November 2026’s set of recommendations for book clubs features festive adventures, animal friendships, fairy tales, magical schools, mountain landscapes, space exploration, Victorian history, wartime mysteries, ghost stories, supernatural horror, romantic fantasy, family relationships and the importance of kindness, courage and self-confidence.
November 2026’s picks features books by Rachel Bright, James Mayhew, Maudie Powell-Tuck, Perry Emerson, Harriet Howe, Andy Geppert, Julia Kuo, Myles McLeod, Evgenia Golubeva, Meg McLaren, Piers Torday, Holly Webb, Pippa Curnick, Dotty Sutton, Catherine Saunders, Button Books, Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón, Guillem Anglada Escudé, Miquel Sureda Anfres, Rachel Morrisroe, Tia Fisher, David Solomons, Lucy Strange, Christopher Edge, Cariad Lloyd, Tabitha Marsh, Tanya Landman, Steve Cole, CG Drews, Heather Fawcett, Half-Asleep Chris, Bex Hogan, Jane Austen, Annaliese Avery, Amy Goldsmith, Anna Zoe Quirke, and Emma Hinds
November 2026 book club recommendations
The Most Magnificent Moose by Rachel Bright, illustrated by Jim Field
Morris the moose loves everything about his wonderful world until an overheard conversation between two beavers makes him question whether he is magnificent enough. Before long, comparing himself with other moose has replaced his usual happiness with worry and uncertainty. Rachel Bright’s playful rhymes and Jim Field’s expressive illustrations bring humour and warmth to this reassuring picture book for 3+ year olds. With its message about celebrating individual strengths rather than competing with others, the story offers a cheerful starting point for conversations about confidence, friendship and self-worth.
3+ year-olds | Author’s website
Peter and the Wolf: From the story by Sergei Prokofiev by James Mayhew
Peter’s grandfather warns him about the dangerous wolf living near their forest home, but Peter ventures into the meadow and encounters a duck, a bird, a cat and eventually the hungry predator himself. James Mayhew retells Sergei Prokofiev’s famous musical story through striking collage illustrations, introducing 3+ year olds to a traditional adventure with a distinctive orchestral connection. A QR code provides access to a specially recorded performance of the music, allowing families and schools to explore how different instruments represent the characters and bring the storytelling to life.
3+ year-olds | Author’s website
Hank Goes Ho Ho Honk by Maudie Powell-Tuck, illustrated by Duncan Beedie
Hank the goose is so excited about Christmas that waiting until December simply isn’t an option. He starts decorating in August, devours his Advent calendar in one sitting and even flies to the North Pole to offer Santa’s elves some extremely questionable assistance. Naturally, chaos follows wherever Hank goes. Duncan Beedie’s exuberant illustrations capture every moment of festive mischief in this wonderfully silly picture book for 3-6 year olds. With its impatient central character and escalating Christmas disasters, this is an entertaining read-aloud story about excitement, self-control and the importance of patience.
3-6 year-olds | Author’s website
The Marvellous Mend-it Shop by Perry Emerson, illustrated by Laura Borio
Max’s mum tells wonderful stories inspired by the tiny charms on her treasured bracelet. When Max accidentally breaks it, he is devastated, but his mum has an imaginative way to make things better. Her latest tale introduces a magical shop where almost anything can be repaired, including broken dreams and aching hearts. Laura Borio’s richly detailed illustrations bring this extraordinary place to life. Combining fantasy, family affection and the comforting power of storytelling, this picture book offers 3-6 year olds an imaginative exploration of mistakes, reassurance and the things that matter most.
3-6 year-olds | Author’s website
The Street Where Santa Lives by Harriet Howe, illustrated by Julia Christians
When an older man with a white beard moves into the neighbourhood, one observant little girl becomes convinced that Santa Claus has arrived. His fondness for red clothes and talent for repairing treasured belongings only strengthen her suspicions. But when he becomes unwell, she realises that even someone who might be Santa needs friendship and care. Filled with colourful community scenes and gentle festive humour, this heartwarming picture book for 3+ year olds celebrates kindness, neighbourliness and looking out for people who might otherwise be overlooked.
