Ages 7–8
Year 3 reading list
Longer stories, first series and topic books for lower KS2 readers finding what they like.
Adventure
The Boy Who Grew Dragons
Andy Shepherd
Young Tomas discovers that a strange plant in his grandfather's garden grows dragons. Adventure fantasy for middle grade readers.
The Nothing to See Here Hotel
Steven Butler
Welcome to The Nothing to See Here Hotel! A hotel for magical creatures, where weird is normal for Frankie Banister and his parents who run the hotel. When a goblin messenger arrives at The Nothing to See Here Hotel, announcing the imminent arrival of the goblin prince Grogbah, Frankie and his family rush into action to get ready for their important guest. But it soon becomes obvious that the Banister family are going to have their work cut out with the demanding prince and his never-ending entourage, especially when it turns out the rude little prince is hiding a secret...
The Wild Robot
Peter Brown
When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a fierce storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants. As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home--until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.
Accidental Trouble Magnet
Zanib Mian
Welcome, readers, to the imaginative brain of Omar! You might not know me yet, but once you open the pages of this book you'll laugh so hard that snot will come out of your nose (plus you might meet a dragon and a zombie - what more could you want?). My parents decided it would be a good idea to move house AND move me to a new school at the same time. As if I didn't have a hard enough time staying out of trouble at home, now I've also got to try and make new friends. What's worse, the class bully seems to think I'm the perfect target. At least Eid's around the corner which means a feast (YAY) and presents (DOUBLE YAY). Well, as long as I can stay in Mum and Dad's good books long enough...
Wildsmith: Into the Dark Forest
Liz Flanagan
When war threatens her beloved city, Rowan and her mother must flee to the Dark Forest, meeting Grandpa and his white wolf Arto for the first time. Though she misses her father, Rowan makes new friends - including a trio of powerful witches. When she rescues a baby dragon from poachers, she discovers the secret of her own identity: Rowan is a wildsmith! Fostering a whole clutch of dragons, the summer speeds by. But when danger threatens, Rowan and her grandpa must call on all their friends for help.
Angel on the Roof
Shirley Hughes
In this heartwarming Christmas story, by celebrated author Shirley Hughes, a young boy called Lewis Brown is looking out of a window and wishing that someone might notice him. Then he spots a single golden feather floating down from the heavens and discovers an angel on the roof. And so begins a great friendship, as the angel takes Lewis under his wing on an adventure that will change everything, and allow Lewis, his family and his friends, to start to see the world around them for the better.
The Abominables
Eva Ibbotson
How do you smuggle a family of yetis from Tibet to England? When Agatha Farlingham is kidnapped by a yeti on a mountain in Tibet, she soon discovers that the hairy monster is clever and noble. His children are in danger from the modern world and he needs her help. She sends them on a top-secret journey to England and the safety of her ancestral home. But first she must teach them some manners. . .
Animals
The Bee Is Not Afraid of Me: A Book of Insect Poems
Isabel Galleymore
Can you imagine a world without bees? Have you ever thought about how dung beetles are awesome recyclers? Insects pollinate, recycle and are an important food source for many animals they're tiny but mighty superheroes of the animal kingdom. Insect Poems is an anthology of wild and wonderful children's poems which will educate and excite youngsters about the wonders of insects!
Willa and old Miss Annie
Berlie Doherty
When she moves with her parents to a new home far away, Willa is convinced that she'll never have friends again until she meets Old Miss Annie who introduces her to a lonely goat, a forgotten pony, and an orphaned fox.
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark:
Jill Tomlinson
Plop, the Baby Barn Owl, is like every Barn Owl there ever was, except for one thing – he is afraid of the dark. "Dark is nasty" he says and so he won't go hunting with his parents. Mrs Barn Owl sends him down from his nest-hole to ask about the dark and he meets a little boy waiting for the fireworks to begin, an old lady, a scout out camping, a girl who tells him about Father Christmas, a man with a telescope and a black cat who takes him exploring. Perhaps there is magic in the dark after all …
The Search for Carmella
Chloe Savage
A stunning tale where myth meets science and magic. Ever since Dr Rose was a little girl paddling in rock pools, she has always loved the sea and exploring the weird and wonderful creatures living there. Now, as a marine biologist, Dr Rose is in search of a sea creature rumoured to reside within its hidden depths; one that many speak of, but no one has ever seen – Carmella. With her team of scientists and explorers, she will descend to the unfathomable dark of the deep ocean in a slick submersible, to discover the incredible, and almost unbelievable, creatures that inhabit a nearly pitch-black world.
