought to life by the fabulous and intricate illustrations of Freya Hartas. Yet this is also a story that is  funny, modern and contains all the elements so many young readers will adore.

Written in verse, this makes for an ideal tale for children to read aloud, and to read together. At times the language is rightfully challenging for the age-group it is aimed at (8 years plus) and there are  moments of poetic beauty, for example “…danced like the room was empty…” and “…danced like starlight carried their steps…” to inspire budding writers.

 We can’t wait for the second book in this series.

The Night Bus Hero – Onjali Q Raúf

Published by Orion Children’s Books

This third novel from Onjali Q Raúf, best-selling author of the award-winning The Boy at the Back of the Class, is as surprising and compelling as her previous hit and we guess, likely to be just as popular with pupils and teachers. Having upset most of his family and classmates, 10-year-old bully and narrator of the story, Hector, fixes his hatred on a local homeless man, who he assumes is responsible for a series of thefts from London landmarks. When Hector discovers he is mistaken, he sets out to track down the true thief, finding help and learning life lessons along the way from the homeless community he previously held in such disdain, as well as from his arch-enemy, the class swot Mei-Li. Deftly tackling bullying, homelessness and the redemptive power of kindness all in one swoop, this story also delivers enough intrigue to interest older readers, whilst the clear language makes it accessible to all. With great pace and humour too, this is an ideal class reader and the extra resources at the end will help to prompt further discussion. We loved it!

The Beast and the Bethany – Jack Meggitt-Phillips

Published by Farshore

This page-turner reminiscent of the gruesomeness of Roald Dahl with a touch of Lemony Snicket thrown in, is sure to become a much-loved classic. We meet 11-year-old Ebenezer Tweezer who lives alone in a 15-storey house with a three-eyed beast lurking in the attic. In exchange for a potion that will bring him eternal youth, Ebenezer has to keep the beast fed, a deal which works well until the beast wants to eat a child! Enter bad-tempered orphan Bethany who then accompanies Ebenezer as he begins to discover that kindness, friendship and having fun are not only the keys to living well, but also the secret to beating the beast. We can’t wait for the sequel, scheduled for next year!

The Midnight Guardians – Ross Montgomery

Published by Walker Books

The Midnight Guardians is a wonderful departure for Carnegie Award-nominee Ross Montgomery, skilfully combining the kind of fantastical adventures those familiar with him will expect, with the magic of folklore and the historical gravitas of 1940s war-torn London. Col, an evacuee to Derbyshire, experiences every child’s wildest fantasy, discovering that his three imaginary friends have come to life. These eponymous ‘Guardians’: a six-foot tiger, a waistcoated badger and a miniature knight, accompany Col on his quest to the London Blitz to save his sister from both the Nazi bombs, and the dark forces of the MidWinter King. Punctuating this terrifying but often humorous set of adventures, are stark reminders of the reality of war; excerpts from the Daily Mail in 1940 and the story of Ruth, a Jewish girl who has arrived on the Kindertransport. Montgomery’s clever interleaving of make-believe, history, humour and tenderness will have a broad appeal.

The Boy at the Back of the Class – Onjali Q Raúf

Published by Orion Children’s Books

Told from the point of view of a curious nine year old who is intrigued by the silent new boy at the back of the class, this story tackles the tricky topic of child refugees to the UK. As the unnamed narrator and her close friends try to discover more about Ahmet, the reader is introduced to the difficult concepts of family separation, drownings and UK government rules and regulations. The success of the book is that whilst it doesn’t shy away from these subjects, they are explained with a light, sensitive and at times humorous touch, which makes for compelling and heart-warming reading. It’s a good choice to read aloud to the class and will produce interesting discussion.

Wonderscape – Jennifer Bell

Published by Walker Books

Wonderscape is an ideal story to hook in children who enjoy playing computer games. Set largely in a virtual-reality adventure, the story follows three 21st-century classmates who find themselves trapped in the year 2473. Arthur, Cecily and Ren need to complete a series of challenges in order to return home, meeting various ‘heroes’ from history such as Isaac Newton and Wangari Maathai along the way. With language that may at times stretch the reader, this action-packed adventure also explores themes of friendship and resilience. We loved it and so did our kids!

Cat Kid Comic Club – Dav Pilkey

Published by Scholastic

Haikus, monster cheese sandwiches and lessons in how to fail, help award-winning author of the hilarious Dog Man series Dav Pilkey to establish his latest innovative graphic novel series. Through humorous interconnected stories, Pilkey cleverly employs a variety of different literary styles (poetry, drama as well as prose) to tell his tales of dinosaur lawyers, unhappy squid and reactionary nurses, as well as more serious narratives about nature! The beauty of this book lies in the variety of different media Pilkey uses for each tale; illustrations include photographs, pen drawings and pencil sketches. It’s a hugely enjoyable read, with vocabulary to challenge and ideas which will inspire children to write and create their own comics.

Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet – Zanib Mian with illustrations by Nasaya Mafardik

Published by Hodder Children’s Books

We know that publishers of children’s fiction strive to reach today’s children with titles that reflect both the ethnic and cultural diversity of today’s society, as well as the issues which affect them. Zanib Mian’s artful debut middle-grade novel Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet deftly winds together threads of casual racism, playground bullying and a child’s attempts to demystify adult behaviour. It’s a page-turner that manages to be both entertaining and completely relatable; Omar is a boy whose fears of moving to a new area are realised when the school’s bully turns on him and a neighbour reacts with hostility to the new Muslim family. Omar’s inner narrative about his family’s bid to beat prejudice with warmth, imagination and empathy, is brought to life by Nasaya Mafardik’s buoyant Tom Gates-style illustrations. We were delighted to get this feedback from a 12-year-old girl in hospital, after she discovered this book on the Read for Good bookcase. ‘I loved Planet Omar because the main character is a Muslim like me. He got bullied for his religion but even though he was bothered he didn’t fight back. I liked it so much that I finished it in one day.’ This book has inclusivity, diversity and empathy a-plenty, plus it’s compulsive reading. What more could we ask for?

Twitch – M. G. Leonard

Published by Walker Books

It’s the start of the summer holidays and Twitch, a rather singular little boy who sleeps in a bird-box bed, is looking forward to spending time in his secret hide, deep in his local nature reserve. However, as the police invade the area searching for an escaped convict, Twitch becomes embroiled in an adventure which also sees him learn about trust and friendship.

M.G.Leonard continues her highly successful run of middle-grade novels with this first in a new mystery adventure series. As with her previous books (Beetle Boy and the Adventure on Trains series), this is a clever, enjoyable take on a simple storyline that children will love. 

The originality of having a keen “birder” as the protagonist makes us willing members of the bird-world where we can learn to differentiate between the songs of the dawn chorus as well as how to train a pigeon!

The ending is a delightful, chaotic melee of old-fashioned comedy made all the more poignant as Twitch finally discovers how sweet the world is with human as well as feathered friends.

Cookie and the Most Annoying Girl in the World! – Konnie Huq

Published by Piccadilly Press

Konnie Huq’s much-loved character Cookie returns in a brilliantly funny book that we enjoyed as much as her first (Cookie and the Most Annoying Boy in the World!). With a growing awareness of the problems impacting the environment, Cookie is befriended by Suzy Ashby when they both obtain tickets for Aliana Tiny’s concert. The problem is that Cookie finds everything about Suzy extremely annoying!! 

With her simple but humorous cartoons and a fast-paced storyline, Huq tackles the issues of both plastic pollution and the challenges of retaining friendships, while at the same time as developing new ones. Both issues are handled in an accessible and engaging way for junior readers. 

As in her first book, we really enjoyed the full appendix at the end which is jam-packed with ideas for environmental projects that children can try themselves.

The House at the Edge of Magic – Amy Sparkes

Published by Walker Books

Fans of stories such as The Worst Witch and The Chrestomanci series will greatly enjoy this new book by talented storyteller, Amy Sparkes.

Nine is an orphan pickpocket who lives in a Fagin-type cellar with nothing except a little silver box to call her own. One day she steals an ornament which begins a mad-cap, magic- filled adventure involving an unusual house with a pinny-wearing troll, a tea-loving wizard and a kilt-wearing spoon! 

As she begins to make new friends, Nine is challenged to break the curse the house is  under, which will ultimately give her the freedom she so longs for. This is a lively story for middle-grade readers. It is filled with wonderfully riotous descriptions of magic that goes wrong and relationships that develop and deepen. The language is rich yet accessible and its ending is deeply satisfying.

This Wonderful Thing – Adam Baron

Published by HarperCollins

Adam Baron, author of best selling Carnegie-nominated “Boy Underwater” brings  Cymbeline Igloo and familiar friends back to life in a third fantastic adventure. Middle grade readers will enjoy the playful narrative form as alternate chapters tell the stories of Cymbeline and a new character, Jessica, and their parallel plotlines become intriguingly entangled in a mystery involving a lost and found teddy bear, inexplicable burglaries and an enigmatic historic medal. Both children must also navigate complex family problems which Baron treats lightly, and at times humorously, but always with great sensitivity and gravitas.