3-6 year-olds | Author’s website
Bah Humbug! by Andy Geppert
Christmas means candy canes, sparkling decorations, colourful lights and plenty of opportunities for festive fun. Unfortunately, one particularly grumpy little bug is determined to spoil everyone’s enjoyment. From Christmas treats to treasured traditions, nothing seems safe from this miniature troublemaker’s bad temper. Andy Geppert’s humorous picture book turns familiar seasonal celebrations into a playful battle between excitement and grumpiness. Ideal for sharing with 3+ year olds, the story’s mischievous central character and cheerful Christmas setting provide plenty of opportunities for laughter, discussion and spotting the funny details in the illustrations.
3-6 year-olds | Author’s website
Mountainous by Julia Kuo
Julia Kuo invites intrepid 4-8 year olds to look closely at mountains and discover that these seemingly still landscapes are constantly changing. The highly visual journey climbs towards glaciers, erupting volcanoes and colourful mountain meadows while showing how mountains can move, shake and even create their own weather. Combining nature, geography and a sense of pure wonder, this second book in the I Am Nature series encourages children to slow down, look upwards and consider the extraordinary processes taking place in mountainous environments. A stunning illustrated nonfiction book that’s perfect for primary school libraries.
4+ year-olds | Author’s website
Fairytale Fiasco: Jack and the Beanstalk by Myles McLeod and Evgenia Golubeva
Jack has been tricked into swapping his favourite cow for a handful of beans, and the resulting beanstalk leads to a particularly troublesome giant. Fortunately, Cleo arrives with inventive ideas and plenty of determination. Together, they must work out how to retrieve a golden-egg-laying chicken, a harp and some coins without being caught. This energetic reworking of the traditional fairy tale combines slapstick humour, colourful illustrations and unexpected solutions. A lively choice for 5+ year olds who enjoy familiar stories turned upside down, particularly when the characters refuse to follow the usual rules.
5+ year-olds | Author’s website
Fairytale Fiasco: Sleeping Beauty by Myles McLeod and Evgenia Golubeva
After Princess Briar-Rose and everyone in her castle have slept for a hundred years, Cleo arrives armed with a noisy alarm clock and a plan to wake them. Unfortunately, putting an end to the enchantment means dealing with the decidedly bad-tempered thirteenth fairy. Can Cleo and the princess find a way to break the spell before bedtime? Mixing magical mishaps with playful illustrations and an unconventional heroine, this entertaining fairy-tale adventure gives 5+ year olds a fresh and funny version of Sleeping Beauty, with plenty of opportunities to predict what might happen next.
5+ year-olds | Author’s website
Watts & Whiskerton: Mischief on the Midnight Express by Meg McLaren
Watts and Pearl are guarding stolen gold aboard the supposedly secure Midnight Express when the train stops in a snowy forest and the fortune vanishes. Suspicion falls on security goose Patsy Caboose, but the clues do not fit. This highly illustrated first chapter book mystery offers 5+ year olds suspects in every carriage, a lively animal detective partnership and a tantalising case to crack before the sleeper train reaches its final stop. The fourth in a high-interest series that’s perfect for newly independent readers in KS1.
5+ year-olds | Author’s website
Books According to Dog and Owl by Piers Torday, illustrated by Tim Smart
Girl, Dog and Baby Brother explore the different pleasures books can bring, from adventures and laughter to comfort and understanding other people’s feelings. When distractions threaten to crowd reading out of their lives, Story Owl reminds them why stories matter. Piers Torday’s sparse, lyrical text and Tim Smart’s atmospheric illustrations offer a warm celebration of books, libraries and reading together. This oustanding and thoughtful illustrated story gives 5+ year olds and their families an inviting starting point for conversations about favourite books and the joys of sharing them. It’s also ideal to share with classes and in assemblies to promote reading for pleasure. Highly recommended.
5+ year-olds | Author’s website
A Friend at Christmas by Holly Webb, illustrated by Sophy Williams
Christmas feels particularly sad for Rudy’s family following the death of their dog. Their young puppy, Boo, misses her companion terribly, but Rudy’s mum cannot face welcoming another pet just yet. Everything changes when Boo discovers an abandoned kitten in the woods and immediately forms a special attachment. Can Rudy and her sister Clara persuade their parents to give the kitten a home? This gentle, illustrated animal story for 6-8 year olds combines festive warmth with a sensitive exploration of bereavement, companionship and the comfort that new friendships can bring.
