Picture books

Books in which the pictures play a major part in the story and the text is not levelled by difficulty.

Great books to get boys reading

John Dougherty shares his top picks for books to encourage and inspire your son to read.

Not your typical books for boys

An alternative list of recommended books for boys. Perfect for boys who are looking to read about something other than football or jokes about bottoms!

Picture books for older readers

Who says we have to leave picture books behind in KS1? These wonderful books use spellbinding illustrations to introduce children to big ideas. Includes FArTHER and The Man Who Walked Between Towers.

Brilliant picture books: 22 beautiful books for children under 5

Wendy Cooling MBE has selected her favourite illustrated books to help you introduce your child to the wonders of stories and storytelling.

Top 8 books about starting school

Starting school is a big milestone in a child’s life – not to mention a parent/carer’s too! Here are eight engaging stories and picture books about starting school to share with your child, to gently prepare them for their first day.

Animal Themed Picture Book Ideas

Lots of animal themed picture book ideas for you and your child to enjoy this summer, with our top recommendations for ages 2+.

Picture books and Fiction

Your local library – a forgotten treasure trove

Guest blogger and primary school librarian Clare Turner gives her top five reasons why you should visit the library with your child.

Christmas picture books for under 5s

From beautifully illustrated tales of friendship to collections of classic nursery rhymes, find the perfect picture book to share this Christmas.

How to choose a book for ages 3–7

Children's librarian Greta Paterson shares her 5 top tips for choosing books for 3–7 year olds.

Reluctant readers

From ‘thinking outside the bookbag’ to reading for a purpose, children’s author and mum of three Isabel Thomas shares some great advice on helping reluctant readers get excited about books.

How to choose a book for ages 7–11

Literacy adviser and ex-librarian Beverley Humphrey offers her expert advice on how you can help choose the right book for your 7–11 year old.

Books to inspire young scientists

Science and engineering provide fantastic career opportunities, but science is not just for scientists – it’s a huge part of everyday life. A good grounding in science will help every child to navigate their world and make good decisions. Isabel Thomas recommends books for ages 3–11 to inspire your young scientist.

Using storytelling to develop reading and writing skills

Early reading specialist Emily Guille-Marrett talks about how oral storytelling can lay the foundations for literacy skills – as well as being great fun.