Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out during autumn term 2021 (September, October, November, and December). These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction for children aged 5-12. The titles below are books that (at the time of writing) are now due to be released during the autumn term in UK schools and in time for Christmas. These books have been chosen with classroom teaching, school libraries, home learning and lockdown reading in mind.
Autumn 2021 new children’s books – our recommendations
New picture books for autumn 2021
The Visible Sounds by Yin Jianling and Yu Rong
Storm In A Jar by Samuel Langley-Swain and Katie Cottle
War by Jose Jorge Letria and André LetriaLily Takes a Walk by Satoshi Kitamura
When Lily walks home she only sees the positives and the beauty the world has to offer. But her pet dog Nicky sees all the dangers and risks. An ideal picture book to spark discussion and hone prediction and inference skills with younger children. A beautifully produced reissue of the 1980s classic.
Cindergorilla by Gareth P. Jones and Loretta Schauer
What the Elephant Heard by Charlotte Guillain and Sam Usher
There’s a Ghost in this House by Oliver Jeffers
The Dragon with the Blazing Bottom by Beach
Inside the Suitcase by Clotilde Perrin
Time to Move South for Winter by Clare Helen Welsh and Jenny LøvlieNew fiction 5-7 for autumn 2021
The Rapping Princess by Hannah Lee
This lively and engaging picture book from the author of ‘My Hair’ is packed with catchy rhyming couplets, rhythm and onomatopoeia. With vivid illustrations and a powerful message about embracing talent and uniqueness, it’s ideal for years 1&2 literacy lessons and will provide a springboard for teachers and children to create performance poetry and classroom raps.
We’ll Be Together Again by Lucy Menzies and Maddy Vian
Isadora Moon and the Shooting Star by Harriet Muncaster
How to Greet a Gran by Donna Amey BhattNew fiction 7-9 for autumn 2021
The Girl Who Talked to Trees by Natasha Farrant
The False Rose by Jakob Wegelius
Journey to the Last River by The Unknown Adventurer and Teddy Keen
Bandoola: The Great Elephant Rescue by William Grill
Michael Rosen’s Sticky McStickstick: The Friend Who Helped Me Walk Again by Michael Rosen and Tony Ross
Count by Melvin Burgess
Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty
The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
Blossom by Laura DockrillNew fiction 9-12 for autumn 2021
When Fishes Flew by Michael Morpurgo
The Lion Above the Door by Onjali Q. Rauf
The Wild Before by Piers TordayThe Book Cat by Polly Faber
This charming illustrated novel features Morgan, a cat who finds himself a home at Faber & Faber, the renowned London publisher. As WW2 develops and London is bombed in the Blitz, Morgan takes charge and makes plans to lead all the other cats to safety. With an accessible font, short chapters and engaging illustrations, this will be a useful text for teachers of reluctant readers in upper KS2 who are studying WW2 as a topic.
Aarti & the Blue Gods by Jasbinder Bilan
Imaginary by Lee Bacon
The Bear who Sailed the Ocean on an Iceberg by Emily CritchleyThe Week at World’s End by Emma Carroll
It’s October 1962, and the world is on a knife-edge. Set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, schoolchildren Stevie and Ray wonder if the world is on the verge of ending. Added to that, a strange runaway girl has turned up in Stevie’s coal shed, and loyalties are tested. Who is she? Why is she on the run? Can she be trusted? A mesmerising historical novel that will in equal measure grip, stun and surprise readers in upper KS2.
The Memory Thieves by Darren Simpson
Always by Morris Gleitzman
The Unexpected Tale of Bastien Bonlivre by Clare PoveyThe Ash House by Angharad Walker
When a boy arrives at a strange house with no memory of his name or where he is, he is thrust into a world of darkness, mystery and secrecy where his new housemates all try to be as nice as possible all of the time. Atmospheric and enchanting, The Ash House is a memorable read and perfectly suited to book clubs in Year 7.
Hide and Seek by Robin Scott-Elliot
Following Frankenstein by Catherine Bruton
Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave with Tom de FrestonNew 12-16 young adult novels for autumn 2021
Green Rising by Lauren James
Giften by Leyla Suzan
Endgame by Malorie BlackmanDefy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer
In a vividly drawn fantasy fiefdom, Tessa and Weston are a Robin Hood / Bonnie and Clyde couple that teens will root for in this novel where the protagonists are forced to sacrifice their principles to save those they care about the most. This compelling combination of virtuous heroism and blind courage in the face of tyranny makes this YA blockbuster an intoxicating page-turner. An ideal addition to your KS4 library.
The Wanderer by Josie Williams
Stay Another Day by Juno Dawson
You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M McManus
Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain
Whistle: A New Gotham City Hero by E. Lockhart and Manuel Preitano
The Red Gloves: and Other Stories by Catherine Fisher
The Song that Sings Us by Nicola Davies
Shadow Town by Richard Lambert
Everything Within and In Between by Nikki BarthelmessNew children’s poetry books for autumn 2021
Yapping Away: Poems by Joshua Seigal
Everyone Sang: A Poem for Every Feeling Hardcover by William Sieghart
When Poems Fall from the Sky by Zaro WeilCarnival of the Animals by Michael Morpurgo
In this brand new collection of poems, Michael Morpurgo takes inspiration from ‘The Carnival of Animals’ by the composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Illustrated throughout by Michael Foreman, each poem features a different animal telling its own story. Combining music, environmental awareness, vibrant artwork and light-hearted character poetry, this book presents a unique opportunity for cross-curricular teaching in KS2.
New nonfiction children’s books for autumn 2021
Amazing Rivers: 100+ Waterways That Will Boggle Your Mind by Julie Vosburgh Agnone and Kerry Hyndman
This Book is Full of Brains by Little House of Science and Josy Bloggs
Britannica First Big Book of Why by Sally Symes and Stephanie Drimmer
A Day in the Life of a Caveman, a Queen and Everything In Between by Mike Barfield and Jess Bradley
We Have a Dream by Dr Mya-Rose Craig and Sabrena Khadija
How Was That Built? by Roma Agrawal and Katie Hickey
You Can’t Say That! by Leonard S. Marcus
Breaking News: How to Tell What’s Real From What’s Rubbish by Nick Sheridan
Only in America!: The Weird and Wonderful 50 States by Heather Alexander and Alan Berry Rhys
The Sky by Hélène Druvert and Juliette Einhorn
Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Life by DK
Rescuing Titanic: A true story of quiet bravery in the North Atlantic by Flora DelargyThis page was first published in August 2021 and last updated on .
For more top picks and new books why not read our Book of the month page?
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