Picasso Perkins
Adele Geras
Life becomes very difficult for Perkins when Lexie decides she's going to do a picture of him for a "Paint Your Pet" competition. All he wants is a bit of peace and quiet but to his surprise he finds that he too can be creative.
Chapter Books
Monster Ate My Packed Lunch!
Pamela Butchart
Tree and the River
Aaron Becker
The Girl Who Became a Fish
Polly Ho-Yen
Ita is afraid of lots of things. She's afraid of talking to her classmates at her new school. She's afraid of walking through her new town. But most of all she is afraid of water. When one day she realises the river in her new town turns her into a fish, she is forced to face up to her fears. In doing so, can she bring her family together again? With themes of change, and deftly tackling the topic of fear for younger readers, this is another heart-warming and beautifully-written early reader by Polly Ho-Yen, filled with charming artwork by Sojung Kim-McCarthy.
Planet Omar Accidental Trouble Magnet.
Zanib Mian
Charlie Changes into a Chicken
Sam Copeland
Charlie McGuffin has an incredible secret . . . He can change into animals. All sorts of animals: a flea, a pigeon, even a rhino. Trouble is, he can’t decide when – it only happens when he gets worried. And right now, Charlie has quite a lot to worry about: * His brother (who is in hospital) * His parents (who are panicking about it) * And the school bully (who has Charlie in his sights) And even though every kid wants a superhero power, Charlie isn’t keen on changing into a chicken in the middle of the school play. So with the help of his three best friends, Charlie needs to find a way of dealing with his crazy new power – and fast!
Diary Of A Big Bad Wolf
Ben Miller
Your favourite fairytales from a BIG, BAD point of view. Pre-order the brand-new Fairytale Diary from bestselling author, Ben Miller, now! The big, bad wolf hasn’t had a great winter. He’s cold, lonely and hungry . . . But things are about to change – he’s going to take the Fairytale Woods by STORM. But while he knows he’s BIG and BAD, no one else seems to be scared of him, they just keep meddling with his plans – the troll under the bridge, the three annoying pigs, and that pesky Little Red Riding Hood! This is going to take all his brain power and his most cunning smile, to catch Grandma and reclaim his place at the top of the food chain! Turn the page, share the adventure in a hilarious and magical story for all the family, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli.
The Elementals: Wanzu Sets Sail
Love Ssega, Erika Meza
Wanzu and his friends will do whatever it takes to keep Sealand - their island home - safe. They all have magical powers connected to the four elements: Air, Water, Earth and Fire. But curious and playful Wanzu hasn't discovered what his power is yet... When storms threaten to flood the island, Wanzu leads his friends on a rescue mission. Their quest takes them to magical places, where they learn how to stop the water taking over their home. But will they be able to make it back to Sealand and save the day in time? And will Wanzu ever discover his power? Moana meets the Famous Five - The Elementals is perfect for readers in search of adventure!
The Accidental Prime Minister
Tom McLaughlin
When Joe tells a local news reporter exactly what he would do if he were leader of the country, the video goes viral and Joe's speech becomes famous all over the world! Before long, people are calling for the current leader to resign and give someone else a go . . . and that's how an ordinary boy like Joe ended up with the most extraordinary job. Now the fun can really start . . . Hats for cats! Pet pigs for all! Banana shaped buses! Swimming pools on trains! A hilarious story of one boy's meteoric rise to power!
Kate on the Case
Hannah Peck
Young reporter-in-training Kate and her mouse-accomplice Rupert are on board a train to visit Kate's mum in the Arctic. But as soon as the train departs, mysterious things start happening. A packet of ginger nuts goes missing . . . A collection of gymnastics trophies are stolen . . . And some ancient scrolls disappear . . . Fellow passenger Madame Maude seems the most likely culprit, until a surprising - and delicious - twist turns the whole investigation on its head!
