Environment, climate change and eco topic books
Environment, climate change and eco topic books for EYFS, KS1, KS2 & KS3 with titles by Emma Shevah, Neal Layton, Jess French, Karen Swann, Piers Torday, Gemma Fowler, Isabel Thomas & Zillah Bethell.
Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Elizabeth Laird (born 21 October 1943) is a British author renowned for her extensive contributions to children’s and young adult literature. Her works often explore themes of displacement, resilience, and cultural identity, drawing upon her rich experiences living and working across the globe.
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, to Scottish parents, Laird moved to London in 1945. At eighteen, she embarked on her first teaching post in Malaysia, igniting a lifelong passion for travel and storytelling. She later studied French and German at the University of Bristol and furthered her education at the University of Edinburgh. Her teaching career took her to Ethiopia, where she taught English and developed a deep connection with the country’s people and culture.
Laird’s literary career encompasses over 150 books, including novels, picture books, and folk tale collections. Her debut novel, Red Sky in the Morning (1988), was inspired by her family’s experiences and was highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. Subsequent works such as Kiss the Dust (1991), Jake’s Tower (2001), and The Garbage King (2003) have been recognised for their poignant exploration of young people’s lives amidst challenging circumstances.
Her novel A Little Piece of Ground (2003), co-authored with Sonia Nimr, offers a perspective on the Palestinian experience and has been both acclaimed and discussed for its portrayal of conflict. Laird’s commitment to cultural storytelling is further exemplified by her establishment of the Ethiopian Story Collecting Project in 1996, which gathered over 300 traditional tales from various regions, later published in bilingual editions to support literacy in Ethiopian schools.
In addition to her fiction, Laird has compiled and retold numerous folk tales from countries including Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, and Somalia, aiming to preserve and share diverse narratives with young readers. Her dedication to authentic storytelling has earned her multiple awards, including the Children’s Book Award for Kiss the Dust and the Scottish Arts Council Children’s Book of the Year Award for The Garbage King. She has been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal six times.
Elizabeth Laird continues to write and engage with readers worldwide. She resides in the United Kingdom, dividing her time between London and Edinburgh, and remains an influential figure in contemporary children’s literature.
Environment, climate change and eco topic books for EYFS, KS1, KS2 & KS3 with titles by Emma Shevah, Neal Layton, Jess French, Karen Swann, Piers Torday, Gemma Fowler, Isabel Thomas & Zillah Bethell.
Kindness, empathy and love children’s books for students aged 3-12+ including titles by Laura Dockrill, Malcolm Duffy, Dan Smith, Alice Oseman, Jess McGeachin, Michael Rosen, Catherine Rayner, Satoshi Kitamura, Suma Subramaniam, Benjamin Dean, R J Palacio & more.
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.
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.
Suggested reading books for Year 6 children, aged 10-11. A selection of exciting titles aimed at boys and girls of all abilities in upper KS2. Highlighted authors include David Almond, Malorie Blackman, Nina Bawden and Charlie Higson.
Books for year 7 – our reading recommendation for 11 year olds at the start of secondary school in Year 7. There’s a selection of choices including classics, well-known authors, new titles, cult fiction and short stories. This recommended Year 7 reading list is aimed at all ability ranges.
A selection of reading books to challenge and interest Year 8 pupils – aged 12-13 – in KS3 secondary schools. Authors include Michael Morpurgo and Anne Fine.
Africa themed books for children and teens with nonfiction and fiction titles by Wakanyi Hoffman and Onyinye Iwu, Niki Daly, Ken Wilson-Max, Yaba Badoe, Wilbur Smith, Namina Forna, Wole Soyinka and more.
Playscripts for children including titles by Julia Donaldson, Roald Dahl, Louie Stowell, Alan Ayckbourn, Sarah Walden, Ted Hughes, Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Morpurgo, David Grant, Malorie Blackman, Zizou Corder, Piers Torday and Evan Placey.
Refugees and migration books for children and teens, featuring books by Erika Meza, Na’ima B. Robert, Brian Bilston, Eoin Colfer, Onjali Q. Raúf, Sita Brahmachari, Armin Greder, Michael Rosen, Ele Fountain and Malcolm Duffy.
Season 1, Episode 2 of the School Reading List podcast. With new book post, 30 great books for August 2022, a step back in time to the science fiction of Nicholas Fisk and ‘Should classrooms have wall displays?’
September 2022’s set of book club recommendations features an uplifting and inspirational collection of titles by Elena Mannion, Donna Barba Higuera, Katie Sahota, James Nicol, Deborah Chancellor, Elizabeth Laird, Kory Merrit and Richard O’Neill.
Season 1, Episode 1 of the School Reading List podcast. With new book post, 30 great books for July 2022, a step back in time to the world of Willard Price and ‘When is a quote not a quote?’
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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