September 2025’s set of recommendations for book clubs features magical, inspiring, positive, funny, loud and downright disgusting picture books; spooky mysteries, dark fantasy, and a realistic middle grade school school story; and explosive YA secrets, lies, relationships and romantasy. September 2025’s picks include titles by Mikey Please, Saskia Gwinn, Maudie Powell-Tuck, Duncan Beedie, Yolanda T. Marshall, Cristina Cubells, Caroline Brewer, Michael Morpurgo, Susan Martineau, Lisa Williamson, Kieran Larwood, Cynthia Murphy, Anna Zoe Quirke, and Charlotte Ingham.
September 2025 book club recommendations
The Cave Downwind of the Café by Mikey Please
Glumfoot lives in a cave and sticks to the same meal every day until a new café opens nearby. Curious, he meets Rene, the friendly chef, but soon a grumpy ogre causes trouble. Glumfoot decides to help Rene, and along the way, he realises there is more to food and friendship than he expected. This picture book mixes monsters, strange dishes, and exquisitely clever solutions. Magnificent fun for 3+ year olds, this standout picture book also works well as a companion to The Café at the Edge of the Woods.
3+ year-olds | Author’s website
I See a Star by Saskia Gwinn
Two children and their cat act as guides, moving from drifting space dust to the explosive end of a supernova in Saskia Gwinn’s immersive picture book that’s ideal for early years learning. 3-5-year-olds will be engrossed by the vast scale of the universe and the familiar view of stargazing at home. Developed with Cambridge astronomer Dr Matthew Bothwell and illustrated by Daniela Sosa, this brightly illustrated large-format paperback links scientific accuracy with accessible narrative and visual explanation. Highly recommended.
3-5 year-olds | Author’s website
Hank Meets Frank by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie
Hank the goose is on his best behaviour when his cousin Frank comes to stay. Frank seems perfectly polite at first, but one prank leads to another, and soon the cousins are locked in a cheeky game of one-upmanship. Poor Hank gets the blame for most of it, of course. Packed with humour and familiar family chaos, this playful story explores the ups and downs of cousin mischief. It’s great fun to read with 3+ year olds.
3-6 year-olds | Author’s website
Brown Girl in the Snow by Yolanda T. Marshall
Amina has left the Caribbean for a snowy new home and longs for the familiar foods she grew up with. On a school trip to a greenhouse, she learns that growing plants is still possible, while her classmates share memories of crops from their own countries. Drawing on a traditional Caribbean song, the story explores identity, resilience, and belonging. Marianne Ferrer’s absorbing artwork adds warmth and vibrancy, making it a highly engaging choice for readers aged 4 to 8.
4-8 year-olds | Author’s website
This Book is Too Quiet! – You add the noise… by Cristina Cubells, illustrated by Joana Casals
Cristina Cubells and Joana Casals invite children to supply the sound effects in this highly innovative and playful book for 4-8-year-olds. Words, shapes, and symbols hint at noises from raindrops to fireworks, while some scenes leave plenty of room for developing imagination. Kitchens, storms, and bustling streets all come alive as child readers and adults can experiment with voices and sound. With its clever mix of text and lively illustration, the book turns reading into an infectious performance and encourages children to transform silence into stories full of evocative sounds. Highly recommended for EYFS and KS1.
4-8 year-olds | Author’s website
Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature by Caroline Brewer
This outstanding picture book for 7-11-year-olds tells Harriet Tubman’s life story through a series of poems paired with striking collage artwork. It follows her journey from childhood in slavery to her daring escape, her leadership on the Underground Railroad, and her service during the Civil War. The poems show how she drew strength from both nature and faith to guide others to freedom. Extra materials, such as a glossary, index, bibliography, map, and photographs, make it especially useful for KS2 lessons and primary school libraries. Highly recommended.
7-11 year-olds | Author’s website
More Tales from Shakespeare by Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo returns with a spectacular second volume of Shakespeare retellings, this time covering eight more plays, including Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello and Antony and Cleopatra. Each story is accompanied by engaging illustrations from contemporary artists such as Axel Scheffler, Emily Gravett, Ed Vere and Dapo Adeola. This hardback collection, ideal for gifting, follows the style of the first volume and offers 8+ year olds an accessible introduction to Shakespeare. Highly recommended.
8+ year-olds | Author’s website
Tales of Ghosts and Hauntings by Susan Martineau, illustrated by Vicky Barker
Susan Martineau brings together tales of hauntings and strange sightings across six themed chapters, with Vicky Barker adding some delightfully spooky illustrations. After every batch of accessible and engaging stories, a “Let’s Investigate” section encourages readers to weigh the evidence, compare different versions, and try out their own explanations. Blending folklore with facts and observations, the book nudges children to question what they read and see. It’s perfect to spark curiosity in KS2 classrooms. Highly recommended.
