Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Aoife Dooley is an Irish writer, illustrator, and comedian whose work includes books for children and young readers. She has worked as a freelance illustrator for more than twelve years and has also created commercial work for brands including Guinness, Aldi, Vodafone, Jameson, and Sky.
Her children’s graphic novel series Frankie’s World began with the first volume in 2022. The book was published by Scholastic in the UK and by Graphix in the United States. A second volume, Finding My Voice, followed in 2023.
Dooley has stated that Frankie’s World draws on her own experience of growing up autistic. According to her official site, the series has been translated into seven languages.
Her earlier children’s books include 123 Ireland! and ABC Ireland!. In 2019, 123 Ireland! won the An Post Irish Book Award for Children’s Book of the Year – Junior.
In 2023, Frankie’s World won the Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year category at The Week Junior Book Awards.
Primary to secondary school transition books including titles by Matt Goodfellow, Anne Fine, Katie Kirby, Rosie Jones, Lisa Williamson, Libby Scott, Rebecca Westcott, Jeffrey Boakye, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, and Tolá Okogwu.
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.
Season 1, Episode 31 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for June 2025 and how reading can help teens get better jobs.
May 2025’s book club recommendations feature titles by Sally Gardner, Aoife Dooley, Frann Preston-Gannon, Lizzie Huxley-Jones, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Ravena Guron, Tamsin Winter, and Amie Jordan.
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