5-7 year-olds | Author’s website
Magic School for Dogs: Treats, Tricks and Trouble by Pippa Curnick
The dogs of Barker Street have an extraordinary secret. While their owners sleep, they sneak away to a magical school where they learn spells instead of ordinary tricks. Kind-hearted cocker spaniel Chip is eager to do well, but keeping up with his lessons proves difficult, particularly when the local cats start causing magical mischief. Fortunately, Chip has friends and teachers ready to help when things go wrong. Packed with colourful illustrations, amusing animal characters and playful magical adventures, Pippa Curnick’s charming new series is a delightful choice for 6+ year olds who enjoy friendship stories and imaginative fantasy.
5-8 year-olds | Author’s website
Moth the Veggie Vampire by Dotty Sutton
Nine-year-old Moth is only half-vampire, which makes life at Hawthorne Manor much harder than it ought to be. He cannot fly, dislikes blood and has to run the vampire hotel by day while everyone else sleeps. 7-9-year-olds will love the funny, punny, spooky setup as Moth meets Mina, protects a human guest and discovers that being different may actually help him in the long run. Highly recommended for LKS2 readers.
7+ year-olds | Author’s website
Paper World Trees: Stunning Interactive Non-fiction with Flaps and Paper-cut Artwork by Catherine Saunders, illustrated by Gail Armstrong
Ingenious paper engineering and design reveal the world of trees, from the variety of life they support to everything that happens beneath the soil. Fact-packed text covers types of forest, unusual tree adaptations and the mycorrhizal network, while Gail Armstrong’s vibrant artwork is presented with flaps and die-cuts on every spread. It’s the perfect blend of interactivity, chunks of short text and stunning artwork that will engross children in Years 3 and 4.
7-9 year-olds | Author’s website
Factology: Victorians: Open Up a World of Information! by Button Books
Steam trains, scientific discoveries, industrial expansion and the growth of the British Empire transformed the world during Queen Victoria’s reign. This fact-packed illustrated guide examines the remarkable innovations of the period alongside its poverty, inequality and imperial ambitions. From medical breakthroughs and Victorian schooling to popular entertainment, inventions and everyday life, the book explores the achievements and contradictions of nineteenth-century Britain. With accessible explanations, historical information and engaging visual material, this addition to the Factology series gives 8+ year olds plenty to investigate and discuss about the Victorian age and its lasting influence.
7-11 year-olds | Publisher’s website
Moving to the Moon by Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón, Guillem Anglada Escudé and Miquel Sureda Anfres, illustrated by Eduard Altarriba
What would it take to build a permanent home on the Moon? This outstanding illustrated hardback STEM book takes KS2 children on a journey from the first lunar landings to plans for future missions and settlements. Along the way, it explains how the Moon formed, its effects on Earth and the challenges of travelling beyond our planet. Combining accessible astronomy, space exploration and possible future technology, it gives curious 8+ year olds plenty to discuss about what living on another world could involve. Highly recommended and ideal for primary school libraries.
8+ year-olds | Illustrator’s website
Sky Riders by Rachel Morrisroe, illustrated by Paddy Donnelly
Felix Green returns to the Future Agency for another year of magical training, but his achievement in becoming a sky rider coincides with a frightening new mystery. Agents are disappearing, the dangerous School of Night is threatening the organisation, and someone inside the agency may be working for the enemy. Meanwhile, Felix’s missing friend Luke remains unaccounted for, and troubling premonitions raise questions about Felix’s own future. This action-packed fantasy sequel for 8+ year olds combines supernatural powers, secret loyalties and historical intrigue in an adventure full of uncertainty and danger.
