Good reads:
This is not an exhaustive list of reads, but rather a list of popular books we think children will enjoy. We have put in short comments on each one, along with links to Amazon to make it easier for you to locate the books. The list is split by age group into poetry, stories and book series.
Disclaimer: The books, the comments about them and the subject matter level are our opinions only. The list is a small sample of books available for younger readers.
POETRY – KS1 AND LOWER KS2
For 5 to 9-year-old children:
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Carol Ann Duffy |
A Laureate’s Choice: 101 Poems for Children |
It contains classic poems as The Owl and the Pussycat by Lear and Carroll’s Jabberwocky and Balloons by Plath. Poems are chosen by Carol Ann Duffy. |
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Michael Rosen (illustrated by Blake) |
Quick, Let’s get out of here |
All about family life from the ever-popular Michael Rosen. |
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Allan Ahlberg |
Please Mrs. Butler |
Poetry all about school that every child will relate to. Still one of my favourites. |
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Roger Stevens |
Off By Heart: Poems to Learn & Remember |
Brilliant to recite out loud and memorise. |
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Michael Harrison |
The Oxford Book of Story Poems |
A real mixture of poems, some famous and some new |
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Ted Hughes |
Meet my folks |
One for adults too. Hughes is brilliant and imaginative. |
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Roald Dahl |
Revolting Rhymes |
As always, beautifully written with unexpected twists and an element of mischief. Just as good for the older children who enjoy irony. As always brilliantly illustrated by Blake. |
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Hilaire Belloc |
Cautionary Tales |
Brilliant to recite out loud and memorise. |
MULTICULTURAL POETRY FOR ALL AGES.
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Sujata Bhatt |
Point No Point- selected poems |
Bhatt’s first book of award-winning poems. Used in IGCSE 2014 exam. |
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Grace Nichols |
Poetry Jump up- An Anthology of Black Poetry |
Includes poems by Angelou, Mandela, and Zephaniah, this is an exciting anthology, compiled by one of today’s top black British writers |
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Benjamin Zephaniah |
Funky Chickens |
The poems are chosen especially as they are good to perform with notes and ideas about performing them. |
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Maya Angelou |
Poems of Maya Angelou |
A series of poems with Angelou’s humour and thought-provoking comments on society. |
TRADITIONAL STORIES
TRADITIONAL FAVOURITES FOR YOUNGER READERS
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Ted Hughes |
The Iron Man |
Often called a modern fairy tale, this is a story about a metal man creating havoc in the countryside and the subsequent friendship with a little boy. |
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Oscar Wilde |
The Selfish Giant |
One story in the collection called The Happy Prince and other Tales, the story is about a giant who is possessive about his garden. |
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F Simon /T Ross |
Horrid Henry |
One story in the collection called The Happy Prince and other Tales, the story is about a giant who is possessive about his garden. |
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Jill Murphy |
The Worst Witch |
One story in the collection called The Happy Prince and Other Tales, the story is about a giant who is possessive about his garden. |
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Anne Fine |
The Killer Cat |
Children’s Laureate 2001-2003, her books are brightly coloured and fun to read. There is a whole host of books suitable for almost every type of reader. |
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| Anne Fine | Flour babies | Children’s Laureate 2001-2003, her books are brightly coloured and fun to read. There is a whole host of books suitable for almost every type of reader. | Buy from Amazon |
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Anonymous |
Aesop’s Fable |
There are several versions to choose from. My favourite is this one as it is so beautifully illustrated and is ideal for the younger reader. |
Books for Year 1
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Nick Butterworth |
The Whisperer |
The whisperer, a rat, lives in the middle of two gangs of cats in a scrapyard. The cats fight, eat and sleep and that’s just how he likes it. |
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Eric Carle |
The Bad-Tempered Ladybird |
From the author who is better known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this book is about a ladybird who does not like to share and learns the importance of friends. |
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Michael Coleman |
Ridiculous |
Very funny story about a tortoise discovering winter. |
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Julia Donaldson |
The Gruffalo’s Child |
A sequel to The Gruffalo ( a firm favourite from Nursery upwards) is a story about a mouse who takes a walk in the woods. |
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Claire Freedman |
Aliens Love Underpants |
A very funny and colourful book about strange underpants and even stranger aliens. Great read out loud book |
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Claire Freedman |
Aliens Love Dinopants |
A continuation of the underpants series, with even more underpants, this time in the jungle |
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Neil Gaiman |
Cinnamon |
The story of a blind princess who cannot talk and the tiger who comes to help. |
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Michelle Robinson and Kate Hindley |
How to Wash a Wooly Mammoth |
A fun way to learn about instructions through the bathtime adventures of a wooly mammoth |
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Amazing Grace |
Mary Hoffman |
Grace loves stories- told in any way and from any source. She longs to play Peter Pan in her school play and is told Peter was a boy and not black, but her mum and nan say she can be anything she wants to be |
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Shirley Hughes |
The Trouble with Jack |
The story of a sibling who ruins his older sister’s 5th birthday party. A follow on from the Alfie stories. |
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Pat Hutchins |
Don’t Forget the Bacon |
A good book for predictable patterns. A great read out loud and join in book |
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Dick King-Smith |
The Hedgehog |
Max, the hedgehog lives on the wrong side of the road from the juicy snails, slugs and worms. A great book for introducing new vocabulary for younger children. |
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Dr Seuss |
A Classic Treasury |
A set of 5 ever-popular books. A great set of books for the not so confident or reluctant reader. |
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David Walliams |
The Slightly Annoying Elephant |
What’s big, blue and turns up uninvited? A slightly annoying elephant! |
