Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in spring 2022

Me, in the Middle by Annette Demetriou

When Miss Clark explains the concept of a family tree and asks her class to think about which countries their ancestors lived in for homework, Georgie is amazed by all the different places her family has roots in. Annette Demetriou’s clever use of real tree branches as a positive metaphor to celebrate different cultures, uniqueness and heritage, is an effective device that will resonate with pupils. Me, in the Middle is a beautifully illustrated book that’s perfect for ‘All About Me’ topics and a gift for teachers looking for wall display inspiration. Highly recommended.

Ready! said Rabbit by Marjoke Henrichs

The sequel to No! Said Rabbit, Ready! said Rabbit follows Rabbit and Dad as they prepare to go for a walk in the park. But however hard both of them try, neither of them seems to be ready to go. With punchy illustrations, big text on large pages, and clever inferential plot cues, this text is spot on to read aloud and share with EYFS classes. A highly relatable story, it will appeal to every child, parent (and teacher) who struggles with organisation and getting out of the house on time.

Carnival of the Lost by Kieran Larwood

Readers will be sucked into this adventure just like the characters being sucked into the River Thames in this uniquely strange and page-turning middle-grade novel. With period typography and grungy page borders, a deliciously seedy Victorian world is evoked, with monsters, carnivals and colourful circus performers. Carnival of the Lost is thoroughly captivating and upper KS2 teachers will love the period language, strong characters and rich descriptions.

Historical | Mystery

Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice – a retelling by Laura Wood

This brief, well-written and pacy adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic uses dialogue to reveal the plot and characters, and short chapters to keep the reader’s attention. With more action and less scene-setting, Year 10 and 11 students may well read it in one sitting – it’s that absorbing. Both accessible and highly readable, Laura Wood’s retelling will be a particularly useful resource for English literature GCSE teachers.

There are Birds Everywhere by Camilla De La Bedoyere and Britta Teckentrup

Habitats, species, evolution, flight, migration, diet, plumage and how humans interact with birds are all explored in sumptuously illustrated detail over 13 double-page spreads. The short bursts of succinct text, make this perfect for children aged 7-11 to read, share and learn all sorts of fascinating ornithological facts. Also, with metallic foil embossed highlights on the front cover this hardback is beautifully presented and printed – when stood on display, it simply glows and will become a focal point in any primary school library. There are Birds Everywhere is a magnificent achievement.

Cool Technology by Jenny Jacoby and Jem Venn

With endless facts and punchy graphics, this history of technology spans the Stone Age to the present day, and beyond. Critical moments in mankind’s development are described from early tools to game-changing machines such as the compass, the printing press and gene editing. But it’s not just science – cultural changes are also chronicled, including architecture, clothes design and food. This cracking book is crammed with detail, will fit into an extra large pocket and is ideal for long journeys, holiday reading or a primary school library.