Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Samareh Azardi is an author and illustrator who was born and grew up in Iran. She has a Masters in Children’s Illustration from Cambridge School of Art, and she teaches in a school for high-functioning autistic children.
Her picture book Max and the Haircut was published by Crocodile Books on 4 August 2026. The story follows Max, a little boy facing his first haircut, and centres on his sensory experience as a neurodivergent child. Samareh Azardi was also runner-up in the FAB Illustration Prize before the publication of Max and the Haircut in 2026.
Books to help teach diversity to children in KS1 and KS2 in primary schools – with characters and settings to introduce age-appropriate discussions of the diversity of culture, race, ethnicity, gender, education, disability, identity, nationality, religion, sexuality, neurodiversity, social background, and beliefs.
June 2026’s book club includes titles by Marjoke Henrichs, Philip Ardagh, Ian Eagleton, Hayley Wells, Mary Hoffman, Ros Asquith, Tony Bradman, Bec Manser, Clare Pollard, Patrick Gallagher, Jamie Gregory, Mitch Johnson & Matt Goodfellow.
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