October 2026‘s set of recommendations for book clubs features spooky stories, bedtime adventures, folklore, migration, history, artificial intelligence, space, mythology, fantasy magic, grief, dystopia, romance, dark academia and coming-of-age drama.
October 2026’s picks features books by Jon Klassen, Adam Thompson, Erica Harrison, Raffi, Emer Stamp, Gaia Stella, Göknur Birincioglu, Olivia Hope, Katherine Woodfine, Philip Reeve, Sarah McIntyre, Taylor Dolan, Adam Murphy, Dotty Sutton, Jamie Smart, Sam Hutchinson, Laura Knowles, Grahame Baker-Smith, Aaron Blabey, Tor Freeman, David Owen, Francesco Bedini, Pari Thomson, Laura Mucha, Liz Flanagan, David Long, Jasbinder Bilan, Charles Dickens, Helen Parry, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, SJ Wills, Lisa M. Sylvan, Míriam Bonastre Tur, Christine Pillainayagam, Page Powars, Ana Sampson, Mia Jay Boulton, Laurel Boulton, John Stephens, O. O. Sangoyomi, Safa Ahmed, Bill Wood, Lucy Cuthew, and Tara Crowe.
October 2026 book club recommendations
The 123 Tree by Adam Thompson and Erica Harrison
As evening falls over the forest, the residents of the 123 Tree get ready for bed. Mice brush their teeth, bears have a bath and squirrels settle down with a story, while children count the creatures on each page. It’s a calming and charming board-book for 0-4 year olds, with lyrical rhyming text and soft bedtime routines built into the visual counting. Highly recommended.
0-4 year-olds
The House with Nobody in It by Jon Klassen
Jon Klassen takes 3-7 year olds on a tour of an apparently empty house in this unusually shaped, peep-through board book. A chair, clock, stool and lamp are all where they should be, but nobody seems to live there. Or do they? Clever chunky interactive die-cut openings and Klassen’s characteristically understated pictures gradually introduce a delicious hint of something unseen, building gentle suspense without losing the reassuring familiarity of a home.
3+ year-olds | Author’s website
I Wonder If I’m Growing by Raffi, illustrated by Jon Klassen
A child wonders whether they are growing while moving through the small routines of an ordinary day, from waking up and looking in the mirror to breakfast, travelling and bath time. Then comes a tiny but important discovery: the tap is suddenly within reach. Based on Raffi’s song and illustrated by Jon Klassen, this warm, rhythmic picture book gives 3-7 year olds a playful way to notice the little signs that growing up is already happening.
3+ year-olds | Author’s website
Poop Stars: The stinkiest, squelchiest talent show on earth! by Emer Stamp, illustrated by Monika Filipina
Welcome to a talent show where the contestants compete with their most spectacular poos! Dancing dung beetles, a blue whale and a pygmy hippo are among the animal performers hoping to take the title, while genuine animal facts sit alongside a cavalcade of jokes and puns. Created with expert input from the Zoological Society of London, this disgusting picture book gives 3-5 year olds a faecally funny read-aloud glimpse into animal biology. Highly recommended for children who like this kind of thing – which will be the vast majority of 3-5 year olds.
3-5 year-olds | Author’s website
Bibi Makes Sandwiches by Gaia Stella
Bibi is planning a sandwich party and needs help assembling every filling, from familiar favourites to wonderfully odd combinations. Children cut, paste and arrange the colourful pages, then invent sandwiches of their own using scissors, glue and imagination. This playful and highly engaging activity book for 4-8-year-olds turns food preparation into an exciting hands-on collage project, with Gaia Stella’s bold geometric artwork making each spread feel informative, cheerful and ready for real experimentation.
4-8 year-olds | Author’s website
The Song of the Stars by Göknur Birincioglu, illustrated by Merve Atilgan
Merope is a small, shy star who worries that she will never shine as brightly as the others. After tumbling from the sky onto a tuft of sheep’s wool, she begins a magical journey across earth and sky and gradually discovers that her light was inside her all along. Göknur Birincioglu’s magnificent folktale-inspired story pairs courage and self-belief with Merve Atilgan’s dreamlike illustrations and the wonder of a star-strewn night. Its gentle pace and luminous theme make it especially well suited to sharing with 5-7 year olds at bedtime. Highly recommended.
