Books for KS1 – our reading lists and free resources

Books for KS1 – our recommendations

KS1 books include picture books, early readers, short chapter books, poetry and accessible non-fiction for children aged around five to seven. Lively stories, inviting illustrations and clear language help young readers build confidence, vocabulary, comprehension and fluency. Just as importantly, the best books spark curiosity, stretch the imagination and help children understand other people, while making reading feel like a pleasure rather than a learning chore. This list features books by Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, Shirley Hughes, Dick King-Smith, Atinuke, Joseph Coelho, Nadia Shireen, Chitra Soundar, Vashti Harrison, and Yuval Zommer.

Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf by Craig Barr-Green and Francis Martin

Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf by Craig Barr-Green, with illustrations by Francis Martin, retells Little Red Riding Hood through the eyes of Gina, an autistic girl. Gina challenges the traditional narrative by identifying and fixing three mistakes in the story, ultimately saving the wolf. The book uses emoji language to reflect Gina’s unique perspective, making it ideal for promoting discussions on neurodiversity, logical thinking, and the importance of questioning conventional tales. Suitable for children aged 3-6, it will encourage EYFS and KS1 readers to become the heroes of their own stories. Highly recommended.

The Search for Carmella by Chloe Savage

Dr Rose, a marine biologist, embarks on a spectacular mission to find Carmella, a legendary sea creature. With her team, she explores the deep ocean in a submersible, encountering extraordinary marine life in a nearly pitch-black world. This story combines themes of scientific curiosity and exploration with incredible illustrations. It’s perfect for primary-aged readers interested in marine biology and the mysteries of the deep ocean. Highly recommended.

Farah Loves Mangos by Sarthak Sinha

Every summer, Farah looks forward to picking ripe mangoes from Grandpa’s tree, but this year the branches are bare. Her determined attempts to make the fruit appear lead to a gentler discovery: the tree is worth loving even when it gives something unexpected. Perfect for 3-7 year olds, this warm picture book invites talk about patience, disappointment and noticing the natural world.

Nikhil and Jay Save the Day by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Soofiya

A birthday, a family visit, a dosa-filled Pancake Day and a local library campaign give brothers Nikhil and Jay four lively, everyday adventures. A welcoming first chapter book for 5+ readers, it celebrates a British Asian family with gentle humour, short chapters and Soofiya’s friendly illustrations.

Too Small Tolu by Atinuke, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu

Little Tola may be the smallest in her Lagos family, but she is observant, determined and stronger than people expect. Across three linked stories, she lives with clever Moji, fast Dapo and bossy Grandmummy, and proves herself on a market trip with a heavy basket of food. A lovely choice for shared reading with KS1 children moving into illustrated chapter books.

Billy and the Beast by Nadia Shireen

When a super nasty beast threatens to goggle up her forest friends, fierce and ingenious heroine Billy resolves to try and save them. But will she be able to defeat the monster and save the fluffy bunny rabbits from a bubbling stew? With clever and catchy text and bold illustrations, this is a memorable scary, but not too scary, bedtime read. KS1 teachers will also find the language useful to model story starters.

The Detective Dog by Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie

Nell has a remarkable nose for solving mysteries, so when Peter’s class discovers that all the school books have vanished, she is soon on the scent. Julia Donaldson’s rhyming text and Sara Ogilvie’s energetic illustrations make this a cheerful library mystery for KS1 children, with plenty to enjoy in a read-aloud.

The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson

Plop is a baby barn owl with one very awkward problem: he is afraid of the dark. Sent out to learn more about night-time, he meets fireworks, a black cat, Christmas stories and other surprising reasons to look again. For 4-7 year olds, this magical classic offers reassurance, humour and a comforting way into talking about fears.

The Hodgeheg by Dick King-Smith

Max the hedgehog lives on the wrong side of the road from the park, where the lily pond and tasty slugs are waiting. After a bump on the head muddles his words, he still refuses to give up on finding a safe way across. A funny animal story for 5-8 year olds, it works well for early independent reading or class sharing.

Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival

Making pictures, models and little worlds comes easily to Meesha, but making friends feels much harder. At a busy party, her creativity gives her a way to connect with another child and begin to navigate social situations. Part of the Big Bright Feelings series, this thoughtful picture book for KS1 children is useful for conversations about confidence, difference and belonging.

Poems Aloud by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett

Tongue twisters, whispering poems, projection poems and class performance pieces all show children that poetry is meant to leave the page. Perfect for 5-10 year olds, this bright anthology gives practical, playful ways to read aloud, making it especially useful for building expression, fluency and spoken confidence.

Stars with Flaming Tails by Valerie Bloom, illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max

Funny, thoughtful and wonder-filled poems sit side by side in this accessible collection from Valerie Bloom, with lively illustrations by Ken Wilson-Max. For more advanced KS1 readers, the vibrant mix of playful language, questions and vivid images makes it a strong classroom choice for children beginning to see how many different things poetry can do.

