Post on 01-Jun-2022
WW1/WW2
Morpurgo, Michael. An Eagle in the Snow Upper KS2
Barney is leaving Coventry for Cornwall with his mum a�er their house has been destroyed
in the Blitz. However there’s no escape from Hitler and their train is a�acked by a
Messerschmi� forcing it to stop in a tunnel for safety. It’s pitch-black and Barney is scared
of the dark. To distract him, the other passenger in the carriage tells him about his best
friend, Billy Byron, famous in the First World War as the most decorated private soldier. The
story is an extraordinary one, we hear how Billy inadvertently changed the course of world
history.
WW1 Morpurgo, Michael. Listen to the Moon Upper KS2
May, 1915. Alfie and his fisherman father find a girl on an uninhabited island in the Scillies
– injured, thirsty, lost… and with absolutely no memory of who she is, or how she came to
be there. She can say only one word: Lucy. Where has she come from? Is she a mermaid,
the vic4m of a German U-boat, or even – as some islanders suggest – a German spy…?
WW1 is raging, suspicion and fear are growing, and Alfie and Lucy are ever more under
threat.
WW1 /
Le�ers
NEW
Robinson, Hilary. Song for Will & the Lost Gardeners of Heligan Lower & Upper KS2
When the First World War is declared on 4th August 1914, errand boy, Alfie, is disappointed
that he is too young to sign up. But his frustra4on turns to despair as he begins to
understand the brutal reality of ba�le. During the four year conflict, Alfie's exchange of
le�ers with Heligan stone mason, Fred Paynter, and the visits home of gardener, William
Guy, paint a poignant picture of life at the front. Beau4fully told and illustrated, this is a
book for children and adults to treasure.
WW2/Adventure McKenzie, Sophie. Time Train to the Blitz. Lower KS2
A gripping 4me-slip story, plunges two children into an exci4ng adventure when they climb
aboard a mysterious train and find themselves transported back to London at the 4me of
the Blitz. Soon Joe and Scarle� find themselves on a desperate mission to save the life of
Alfie whose home is blown to smithereens by a bomb. Packed full of detail about the 4me,
this gives a good insight into the very real dangers of growing up during the Blitz.
WW2/Fantasy
NEW
Shepherd, Megan. Secret Horses of Briar Hill. Upper KS2
December 1941. Britain is at war. Emmaline has been evacuated away from the bombs to
Briar Hill Hospital in Shropshire. When she gets there she discovers a secret. It's not to be
shared, not to be told to anyone, even her friend Anna. But she'll tell you. This is
Emmaline's secret –there are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill. Exquisitely
illustrated by Levi Pinfold, winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal, The Secret Horses of Briar
Hill has all the makings of a modern classic.
Library Services for Schools
Serving Schools in Cumbria
Share a Story - Class Sets
Class sets comprise of 20 books and can be borrowed as part of your topic/literacy box entitlement. These titles can
sell out fast so order as soon as you can and have an alternative ready just in case you’ve missed out! We aim to
keep these collections refreshed as new and exciting titles become available but if you have any requests for other
titles you would like to borrow, then please get in touch.
WW2
NEW
Hughes, Shirley. The Lion and the Unicorn Lower KS2
As Lenny's father goes off to fight in the second world war he gives his son a brass badge
with a lion and a unicorn on it. Lenny keeps it with him when bombs are dropped on his
street and when he has to be evacuated to a big house in the country. He misses his
parents a great deal and the other children there and at school are spiteful in teasing him.
But he finds a secret walled garden to escape to with a stone unicorn. Here he meets the
wounded soldier Mick and learns again how hard it is to be brave. It is the unicorn who
finally rescues him from his sadness and loneliness and proves itself to be his guardian
angel by bringing his mother to him.
