Verse novels for children and teens
Verse novels for children and teens with titles by Sarah Crossan, Kwame Alexander, Manjeet Mann, Elizabeth Acevedo, Jason Reynolds, Sharon Creech, Dean Atta, Jacqueline Woodson, Joseph Coelho, and Ibi Zoboi.
Recommended reading books for primary and secondary aged children in the UK
Coral Rumble is a British poet and author known for her work in children’s literature. She has published several poetry collections and picture books, with her poems appearing in over 160 anthologies. Rumble’s poetry has featured in educational resources and national curriculum materials in the UK.
Her published works include Mustafa’s Jumper, My Teacher’s as Wild as a Bison, Rabbits Don’t Lay Eggs, and Things That Should Be in a Poem. She has also written The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat, a picture book inspired by Edward Lear’s classic poem.
Rumble has received several accolades for her writing. She won the Caterpillar Poetry Prize in 2018 for her poem “Mustafa’s Jumper.” Her book Things That Should Be in a Poem was shortlisted for the North Somerset Teachers’ Book Award in 2021. She has also been a recipient of the CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award) as part of an anthology.
Coral Rumble regularly visits schools and libraries to conduct poetry workshops and readings. Her poetry is included in the CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education) Poetryline resource. In 2018, she was a judge for the CLiPPA poetry award. Her poem “Mustafa’s Jumper” was published in The Caterpillar magazine and later as a picture book by Graffeg in 2020.
In 2022, Rumble’s collection Things That Should Be in a Poem was published by Troika Books.

Verse novels for children and teens with titles by Sarah Crossan, Kwame Alexander, Manjeet Mann, Elizabeth Acevedo, Jason Reynolds, Sharon Creech, Dean Atta, Jacqueline Woodson, Joseph Coelho, and Ibi Zoboi.
This suggested reading list offers lots of book choices for children aged 9 and 10. From fantasy and animal stories to mysteries and science fiction adventures, there’s something for every upper primary child. These books for Year 5 include titles suitable for inspiring both able and reluctant readers.
When Skeletons Rise is a beautifully written story about eleven-year-old Arlo, whose new Cornish home, friendships and local shipwreck history help him face family secrets and change.
Children’s books about families and adoption for children aged 2-11 in EYFS, KS1 & KS2 – including stories by Samuel Langley-Swain, Jamie Lee-Curtis, Todd Parr, Phoebe Koehler, Frank Cottrell Boyce and Justin Richardson.
Children’s and YA stories set in Cornwall with titles by Michael Morpurgo, Rosemary Manning, Daphne Du Maurier, Tom Palmer, P. D. James, Liz Kessler, Susan Cooper, Helen Dunmore, Lauren St John, and Winston Graham.
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 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!
Season 1, Episode 26 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for January 2025 and Why Discount Book Packs are a Bad Deal for Schools.
Jakub’s Otter is a lovely book that tells an all-too-common, sad story in a way that is uplifting rather than depressing or preachy. Jakub, a young carer, has the sole responsibility of looking after his mum.
November 2024’s set of book club recommendations features titles by Oliver Jeffers, Jane Chapman, Sally Gardner, Nuria Gómez Benet, Coral Rumble, Hannah Peck, A.F Steadman, Marta Palazzesi, Frances Hardinge & Rosie Talbot.
Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops, or Waterstones.com.
Keep up to date with our email newsletter and our latest social media posts about reading, children's books and literacy.
Home »