When Shadows Fall Sita Brahmachari Kai, Orla and Zak grew up together, their days spent on the patch of wilderness in between their homes, a small green space in a sprawling grey city. Music, laughter and friendship bind them together and they have big plans for their future – until Kai’s family suffers a huge loss. Trying to cope […] Environment/Climate Change, Fiction, Friendship, Migration/ Refugees, Personal/social issues AGES: 12-14 AGES: 14+ The Sound of Everything Rebecca Henry The Sound of Everything is a heart-felt coming of age story for all those who struggle to feel like they deserve love. Betrayal, rejection, violence Kadie has known it all. She’s tough and prepared for everything. Everything except love. Kadie has has just arrived in yet another foster home. She trusts no one and lives […] Communication, Family, Friendship, Growing Up & the Facts of Life, Love, Violence AGES: 12-14 AGES: 14+ Second Best Friend Non Pratt Jade and Becky have always been best friends; inseparable and often indistinguishable. They’re not quite chalk and cheese, but are quite different: Jade is outgoing, swinging from one crush to another, and likes a good party. Becky’s quieter, not interested in relationships, and prefers to stay in. Jade’s never really noticed the differences before, but […] Friendship, Love, Romantic, School/ Learning AGES: 12-14 AGES: 14+ The Hoppameleon Paul Geraghty When the world is still quite young, there was a sleepy, slurpy swamp. And in it swam a very odd-looking creature . . . As he makes his way in the world, this very odd-looking creature, with a long sticky tongue, who can hunt like a chameleon and sing like a parrot, isn’t quite sure […] Emotion/ Feelings, Friendship, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Rabunzel Gareth P Jones & Loretta Schauer A uniquely silly and rebellious twist on a favourite fairy tale – with a fabulously foiled cover! “Rabunzel, Rabunzel, let down your ears!…” Rabunzel has a teeny tufty tail, a twitchy nose and two wide brown eyes. She also has VERY long ears – so long that her mother worries they will make her easy […] Fairy tales and folk tales, Fiction, Friendship, Funny, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Cookie and the Most Annoying Girl in the World Konnie Huq In her second brilliantly funny story, science-mad Cookie is ready to save the planet! When Cookie finds herself with two tickets to see popstar Aliana Tiny, Suzie Ashby suddenly wants to be her best friend. One small problem – Suzie is the most annoying girl in the world. UGH! So how is that Cookie manages […] Adventure, Fiction, Friendship, Funny AGES: 10-12 AGES: 7-10 The Fantastic Book of Feelings Marcia Williams How do you feel today? Whether you’re happy, sad or anything in-between, this book is the perfect guide to understanding and celebrating all your feelings! In colourful comic-strip stories, explore a whole range of emotions and discover ways to cope when any feeling becomes overwhelming. Packed with top tips for mental wellbeing and a first […] Communication, Emotion/ Feelings, Empathy, Friendship, Non-fiction, Personal/social issues, School/ Learning AGES: 7-10 The Remarkable Pigeon Dorien Brouwers When a pigeon visits the aviary, he feels very inferior to all of the other species of birds he encounters, with their colourful plumage and magnificent wingspans. But eventually the pigeon realises that he has something the other birds don’t – his freedom! The Remarkable Pigeon is a thought-provoking and stunningly-illustrated picture book that will […] Animals, Friendship, Growing Up & the Facts of Life, Personal/social issues, Picture Books, School/ Learning AGES: 3-7 Magnificent! Laura Dockrill & Ria Dastidar A joyfully illustrated poem about embracing the differences that make us all special! Writer Laura Dockrill‘s rhyming poem is a bold, brave shout-out for all those children who feel they don’t fit in – offering reassurance that it’s difference not sameness, that makes us magnificent. Magnificent! was edited by Emily Ball and art directed by […] Disability, Emotion/ Feelings, Friendship, Personal/social issues, Poetry AGES: 3-7 In Her Element Jacinta Read & Jamila Gavin Faced with a whole new life far away from home, Sophie finds it hard to make friends – until a shared passion for water helps someone else come to terms with their disability. In Her Element’s deep-dive into Sophie’s world offers a rare opportunity for young readers to see through the eyes of a […] Disability, Emotion/ Feelings, Fiction, Friendship, Personal/social issues, Water AGES: 10-12 Swallow’s Kiss Jane Ray & Sita Brahmachari When Blessing finds a lost bag of paper birds she follows a trail of hopes and wishes to the community who made them, in this lyrical, free-verse tale about kindness and friendship. Filled with light, love and birdsong, Swallow’s Kiss is a wonderfully uplifting story that explores the common threads that connect our communities, […] Faith/ Culture, Family, Fiction, Friendship, Identity, Migration/ Refugees, Multicultural/international AGES: 7-10 Forbidden Anjali Tiwari & Danica Da Silva Pereira Two girls with very different lives are drawn into a passionate friendship — and bound by a desire to break the taboos that divide them. Forbidden is a heartbreaking short story set in India. Forbidden was edited by Clare Whitston and art directed by Holly Fulbrook at Oxford University Press. Forbidden is part of the […] Emotion/ Feelings, Family, Fiction, Friendship, Personal/social issues AGES: 10-12 The Night Bus Hero Onjali Q. Rauf From Onjali Q. Rauf, the award-winning and best-selling author of The Boy at the Back of the Class , comes another incredible story, told with humour and heart. ‘The boy’s an absolute menace.’ ‘He’s a bully. A lost cause!’ ‘Why can’t he be more like his sister?’ I’ve been getting into trouble for as long […] Bullying, Emotion/ Feelings, Fiction, Friendship, Personal/social issues, School/ Learning AGES: 7-10 The Longest Strongest Thread Inbal Leitner ‘We are moving to a new home, where the lakes freeze in winter. I am visiting my Grandma to say goodbye.’ The little girl in this story loves visiting her Grandma’s sewing studio and watching her make things, and is worried about leaving Grandma behind and not being able to see her. Grandma re-assures her […] Family, Friendship, Historical, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Along Came a Different Tom McLaughlin Reds love being red. Yellows love being yellow. And Blues love being blue. The problem is that they just don’t like each other. But one day, along comes a different colour who likes Reds, Yellows and Blues, and suddenly everything starts to change. Maybe being different doesn’t mean you can’t be friends … A very […] Fiction, Friendship, Picture Books, Prejudice, Racism AGES: 3-7 Emily Lime, Librarian Detective: The Pencil Case Dave Shelton It’s the start of a brand new term at St Rita’s School for Spirited Girls, and that means big changes all round – starting with the school’s brand new headteacher, Miss Woolley, who seems to be severely underestimating just what a riotous bunch the St Rita’s pupils are. And when Emily Lime – the fabulously […] Fiction, Friendship, Funny, School/ Learning AGES: 7-10 Ash Mistry and the World of Darkness – The Ash Mistry Chronicles Book 3 Sarwat Chadda Book three in the incredible action-adventure trilogy about Ash Mistry, reluctant hero and living weapon of the death goddess Kali. Ash Mistry is in a world of pain. A parallel world in fact, where another version of him seems to be living his life, and the evil Lord Savage – now all-powerful and adored by […] Adventure, Family, Fantasy/ Supernatural, Fiction, Friendship, Myths and Legends, Religion AGES: 10-12 Arrowhead Ruth Eastham When thirteen-year-old Jack moves to Norway, he’s sure there’s no truth in the local myths and legends. But then he comes face to face with one: the body of a Norse warrior boy, frozen in the ice, and carrying with him an ancient arrowhead – that contains a terrible curse. If Jack’s going to survive, […] Adventure, Fantasy/ Supernatural, Fiction, Friendship, Historical, Myths and Legends AGES: 12-14 A Little Bit of Courage Claire Alexander In this follow-up to the beloved picture book A Little Bit Different, the Ploofers are back for a heartwarming exploration of fear and finding courage. The Ploofers have just learnt a valuable lesson in celebrating differences and trying new things. They’ve been practising something very special again and this time it requires extra teamwork… But […] Communication, Emotion/ Feelings, Friendship, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 The Little Crayon Amelia Kai & Jamie Beard Little Crayon is neither Blue like its mummy, nor is it yellow like its daddy. One day, it’s asked to make an impossible choice that leaves the poor crayon confused and in doubt of its identity. The Little Crayon is a touching story about family, friendship and self-love, brought to life by vibrant colours and […] Family, Friendship, Identity, Multicultural/international, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Oof Makes an Ouch Duncan Beedie Oof and Pib come from an ancient tribe. They know hardly any words – in fact they only know how to say their own names – but it doesn’t stop them from being the best of friends and doing everything together . . . Until Oof starts inventing all sorts of NEW words, and Pib […] Animals, Friendship, Funny, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Luna Loves Art Fiona Lumbers & Joseph Coelho At the gallery, Luna is transfixed by the famous art, but her classmate Finn doesn’t seem to want to be there at all. Finn's family doesn't look like the one in Henry Moore's 'Family Group' sculpture, but then neither does Luna's. Maybe all Finn needs is a friend. Creating art/ Imagination, Emotion/ Feelings, Empathy, Family, Friendship, Marriage/ Divorce, Picture Books, School/ Learning AGES: 3-7 AGES: 7-10 Indigo Donut Patrice Lawrence