First chapter books
First chapter books for children aged 5-8 with titles by Michael Rosen, Ross Montgomery, Alex Milway, Katie Jennings, Phil Earle, Francesca Simon, Cornelia Funke, Julie Sykes, Alex T. Smith, and Harriet Muncaster.
Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Cornelia Funke is a renowned German author known for her work in children’s and young adult literature. She was born in Dorsten, West Germany. Funke initially pursued a career in education, studying pedagogy at the University of Hamburg. She later worked as a social worker, focusing on children from deprived backgrounds. This experience inspired her to begin writing stories for young readers.
Funke’s breakthrough came with the publication of The Thief Lord in 2000, which won the prestigious German Children’s Book Award. The novel was later translated into English and became a bestseller in the United States. Her success continued with the Inkheart trilogy, starting with Inkheart in 2003, followed by Inkspell in 2005, and Inkdeath in 2007. The series has been translated into multiple languages and adapted into a feature film.
In addition to the Inkheart series, Funke has written numerous other books, including the Reckless series, which began with Reckless: The Petrified Flesh in 2010. Her works often feature elements of fantasy and adventure, appealing to a wide range of young readers.
Funke has received several awards for her contributions to literature, including the Book Sense Book of the Year Award in 2004 for Inkheart. Her books have sold millions of copies worldwide, establishing her as a significant figure in children’s literature.
In 2005, Time magazine named her among the 100 most influential people in the world. Cornelia Funke continues to write and publish, captivating audiences with her imaginative storytelling and richly developed characters.
First chapter books for children aged 5-8 with titles by Michael Rosen, Ross Montgomery, Alex Milway, Katie Jennings, Phil Earle, Francesca Simon, Cornelia Funke, Julie Sykes, Alex T. Smith, and Harriet Muncaster.
This suggested reading list offers lots of books choices for 9 and 10 year olds. From fantasy to animal stories and mysteries to science fiction adventure, there’s something for every upper primary child. These books for Year 5 include titles suitable for inspiring both able and reluctant readers.
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.
Book series for children and teens to encourage reading for pleasure, including titles by Dominic Sandbrook, Liz Pichon, Harriet Muncaster, Kevin & Katie Tsang, Marie Lu Robert Muchamore and Jason Reynolds.
A 100 question quiz with a festive Christmas round for children aged 7-11 in KS2. Genres include fantasy, historical, mystery, adventure and picture books. This literacy quiz is ideal for end of term school activities, family fun in the holiday, or something for your children to do at your local library.
20 pirate books for children interested in life on the high seas and primary schools looking for pirate books for cross curricular topics. Authors include James Davies, Celia Rees, Neil Gaiman, Lindsay Eagar, Derek Keilty, Cornelia Funke, and Philip Ardagh.
Looking for a travel destination to engage your children? How about a location from a favourite children’s book, or an actual landmark or building which inspired a magical or legendary setting from a story? Here’s a list of top holiday spots with literary themes.
The Colour of Revenge is an amazing, original, and exciting book, which draws the reader in and takes them on a fascinating journey with so many twists, turns, and unexpected cliff-hangers that it is almost impossible to put down.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2024. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels, poetry and non-fiction.
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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