Short and snappy chapters that end on a cliff-hanger, and whole pages dedicated to one tiny phrase or a repeated scream in different fonts, make this a fast paced, page-turner which keeps you guessing right to the end, when all is cleverly resolved in a heart-warming happy ending. We loved it and hope Cymbeline returns again and again!

The Voyage of the Sparrowhawk – Natasha Farrant

Published by Faber and Faber

Two runaway children, two slightly chaotic dogs and a canal boat named ‘Sparrowhawk’ are the cast of this engaging tale that takes place in the aftermath of WW1. Ben and Lottie set sail for France to find Ben’s brother, reported missing from a hospital somewhere in Northern France. They are helped along the way by various adults, all of whom are suffering from some sort of war-caused loss. Lyrical descriptions of idyllic British countryside illustrating the boat’s journey along the waterways to the Thames and beyond, are counterbalanced by the devastation the children witness when they arrive in the ruined villages of rural France. This is a warm, humorous book despite the themes of sadness and grief. By the end, the children have come to terms with the prospect of new beginnings and the reader is left wanting to remain with them. A deserving winner of the 2020 Costa Children’s Book Award!

A Kind of Spark – Elle McNicoll

Published by Knights Of

We think everyone should read Elle McNicoll’s important debut. Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the Year and a Carnegie medal nominee, A Kind of Spark offers a unique insight into neurodiversity from a child’s point of view, by an emerging author who is neurodivergent herself. The story follows an autistic girl named Addie, who is 11 and living with her parents and her older twin sisters. Addie loves sharks and she loves words, but sometimes finds the world a difficult place to live in. Horrified by what she is casually taught at school about the historical persecution of so-called witches – whom she discovers were actually innocent women perceived as different in some way – Addie embarks on a campaign to establish a memorial to the witches in her Scottish town, which then becomes a personal quest to make her voice heard, drawing interesting parallels between the history of the outcast witches and the perception of autism in contemporary society. The publication of this book is the culmination of the author’s own quest to illuminate the everyday experiences of children with autism, which happily matched the aims of pioneering publishers ‘Knights Of’ resulting in this wonderful addition to the growing wealth of representative fiction for children.

The Highland Falcon Thief – M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman

Published by Macmillan Children’s Books

Who wouldn’t love a tale which involves a jewel thief, a royal steam train, a cast of characters that could have come from an Agatha Christie novel, plus two likeable children, Hal and Lenny as detectives? When told he is to accompany his uncle, Nathaniel Bradshaw (there are many clues to the authors’ own love and knowledge of trains) Hal is unimpressed by the company of the adults surrounding him, but then he meets Lenny Singh, the train driver’s daughter, who has stowed away on the train. Life becomes more exciting for Hal when soon after the train pulls away, the thief strikes and there follows an exhilarating adventure. We loved Elisa Paganelli’s sketches throughout, which contribute to the story as Hal and Lenny solve the case. This is the first in a series, the second of which, Kidnap on the California Comet, we can’t wait to read!

Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel – Eoin Colfer

Published by Puffin

Artemis Fowl has been given a new look to tie-in with the film and thanks to the number of formats it is available in, this story is now really accessible. For fantasy and adventure-loving children with dyslexia who might find the books tricky, there’s the incentive to read this book before seeing the film. Starting with the audiobook to ensure the story structure and vocabulary are familiar, and then moving on to the graphic novel, can help to link new vocabulary to the written words (while still having the support of the images to aid the narrative) and those who want an extra challenge can finish off with the novel itself!

The Wolf Wilder – Katherine Rundell

Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Part fairytale, and part adventure, this lovely story is set in Russia and tells of Feodora’s journey through the winter landscape to rescue her imprisoned mother. Accompanying her are three wolves – not quite pets – and a collection of other children. As she faces danger, Feo begins to understand the importance of teamwork and friendship. Loss and sadness feature too, but Rundell doesn’t shy away from tackling them head-on in this beautiful, compelling read.

Dare To Be You – Matthew Syed

Published by Wren and Rook

This is best-selling author of adult self-help books, Bounce and Black Box Thinking, Mathew Syed’s second book for children. Dare To Be You follows You Are Awesome with an engaging visual style including fonts of varying sizes, cartoons and lots of orange splashed across the pages. Syed sets out to persuade our anxious, perfectionist children that it’s fine to be yourself, to make mistakes, take risks and to be the person you want to be. He first introduces us to ‘Kid Doubt’ and then in subsequent chapters explores themes of not fitting in, becoming your own action hero, kindness and resilience. Syed skilfully draws on personal anecdotes from his days as a champion table-tennis player, quotes from well-known figures and scientific research to evidence and illustrate his points. It’s a book which can be read from beginning to end, or just dipped into and would make an excellent addition to a classroom bookshelf or to a Thrive curriculum.

