Recommended reading books for primary and secondary aged children in the UK
Hélène Druvert is a French illustrator, paper engineer, and author known for her intricate laser-cut books for children and young readers. She studied textile design at the Duperré School of Applied Arts in Paris. Druvert has collaborated with several publishers, including Thames & Hudson and Éditions La Martinière Jeunesse.
Her notable works include Paris Up, Up and Away (2015), Mary Poppins: Up, Up and Away (2016), Ocean: A Visual Miscellany (2018), and Anatomy: A Cutaway Look Inside the Human Body (2016). Druvert’s books often feature detailed paper cut-outs and interactive elements, combining illustration with paper engineering.
She has received recognition for her work, including the Prix Sorcières in 2016 for Paris s’envole (the French edition of Paris Up, Up and Away). Her books have been translated into multiple languages and published internationally. In 2020, she published New York Melody, further expanding her portfolio of city-themed laser-cut books.
Hélène Druvert’s Ocean: A Visual Miscellany was shortlisted for the 2019 English Association 4-11 Picture Book Awards. Her work continues to be published by major international publishers.
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.
Summer reading challenge – A good reading challenge will not only promote reading and encourage reading for pleasure, but it will encourage a reading culture to spread like a virus throughout your school. Updated for 2026.
Children’s books to read over the weekend including picture books by Sophy Henn, Josh Lacey, Maz Evans, Ben Miller, Zillah Bethell, Emily Critchley, Eliza Berkowitz, Phil Earle and more.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2021. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
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