April 2024’s set of recommendations for book clubs features a compelling blend of inclusive and empathetic texts, immersive fantasy worlds, thought-provoking nature reads and contemporary drama. April 2024’s picks include titles by Sam Clarke, Duncan Beedie, Jennifer Gardy, Kieran Larwood, Kerry Hyndman and Mike Hills, Lisa Williamson, Nicola Penfold, Robert Muchamore & Sonora Reyes.
April 2024 book club recommendations
Pink Trucks by Sam Clarke
Follow Stink’s quest for a pink truck as he explores huge trucks, fast trucks, noisy trucks, space trucks and more. With the help of his sister, he creatively constructs his pink truck from recycled toys. This heartwarming tale promotes creativity and innovation while exploring inclusion, tolerance and gender stereotypes. It’s a great book to read and discuss in nursery and EYFS settings. Read our full review.
3+ year-olds | Author’s X
Heavy Metal Badger by Duncan Beedie
Badger’s love for loud music leads him on a quest for the perfect place to play without upsetting the other animals. But it’s difficult to find the right spot in the peaceful woodland. Told through funny situations and rhyming couplets, this banging picture book for 3-6-year-olds will encourage readers to embrace their passions while respecting others’ boundaries. The hilarious illustrations and clever wordplay make this the ideal story for heavy metal parents to read to children. We loved ‘Quack Sabbath’ and ‘Gnus and Roses’!
3-6 year-olds | Author’s website
It Takes Guts: How Your Body Turns Food Into Fuel (and Poop) by Jennifer Gardy
Strap in for a top-to-bottom journey through the digestive system from the mouth to the esophagus and stomach and beyond with the multi-award-winning It Takes Guts by Jennifer Gardy. Perfect for readers interested in the human body, science and food, this highly illustrated nonfiction guide blends digestible chunks of science facts with accessible and informative graphics. Nothing is dumbed down, and by combining familiar terms such as ‘barf’ with concise explanations of processes such as ‘retroperistaltic waves’ this book has achieved a winning formula. Aimed at 8-12-year-olds, it might also be useful to teens, med students and even GI surgeons to help explain the mysteries of our insides to patients! It’s a fascinating book, and we have a gut feeling it will be very popular in KS2 and KS3 libraries.
8-12+ year-olds | Author’s Wikipedia
Podkin and the Singing Spear by Kieran Larwood
Now Keeper of the Gifts, Podkin finds himself embroiled in a battle of good against evil which sees him working with Uki to thwart a common enemy. Will their combined strength defeat the deadly Crowskins? Absorbing and highly believable, this, the seventh in the World of Podkin One-Ear series does not disappoint. Perfect for fans of animal stories and fantasy adventures, every KS2 library deserves a shelf of Podkin.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
Nature’s Fascinating Friendships by Kerry Hyndman and Mike Hills
Explore the remarkable friendships formed by animals, plants, and microorganisms all over the world. The interesting partnerships, from pom pom crabs and sea anemones to greater honeybirds and humans, showcase nature’s ingenuity and resilience. Through stunning illustrations and thought-provoking facts, this clever book will inspire 9-12-year-olds to appreciate the importance of cooperation both in the natural world and in their own lives.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
Bigg School: Double Drama by Lisa Williamson
Daniel Littleton navigates challenges at home and the Henry Bigg Academy in this relatable early secondary school story. What he wants is a big role in the school play, but will he succeed amidst the turmoil at home? Children aged 9-12 will connect with Daniel’s journey of self-discovery. The realistic and moving portrayal offers book club talking points to discuss character empathy and resilience.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
When the Wild Calls by Nicola Penfold
Juniper and her brother Bear navigate a world where ‘the Wild’ introduces them to wonders, but dangers lurk in a city ravaged by disease. Juniper’s determination to rescue loved ones, combined with Etienne’s quest for freedom, creates a compelling ecological adventure that’s perfect for fans of dystopian tales such as The Last Wild. Penfold’s skilful storytelling offers a powerful and thought-provoking narrative with themes of courage and resilience that will resonate with 9-12-year-olds.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
Robin Hood: Ballots, Blasts & Betrayal by Robert Muchamore
In this latest instalment by Robert Muchamore, teen rebel Robin Hood faces off against corrupt forces bent on rigging an election in a battle to secure political justice. With high-profile elections around the world due in 2024, this is a great book to facilitate discussion. 10+ readers to love the accessible plot, fast action and gripping dialogue.
11+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes
Sonora Reyes explores the complexities of consent and identity in this unputdownable story. Ari, a selectively mute autistic girl, wrestles with her confidence, self-image, and vicious rumours after an encounter with the popular Luis. Deftly tackling pertinent issues of consent, predators, healing, and the value of real friendship, The Luis Ortega Survival Club is an original and valuable contemporary novel for teens to read and discuss. Highly recommended. Read our full review.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Themed day / social media opportunities for April 2024
These hashtag days might provide current and relevant talking points for secondary-aged pupils aged 13+ in KS3, KS4 and KS5, especially when linked to related literature.
- Stress Awareness Month is celebrated in April. Mentally Healthy Schools offers free toolkits for primary and secondary schools that will be helpful in the run-up to SATs, GCSE and Level exams.
- EarthDay is held each 22nd of April. The official website hosts a variety of free projects and toolkits suitable for schools, including packs on climate literacy, individual action and civics.
- Lesbian Visibility Week – held in the last week of April. Stonewall’s Lesbian Hub offers a range of articles and information that will be useful for secondary schools.
- World Autism Awareness Day – UK Autism offers a free learning resources pack which schools can sign up for.
- International Children’s Book Day – the IBBY website features a series of links and downloads that will be useful to educators.
- Shakespeare’s Birthday – April 23 – can be celebrated by taking part in ‘Talk Like Shakespeare‘ day. Try dismissing your class at the end of a lesson with such lines as “Out of my sight! Thou dost infect mine eyes!“
- International Haiku Poetry Day – the Haiku Foundations has a great range of free resources for teachers.
- Finally, April hosts ‘Say Hello with Jazz Hands Day” to celebrate Jazz Day at the end of the month. A great idea to introduce in assemblies – students, staff and parents can greet each other with Jazz Hands all day.
Extension activities:
- Have a look at our writing competitions for April 2024.
Other recently released titles to have a look at:
- Our latest April 2024 books of the month.
- Our rundown of the best books coming out in spring 2024.
- Our April 2024 books of the day on Twitter.
- Our guide on how to run a school book club, which covers both primary school book clubs and secondary school book clubs.
Click one of the buttons below to buy all this month’s recommended book club titles, or class sets of any of these books, from Bookshop.org UK or Amazon.co.uk. As an Amazon Associate schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.
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