Reading, both together and independently, is an important activity to build into your child’s routine. It helps to develop a range of language skills, including widening your child’s vocabulary, increasing their understanding of grammar and punctuation, and helping to stimulate their creative writing. It is also a great way for you and your child to bond. Have a look at these recommendations for some great books to share and read.
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Books for 3 – 7 years old
The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein.
An exploration of the importance of ‘giving’.
The Snail and the Whale
by Julia Donaldson.
A rhyming tale of friendship and adventure.
Grumpy Monkey
by Suzanne Lang.
The tale of Jim Panzee who wakes up in a bad mood but realises that it’s okay to be grumpy some of the time.
The Paper Bag Princess
by Robert Munsch.
A story of role reversal and a great one for girl empowerment!
Where the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak.
The story of a little boy named Max who escapes into his own imaginative world of the wild things.
If You Give A Pig a Pancake
by Laura Numeroff.
What happens when you give a pig a pancake? Read this to find out!
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark
by Jill Tomlinson.
The story of a barn owl who has a strange fear – the dark! Will he ever feel differently?
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
by Michael Rosen.
A family walk with an unexpected ending. A fun story for young readers.
Giraffes Can’t Dance
by Giles Andreae.
The story of Gerald the giraffe and his journey to embrace his differences.
Franklin’s New Friend
by Paulette Bourgeois.
One of the Franklin series on the theme of making friends who are different.
Dear Zoo
by Rod Campbell.
The story of a little boy who wants a pet. Will the zoo send him the perfect pet?
The Night Before Christmas
by Clement C. Moore.
The story edition of this classic poem to celebrate the warmth and joy of the festive season.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
by Judith Kerr.
The tale of Jim A funny story about an unexpected teatime guest.
Not Now, Bernard
by David McKee.
A story with a strong message (for parents) and a surprising ending!
The Dark
by Lemony Snicket.
A lovely book which addresses a young boy’s fear of the dark.
Oh, The Places You’ll Go
by Dr. Seuss.
Written in his usual rhythmical style, a story to inspire finding success wherever it may be.
Dragons Love Tacos
by Adam Rubin.
A funny story about the perils of feeding a dragon tacos. Will the little boy in the story heed the warnings?
Teddy’s Midnight Adventure
by Yoko Mori.
A magical story from Japan which tells of a little girl’s adventure to find her teddy’s lost eye.
The Smile Shop
by Satoshi Kitamura.
A story where a boy’s bad luck turns into something better. Some things are more important than money.
I Want My Hat Back
by Jon Klasse.
With an unexpected ending, this is the story of a bear’s search for his lost hat.
Life on Mars
by Jon Agee. Is there life on Mars? A young astronaut tries to find the answer.
The Dot
by Peter H. Reynolds.
The story of a little girl and her journey into creativity. A book to inspire even the least artistic of us!
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter.
The story of Peter Rabbit and his adventures in Mr. McGregor’s garden.
Go, Dog. Go!
by P.D. Eastman.
A fun book for young dog lovers about dogs getting around in all sorts of ways.
Today I will Fly!
by Mo Willems.
A funny introduction to best friends, Piggie and Gerald, which explores Piggie’s determination to fly.
Stardust
by Jeanne Willis.
A lovely tale of positivity, and a reminder that we all ‘shine’ in different ways.
They All Saw a Cat
by Brendan Wenzel.
A fun story focused on the many lives of a cat which also explores the idea that we all have a unique perspective.
Princess Smartypants
by Babette Cole.
The funny story of Princess Smartypants, a rebellious and independent young woman. A great inspiration for girls!
Would You Rather…
by John Burningham.
A mixture of funny and realife scenarios for young readers to ponder. A good story for building confidence and independence in decision making.
I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato
by Lauren Child.
The story of brother/sister duo, Charlie and Lola, and how Charlie tricks his sister into eating all of her least favourite foods.
Let’s Stick Together
by Smriti Halls.
A wonderful ryhming story exploring feelings and friendship.
Who Ate all the Bugs? The TRUE and GORY Story of the Food Chain
by Matty Long.
Written in a slightly fictional style, this is a funny and colourful introduction to the concept of food chains.
The Smart Cookie
by Jory John & Pete Oswald.
A humorous story about the main character, Cookie’s time in Ms. Biscotti’s classroom, and how she comes to understand that intelligence comes in many forms.
Funnybones
by Janet & Allan Ahlberg.
A funny story about a family of skeletons and what they get up to at night.
Moose on the Loose
by Alex Willmore.
A good one for encouraging risk taking, this is the tale of Moose and his exciting adventure to see the world.
The Snow Thief
by Alice Hemming.
A fun wintery tale showing how the weather changes at this time of the year.
Corduroy
by Don Freeman.
The story of Corduroy the teddy bear, who can be found on the department store shelf waiting for a new friend.