5-7 year-olds | Author’s website
The Song of the Sun: A soaringly special gift book to share! by Olivia Hope, illustrated by Huỳnh Kim Liên
Flick is about to make her first migration, a journey of thousands of miles, and fear threatens to keep her grounded. Wise old Greytail encourages her to trust her wings and listen for the Song of the Sun as she prepares for the enormous journey ahead. Olivia Hope’s lyrical fable turns swallow migration into a story about confidence, uncertainty and finding your way, with stunningly detailed artwork by Huỳnh Kim Liên. It is an uplifting and memorable picture book for 5-7 year olds. Highly recommended.
5-7 year-olds | Author’s website
The Christmas Book by Katherine Woodfine, illustrated by Lizzy Stewart
Crossing a lava field on his way home in wartime Iceland, Tómas knows Christmas will feel different without his grandfather. Determined to keep his grandfather’s stories at the heart of the celebration, he earns pennies by completing chores for his neighbours, only to discover that rationing has left the shops empty. One bookshop remains open. Inspired by Iceland’s Christmas Eve tradition of giving books, this warm and wonderful illustrated story introduces 5+ year olds to a celebration shaped by family, stories and resourcefulness. It’s a beautiful Christmas book to gift. Read our full review.
5-7 year-olds | Author’s website
Adventuremice: Mini Mice Mayhem by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
A class of cute but decidedly mischievous mouselets arrives at Mousebase, leaving Pedro and the Adventuremice with a fresh outbreak of chaos to handle. The ninth Adventuremice story packs mouse-sized mayhem, comic mishaps and plenty of silliness into another fast-moving adventure from Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre. With its warm humour and unruly young visitors, this is an entertaining series instalment for 5-8 year olds who enjoy funny adventures and characters getting spectacularly out of hand.
5-8 year-olds | Author’s website
The Adventures of Sweet Boo: Finding a Father by Taylor Dolan
Sweet Boo is a ghost with shiny shoes, a favourite colour of green and no particular desire for a family. That changes when she spots a picture of a friendly-looking dad and begins to wonder whether she might be missing something after all. Following the clues leads Boo into an office, a spell of company-running chaos and an encounter with a boy and his father. This two-colour comic caper introduces an exuberantly energetic new series for 5+ year olds and emerging independent readers.
5-8 year-olds | Author’s website
Corpse Talk: Dead, Famous and Very Chatty by Adam Murphy
History becomes considerably less dead when Adam Murphy interviews famous figures from beyond the grave. Roman emperor Nero, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and Greek philosopher Aristotle are among the people brought back for conversations that combine biographical facts with comic-book humour. Drawn from the much-loved Corpse Talk series, this lively collection makes historical personalities the stars of witty illustrated interviews and offers an entertaining route into discovering people and periods from the past.
7+ 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. Read our full review.
7+ year-olds | Author’s website
Bunny vs Monkey: Day of the Heroes! by Jamie Smart
The Woods are in serious trouble: there’s a greased pig in a pickle, everyone is stuck in jelly and a zombie invasion has begun. Bunny and friends need to become heroes, provided they can stop getting in one another’s way. Jamie Smart packs the latest full-colour comic adventure with frantic action, visual jokes and spectacular silliness. 7+ year olds who enjoy quick-fire comic storytelling can jump straight into the chaos.
7+ year-olds | Author’s website
How to Understand and Apply AI by Sam Hutchinson, illustrated by Ste Johnson
Artificial intelligence comes under the microscope as young readers explore bias, fake news, AI hallucinations and the technology’s positive and negative impact on the planet. Well-pitched for 7-12-year-olds, this high-quality non-fiction book also encourages children to question what they encounter and add their own voices to the debate about whether AI is good or bad. With clear visuals and accessible text, it’s a must-have book for KS2 classrooms, primary PSHE lessons and assembly presentations. Highly recommended.
7+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Sky We Share: Star Stories from Around the World by Laura Knowles, illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson
Celestial-themed folk tales from around the world are paired with genuine scientific insight and stargazing tips in this beautifully realised hardback for 7-9 year olds. The book explores Polynesian voyagers using stars to cross open oceans, ancient farmers timing harvests by astronomical rhythms, and storytellers filling the heavens with legends, bringing myths and folklore together with modern scientific insight into the sparklingly illustrated night sky. Highly recommended.
