School Reading List curates children's and YA booklists. We recommend new and classic children's books, young adult books and teen books to teachers, parents, librarians, home educators and schools in the UK and worldwide. Our highly qualified and experienced team of children's literature experts has been creating reading lists and online resources since 2011.

Our children’s books and recommended reading lists

Our core children’s and teen book lists

Welcome to the School Reading List, your go-to resource for curated and comprehensive children’s book lists and ready-made reading spines. Whether you’re a dedicated teacher, a passionate home educator, an involved parent, an inspirational librarian, or a forward-thinking school seeking quality reading recommendations, our website is designed to help you promote reading for pleasure culture and encourage young people to read.

Book lists for children in primary schools.

Books for 0-11-year-olds

Recommended reading books for children aged 3-11 in UK primary schools. Our lists are curated and updated by qualified teachers and librarians.

Book lists for young adults and teens in secondary school.

Books for 11-18-year-olds

Books for young adults and teens aged 11-18 with reading lists for years 7-9, years 10-11 & years 12-13 in secondary school. Titles are selected by experienced teachers.

New children's and YA book reviews

New book reviews

Children’s, teen and YA book reviews, all written by our panel of experienced teachers, home educators and librarians.

Magazines for children

Magazines for children

Our recommended newspapers and magazines for children aged 3-6, 7-12 & 13+, and subject teachers.

Topic books and themed reading list books for kids

Genres & nonfiction

Genre lists, themed lists, cross-curricular teaching topic book lists and nonfiction lists for children and teens.

School Reading List children's and YA books of the month

Books of the month

Each month we select a picture book, a chapter book and nonfiction children’s and YA books of the month.

Literacy and reading competitions for children and teens.

Competitions

Browse our regularly updated month-by-month calendared lists of competitions covering reading, writing, and oracy.

Children's booklists with favourites chosen by children

Chosen by children

Browse favourite children’s books chosen by children. Find out which titles proved to be popular in each age group.

Reading and literacy resources for teachers and librarians.

Teaching resources

Reading for pleasure, literacy, library and teaching resources, including our free-to-download summer reading challenge.

Home learning resources, activities and courses for children and teens.

Home learning ideas

Online learning courses, activities, lessons, interactive games, and video teaching for primary and secondary-aged students.

Inset and training courses for teachers, with a focus on literacy and reading for pleasure

Training for teachers

Literacy, reading and English courses, training and inset ideas for teachers, librarians and teaching assistants.


Our latest children’s and YA book lists

At the School Reading List, we understand the importance of fostering a lifelong appreciation for literature in young minds. Our carefully curated children’s book lists cater to a diverse audience, encompassing a wide range of genres, themes, and reading levels. We aim to provide an extensive collection of kids’ books that not only entertain but augment cross-curricular teaching and inspire your students’ learning and imagination.

Children's books about nuclear war.

Nuclear war and survival books for children and teens

Nuclear war and survival books for children and teens with titles by David McKee, Emma Carroll, David Almond, Kerry Drewery, Robert Swindells, Todd Strasser, Judith Loske, Raymond Briggs, Nevil Shute and Annie Jacobsen.
Codes, puzzles, secrets and spies books for children

Codes, puzzles, secrets and spies

Codes, puzzles, secrets and spies books for children with titles by Martin Handford, Soledad Romero, Ben Sanders, Clotilde Perrin, Gareth Moore, Maz Evans, Paul Westmoreland, Paige Towler, Christopher Edge, Sam Fern and more.
World War 1 books for children

World War 1 books for children and teens

Children’s and teen books about World War 1 with titles by Terry Deary, Hilary Robinson and Martin Impey, Michaela Morgan, Berlie Doherty, Dominic Sandbrook, John Boyne, Theresa Breslin, Tom Palmer, Michael Morpurgo and Hilary McKay.

Our latest children’s and YA book reviews

Read our reviews of fiction and non-fiction children’s, teen, and young adult books. Expertly analysed by experienced teachers, librarians, and children’s authors, our reviews provide valuable insights to help you buy new titles for your children, classroom or school library. Every new book opens a new chapter of discovery!

