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 and teens

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 calendar 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 also augment cross-curricular teaching and inspire your students’ learning and imagination.

Football books for children and teens

Football books for children and teens

Football books for children with titles by Michael Rosen, Tom Palmer, Mal Peet, Michaela Morgan, Priscilla Mante, Alex Wheatle, Dan Freedman, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Bali Rai and Michelle Robinson.
Chess books for children and teens

Chess books for children and teens

Chess themed books for children & teens, including titles by Daniel King, Tanitoluwa Adewumi, Murray Chandler, Jennifer Shahade, Graham Burgess, Sabrina Chevanne, Stefan Zweig and Vladimir Nabokov.
Summer themed topic books for children

Summer themed books for children

Summer themed books for children with books by Sam McBratney, Sam Usher, Julia Donaldson, Gabby Dawnay, Jeffrey Boakye and Yuval Zommer and more.

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!

Cruise Ship Kid: Thief At Sea! by Emma Swan

Cruise Ship Kid: Thief At Sea! by Emma Swan

Cruise Ship Kid: Thief At Sea! is a lively, enjoyable read, cleverly addressing friendship, fairness, and self-worth, teaching readers that we should never change ourselves for others.
Evie and Maryam's Family Tree by Janeen Hayat

Evie and Maryam’s Family Tree by Janeen Hayat

Evie and Maryam’s Family Tree seamlessly weaves relatable modern-day issues into the historical narratives of two seemingly unconnected families. It highlights that differences can be challenging, positive and rewarding.
Kill Creatures by Rory Power

Kill Creatures by Rory Power

Kill Creatures is a must-read for those who appreciate psychological depth, unreliable narrators, and stories that refuse to provide easy moral answers. It’s is an essential addition to your reading list.
Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olsen

Den of Liars by Jessica S. Olsen

Den of Liars offers a reading experience that will leave you questioning everything and everyone until the very last page – and even then, the reader may not get the resolution they are seeking.
Snarky Sharky by Bethan Clarke, illustrated by Nicholas Ilie

Snarky Sharky by Bethan Clarke, illustrated by Nicholas Ilie

Snarky Sharky is an absolute winner as a bedtime story or EYFS read-aloud. It’s a visually engaging and entertaining choice for younger children, offering a fun way to explore important life lessons.
Traumaland by Josh Silver

Traumaland by Josh Silver

Traumaland is a dark psychological thriller that blends horror culture references with a coming-of-age story, set in a modern, dystopian future. It will appeal to fans of The Housemaid and Netflix’s Black Mirror.
A Match Made in Hell by Charlotte Ingham

A Match Made in Hell by Charlotte Ingham

A Match Made in Hell is a slow-burn romantasy that combines demon-slaying with lusting after the bad boy. It will appeal to fans of Netflix’s Lucifer and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
The Blockbusters by Frank Cottrell-Boyce

The Blockbusters! by Frank Cottrell-Boyce

The Blockbusters! is a heart-warming adventure. While Rafa’s new school classmates experience some of the deprivation suffered by school-aged children in this country every day, the ending, which has a major curveball, is satisfyingly right.
I Am Strong Just Being Me by Laura Dockrill, illustrated by Kip Alizadeh

I Am Strong Just Being Me by Laura Dockrill, illustrated by Kip Alizadeh

I Am Strong Just Being Me is a must-have book for social and emotional development for children aged 3 and up. It encourages life skills about dealing with failure, asking for help, courage and forgiveness.
I'm Going to Make a Friend by Darren Chetty, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

I’m Going to Make a Friend by Darren Chetty, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

I’m Going To Make A Friend is a great resource aimed at children aged 3 and over, for home use or child settings to promote social skills. It’s not just for a new child but to inspire children to make a new child feel welcome.
The Tractor Has a Wobbly Wheel by Tim Saunders, illustrated by Carla Martell

The Tractor Has a Wobbly Wheel by Tim Saunders, illustrated by Carla Martell

The Tractor Has a Wobbly Wheel is a fun, rhyming and witty story for 3-6 year olds. The quirky, colourful illustrations carry the story along and encourage a few giggles with eye-popping animal characters and funky, stylish little hats.
Little Rhino Lost by Candy Gourlay, illustrated by Jamie Bauza

Little Rhino Lost by Candy Gourlay, illustrated by Jamie Bauza

Little Rhino Lost is a warm story of kindness about being lost and finding the way home, suitable for ages 3 and up. It’s ideal for children who are learning about kindness, community, resilience, and the comfort of nature in unfamiliar situations.

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.

Carnegies 2025 Shortlisted Books

Carnegies 2025 Shortlisted Books

Shortlists for the Carnegie Medal 2025 and Kate Greenaway award 2025 – recommended for children and young adults in primary and secondary schools.
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!
Key Stage 2 SATs revision books

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.

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!

Summer 2025 new children's books

Latest season preview

Published on 

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Summer 2025

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2025. These reading recommendations include picture books, poetry, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Investing in Your School Library Can Boost Your School Inspection Grade

Latest podcast episode

Published on 

Investing in Your School Library Can Boost Your School Inspection Grade | Series 1, Episode 30

Season 1, Episode 30 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for May 2025 and Investing in Your School Library Can Boost Your School Inspection Grade.
May 2025 children's book club picks

Latest book club list

Published on 

May 2025 book club picks

May 2025’s book club recommendations feature titles by Sally Gardner, Aoife Dooley, Frann Preston-Gannon, Lizzie Huxley-Jones, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Ravena Guron, Tamsin Winter, and Amie Jordan.

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.

Graphic novels for children aged 7-11 in KS2.

Latest age group list

Updated on 

Graphic novels for KS2 children aged 7-11

Our recommended graphic novels for children aged 7-11 to appeal to reluctant and able readers alike. This list includes works by Ben Clanton, Gary Northfield, Shannon Watters, Deborah Ellis, Jeanne DuPrau and Alastair Humphreys.
Investing in Your School Library Can Boost Your School Inspection Grade

Latest resource

Updated on 

Libraries, Reading Culture and Outstanding School Inspection Outcomes

By aligning library provision and reading initiatives with British values, SMSC, equality, and careers education, schools set themselves up to not only impress inspectors but, more importantly, to enrich the lives of their pupils.
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.


School Reading List logo

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

Photo of author
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