Fantasy
Fantastic Mr Fox
Roald Dahl
Mr Fox is a very clever fox - every evening he creeps down into the valley and helps himself to food from the nearby farms. Chickens from Farmer Boggis, ducks and geese from Farmer Bunce, and turkeys from Farmer Bean. But now the farmers have had enough, and together they hatch a plan to get rid of Mr Fox for good! But what they don't know is Mr Fox has some help, and a fantastic escape plan of his own...
The Magic Finger
Roald Dahl
Out the window they flew, far up into the sky, and soon the whole family was flying around and around together. Every Saturday morning the Gregg family goes off to shoot animals and birds. But the girl who lives next door hates hunting. Now it's made her so angry that she's PUT THE MAGIC FINGER ON THEM ALL. And very strange things have begun to happen . . .
Bronte Tempestra and the Lightning Steeds
Bex Hogan
Bronte Tempestra of the Storm Kingdom is taking charge of her own destiny - she will be the first ever princess to become a knight! But knight school isn't the fun-filled adventure Bronte is expecting - the knights don't seem interested in saving . . . anything. And when she discovers that the Lightning Steeds have gone missing, leaving the Thunder Trolls to wreak havoc across the lands, she knows it's her moment to prove just how brave a princess can be. Bronte must face down pompous griffin lords and bare-bottomed cloud-stealing gnomes, monstrous horrorflies and spooky zombits. The future of the entire kingdom is at stake! It's time for the princess to rescue the knights!
Bronte Tempestra and the Ice Warriors
Bex Hogan
When a snowstorm engulfs Sir Sebastian's at the end of the winter term, it looks like all the knights will be stuck at school for the holidays! But Bronte suspects there's more to the weird weather than meets the eye . . . and when ice sculptures come to life it looks like she has another quest on her hands! As Bronte ventures through deep tunnels and into the heart of a blizzard to confront her frosty foes, can she show she's truly the knight she dreams of being?
The Enormous Crocodile
Roald Dahl
"For my lunch today", he said, I would like a nice JUICY little child." The Enormous Crocodile is planning what to have for his lunch. He's the greediest croc in the whole river, and he wants to eat something juicy and delicious. But what can the greedy grumptious brute guzzle up? Beware! He's looking for someone to feast upon... someone who looks a lot like YOU!
Funny
The Creakers
Tom Fletcher
A magical, mischievous adventure into an incredible new world, from Tom Fletcher, number-one-bestselling author of The Danger Gang and The Christmasaurus. Lucy wakes up one morning to discover something very strange indeed . All the grown-ups in her town have disappeared. All the other kids in Whiffington are so excited! No more grown-ups means no more school! No more bedtime! No more rules! But Lucy wants her mum back – and nothing is going to stop her. So – along with her friends Norman and Ella – Lucy sets off on an unbelievable adventure into a topsy-turvy, back-to-front and inside-out new world… The world underneath her bed. The world of… The Creakers!
The Diary of a Killer Cat
Anne Fine
Tuffy the pet cat tries to defend himself against accusations of terrifying other animals and murdering the neighbor's rabbit.
Matilda
Roald Dahl
Matilda is a brilliant child with a magical mind. But her parents have decided she's just a nuisance who wastes too much time on reading and stories. And her headmistress Miss Trunchbull is a terrible bully, who thinks children are rotten and awful and should be locked up.
Picture Books
Small Worlds: Earth
Lara Hawthorne, Camilla De La Bedoyere
In Small Worlds Earth, explore nature up close. Look at what happens under the leaf litter in a forest, find out what lives in a single desert oasis, examine the top of a Brazil nut tree in the Amazon and much more. What will you find when you explore these small worlds? Prepare to be surprised by the variety of life on each page of this gorgeous lift-the-flap book. A fascinating exploration of the life and cycles in nature's small worlds.
Storybooks
King Kong
Anthony Browne
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 1964 children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. The story features the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was first published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. in 1964 and in the United Kingdom by George Allen & Unwin 11 months later. In the 2012 survey published by SLJ, a monthly with primarily US audience, Charlie was the second of four books by Dahl among their Top 100 Chapter Books, one more than any other writer. Time magazine i
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