8-12 year-olds | Author’s website
Bigg School: Selfie Queen by Lisa Williamson
Cleo is determined to keep up her perfect, popular image, but braces throw her confidence off balance. Convinced they might even be cursed, she feels her world slipping. But when a school project pairs her with someone unexpected, she’s forced to look at herself and others differently. This accessible and fast-paced story captures the everyday pressures of school life with humour and honesty, offering situations 8-12-year-olds are highly likely to recognise and relate to.
8-12 year-olds | Author’s website
The Fate of Podkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood
Kieran Larwood’s spectacular final World of Podkin One-Ear adventure pulls together heroes and creatures from every corner of the Five Realms. In The Fate of Podkin One-Ear, Podkin must claim the legendary gifts, which fuse into armour made for him alone, before leading rabbits, wolves, wardens and more into a perilous last stand against the Gorm. With immersive illustrations by David Wyatt, this ninth and concluding volume brings the spellbinding saga of Podkin’s battles, journeys and legends to a memorable and dramatic close. Highly recommended for UKS2 and KS3.
9-12 year-olds | Author’s website
Keep Your Friends Close by Cynthia Murphy
Chloe Roberts is the Deputy Head Girl at Morton Academy and, as it turns out, part of a secret society. When her best friend betrays her, Chloe suddenly finds herself cut off and competing against former allies. Everything kicks off when a mysterious book listing student misdemeanours surfaces, somehow tied to the deaths of society members. Set in the 1990s, this explosive thriller for 12+ year olds explores trust, secrets, and school drama. KS3 readers will love it!
12+ year-olds | Author’s website
Sad Girl Hours by Anna Zoe Quirke
Saffron, a university student living with seasonal affective disorder, hides her struggles while trying to keep up with her coursework. She meets Nell, an autistic poet with POTS who thrives in autumn and winter, and the two begin ticking off a seasonal bucket list together. As their connection deepens, both navigate challenges around mental health and identity. Told from both viewpoints, this distinctive YA romance for 13+ year olds weaves in representation of depression, autism, chronic illness and diverse sexualities, celebrating love, friendship and self-acceptance. Highly recommended.
13+ year-olds | Author’s website
A Match Made in Hell by Charlotte Ingham
21-year-old Willow is thrown into the underworld, where she strikes a deal with King Sathanas: complete seven sin-themed tasks, and maybe she’ll get her life back. What follows is a twisty journey through temptation, grit, and self-discovery – with plenty of heat along the way. It’s a sharp blend of fantasy and romance that’s ideal for 14+ year olds. Think sassy soul-searching with a dark, mythic edge.
14+ year-olds | Author’s website
Themed day / social media opportunities for September 2025
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.
- September is #BackToSchoolMonth – the perfect opportunity for parents and classroom teachers to stock up on children’s books for the year ahead. Our most popular recommended book guides at the start of the school year are our lists of year 1 books, year 6 books and year 7 books.
- #WorldLetterWritingDay is held on September 1st and there are lots of ideas and sources of inspiration on the World Letter Writing Day website.
- September 13th is Roald Dahl Story Day, held on the author’s birthday each year. The day is “an annual global celebration of Roald Dahl’s marvellous stories, characters and worlds from Matilda to Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.” There are details explaining how to get involved and activity ideas on the website.
- September 15th is #OnlineLearningDay. We have a comprehensive online learning resource page with ideas and websites to support online learning.
- The Diverse Books Awards shortlist is announced. The award aims to “highlight the best of the diverse voices published in the UK & Ireland”.
- September 6th is #ReadABookDay and September 8th is UNESCO’s #InternationalLiteracyDay – both great opportunities to revitalise whole-school reading, set up a reading challenge or take part in a writing competition.
- Avast ye! Get your pirate books out and put on your best cod Cornish accents! It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19th. Perhaps arrange a teacher-sponsored talk like a pirate for the entire school day!
- September is World Kid Lit Month – “the time to discover international literature for children and young adults”. Their website contains useful resources for primary and secondary-aged students.
- September 24th is World Gorilla Day. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund has lots of ideas to generate interest or involvement, or you might decide to opt for a sponsored ‘come to school hairy’ day, or read aloud and dress up as the characters from Anthony Browne’s books.
- International Podcast Day is held on September 30th. Listen to our children’s literature podcast, which features new book reviews and previews, ‘blast from the past’ author features, current themes in literacy and English teaching and much more.
- And finally, September is #NationalSewingMonth – ideal for kick-starting an extracurricular needlework club and reading The Spell Tailors by James Nicol with your KS2 class.
Extension activities:
- Have a look at our writing competitions for September 2025.
Other recently released titles to have a look at:
- Our latest September 2025 books of the month.
- Our rundown of the best books released this autumn 2025.
- Our September 2025 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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