Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Andy Shepherd is a British author known for her children’s books. She gained recognition with her debut series, The Boy Who Grew Dragons, which was first published by Piccadilly Press in 2018. The series follows the adventures of a young boy who discovers a dragon fruit tree in his garden, leading to unexpected and magical events.
The series includes several titles, such as The Boy Who Grew Dragons, The Boy Who Lived with Dragons, The Boy Who Flew with Dragons, The Boy Who Dreamed of Dragons, and The Boy Who Sang with Dragons. These books have been well-received for their imaginative storytelling and engaging characters.
Andy’s work has been translated into multiple languages, reaching a wide audience of young readers around the world. Her books have been praised for their creativity and ability to capture the imagination of children.
In addition to her writing, Andy Shepherd is involved in various literary events and school visits, where she shares her passion for storytelling and encourages children to explore their own creativity.
The Wood Where Stories Sing follows Iggy, Cal and Mae as green magic, torrential rain and threatened trees draw them into a gentle but powerful story about friendship, memories and protecting the woods.
July 2026’s book club includes titles by Angie Morgan, David Litchfield, Alex Milway, Andy Shepherd, Valerie Bloom, Pamela Butchart, Radhika Sanghani, Christopher Edge, Melinda Salisbury, E. Kennedy, and Amber Hamilton.
Suggested reading books for Year 3 children, aged 7-8. A diverse and interesting range of exciting titles aimed at children of all abilities in lower KS2 including books by Roald Dahl, Jacqueline Wilson, Zanib Mian and Tony Bradman.
Christmas topic books with fiction and nonfiction suitable for children in EYFS, KS1 & KS2 including titles by Raymond Briggs, Fiona Watt, Dawn Casey, Kate Saunders Graham Oakley and Catherine Doyle.
A selection of reading books for Year 2 to challenge and interest children aged 6-7 in KS1 classes in UK primary schools. Authors include Eoin Colfer, Clotilde Perrin, Michael Rosen and Enid Blyton.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2026. These reading recommendations include picture books, poetry, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Children’s book news for August 2025: classroom reading picks, prize winners, nature writing, humour awards, YA headlines, festivals, and policy moves shaping libraries and school resources.
Children’s book news for June 2025: award winners, new releases, book sales trends, and key updates for UK teachers and parents. Find highlights from poetry and fiction to inclusive books and literacy campaigns.
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.
Storybooks online – here’s our curated collection of video online stories read by authors including Cressida Cowell, Aisha Bushby, Alex Wheatle, Catherine Bruton, Sita Brahmachari, Malorie Blackman, Michael Rosen and more.
The Wood Where Magic Grows is a brilliant story that uses the trees alongside the newly forming relationships within Iggy’s family as metaphors for the changes we all face as we navigate our ever-evolving daily lives.
October 2022’s set of book club recommendations features a range of thought-provoking titles by Marie G. Rohde, Jairo Buitrago, Ole Könnecke, Andy Shepherd & Sara Ogilvie, Stephen Mulhern, Benjamin Read & Laura Trinder, Tom Knight, and Scott Lauder & David Ross.
The Boy Who Dreamed of Dragons – the latest in the series of dragon books by Andy Shepherd – is a real winner. A believable story, set in a familiar and homely world where young readers will feel assured.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2020. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Each month, the School Reading List compiles a list of recommended books and on this page, we feature an archive of recommendations for picture books, fiction, and nonfiction from previous years.
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