8+ year-olds | Author’s website
Operation Doodlebug by Tia Fisher, illustrated by Manuel Šumberac
It’s 1944 and Stan’s father has signed up to fight, leaving Stan and his mother in Croydon to suffer under waves of V1 rockets. When word comes that his father is missing, presumed killed, Stan refuses to accept it. When a piece of doodlebug shrapnel is found that carries information from a prisoner of war, Stan and his friends run away, determined to follow the lead. Well-written, punchy and hard-hitting, Tia Fisher bases this gripping and thrilling story on true events, and the evocative black-and-white illustrations by Manuel Šumberac make it an ideal option for UKS2 group reading. It’s perfect for 9+ fans of Michael Morpurgo. Highly recommended.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
SPYGLASS: Coldfinger by David Solomons, illustrated by Miguel Díaz Rivas
GoldenCliff Holiday Park has an unexpected winter problem: temperatures are soaring, and the snow-themed attractions are melting. Adam and his friends Zada and Tyler trace the strange weather to one of Professor Goodspeed’s inventions, but rival villains are already on the trail. Gadgets, a drone, a dog and plenty of comic mishaps keep the action moving in this second SPYGLASS adventure. 9+ year olds who enjoy fast-paced, illustrated spy stories will find love the outrageous schemes and startling acts of heroism. The second in the series, Coldfinger is highly recommended for KS2.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
Lockett & Wilde: The Ghosts of London by Lucy Strange, illustrated by Pam Smy
London’s haunted theatre district provides the setting for another supernatural investigation involving Matilda Lockett and her ghostly detective partner, Edgar Wilde. While Matilda rehearses her aunt’s latest stage show and Edgar learns the tricks of being a poltergeist, strange events at a curiosity shop lead them towards the mystery of notorious gold thief Bullion Bill. Matilda also begins uncovering unsettling questions about her parents’ deaths. With richly atmospheric illustrations and intriguing visual clues, this gothic adventure gives 9-12 year olds another entertaining mixture of ghostly encounters, detective work and darkly comic characters.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
Fear Files: A Trick of the Light by Christopher Edge
During a residential school trip to an eerie manor house, Hazel feels shut out by her friends. She finds company in Alice, a girl from another school, and together they invent a ghost story to frighten the others. What begins as a prank soon becomes unnervingly difficult to control. Christopher Edge uses found material, illustrations and mounting uncertainty to create a brisk, creepy and lingeringly memorable mystery. It’s powerful stuff for 9-12 year olds who want a short accessible novel with genuine scares. Highly recommended.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
Lydia Marmalade’s Christmas Adventure by Cariad Lloyd, illustrated by Patri de Pedro
In the run-up to Christmas, Lydia Marmalade travels to London with an important mission: to rescue a missing ice sprite. Society parties and grown-up expectations threaten to distract her, but Lydia has other plans. With her trusty sausage dog, Colin, a frosty ice queen and a new friend, she sets out on a magical adventure that will test her determination and teach her about friendship. Packed with festive mischief, humour and heart, this illustrated novel for 9+ year olds is an entertaining choice for fans of imaginative Christmas stories.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
This is a Story by Tabitha Marsh
Ten-year-old Adelaide Moncrief is sent by the Queen to find Pebblepoint’s missing dragon before the Great Census, when its absence could leave the tiny kingdom at the mercy of its larger, greedier neighbours. Armed with a small dagger, a dragon scale and an enchanted sugar bowl, Adelaide sets out on a quest complicated by dark magic and the scheming plots of Patience Fish. With a resourceful heroine and plenty of perilous obstacles to overcome, this enchanting and charming fantasy adventure gives 9-12 year olds a lively story of bravery, wit and relatable choices. Highly recommended for KS2.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
The Price of Greed by Tanya Landman, illustrated by Katie Kear
Three brothers set out to defeat Death while sickness spreads through the land, but their mission changes when they discover gold beneath a tree. The promise of wealth draws them away from their purpose and turns brother against brother, revealing how quickly greed can distort judgement. Perfect for readers aged 11+ and written at a reading age of 6, this accessible and convincing retelling keeps the moral tension relentless.
11+ year-olds | Author’s website
Fit by Steve Cole, illustrated by Tosin Akinkunmi
Ryan has avoided athletics since a disastrous Year 6 long jump, but Tala’s pole-vaulting gives him a powerful reason to join the local club. His attempt to impress her leads to an ambitious new event, an awkward learning curve and a memorable comic mishap. The 11+ interest age and reading age of 6 make this a short, accessible and highly readable story about sport, embarrassment and first attraction.
11+ year-olds | Author’s website
Protest by Steve Cole, illustrated by Kimberly Goodloe
Cardboard placards and homemade videos turn two friends into increasingly visible climate campaigners. When a soup-throwing stunt at an art gallery misses the painting but explodes online, attention begins to pull their friendship in different directions. Ideal for 11+ readers and written at a reading age of 6, this moving and impactful story examines activism, viral fame and staying the right side of the law.
11+ year-olds | Author’s website
Scorpion Deep by CG Drews
Jonathan longs to leave the isolated island of Kelcarrow, especially as his friends prepare to depart for college. His desperate offering to Scorpion Deep awakens an ancient sea god whose growing obsession brings terrifying physical changes. To free himself, Jonathan must face the creature he has summoned and the blood price it demands. This startling and dark yet rewarding YA horror blends sea mythology, obsession and queer romance, giving 12+ year olds an unforgettable story about loneliness, danger and the cost of escape.
