Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Explore this curated collection of history books for children. Covering topics including the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Victorians, Mayan civilization, Ancient Greece, Romans, World War 2, British Black History, Remembrance and War, and pirates, these lists are tailored for KS2, KS3 and KS4. Browse books by Tony Bradman, Rosemary Sutcliff, Terry Deary, Michael Morpurgo, and more. From Anglo-Saxons, featuring Robert Fowke and Anita Ganeri to World War 2, these resources offer a diverse blend of fiction and nonfiction.
Gunpowder Plot and Bonfire Night books for children and teens with titles by Philip Pullman, Terry Deary, Alan Moore, Antonia Fraser, Michael Robotham, Jill Tomlinson, Helen Peters, Cath Howe, Nadine Brandes, and Olly Smith.
20 pirate books for children interested in life on the high seas and primary schools looking for pirate books for cross curricular topics. Authors include James Davies, Celia Rees, Neil Gaiman, Lindsay Eagar, Derek Keilty, Cornelia Funke, and Philip Ardagh.
Ancient Greece children’s books for KS2 with titles by Sue and Steve Weatherill, Chae Strathie, James Davies, Dominic Sandbrook, Maz Evans, Saviour Pirotta, Caroline Lawrence, Marcia Williams and more.
The Great Fire of London books with titles by Gillian Clements, Nick Hunter, Anna Fargher, Pippa Goodhart, Megan Rix, Lindsay Galvin, Catherine Randall and Tom & Tony Bradman.
British Black history books for children and teens including titles by Floella Benjamin, David Olusoga, Atinuke, Benjamin Zephaniah, Alison Hammond, Jeffrey Boakye, Catherine Johnson, Michaela Morgan, David Lammy and Troy Deeney.
Ancient Egyptian topic books for Key Stage 2, including titles by David Long, Emma Carroll, Emily Bone, David Weitzman, Marcia Williams, Joe Todd-Stanton, Laura Wood and Terry Deary.
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, Theresa Breslin, Tom Palmer, Michael Morpurgo and Hilary McKay.
Slave trade books for children and teens with titles by Kwame Alexander, Catherine Johnson, Alex Wheatle, Esi Edugyan, Yaa Gyasi, Andrea Levy, Zora Neale Hurston, Mary Prince, James Walvin, and Kereen Getten.
Romans themed books for children aged 7-11 in KS2. This list includes nonfiction books and stories by Tony Bradman, Christina Balit, Andy Stanton, Theresa Breslin, Gary Northfield, and Marcia Williams.
Anglo-Saxon topic books for children aged 7-11 in KS2. This list includes nonfiction books and stories by Tony Bradman, Rosemary Sutcliff, Terry Deary, Karen Wallace, Robert Fowke and Anita Ganeri.
Remembrance and war topic books for children in KS1 and KS2 suitable for literacy, research, and cross-curricular topics. Including titles by Michael Rosen, Lois Lowry, Tom Palmer, Kate Saunders, Martin Impey, Bali Rai, and Judith Loske.
Vikings topic books for children aged 7-11 in KS2. This list includes nonfiction books and stories by Tony Bradman, Jane Chisholm, Michael Morpurgo, Cressida Cowell, Terry Deary, and Neil Gaiman.
Here’s our selection of great nonfiction books and topic books for children about castles. These reading suggestions contain a range of books suitable for primary aged children aged 5-11 in KS1 and KS2.
Dinosaurs topic books for EYFS, KS1 & KS2. With books by authors including Dean Lomax, Susan Hayes, Chae Strathie, Hollie Hughes, Sophy Henn, Julia Donaldson, Matthew Reinhart and Deiter Braun.
Books about the Middle Ages for children and teens with titles by Terry Deary, Michael Morpurgo, Linda Sue Park, Geoffrey Chaucer, Sally Nicholls, Philippa Gregory, Umberto Eco, Tariq Ali, Janina Ramirez, and Lauren Groff.
Exploration topic books for KS2, including fiction and nonfiction novels, picture books and real life stories by writers including Sally Walker, William Grill, Libby Jackson, Nellie Huang, Catherine Johnson, Katherine Rundell, Alexandra Stewart and Joe Todd-Stanton.
Children’s and teen books about World War 2 with fiction, nonfiction, true stories, picture books, graphic novels, poetry and diaries, with titles by Michael Rosen, Bali Rai, Tom Palmer, Sufiya Ahmed, Michael Morpurgo, Ruta Sepetys and Anne Frank.
Victorians topic books for children with titles by Mick Manning, E.L Norry, Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Rosen, Catherine Bruton, Philip Pullman, Berlie Doherty, Terry Deary, Lindsay Galvin and Kieran Larwood.
Maya civilisation books for children including fiction and nonfiction titles by Maz Evans, Katherine Rundell, Alex Scarrow, Alastair Humphreys, Clare Hibbert, Davide Domenici, Jerome Martin and Rupert Matthews.
Stone Age, Bronze Age & Iron Age themed children’s books including titles by Bridget Marzo, Raymond Briggs, Kathleen Fidler, Tom Palmer, Marcia Williams, Satoshi Kitamura, Sophie Kirtley, Terry Deary, Ben Lerwill & more.
Tudor and Stuart books for children including titles by Patrice Lawrence, Terry Deary, Gillian Clements, Michael Rosen, Lindsay Galvin, Philip Ardagh, Lucy Worsley, Michael Morpurgo, Ally Sherrick and Tony Bradman.
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