We Can! Make a Difference by Alexandra Strick and Steve Antony

We Can! Make a Difference by Alexandra Strick and Steve Antony

We Can! Make a Difference is both for and by children. The actions depicted in the book are practical and achievable – focusing on equal rights, the environment, and respect for others. The literacy message is also highly relevant.
Nature Tales: An Anthology of Seasonal Stories from Around the World by Dawn Casey

Nature Tales: An Anthology of Seasonal Stories from Around the World by Dawn Casey

Nature Tales: An Anthology of Seasonal Stories from Around the World is a beautifully presented collection of fables that will appeal to young nature lovers. This is a truly global collection, including tales from Mexico, Finland & Ukraine.
Phantom Hearts by Rosie Talbot and Sarah Maxwell

Phantom Hearts by Rosie Talbot and Sarah Maxwell

Phantom Hearts is a gripping graphic novel of love and loss. The story explores themes of found family, being true to yourself, and fighting for the truth amidst rumours and social media hype.
Ethel the Penguin by Ursula Dubosarsky and Christopher Nielsen

Ethel the Penguin by Ursula Dubosarsky and Christopher Nielsen

Ethel the Penguin has a familiar, repetitive, rhythmic feel that young children aged 3–6 will enjoy. Who wouldn’t want a wild, fun penguin living next door in an iceberg semi-detached?
A Beginner's Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet by Ali Rutstein and Tommy Doyle

A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet by Ali Rutstein and Tommy Doyle

A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet includes snippets of clever, playful scenarios, such as a child playing hide and seek with a tiger—after all, most of us would hide from a tiger!
All Aboard the Bedtime Bus by Karl Newson and Tim Budgen

All Aboard the Bedtime Bus by Karl Newson and Tim Budgen

All Aboard The Bedtime Bus is an ideal read for preschoolers before nap time or bedtime, helping their eyes grow droopy and guiding them into a tranquil slumber.
Land of the Last Wildcat by Lui Sit

Land of the Last Wildcat by Lui Sit

Land of the Last Wildcat weaves an environmental message through an adventure story that also covers challenging subjects such as the loss of a parent, workplace bullying, and the struggles associated with single parenthood.
Shiver Point: Under A Howling Moon by Gabriel Dylan

Shiver Point: Under A Howling Moon by Gabriel Dylan

Shiver Point: Under A Howling Moon is part of a series worth investing in – not just for its chilly theme, but also its writing. Dylan’s horroresque analogies are great starting points for scary storytelling activities.
Your Time is Up by Sarah Naughton

Your Time is Up by Sarah Naughton

Your Time is Up is a great story to recommend to GCSE and above pupils who love action-filled murder mysteries with the added depth of complicated teenage relationships. Will Zaina ever finish her final Maths exam?
Jakub's Otter by Coral Rumble

Jakub’s Otter by Coral Rumble

Jakub’s Otter is a lovely book that tells an all-too-common, sad story in a way that is uplifting rather than depressing or preachy. Jakub, a young carer, has the sole responsibility of looking after his mum.
The Skeleton in the Cupboard: and other stories by Lilija Berzinska

The Skeleton in the Cupboard: and other stories by Lilija Berzinska

The Skeleton in the Cupboard: and other stories create a pleasant and positive atmosphere where nature and creativity flourish. It is a beautifully written, dreamlike storybook that I would recommend for Key Stage 2 children.
Nina Peanut: Mega Mystery Solver by Sarah Bowie

Nina Peanut: Mega Mystery Solver by Sarah Bowie

Nina Peanut: Mega Mystery Solver is an entertaining and enjoyable read for older children. It’s perfect for fans of Wimpy Kid and Lottie Brooks. This comic-style book is hilarious, with bright, humorous illustrations that make it hugely engaging.

Trending children’s book lists

Whether it’s the latest page-turners inspired by current events, seasonally-themed picks, or recommendations tied to festivals and news items, our curated lists keep you in the know. Browse the hottest reading trends in children’s and YA literature.

Autumn topic books for children

Autumn topic books for children

Autumn books for children in EYFS, KS1, and KS2 suitable for cross-curricular topics. Including titles by Sam Usher, Lois Ehlert, Ruth Symons, Hazel Maskell, Dianna Aston, Jessica Courtney-Tickle, and Emily Gravett.
Take It As Read book recommendation service from School Reading List

Take It As Read

Take It As Read is School Reading List’s free children’s and teen book recommendation service for teachers, parents/guardians and librarians in the UK. Let us know what you are looking for and we’ll get back to you – Take It As Read!
Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week – our reading suggestions

Banned books week suggestions with middle-grade fiction, teen novels, nonfiction and picture books by writers including Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, Jason Reynolds, Raina Telgemeier, David Levithan and Sherman Alexie.

Brand new this school term

Our curated picks for autumn, spring, and summer terms showcase the best in children’s and young adult literature. Tune into our monthly podcast episodes for insights into new releases, classics to revisit, and current educational trends. Plus, explore our handpicked book club lists, perfect for sparking discussions in primary and secondary school book clubs. Every month is an adventure in reading!