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
Disney Wondrous: An Alice in Wonderland sequel by Heather Fawcett
Years after her first adventure in Wonderland, teenage Alice returns to escape the restrictions of nineteenth-century London and pursue her dream of running a magical travelling tea shop. But another girl claims to be the real Alice, and the Queen of Hearts reveals a prophecy involving three terrifying mock dragons. Armed with an enchanted tea set, Alice must prove herself while questioning everything she thought she knew about Wonderland. Heather Fawcett’s imaginative and engaging sequel to Disney’s animated classic offers 12+ year olds a magical adventure filled with familiar characters, unexpected rivals and questions about identity and belonging.
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Unordinary Book of Ideas: Everywhen Projects For Rainy Days by Half-Asleep Chris, illustrated by Peter Bernard and Rick DeLucco
What can you make with everyday materials, a little imagination and the freedom to experiment? Half-Asleep Chris presents more than 50 unusual creative projects, ranging from designing an imaginary transport network to growing mystery seeds, capturing a plant’s growth and bringing ordinary objects to life through animation. The activities encourage curiosity, invention and playful experimentation without needing a conventional end result. With projects to dip into whenever inspiration strikes, this brilliantly inventive activity book offers 12+ year olds plenty of opportunities to make, investigate and discover something unexpected away from their screens. Highly recommended.
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
Rowan by Bex Hogan
This gripping and atsohperic dark faery fantasy for 13+ year olds follows Rowan into the mysterious Shadow Mountains. Generations earlier, one of her ancestors disappeared after following a white hare, leaving the women of the family with a warning about shape-shifting hares and witchcraft. Rowan eventually follows the creature herself and enters a beautiful but dangerous faery realm beneath a single green star, where she becomes caught in an ancient rivalry between a witch and a faery lord and must draw on her own skills to survive. Highly recommended.
13+ year-olds | Author’s website
Pride and Prejudice: The Illustrated Edition by Jane Austen, illustrated by Sarah Maxwell-McNichol
Elizabeth Bennet has little patience for the expectations placed on her by a society in which marriage can determine a woman’s future. Her encounters with the wealthy, apparently arrogant Mr Darcy lead to misunderstandings, sharp exchanges and changing judgements. Jane Austen’s enduring comedy of manners explores family, class, reputation and the dangers of first impressions. Sarah Maxwell-McNichol’s evocative and romantic illustrations bring a fresh visual dimension to this edition, complementing the unrivalled wit and characterisation of the original. It’s an ideal opportunity to introduce KS3 and KS4 students to classic literature.
14+ year-olds | Illustrator’s website
Fate and Other Charms by Annaliese Avery
Aurelia Wycherley enters apprentice studies with the Coven of Knowing while searching the Repository, a vast store of magical knowledge, for a way to save Jules Nightly from the curse carried by her own magic. Breaking their tether could save Jules, but it would also cost the witches in their thirteen-member coven their magic, just as a wider threat to the magical world gathers pace. This superbly witchy romantic fantasy for 14+ year olds brings together cursed magic, loyalty, difficult choices and a relationship placed under extraordinary pressure. Highly recommended.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
A Darker Act by Amy Goldsmith
Months after a school theatre production ended disastrously, Hazel joins an extra-credit camping trip on the bleak moors surrounding Edgemoor. Unfortunately, several former members of the cast are there too, including the mysterious Roman. As tensions resurface and unsettling events begin to unfold, the group must confront what happened during their performance of a play inspired by a ghostly local huntsman. Something awakened by that production appears determined to claim its victims. Combining theatrical secrets, disturbing folklore and romantic tension, this atmospheric folk-horror novel offers 14+ year olds a chilling and suspenseful mystery.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas by Anna Zoe Quirke, illustrated by Mallory Heyer
Theo Grey escapes her overbearing parents and small village to spend Christmas with her estranged older sister, Juliet, in the city. Their unexpected reunion is complicated, but Theo is determined to embrace her bisexual identity, make new friends and enjoy some romantic adventures. Then she meets Otis, whose kindness and humour prove unexpectedly difficult to resist. This spirited festive romantic comedy for 14+ year olds explores complicated family relationships, queer identity, attraction and the messy business of finding your own place in the world, with plenty of warmth and romantic confusion.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Nightcurse by Emma Hinds
Emrys Swift has been dead for 157 years and is cursed to remain seventeen forever, hidden from the world inside a magical library. This romantasy for 14+ year olds sees Emrys reluctantly join forces with shapeshifter Aubrey Vale when ancient spellbooks begin to disappear. Their investigation leads through encounters with ghosts, mermaids and magical secrets as Emrys searches for answers about his own death and Aubrey’s past, with an pageturning and twisty enemies-to-lovers relationship developing alongside the central mystery. Deliciously witchy, this is perfect dark nights reading for teens. Highly recommended.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Themed day / social media opportunities for November 2026
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.