7-9 year-olds | Author’s website
Dawn Horse: Four horse tales through time by Grahame Baker-Smith
Palomino, a curious young horse, races through time to meet prehistoric ancestors including Eohippus, Merychippus and Equus ferus. His journey stretches across millions of years of evolution while also exploring the long, complicated relationship between horses and people. Grahame Baker-Smith combines narrative and scientific history with expansive and gorgeous illustration, drawing on professional guidance and acknowledging both scientific discovery and Indigenous knowledge. For 7+ year olds, it offers a striking and accessible way into discussing evolution, human history and the enduring bond between horses and humans.
7-9 year-olds | Author’s website
Game of Pets: The Boy Who Knew Too Much by Aaron Blabey
Life on Earth has turned out to be an intergalactic game show, and Griff, an eleven-year-old with many allergies, is apparently the only person who can save everyone. With a talking axolotl issuing warnings and ordinary cats and dogs suddenly looking deeply suspicious, this highly imaginative and quirky illustrated adventure has a laugh-out-loud, high-energy premise that should land well with 7-9 year olds who like fast jokes, wild twists and books with arch-enemy pet villains. Great fun for LKS2. Read our full review.
7-9 year-olds | Author’s website
Boss of the Underworld: Shirley vs Seven Deadly Dangers: Book 3 by Tor Freeman
Shirley and her cockroach companion George descend into the Under-Under-Underworld to find George’s missing sisters, tackling seven increasingly dangerous obstacles on the way. Tor Freeman’s third full-colour comic adventure combines fast-moving fantasy, visual comedy and a gloriously strange underworld setting. 7+ year olds who enjoy anarchic illustrated stories can follow Shirley and George as their rescue mission takes them deeper into trouble.
7-9 year-olds | Author’s website
Graveyard Gladiators by David Owen, illustrated by Shane Houston
Once a year, monsters and the undead compete in the Graveyard Games, and this time the prize is Jude’s dad. Determined to win him back, Jude joins forces with monster-wrestling expert Posie and zombie trainer Mickey before taking on a series of increasingly dangerous contests. With monster races, skull collecting and the final Graveyard Rumble ahead, this addictive and fast-moving supernatural adventure offers 8+ year olds a lively mixture of spooky comedy, friendship and impossible-looking challenges. Highly recommended.
8+ year-olds | Author’s website
My Fish is Called Poseidon by Francesco Bedini, illustrated by Stefano Tambellini
A seaside holiday becomes a battle between mythologies when Petra wins a goldfish who is really Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Soon a giant monolith has appeared, cousin Dylan has turned into a zombie, and Triton is plotting to steal his father’s Trident. Aldo, Petra, the Comic Club, and Odin, the Norse god reincarnated as a cat, must stop him. Immersive black-and-white illustrations accompany this fast-paced adventure. It’s the third in a compelling series that’s perfect for KS2 readers.
8+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Frozen King by Pari Thomson, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
Eleven-year-old Annika is heir to the ocean-ruled kingdom of Iffenwild, although she would much rather sail with her travelling theatre troupe than prepare to become queen. When her uncle, King Max, returns gravely injured from a secret mission, she sets out for the Utter North in search of a long-lost cure. Frozen seas, towering ice cliffs and powerful magic await in an adventure for 8-11 year olds, as Annika discovers that the fate of far more than her uncle may depend on her journey.
8+ year-olds | Author’s website
Scary by Laura Mucha, illustrated by Hannah Peck
Spiders, bats, sharks and other supposedly terrifying creatures become the starting point for a fascinating look at fear in this illustrated nonfiction book. Laura Mucha explores what causes fear, how it feels in the body and why anxiety can sometimes grow beyond its useful role in keeping us safe. Along the way, 25 frightening but frequently misunderstood animals reveal surprising sides to their behaviour. 7+ year olds can discover both natural history and practical ideas for understanding their own fears, accompanied by Hannah Peck’s illustrations. An outstanding large-format nonfiction book – ideal for KS2 libraries.