Autumn 2024 new children's books

Latest season preview

Published on 

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Autumn 2024

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2024. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels, poetry and non-fiction.
What are we reading for? Positive and negative influences on reading culture in schools.

Latest podcast episode

Published on 

What Are We Reading For? | Series 1, Episode 25

Season 1, Episode 25 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for November 2024 and What Are We Reading For? – A spectrum of reading cultures in schools.
November 2024 book club picks

Latest book club list

Published on 

November 2024 book club picks

November 2024’s set of book club recommendations features titles by Oliver Jeffers, Jane Chapman, Sally Gardner, Nuria Gómez Benet, Coral Rumble, Hannah Peck, A.F Steadman, Marta Palazzesi, Frances Hardinge & Rosie Talbot.

Our latest resources

Find your child’s next favourite book in regularly updated age group reading lists! Carefully selected by experienced teachers and librarians, we hope you will discover the perfect books for every stage of your child’s development. Our free resources are designed to enhance learning and literacy and offer time-saving tips. Our latest revision resource book lists cover exams from 11+ through to GCSE. We believe in the transformative magic that happens when children connect with the right books.

Books for Year 1

Latest age group list

Updated on 

Year 1 reading list for children aged 5-6

Books for Year 1 – here’s our selection to challenge and interest children aged 5-6 in UK primary schools. Handpicked recommendations from teachers and librarians, with titles by Michael Rosen, Julia Donaldson, Jon Klassen, Judith Kerr, Satoshi Kitamura, and more.
Fabular deck for kids

Latest resource

Updated on 

Fabula Deck for Kids

Fabula Deck for Kids offers children a fresh way to develop their imagination and storytelling skills. Developed by the independent publisher Sefirot, Fabula Deck for Kids uses a deck of 34 interactive cards aimed at children aged six and above.
Key Stage 2 SATs revision books

Latest revision resource

Updated on 

KS2 SATs revision books

KS2 SATs revision books for children of all abilities in Year 6. Our recommendations cover Maths, English, SPaG & confidence building and include resources by Andrew Jennings, Matthew Syed, CGP, Igloo Books, Collins Education, Pearson and STP Books.


How to use our recommended book lists

Our lists of books for kids and teens are carefully curated to make it easier for teachers, parents, and schools to find high-quality, engaging and interesting books to instil a reading-for-pleasure culture in the classroom and encourage primary and secondary-aged pupils to read at home. Share the joy as your children experience Michael Rosen, Julia Donaldson, Eric Carle, Malorie Blackman, Liz Pichon, Cressida Cowell, and many more, for the first time.

Empower your students with a thought-provoking, diverse and inclusive selection of children’s books that foster imagination, empathy and inclusion. Our expertly curated booklists cover a range of topics, from history and geography to STEM and personal development, aligning with primary and secondary curriculum subjects. Handpicked for the classroom by experienced educators and librarians, our lists support pupils’ learning and cater to various age groups, helping teachers and parents to recommend great books to all young readers.

Dive into our new book reviews, where our team of reviewers spotlight exciting children’s books each month, spanning picture books, poetry, chapter books, YA novels, and non-fiction. Stay on top of the literary scene with our trending children’s book lists, featuring curated selections influenced by current events, festivals, and themed weeks.

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or librarian, we hope you will find the School Reading List a useful resource to help instil reading for pleasure in your school. Explore our latest resources, age-specific reading lists, genre and topic-based booklists and season previews to build a cracking collection of books to spark imagination and curiosity.


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School Reading List –Our Mission

Our mission is to recommend great children’s and teen books, covering both new titles and classics in age group, genre and nonfiction lists. In addition to our lists of books for kids and teens, we also provide free resources for schools, teachers, authors and librarians and round-ups of online courses for home learning.

What we do

We recommend fiction and nonfiction children’s books and YA books to teachers, UK curriculum primary and secondary schools, parents, librarians, home educators and tutors of children aged 3-18.

Our values

We are committed to ensuring our content is accurate and fair and our policies are transparent. See our policies on corrections, copyright, diversity, ethics, and publishing principles.

Get in touch

Use our contact form, email us, message us on social media, check FAQs, or call us – all the details of these and more methods to get in touch with us can be found on our contact page

Editor: Tom Tolkien

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Tom Tolkien is a highly qualified (BA Hons, PGCE, QTS) children's literature expert and teacher with over 25 years of experience. He has led inset courses, developed curriculum materials, spoken at conferences, advised on longlisting for several international children's literature literature awards and written for educational publishers including contributing to a BETT award-nominated app. Social profiles: X | Linkedin