- Michael Rosen Day will be celebrated on 12th November. This national day is aimed at families, schools, nurseries and libraries. Schools can sign up for a free webinar featuring Michael Rosen and MC Grammar. There are also free resources to download from the Michael Rosen website.
- Empathy Action Month takes place during November. This free programme helps young people turn understanding of others into real social action, from small everyday kindnesses to community projects, while revisiting their Empathy Day resolutions.
- This month is ‘National Non-fiction November’. Have a look at our narrative nonfiction titles and our collection of topic book resources for inspiration!
- November 1st-2nd is Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This Mexican celebration of family, memory and ancestors is a great starting point for exploring folklore, magical realism and stories about remembering loved ones. Have a look at the Mexico City celebrations for inspiration.
- World Nursery Rhyme Week takes place in the middle of the month. Each year, five rhymes are chosen and children are encouraged to take part in a ‘Rhyme a Day’ challenge by singing the nursery rhymes and taking part in supporting activities.
- November 9-15 is Children’s Book Week. Every Child A Reader has a great selection of free resources.
- November 5th is Guy Fawkes Night / Bonfire Night. BBC Bitesize has a great guide for KS1.
- The second of the biannual Outdoor Classroom Day takes place in the first week of November. On Outdoor Classroom Day, teachers celebrate with a special day outdoors for their class. Why not have a look at our outdoor reading guide for inspiration!
- November 5th is the second Outdoor Classroom Day date for the year. Get outside and read! Have a look at our outdoor reading page for extra inspiration!
- November 8th is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Medicine (STEM) Day #STEMDay. Have a look at our STEM-related stories.
- November 10th is World Science Day. UN Action has lots of ideas and activities for schools.
- November 11th is Remembrance Day. Have a look at our Remembrance topic books list page for ideas and free resources.
- November 16-20 is Anti-Bullying Week. There’s a great pack of free school resources here.
- November 13th is World Kindness Day. Have a look at our kindness book list and Kind by Jess McGeachin
- November 13-19 is Transgender Awareness Week. Trans EDU has produced a range of useful resources for schools.
- November 14th is National Biscuit Base Day #NationalBiscuitBaseDay. Biscuit bases are a crucial component of cheesecakes and similar desserts. According to Biscuit Base Confederation guidelines, approved biscuit bases must be at least 1cm thick to form a mouthwatering foundation for success.
- November 15th is the Day of the Imprisoned Writer. English PEN highlights writers who face imprisonment or persecution for their words. This is a good starting point for book club discussions about censorship, banned books, freedom of expression and the power of literature.
- November 16 is International Day for Tolerance #ToleranceDay. UNESCO has created a useful website here.
- YALC – the UK’s Young Adult Literature Convention – takes place on October 31-November 1 as part of London Comic Con.
- November 19th is World Philosophy Day. UNESCO has information about this year’s events. Why not challenge book club members to debate a moral dilemma from a favourite dystopian, science fiction or fantasy novel?
- November 19th to December 19th is UK Disability History Month. This year’s theme is Disability, Politics and Democracy. The official website has resources and information to support discussions about disability rights, representation and disabled characters in children’s and YA literature.
- November 20th is World Children’s Day #WorldChildrensDay. UNICEF has a range of campaign ideas and activities. Why not use a book club meeting to discuss children’s rights, young people’s voices and how childhood is portrayed in stories from different countries?
- November 30th is St Andrew’s Day, Scotland’s national day. Explore Scottish myths, legends, ballads and writers, or create a library display featuring books set in Scotland. The Scotland.org website has information about Scottish traditions and celebrations.
Extension activities:
- Have a look at our writing competitions for November 2026.
Other recently released titles to have a look at:
- Our latest November 2026 books of the month.
- Our rundown of the best books released this autumn 2026.
- Our November 2026 books of the day on X. These can also be viewed on uk.Bookshop.org.
- Our guide on how to run a school book club 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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