8+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Moonlight Dragon by Liz Flanagan
On the night of the full moon, Luna visits the standing stones hoping her mother will be there, but instead watches hunters bring down a huge blue dragon. After finding its nest, she rescues Spark, the last young dragon, and joins anxious Prince Tobi and Elodie, the librarian’s daughter, to discover why the king is so afraid of dragons. With crops failing, water running short and rebellion brewing, this spellbinding mystery quickly reveals a struggle for the whole kingdom. UKS2 children will be mesmerised by this tightly paced and distinctive fantasy shaped by trust, family separation and difficult choices. Highly recommended. Read our full review.
8-12 year-olds | Author’s website
What It Was Like to Be a Norman by David Long, illustrated by Stefano Tambellini
Castles, conquest and the reshaping of England provide the framework for a clear account of Norman life after 1066. Alongside rulers and battles, the book examines social order, everyday customs, ordinary people and the gradual blending of cultures that followed the invasion. Particularly accessible for 9+ readers, with a reading age of 8, this fun fact-packed guide gives young historians a concise route into both the dramatic takeover and the Normans’ lasting influence.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
Girl with a Sabretooth Tiger by Jasbinder Bilan, illustrated by Sonia Albert
Eleven-year-old Swallow lives in prehistoric England, where her community shares stories and songs around the fire. When her baby sister falls ill, she travels with her friend Ishi to seek a legendary jadeite stone, crossing seas and mountains while following a starlit path and the spirit of a sabre-toothed tiger. Perfect for children aged 8+, the short, poetic chapters and Sonia Albert’s fascinating illustrations make this a richly atmospheric adventure about a determined girl trying to save her sister. Highly recommended for KS2 classes. Read our full review.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
A Christmas Carol: The Illustrated Edition by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Chris Mould
Ebenezer Scrooge begins Christmas Eve refusing his nephew’s invitation, denying charity and begrudging his freezing clerk Bob Cratchit even a little coal. Then the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley arrives with a warning, followed by the spirits who force Scrooge to confront his past, present and possible future. This fully abridged edition for younger readers is brought vividly to life by Chris Mould’s eye-catching illustrations, including scenes rarely pictured in other editions. This atmospheric and highly engaging edition is spot on for 9+ year olds.
9+ year-olds | Author’s website
A Scrap of Moss and Magick by Helen Parry
Eleven-year-old servant girl Thirza lives in a realm where folklore, spells and strange creatures are part of the world around her. When she uncovers a dangerous secret, she is drawn into a high-stakes struggle that leaves her facing an impossible choice between saving herself and saving her best friend. For UKS2 readers, this outstanding fantasy adventure debut simmers a brew of friendship, hidden truths and unruly magick with a darker fairy-tale folklore edge. Highly recommended. Read our full review.
9-11 year-olds | Author’s website
The Raven’s Gift by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, illustrated by Tom de Freston
Harry’s world collapses when his big sister Frankie dies, and caring for the ravens outside her window becomes one small way to feel connected to her. As a storm closes in, an orphaned baby raven gives him someone else to protect while he tries to hold on to hope himself. A beautifully written and thought-provoking text for 10+ year olds, the story treats sibling grief with sensitivity and honesty, while Tom de Freston’s purple-and-black illustrations add atmosphere throughout. A breathtaking book for UKS2 and KS3 readers. Highly recommended. Read our full review.
10+ year-olds | Author’s website
Life Hack by SJ Wills, illustrated by Berat Pekmezci
A cheat link promises to improve Jay’s performance in the game Apocalypta, but the strange programme soon reaches far beyond the screen. An unsettling non-player character appears, school reality begins to twist and an injury inside the game transfers to Jay’s body. This cracking story is locked in for 11+ readers, with a reading age of 7, and carefully explores what happens when shortcuts remove the boundary between virtual danger and real consequences.
11+ year-olds | Author’s website
If We Were Cursed by Lisa M. Sylvan, illustrated by Grace Aldrich
Bellamy Fray is certain that Jules Everidge and his occultist family are frauds who exploit desperate people through séances and supposed curse-breaking, just as they did her mother before she died. Determined to expose them, Bellamy invents a curse of her own and asks the Everidges to remove it. Then unsettling things begin to happen and even Bellamy starts questioning what she believes. With Jules insisting the curse is real and loyal friend Archie offering another kind of comfort, 12+ year olds can expect gothic mystery, magic and slow-burn romantic tension.