The Worry Monster
by Lidia LoPinto.
A lovely story about a little boy called Joey and his journey to overcome his worries.
The Runaway Bunny
by Margaret Wise Brown.
A beautifully illustrated book exploring a mother bunny’s love for her baby.
Storm in a Jar
by Samuel Langley-Swain.
A heart-warming story about Arlo and his journey dealing with grief and loss.
Rabbit’s Bad Habits
by Julian Gough.
A funny winter story involving the friendship of a rabbit and a bear.
There’s a Tiger in the Garden
by Lizzy Stewart.
A lovely story, that is beautifully illustrated, about Lucy and her adventure in Grandma’s garden.
The Worry Monster
by Lidia LoPinto.
A lovely story about a little boy called Joey and his journey to overcome his worries.
The Runaway Bunny
by Margaret Wise Brown.
A beautifully illustrated book exploring a mother bunny’s love for her baby.
Storm in a Jar
by Samuel Langley-Swain.
A heart-warming story about Arlo and his journey dealing with grief and loss.
Books for 7 – 11 years old
The Sheep-Pig
by Dick King-Smith.
The story of Babe the pig who learns some unusual skills whilst living on a farm.
Charlotte’s Web
by E.B. White.
A story of true friendship between a pig and a spider.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
by Rick Riordan.
A set of five books about 12 year old Percy Jackson and how he adapts to being the son of a God.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
by Roald Dahl.
The story of a fox and his family who use courage and cunning to outwit some local farmers.
A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L’Engle.
A fantasy adventure which crosses space and time.
The Chronicles of Narnia
by C.S. Lewis.
A series of seven books which tells of four siblings and their magical adventures in the land of Narnia.
Kensuke’s Kingdom
by Michael Morpurgo.
A story of adventure and unexpected friendship.
The Story of Tracy Beaker
by Jacqueline Wilson.
The tale of a resilient and spirited girl, an apt story for International Day of the Girl.
Dog Man
by Dav Pilkey.
Part dog, part man, will Dog Man be able to solve the crime and bring the criminals to justice?
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
by Jeff Kinney.
A humerous series of books about Greg Heffley, a middle-schooler who records the ups and downs of family, school and friendship.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
by Robert C. O’Brien.
The tale of a family of mice who are helped by some very clever rats.
How to Train Your Dragon
by Cressida Cowell.
The humerous tale of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, a Viking, who attempts to catch and train a dragon.
The Last Firefox
by Lee Newbery.
A funny and magical story about family, friendship and bravery!
The Battle of Bubble and Squeak
by Philippa Pearce.
An entertaining book about a family’s battle over their pet gerbils.
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
by A.F. Steadman.
A fantasy novel, full of adventure, set in a world of heroes and unicorns.
A Long Walk to Water
by Sue Park.
Based on a true story and set in Sudan, it tells of two children’s perseverance and resilience.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
by Judy Blume. The first story in her ‘Fudge’ series of books, as seen through the eyes of Fudge’s frustrated older brother, Peter.
Who Let the Gods Out?
by Maz Evans.
If you like Greek Gods, humour and adventure, you’ll love this one! The first in a series.
Nightfall in New York
by Katherine Woodfine.
The final adventure in the Taylor and Rose Series, finds the two secret agents on their way to New York to save their friend.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick.
Set in Paris, this is the story of 12 year old orphan, Hugo, and what happens when he meets an eccentric girl and her grandfather.
A Tale Dark and Grimm
by Adam Gidwitz.
Follow the characters, Hansel and Gretel, as they travel through a number of Grimm-inspired tales. Will they live happily ever after?
Roller Girl
by Victoria Jamieson. A graphic novel which explores friendship through the character of 12 year old Astrid and her love of roller derby.
Because of Winn Dixie
by Kate DiCamillo.
The story of Opal, the daughter of a preacher, and her friendship with a stray dog that she finds and names Winn Dixie.
The Attack of the Robot Librarian
by Sam Copeland & Jenny Pearson.
Spy-detectives, Tuchus and Topps, investigate the strange goings-on at Strangehaven Primary School.
The Boy at the Back of the Class
by Onjali Rauf.
Both funny and sad, this is a child’s perspective
of refugeeism, and how the power of kindness always wins through.
Anzu and the Realm of Darkness
by Mai K. Nguyen.
A graphic novel involving Japanese folklore, magic and the underworld.
Max in the House of Spies
by Adam Gidwitz.
Set in World War 2, this is the story of Max and his quest to return to his home country of Germany after a move to London.
Artemis Fowl
by Eoin Colfer.
An adventure story which follows the journey of Artemis into the secret world of fairies and the subsequent battle which follows.
Clockwork
by Philip Pullman.
A modern fairytale, involving Karl the apprentice clockmaker, where real life and fiction become intertwined.
The Neverending Story
by Michael Ende.