Out and About by Shirley Hughes

Small outdoor moments, changing weather and the pleasures of looking closely are gathered into this first collection of poems by Shirley Hughes. With familiar scenes and full-page illustrations, it is ideal for young children who enjoy noticing puddles, seasons, family walks and the everyday details of the world beyond the front door.

Little Lemur Laughing by Joshua Seigal

Spaghetti-eating dogs, conkers, stickers and a stomping brontosaurus all find their way into this lively poetry collection. Joshua Seigal’s child’s-eye humour and Chris Piascik’s doodle-style illustrations make it a giggly, approachable choice for KS1 readers, with enough silly sound-play to tempt reluctant readers.

A Great Big Cuddle by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Chris Riddell

Sound, rhythm and laughter tumble through this large-format poetry collection for the very young. Michael Rosen’s playful poems, paired with Chris Riddell’s expressive illustrations, are made for joining in, acting out and sharing aloud. A joyful choice for younger readers at home, in KS1 settings or in early primary classrooms.

Meet the Microbes! by Emily Grossman

Tiny living things that can only be seen through a microscope become surprisingly friendly in this colourful science picture book. Dr Emily Grossman explains that microbes live everywhere, including inside our bodies, in the sea and even in space, and that many help keep us and the planet healthy. A reassuring introduction to biology for 5+ year olds readers in KS1.

A Planet Full of Plastic by Neal Layton

Plastic is useful, but when it ends up in the wrong places it can harm animals, people and the planet. Neal Layton explains where plastic comes from, why it does not biodegrade and how children can help through choices such as recycling and beach cleans. It’s clear, energetic non-fiction for 5-7 year olds.

The Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer

Garden and wild bugs fill this oversized guide to the small creatures living around us. Yuval Zommer’s detailed illustrations and accessible facts encourage children to look closely and become bug-spotters themselves. A visually rich non-fiction pick for 4-6 year olds with a taste for creepy-crawlies.

Little Leaders by Vashti Harrison

Forty short illustrated biographies introduce Black women who changed history, from Mary Seacole and Katherine Johnson to Diane Abbott and Shirley Bassey. For KS1 readers, Vashti Harrison’s book offers concise, accessible snapshots of courage, creativity, science, politics and the arts.

RSPB First Book of Birds by Anita Ganeri and David Chandler

Thirty-five British birds are introduced through full-page illustrations and clear identification notes, making this a friendly first spotter’s guide. A useful choice for 5-7 year olds in KS1, it encourages children to look out of the window, visit the garden or head outdoors and notice the wildlife living around them.

Year 1 Book Shelf Poster

This poster recommends 40 books for year one, and it will look great in your classroom or library space.

Year 1 Reading List PDF

This reading challenge card PDF version of our Year 1 Reading List is free to download. For more downloadables, see our free reading resources page.

Year 2 Book Shelf Poster

This poster recommends 40 books, and it will look great in your classroom or library space.

Year 2 Reading List PDF

This reading challenge card PDF version of our Year 2 reading list is free to download. For more downloadables, see our free reading resources page.

Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books in this KS1 book list, as well as class sets of any of these books and many more, from Bookshop.org UK. Or buy the 20 most popular titles from this list from Amazon – ideal for gifts or your classroom library.

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KS1 book resources for teachers

• The National Literacy Trust provides free KS1 literacy resources, lesson plans, reading activities, writing prompts and materials linked to school awareness days and national campaigns.
• Oak National Academy features sequenced Year 1 and Year 2 English units based on picture books, poetry, traditional tales and non-fiction. Resources include lesson slides, worksheets, quizzes and teacher guidance.
• The BookTrust Primary School Hub offers book recommendations, classroom ideas, author workshops and practical guidance for developing a lively and inclusive reading culture.
• The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education provides expert booklists, picture-book teaching plans, classroom sequences and guidance for building reading and writing around high-quality children’s literature.
• CLPE’s primary poetry collection includes poems for children, teaching resources, poet interviews and videos of performances that can be used to introduce, discuss and perform poetry in KS1.
• The British Library’s Discovering Children’s Books resources contain book recommendations and creative activities developed with authors and illustrators, covering reading for pleasure, story writing, drafting, illustration and book-making.
• Oxford Owl offers free primary teaching resources and children’s eBooks, alongside support for phonics, reading comprehension, spelling, handwriting and writing in Years 1 and 2.
• Scottish Book Trust’s activities for any primary book include story retelling, character hot-seating, story cubes, comic strips and thought bubbles, with downloadable versions for classroom use.
• The Department for Education’s Reading Framework provides detailed guidance on phonics, fluency, comprehension, reading aloud, choosing books, encouraging reading for pleasure and supporting families.

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Our KS1 reading lists are curated for UK schools and families, with book choices reviewed by our curation panel of teachers, librarians and early years specialists. The focus is on high-quality picture books, early readers and first chapter books that support language development and positive reading habits. When children are ready for longer texts, move on to our KS2 booklists.

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By Tom Tolkien. This page was last updated on July 20th, 2026.