How reading between the ages of 11 and 16 can help teens get better jobs | Series 1, Episode 31
Season 1, Episode 31 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for June 2025 and how reading can help teens get better jobs.
Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Susan Martineau is a British author and editor known for her wide range of educational and non-fiction books for children. With a background in publishing and journalism, she has written extensively on topics including science, language, and critical thinking. Her work aims to encourage curiosity, creativity, and analytical skills in young readers.
Martineau’s publishing career began in London, where she worked as a non-fiction editor. She later transitioned to writing, producing titles that combine engaging facts with interactive content. Her books are widely used in classrooms and at home, often featuring activities and prompts that support learning through investigation and discussion.
In 2018, Martineau won the Blue Peter Book Award for Best Book with Facts for Real-Life Mysteries, which presents unexplained phenomena in a format that encourages readers to think critically about evidence. She has also authored books such as Tell Me What It’s Like to Be Big, See for Yourself!, and Question Everything!, many of which are published by b small publishing and cater to primary-aged children.
In addition to factual texts, she has co-authored bilingual and language-learning resources, including My First 1000 Spanish Words and 50 Spanish Phrases, designed to introduce children to other languages through accessible vocabulary and illustrations.
Season 1, Episode 31 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for June 2025 and how reading can help teens get better jobs.
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.
Season 1, Episode 30 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for May 2025 and Investing in Your School Library Can Boost Your School Inspection Grade.
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.
Dinosaurs topic books for EYFS, KS1 & KS2. With books by authors including Dean Lomax, Susan Hayes, Chae Strathie, Hollie Hughes, Sophy Henn, Julia Donaldson, Matthew Reinhart and Deiter Braun.
May 2025’s book club recommendations feature titles by Sally Gardner, Aoife Dooley, Frann Preston-Gannon, Lizzie Huxley-Jones, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Ravena Guron, Tamsin Winter, and Amie Jordan.
Animals nonfiction books for children with wildlife, behaviour, conservation, endangered species, animal diversity and evolution titles by Mike Barfield, Julie Beer, Ed J Brown, Dieter Braun, Susan Martineau, Brooke Barker and Moira Butterfield.
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 2024. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Season 1, Episode 11 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for June 2023, adventure book picks and transitioning from picture books to short chapter books.
June 2023’s set of book club recommendations features an diverse range of titles by Jeanne Willis and Brian Fitzgerald, Susan Martineau, Oscar Wilde, Ritva Voutila, Stephen Mulhern and Tom Easton, Harry Heape, Cheryl Diane Parkinson, Lindsay Galvin & Joseph Coelho.
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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