A magical tale which demonstrates the strength of imagination and human spirit when its main character, a young boy called Bastian, becomes the hero of the story he’s reading.
The Borrower’s
by Philip Pullman.
An adventure story about ‘The Borrowers’, a group of tiny people who live hidden in old houses, borrowing what they need to survive from humans.
The Lucky Bottle
by Chris Wormell.
The story of ten year old, Jack, and the adventures he has after becoming shipwrecked on a desolate island.
Where the River Takes Us
by Lesley Parr.
Set in World War 2, this is the story of Max and his quest to return to his home country of Germany after a move to London.
Dragon Mountain
by Katie Tsang & Kevin Tsang.
A great adventure story for those who love dragons and magic. This is the story of 12 year old Billy Chan and the unexpected events at his Chinese Summer Camp.
The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh
by Helen Rutter.
A positive and humorous read about 11 year old Billy, which explores the worries about being different.
The Last Bear
by Hannah Gold & Levi Pinfold.
A story which not only explores the friendship between a little girl called April and a polar bear she encounters, but also the bigger theme of global warming. A good one for any young environmentalists.
The Little Prince
by Antione de Saint Exupery.
The well-known classic story of a prince who tries to protect the planet on which he lives from the bad seeds.
Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind
by Misa Sugiura.
An adventure story which tells the story of half human, half goddess, Momo and her journey to save the world.
Goodnight Mister Tom
by Michelle Magorian.
A story set in England during World War II which tells of a young boy called Willie who is evacuated to the countryside to the home of an elderly man, Tom Oakley.
Mister Max – The Book of Lost Things
by Cynthia Voigt.
The first in a mystery trilogy about Max and his adventures to find his missing parents.
The Girl Who Saved Christmas
by Matt Haig.
With Christmas in jeopardy, Father Christmas searches for a girl called Emilia in his quest to save the day.
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja
by Marcus Emerson.
Chase Cooper, a sixth grade ninja, charts the perils of being a ninja in his diary as a warning to others.
A Boy Called Hope
by Lara Williamson.
A peek into the life of Dan Hope and the challenges he faces with family and friends.
The Wild Robot
by Peter Brown.
A story of survival for Roz the robot as they suddenly find themselves on a remote island.
Rooftoppers
by Katherine Rundell.
An adventure story set on the rooftops of Paris as Sophie searches for her mother.
Impossible Creaturess
by Katherine Rundell.
A fantasy story with magical creatures, a flying girl, and an ordinary boy.
Billionaire Boy
by David Walliams.
A humourous story about a very wealthy boy, Joe, and his quest for friendship.
A Boy Called Hope
by Lara Williamson.
A peek into the life of Dan Hope and the challenges he faces with family and friends.
The Wild Robot
by Peter Brown.
A story of survival for Roz the robot as they suddenly find themselves on a remote island.
Rooftoppers
by Katherine Rundell.
An adventure story set on the rooftops of Paris as Sophie searches for her mother.
Books for 11+ years old
The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins.
A fantasy novel set in the fictitious nation of Panem which focuses on a televised event called the Hunger Games. One for older teenagers.
Making Friends: Back to the Drawing Board
by Kristen Gudsnuk.
A story of growing up,
friendship and a magical dog. A good one for those transitioning to middle school.
White Bird: A Wonder Story
by R.J. Palacio.
A graphic novel on the theme of kindness and
courage during a time of war. An inspirational read.
The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The story of Bilbo Baggins, who accompanied by a wizard and
some dwarves, sets off on a journey through Middle-earth on an important quest.
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak.
The story of Liesel, a girl growing up in Germany during
World War Two, who finds solace in the books that she steals.
The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green.
A love story involving two teenagers with cancer, told through the eyes of the main character, Hazel.
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee.
This classic story tells of Scout and her father, Atticus, and their quest to understand and fight prejudice in their community.
Lord of the Flies
by William Golding.
A look at what happens when law and order break down, seen through the experiences of a group of boys stranded on a deserted island.
The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini.
Set in Afghanistan at a pivotal point in history, this story explores two boys’ friendship and betrayal.
The Namesake
by Jhumpa Lahiri.
This story follows the Ganguli family and their journey from India to America, as they strive to adapt to a new way of life.
The Perks of being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky.
This is the story of Charlie and his thoughts, experiences and sense of identity as he navigates life during his freshman year of high school.
The Namesake
by Jhumpa Lahiri.
This story follows the Ganguli family and their journey from India to America, as they strive to adapt to a new way of life.
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee.
This classic story tells of Scout and her father, Atticus, and their quest to understand and fight prejudice in their community.
Lord of the Flies
by William Golding.
A look at what happens when law and order break down, seen through the experiences of a group of boys stranded on a deserted island.
The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini.
Set in Afghanistan at a pivotal point in history, this story explores two boys’ friendship and betrayal.