The Fountains of Silence – Ruta Sepetys

Published by Penguin

Short-listed for the 2021 Carnegie Award, this stirring young adult novel combines romance with a penetrating examination of Spain under Franco’s rule. Set in 1957, Ana, a hotel maid, is assigned to look after young American photographer Daniel who comes to Spain for the first time with his parents. Trying to get the perfect photo to win a top award, Daniel delves into Spanish life and sees at first hand how different life is to his own. 

Throughout this novel ,previous Carnegie Award-winning author Ruta Sepetys, deftly weaves facts about life in Spain at that time, as documented by American diplomatic staff, with a searing tale of love, betrayal and resilience. The contrasting descriptions of wealth and poverty, and in particular the stories of Spain’s missing children, drive home how apart Spain was from the rest of Europe at this time.

This is a superb historical novel, highly recommended to A-Level Spanish students for its political content, and to everyone else for the sheer power of its writing.

Bone Music – David Almond

Published by Hodder Children’s Books

From the pen of the multi-award winning author, David Almond,(Skellig, My Name is Mina) comes Bone Music, a wonderfully atmospheric tale set in rural Northumberland.

Ideal for readers aged 12-plus, Bone Music tells the story of 15-year-old Sylvia Carr whose mother takes her for a much-needed break from their home in the middle of the city of Newcastle, back to where she grew up in wild Northumberland. Sylvia’s father, meanwhile, is away, trying to reach Syria to photograph the horrors of war. Alone, and with no phone signal, Sylvia encounters Gabriel, a teenage boy through whom she explores rural life, both past and present. 

This short, original novel is about connections. It explores the contrasts between town and country, loss and belonging, and the natural order versus the demands of modern life. It is a book whose sparse, lyrical prose evokes a deep reaction that will stay with you long after you put the book down. It’s a book to savour alone which in turn lends itself well to a class discussion.

Whiteout – Gabriel Dylan

Published by Stripes Publishing

Warning! This is not a book to read if you are planning to embark upon a school ski trip! It is, however, the perfect book to entice teens – especially those who love scary films – to pick up a book and get stuck in. The plot is simple: a diverse group of students on a school ski trip to Austria, are left stranded in their hotel following a freak storm; unable to escape, the students and their teachers soon become prey to some truly spine-tingling monsters. 

Dylan begins by calmly setting the scene – but the reader gets the feeling that something sinister is just about to happen. The plot takes a quick turn when the students realize that their teachers have disappeared overnight, replaced by some monstrous beings who are intent on hunting them.

This debut novel by English and Media Studies teacher, Gabriel Dylan, is an example of horror fiction at its best. It is not a tale for the faint-hearted, but as an introduction to this genre it comes highly recommended.

Toffee – Sarah Crossan

Published by Bloomsbury

This Young Adult novel written by Irish Children’s Laureate Sarah Crossan is outstanding.

It’s a poignant story of the relationship between runaway Allison and an elderly woman, Marla, who lives alone and with dementia. Marla mistakes Allison for someone from her past called Toffee and allows her to stay. Over time, Allison begins to examine her previous family relationships as she builds a new identity with Marla. As in her other award-winning books, this story is written in verse which  allows the reader to build up and paint their own picture of the damage each woman has suffered, as well as the friendship that develops between them. The effect is profound.

Toffee is a story which is highly recommended to anyone struggling with the questions around the true meaning of friendship and family.

Concrete Rose – Angie Thomas

Published by Walker Books

American Angie Thomas’ third novel Concrete Rose packs yet another powerful punch; this prequel to her multi-award-winning debut The Hate u Give returns to the impoverished inner-city ghetto of Garden Heights – modelled on Mississippi’s Georgetown – this time to tell the story of 17-year-old Maverick Carter, a member of the King Lord gang, “slinging” drugs to help pay the bills at home while his dad is in prison. Taking care of his family and his girlfriend and cared for by a close-knit community, Maverick feels so far on top of the transition from boy to man, until the shock discovery that he is a father. Complicated worlds collide as Maverick juggles the complexities of child-raising, drug dealing, gang loyalty and the brutal murder of a loved one, all whilst finishing high school. As ever, Angie Thomas’ beautifully nuanced style is simultaneously raw and delicate, conjuring the brutal reality of coming of age in a world where black lives really do matter. This is YA Fiction that is as vital as it is compelling.