Seventeen-year-old Indigo has had a tough start in life, having grown up in the care system after her dad killed her mum. Bailey, also seventeen, lives with his parents in Hackney and spends all his time playing guitar or tending to his luscious ginger afro. When Indigo and Bailey meet at sixth form, serious sparks […] Adventure, Crime/ Thriller, Family, Fiction, Friendship, Love, Personal/social issues, Romantic AGES: 14+ Snap Patrice Lawrence When Soraya’s younger brother Farhad runs off into the freezing night, Soraya and her friend, Austin, are in a race against time to find him. High above the streets, Farhad’s guilt closes in. He doesn’t want to be found. A story of two friends, one missing boy and a secret as precious as gold. Family, Fiction, Friendship, Personal/social issues AGES: 12-14 Diver’s Daughter: A Tudor Story Patrice Lawrence Eve Cartright is a young black girl growing up with her mum in London in the late 16th century. Life is tough, Eve is almost always hungry, and they always seem to be just one step away from gruesome poverty, despite her hard-working mum’s best efforts. When Eve nearly drowns and her mum’s expert diving to […] Adventure, Family, Fear, Fiction, Friendship, Historical Fiction, Migration/ Refugees, Politics/human rights AGES: 10-12 The Red Beast: Controlling Anger in Children with Asperger’s Syndrome Kay Al-Ghani Deep inside everyone, a red beast lies sleeping. When it is asleep, the red beast is quite small, but when it wakes up, it begins to grow and grow. This is the story of a red beast that was awakened. Rufus is in the school playground when his friend John kicks a […] Family, Friendship, Personal/social issues, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Baby Blue Has the Blues Kay Al-Ghani This colorfully illustrated book tells the story of a baby Blue Whale, who longs to be included among the other creatures of the ocean, but is shunned because he is ‘different.’ The fish make fun of his size and won’t let him join in their games. However, when danger lurks in the form of a […] Animals, Bullying, Emotion/ Feelings, Empathy, Friendship, Picture Books, Water AGES: 3-7 The Last Zoo Sam Gayton Pia lives on the last zoo: a floating armada that houses the strangest collection of creatures the world’s ever seen, from genies to mirror-orangutans to hummingdragons. Collectively called ‘voilas’, they each have a special ability, and everyone hopes these will help save the world from environmental catastrophe. Pia looks after the angels, their greatest hope. […] Adventure, Animals, Fantasy/ Supernatural, Fiction, Friendship, Funny, Magic, Mystery/murder AGES: 10-12 AGES: 12-14 Hercufleas Sam Gayton Greta needs a new hero to defeat Yuk, a giant who keeps returning to her town to eat people. Many heroes have tried and failed in the past. Then she discovers Hercufleas who, more than anything, would love an adventure. Trouble is, Hercufleas is tiny, but what he lacks in brute strength he makes up […] Adventure, Animals, Fairy tales and folk tales, Family, Fiction, Friendship AGES: 7-10 His Royal Whiskers Peter Cottrill & Sam Gayton The bloodthirsty Czar of Petrossia is boiling mad. Despite the protection of his poodle Bloodbath, and his fearsome War Council, two scruffy children have turned his son into a fluffy-wuffy kitten. But Pieter and Teresa are no ordinary children – Pieter is a master mathemagician and Teresa an imaginative alchemist. Their second potion makes the […] Adventure, Fairy tales and folk tales, Fantasy/ Supernatural, Fiction, Friendship, Magic AGES: 10-12 Old Dog, New Tricks Bali Rai When the Singh family move into a new house, their neighbour Mick is far from welcoming. He’s mean to everyone and his racist beliefs make living next door to him hard for the Singhs. But Harvey is convinced that Mick just needs help and that he’s the one to do it – he just needs […] Family, Fiction, Friendship, Racism AGES: 12-14 Soccer Squad: Starting Eleven Bali Rai The local youth club are putting an under-elevens squad together – and Dal, Chris, Abs and Jason are determined to be picked.They know they’re the best players in their school – but what if that isn’t good enough and they don’t make the team? Dal knows he’d be gutted if his mates made it and […] Fiction, Friendship, Sports AGES: 10-12 Wake Up Do Lydia Lou! Karen George A little ghost tries to give Lydia Lou a scare . . . but he can’t even wake her up. So he fetches his noisy animal friends to help! Mew! Moo! Too-whit too-whoo! Wake up do, Lydia Lou! Will anything ever wake her? A gentle and playful bedtime read from Julia Donaldson, the author of […] Adventure, Animals, Bedtime, Friendship, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Can You See Me? Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott Tally is eleven years old and she’s just like her friends. Well, sometimes she is. If she tries really hard to be. Because there’s something that makes Tally not the same as her friends. Something she can’t cover-up, no matter how hard she tries: Tally is autistic. Tally’s autism means there are things that […] Emotion/ Feelings, Empathy, Family, Fiction, Friendship, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Special Needs AGES: 10-12 AGES: 12-14 Karate Kids Holly Sterling Join Maya and all her friends as they get together at the dojo for their Saturday karate class! There are moves to remember, blocks to practise, and punches to perfect! Maya is a white belt, which means she’s still a beginner, but with focus, balance and determination – and a little helping hand from her […] Friendship, Picture Books, Sports AGES: 3-7 King Otter Jane Porter When an adorable otter finds a box filled with fancy clothes and a crown, he declares himself King Otter, ruler of his riverside realm. He wastes no time in ordering his loyal subjects to throw him the biggest, grandest parade in history! But will this be a party to remember, or will the King’s bossy […] Animals, Creating art/ Imagination, Friendship, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 The Boy Who Loved Everyone Jane Porter “I love you,” Dimitri tells everyone, from his friends at nursery to the big tree in the playground. But why does no one say it back? Dimitri worries no one loves him – until he finds out there are lots of different ways love can spread through the world. A touching and uplifting story, […] Friendship, Love, Nature/ Outdoors, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Ivy and the Lonely Raincloud Katie Harnett When the scorching hot sun scares the rainclouds away, it leaves one lonely little cloud behind. The raincloud is sad as he has no friends. He joins dogs in the park, hovers over busy shoppers in the town and visits a wedding party, emerging from a church. Nobody wants to play with him. Then he […] Emotion/ Feelings, Fiction, Friendship, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Archie Snufflekins Cat Katie Harnett Archie, Cupcake, Oliver, Valentine… the cat who lives on Blossom Street is called something different by everyone, and loved by all. But there is one house on the street that he hasn’t visited yet… In this sweet story, Katie Harnett explores how one well-loved cat can change a lonely woman’s life and bring a small […] Animals, Fiction, Friendship, Funny, Growing Up & the Facts of Life, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 The Boy Who Loved Everyone Maisie Paradise Shearring “I love you,” Dimitri tells everyone, from his friends at nursery to the big tree in the playground. But why does no one say it back? Dimitri worries no one loves him – until he finds out there are lots of different ways love can spread through the world. Communication, Fiction, Friendship, Learning, Love, Picture Books, Self-discovery AGES: 3-7 The Happy Prince Maisie Paradise Shearring A Tale by Oscar Wilde. Illustrated and adapted by Maisie Paradise Shearring. In a town where a lot of poor people suffer and where there are a lot of miseries, a swallow who was left behind after his flock flew off to Egypt for the winter, meets the statue of the late ‘Happy Prince’, […] Adventure, Animals, Emotion/ Feelings, Empathy, Fairy tales and folk tales, Faith/ Culture, Fiction, Friendship, Picture Books, Values/ Virtues AGES: 3-7 Anna and Otis Maisie Paradise Shearring Anna and Otis the snake are great friends and they love having fun together. But Otis knows people are scared of snakes, so he usually just plays at home or in the garden. He is nervous when Anna suggests a new adventure. At first people are afraid, and Otis feels he isn’t welcome in […] Adventure, Emotion/ Feelings, Fear, Fiction, Friendship, Funny, Growing Up & the Facts of Life, Identity, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 You Make Me Happy! Smriti Prasadam-Halls In this delightfully optimistic and uplifting observance of that special someone who makes you happy, Fox and Porcupine discover that when they’re together, life is ever so much brighter. Gorgeous, fun, and full of heart, this is the perfect gift for that sweet ray of light in your life. You make me happy, you make […] Animals, Emotion/ Feelings, Fiction, Friendship, Picture Books, Poetry AGES: 3-7 Don’t Make Me Cross! Smriti Prasadam-Halls I’m a little monster, I am smiley, small and sweet, With gorgeous little monster eyes and furry monster feet. There’s just one thing that you should know . I have to be the boss. And if you don’t remember . I’ll get very VERY CROSS! It’s Little Monster’s birthday and his friends are coming […] Celebration, Emotion/ Feelings, Family, Friendship, Growing Up & the Facts of Life, Monsters, Picture Books, Poetry AGES: 3-7 Mouse & Mole James Mayhew What will Mouse and Mole find to do tomorrow? They set out their plan: a picnic of cheese and cucumber sandwiches if it is a fine day, or roasted chestnuts and toasted muffins in front of an apple wood fire if it is wild and wintry. But what will they do if it is an […] Adventure, Animals, Fiction, Friendship, Funny, Nature/ Outdoors AGES: 3-7
