Books for bedtime
Books for bedtime to read to children – a selection of books by Jill Murphy, Allan Ahlberg, Maurice Sendak, Michael Rosen, Martin Waddell, Fiona Watt, Claire Freedman, and more; which are ideal for reading to children at bedtime.
Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Claire Saxby is an Australian author known for her contributions to children’s literature. She has written numerous picture books, non-fiction titles, and novels for young readers. Her works often explore themes related to nature, history, and the environment.
Saxby’s picture book Emu, illustrated by Graham Byrne, was shortlisted for the 2015 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards in the Eve Pownall Award for Information Books category. Another notable work, Big Red Kangaroo, also illustrated by Byrne, received recognition as an Honour Book in the same category in 2014.
Her book Dingo, illustrated by Tannya Harricks, won the 2019 Environment Award for Children’s Literature in the Picture Fiction category. Saxby’s collaboration with illustrator Mark Jackson on Koala was shortlisted for the 2020 CBCA Eve Pownall Award.
Claire Saxby has also authored Bird to Bird, a non-fiction title that delves into the lives of various bird species. Her work is published by several prominent publishers, including Walker Books Australia and Candlewick Press.
In addition to her writing, Saxby is involved in educational programs and workshops, sharing her expertise with students and aspiring writers. Her contributions to children’s literature have been recognised with multiple awards and nominations, highlighting her impact on young readers.
Claire Saxby’s book Iceberg, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft, won the 2021 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award, further cementing her reputation as a distinguished author in the field of children’s literature.
Books for bedtime to read to children – a selection of books by Jill Murphy, Allan Ahlberg, Maurice Sendak, Michael Rosen, Martin Waddell, Fiona Watt, Claire Freedman, and more; which are ideal for reading to children at bedtime.
The School Reading List compiles this list of recommended books monthly. This children’s and YA books of the month list highlights new releases and editions of fiction and non-fiction books suitable for children and young adults aged 2-16.
Narrative nonfiction genre books – our list includes true life stories and literary nonfiction for KS2 and KS3 by authors including Dr Christle Nwora, David Long, Roma Agrawal, Stefan Milosavljevich, Alexandra Stewart, William Grill, Britta Teckentrup and Andy Seed.
Volcanoes and earthquakes topic books for KS2. Authors include Ben Hubbard, Sophie Williams, Philip Pullman, Lauren St John, Caroline Lawrence, Anita Ganeri, Anne-Sophie Baumann and Meredith Hooper.
Ocean and sea life books for children with titles by Alex Bell, Lauren James, Jess McGeachin, Nicola Davies, Michael Morpurgo, Yuval Zommer, Britta Teckentrup and Ken Wilson-Max.
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.
Children’s books of the year 2024 – our team has picked a shortlist of great children’s and teen titles published in the last 12 months, with fiction, non-fiction and picture books for 3-18 years and a diverse range of prose, poetry and graphic novels. Vote now!
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2024. 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?’
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Our latest reading national curriculum year group recommended reading lists:
Picture books for the under 5s | Books for Reception | Books for Year 1 | Books for Year 2 | Books for Year 3 | Books for Year 4 | Books for Year 5 | Books for Year 6 | Books for Year 7 | Books for Year 8 | Books for Year 9 | Books for Year 10 | Books for Year 11