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
Marionetta by Míriam Bonastre Tur
Julia Lazarrett values honesty and predictability, but everything changes when her best friend Kamille persuades her to visit a travelling circus. In this dark fantasy graphic novel – the first of a series – Julia is drawn into a secretive world of magic and death before being forced to accept an impossible deal in order to survive. Adapted from the Webtoon series, the opening volume combines an unsettling circus mystery with expressive artwork, dangerous supernatural forces and questions about how far Julia may have to compromise her principles. A thoroughly absorbing read, Marionetta is perfect for KS3 & KS4 libraries, and we think it’s likely to be very popular.
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
Perfect Sense by Christine Pillainayagam
Maggie, the youngest Dashwood sister, is trying to work out who she wants to be after a fire in her school’s science block leads to suspension and a move to the elite boarding school Cliveden. There she meets Theo Willoughby, makes new friends and begins receiving threatening messages from someone who knows about the fire. This contemporary continuation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility gives 12+ year olds a story about identity, friendship, family expectations, romance and reputation.
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
But I Hate Him by Page Powars
Rory is the heir to a hugely successful tutoring company and has built his identity around academic perfection. The one person he cannot seem to beat is Luca, an infuriatingly talented hockey player who keeps winning competitions without appearing to try. After Rory suffers a very public meltdown, he heads to the fiercely competitive BRAIN academic camp to restore his reputation, only to find Luca there too. This queer rivals-to-lovers romance for 14-18 year olds turns Rory’s plan to make Luca fall for him into a much more complicated contest between ambition, expectation and genuine attraction.
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
You Can Do It With a Broken Heart by Ana Sampson
Ana Sampson brings together classic and contemporary poetry about heartbreak, loss and finding a way forward. The collection ranges across writers including Emily Dickinson, Rumi, Dorothy Parker, Ada Limón, Jackie Kay and Nikita Gill, giving different voices to the messy emotions that follow a broken heart. 12+ year olds can dip into individual poems or explore the anthology more widely as a reassuring reminder that disappointment, sadness and recovery have inspired writers for generations.
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
Of Swamp & Sea Volume 1 by Mia Jay Boulton and Laurel Boulton
When a mist wolf kills Mercy Gray Harding’s father in the swampland outside town, the monster hunt she arranges with Jonah goes badly wrong. Instead of being destroyed, the incorporeal creature possesses Mercy and becomes bound to her body and mind. For more mature teen graphic novel fans, this stunning opening volume blends a search for a cure with dangerous new powers, shared memories and an uncertain attraction between Mercy and the hunter who has promised to help her. Gripping and memorable.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Age of Fury by John Stephens
A desperate letter from her missing twin, Mary, brings Caitlin Quinn across the ocean from Ballykelly to New York. Caitlin sets out to discover what has happened to her sister, while feared gangster William Furey has orders of his own to find Mary, bringing their investigations together in the city. Ideal for 14+ year old teens, this pacy and unputdownable historical crossover novel follows the pair as the search for Mary drives them deeper into New York’s criminal world. It’s a historical tour de force for teens. Highly recommended. Read our full review.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Dreamweaving by O. O. Sangoyomi
Magic runs in Deja Freeman’s family, yet she has always been told she can never become a weaver. At Tanglewood Preparatory School, she meets ambitious Tóbi Ẹkúndayọ̀, who is campaigning to become junior class president while facing the institution’s prejudice. When the girls begin sharing disturbing dreams, they uncover links between a series of deaths and the disappearance of the school’s first Black female student. Combining boarding-school mystery, witchcraft and dark academia, this fantasy is perfect for 14+ year olds.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
The Soulmate Bakery by Safa Ahmed
Kitchen witch Maya Reverie hopes a soulmate-finding cookie will finally bring some order to her life in magical Maple Falls. But chaos ensues when the enchanted cookies reach the town’s Annual Fall Bake Sale, leaving Maya dependent on Orion Hawthorne, a surly dragon-shifter and expert curse-breaker, to help undo the spell. This cosy and page-turning romantic fantasy for 14+ year olds is packed with magic, mishaps and a complicated search for true love. The first in a highly anticipated series, it’s ideal for KS4 book clubs.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
One Last Scare by Bill Wood
Cam, Jonesy, Amber and Buffy head to Chillshore, a remote island theme park where they hope to enjoy some well-earned time together. Instead, creepy cabins, gruesome discoveries and long-buried secrets turn their break into another deadly mystery. With the group unable to trust the other guests and the body count rising, this well-written and fast-moving YA horror thriller offers 14+ year olds another super tense outing with the Sanera Four. Highly recommended.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Filthy by Lucy Cuthew
Joss has never had sex, yet everyone around her seems more confident and experienced, from her older sister Edith to the people she sees online. But when she meets Griff, her determination to understand sex and desire leads her into increasingly awkward situations and forces her to question the distorted messages she has absorbed. Written entirely in verse, this candid, funny coming-of-age novel for 14+ year olds explores pornography, online misinformation, sexual curiosity, and the pressure to appear knowledgeable before feeling ready. Thoroughly absorbing from start to finish, this charmingly blunt novel is bound to be a hit with KS4 readers. Highly recommended.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Little Mice by Tara Crowe
Astra Fairwood has grown up in the Canopy Complex, where privileged citizens live free from disease and the signs of ageing thanks to plasma supplied by donors far below. When Astra loses her protected status and is sent to the Donor Zone herself, the world she has always accepted begins to look very different. Tara Crowe’s dystopian debut explores privilege, exploitation, loyalty and what happens when a carefully maintained social order starts to crack.
