Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Alex Frith is a British author of children’s non-fiction who has written more than fifty titles for Usborne Publishing since 2005. His work covers a broad range of topics, including science, technology, politics, mythology and space. Notable titles include See Inside Your Head, Stories of Thor, Politics for Beginners, See Inside Inventions and 100 Things to Know About Space.
Frith’s book See Inside Inventions was shortlisted for the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize in 2012, and 100 Things to Know About Space was shortlisted in 2017. He has appeared at literary and science festivals to discuss his books and has a particular interest in comics and graphic storytelling. In 2022, he co-authored his first full-length graphic non-fiction title, Two Heads: A Graphic Exploration of How Our Brains Work with Other Brains, published by Bloomsbury in the UK and Scribner in the US.
Alex Frith’s books remain in print and have been translated into numerous languages worldwide. His most recent milestone is the publication of Two Heads in 2022.
Space books for children and teens with titles by Tim Peake, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chris Hadfield, Margot Lee Shetterly, Pippa Goodhart, Louie Stowell, Isabel Thomas, Katie Mack, and Chanda Prescod-Weinstein.
Our list of books to encourage children’s critical and creative thinking skills through reading. Featuring specifically selected fiction and nonfiction texts by authors including Oliver Jeffers, Alice James, Alex Frith, Petr Horáček, Hannah Peck, John Condon, Leo Timmers and The School of Life.
Children’s book news for June 2026: reading enjoyment rises but gaps widen, with IBC book boxes, Bookstart picks, AI findings, awards, festivals and new inclusive school resources.
Books for children about politicians, big egos and influencers with titles by Michael Rosen, Hans Christian Andersen, L. Frank Baum, Beverley Naidoo, Elle McNicoll, Yomi Adegoke, Rebecca F. Kuang, Naomi Klein, Jon Ronson, and Maria Ressa.
Books about AI and AI ethics for children and teens with titles by Malorie Blackman, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Peter Brown, Neal Shusterman, Philip K. Dick, Marie Lu, Hannah Fry, Cathy O’Neil, Laura Bates, and Kazuo Ishiguro.
Politics books for children and teens including titles by Michael Rosen, Alastair Campbell, Kamala Harris, Amanda Li, Tim Marshall, Malala Yousafzai, George Orwell, Axie Oh and many more.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in spring 2026. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2025. These reading recommendations include picture books, poetry, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Spring 2025. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Season 1, Episode 3 of the School Reading List podcast. With new book post, 30 great books for September 2022, a step back in time to the historical fiction of Rosemary Sutcliff and ‘Does reading decline in secondary schools?’
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out this Autumn. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
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