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Children’s books: top titles for ages 4-7
February 23, 2022 | Blog > News > Children’s books: top titles for ages 4-7
Each year our schools team select from the books published in the previous year to compile a list of some of the best books for children aged 4-12. Book choices are often outside the usual promotions and our criteria are ‘a good read’ along with ensuring diversity of characters, authors, settings and story line.
This set of books is selected to provide a robust range for all ages and abilities of primary school pupils and has become a highly valued resource for the schools we work with as core library stock, as a guide for introducing readers to new titles in the bookshop, and forms the basis of our World Book Day offer. This year we introduced a collection of ‘super readable books’ to encourage struggling or reluctant readers. They have engaging plots, strong characters, interesting themes as well as dyslexia friendly features.
Top titles for Reception & Year 1 (ages 4-7)
One Fox
Kate Read
Described as ‘a counting book thriller’, One Fox tells an exciting tale set in a moon-lit farmyard. The rich illustrations will absorb young children with something different to count in every picture. They will have fun learning and practicing numbers to 10 and beyond by the time they reach the end of the book.
Don’t Call me Grumpycorn
Sarah McIntyre
Grumpycorn is ready for a big adventure into space accompanied by his friends, but will they all agree on which planet is the most fabulous? This delightful story with its absorbing illustrations, by one of our favourite best-selling authors, with its delicious shiny cover, will appeal to children across the age range.
Inch and Grub
Alastair Chilsolm and David Roberts
Inch and Grub are two hairy cave men who want the best of everything. They compete constantly to discover things that are better than each other’s and pile them in huge, wobbly towers in order to make them ‘the best! ’ This book stood out for us with its unusual humour, quirky literary style and important message.
Can you Keep a Secret?
Melissa Castrillon
Winnie discovers that the BOOMS and RUMBLES she hears at night are the noises of a real dragon hiding in the forest with its friends, the Winged Lion, the Tree Man and the Gryphon who are the last of their kind. They will be in danger if the grown ups discover them. If you met them would you keep it a secret? Children simply love this spectacular book and we do too!
Pirate Stew
Neil Gaiman
Long John Mcron is a very unusual babysitter. He and his crew of wild pirates transform a perfectly ordinary evening into a riotous stew- and doughnut-filled adventure for the boy and his sister – would you eat the pirate stew and become a pirate too? This wonderful rhyming story with its brilliant illustrations by Chris Riddell is popular with all children. They love to read and recite it over and over again!
The Hospital Dog
Julia Donaldson
Dot, a very special and brave dog, and her owner Rose love going on the bus to visit the children of Wallaby Ward to cheer them all up. This thoughtful tale with its positive message about hospitals at this time, is written by the brilliant Julia Donaldson and stunningly illustrated by Sara Ogilvy. It will warm the hearts of children everywhere.