16+ year-olds | Author’s website
Themed day / social media opportunities for October 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.
- October is Black History Month. There are some invaluable resources from National Geographic Kids for 5-11-year-olds, videos and interactive resources for KS2, KS3 and KS4 from BBC Teach, free lesson plans for secondary schools from Stonewall, a collection of resources from the NEU, and this selection of articles and columns from The Guardian for sixth formers.
- International Walk to School Month takes place in October. There’s a wealth of information on the ‘Living Streets‘ website.
- Also, October-wide is International School Library Month. There are lots of ideas on the IASL website.
- And there’s National Poetry Day! Held on October 1st, it’s “the UK’s biggest mass-participation celebration of poetry” There are lots of ideas for schools on the official website, including a trove of resources.
- The International Day of Non-Violence on October 2nd marks Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. It could spark book club discussions about protest, civil rights, political change and the different ways characters respond to injustice.
- Word Smile Day on the first Friday of October asks everyone to commit to an act of kindness. For pastoral coordinators concerned about potential smile shaming, the Young Minds website has useful resources for schools about all forms of body image.
- World Animal Day on October 4th is a good excuse for displays and reading discussions about animal welfare, conservation and our changing relationship with wildlife.
- World Space Week runs at the start of the month and offers a free educators’ network to help inspire the next generation with the power of STEAM and space.
- World Teachers Day on October 5th is probably best celebrated by giving hardworking staff the day off. But let’s face it, in most schools, that will never happen. UNESCO has a history of the event and participation ideas on its website. UNESCO also runs the Global Media and Information Literacy Week at the end of October.
- From October 5th to 11th, Dyslexia Awareness Week takes place. The BDA has lots of ideas on its website to help schools get involved.
- The Literature for Schools programme at Cheltenham Literature Festival runs from October 9th to 18th. The programme includes a vast programme of author events covering all primary and secondary age groups. Henley Literary Festival is also running from October 2nd to 11th, and there’s an extensive programme of streamed events for schools.
- World Mental Health Day on the 10th of the month is celebrated on the mentalhealth.org.uk website, which features posts to download and free podcasts.
- International Day of the Girl on October 11th has the 2026 theme of ending child marriage and investing in girls’ rights. YA fiction and nonfiction about education, equality, choice and girls’ lives around the world could make strong discussion pairings.
- World Food Day on October 16th has the 2026 theme ‘Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.’ Food poverty, farming, climate change and sustainable food systems offer plenty of links to fiction and nonfiction, and the FAO’s poster contest is open to young people aged 5-19.
- Anti-Slavery Day on October 18th is particularly useful for KS4 and KS5 discussions about modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and exploitation, with clear links to history, citizenship and contemporary nonfiction.
- And finally, there’s Halloween on October 31st. Have a look at our Halloween books list! There are some great resources for primary and secondary schools on BBC Teach, and STEM.org.uk has some great ideas for integrating spooky themes into maths and science lessons.
Extension activities:
- Have a look at our writing competitions for October 2026.
Other recently released titles to have a look at:
- Our latest October 2026 books of the month.
- Our rundown of the best books released this autumn 2026.
- Our October 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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