WW2/Modern
Classic
NEW
Bawden, Nina. Carrie’s War Upper KS2
It’s war4me and Carrie and her li�le brother Nick have been evacuated from their London
home to the Welsh hills. In an unfamiliar place, among strangers, the children feel alone
and find li�le comfort with the family they are billeted with: Mr Evans, a bullying shop-
keeper and Aun4e Lou, his kind but 4mid sister. When Carrie and Nick visit Albert, another
evacuee, they are welcomed into Hepzibah Green's warm kitchen. Hepzibah is rumoured
to be a witch, but her cooking is delicious, her stories are enthralling and the children
cannot keep away. With Albert, Hepzibah and Mister Johnny, they begin to se�le into their
new surroundings. But before long, their loyal4es are tested: will they be persuaded to
betray their new friends?
Stone Age/
Modern
Classic/
Adventure
King, Clive. S1g of the Dump. Upper KS2
When Barney falls down the cliff of the chalk pit he lands in what might be a rubbish dump
but the dump turns out to be the home of S4g, a cave-boy who turns what he finds to
good use. S4g and Barney have a series of wonderful adventures in Barney’s world from
scaring Barney’s enemies to chasing away Granny’s burglars. Barney then finds himself
back in S4g’s world for a special adventure set way back in the past.
Vikings/
Fantasy
Cowell, Cressida. How to Train Your Dragon Upper KS2
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an awesome sword-fighter, a dragon-whisperer and
the greatest Viking Hero who ever lived. But it wasn't always like that. In fact, in the begin-
ning, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was the most put upon Viking you'd ever seen. Not
loud enough to make himself heard at dinner with his father, Stoick the Vast; not hard
enough to beat his chief rival, Snotlout, at Bashyball, the number one school sport and
CERTAINLY not stupid enough to go into a cave full of dragons to find a pet...It's 4me for
Hiccup to learn how to be a Hero.
Vikings Simon, Francesca. Sleeping Army Upper KS2
Freya is an ordinary girl living in modern Britain, but with a twist: people s4ll worship the
Viking gods. One evening, stuck with her dad on his night shi� at the Bri4sh Museum, she
is drawn to the Lewis Chessmen and Heimdall's Horn. Unable to resist, she blows the horn,
waking three chess pieces from their enchantment. They are all summoned to Asgard, land
of the Viking gods, and told they must go on a perilous journey to restore the gods to
youth. If Freya refuses she will be turned into an ivory chess piece but, if she accepts her
des4ny and fails, the same terrible fate awaits her.
Vikings/
Adventure
Jones, Terry. The Saga of Erik the Viking Lower & Upper KS2
Erik and the crew of the Golden Dragon set sail in search of adventure and to find out
where the sun goes at night. Li�le do they know that their courage, skill, strength and
stamina will all be tested to the extremes. They must win through against storms, against
the dogfighters, against giants and enchantments, face up to spirits and to trolls.
Wonderfully illustrated throughout by Michael Foreman.
Vikings/
Adventure/
NEW
Bradman, Tony. Viking Boy Upper KS2
A young Viking boy plans to take his revenge on the Wolf Men that raided his home village.
Gunnar is the son of a Viking chie�ain, living peacefully on his family steading with his
mother, father and their people - un4l they are raided by Skuli and his Wolf Men, who
raze his home to the ground and take his father's life. Gunnar swears an oath to avenge his
father's death and save his mother from Skuli - but first he must run to save himself.
Romans/
Volcanoes
NEW
Balit, Chris1na. Escape from Pompeii. Lower KS2
Story of how two children escape from the erup4on of Mount Vesuvius that destroyed
Pompeii. For a Roman boy called Tranio, 24th August is a day he will never forget. As the
ground shakes, the sky darkens, and everyone around him runs gasping for air, he and his
friend Livia flee to the harbour and witness the destruc4on of everything they know and
love, in one of the most terrifying moments of recorded history.
Roman Britain/
Humour/
Animal Stories
NEW
Northfield, Gary. Julius Zebra. Bundlle with the Britons! Upper & Lower KS2
Julius and the other gladiators travel to Britannia when Emperor Hadrian promises them
their freedom if they perform in the gladitorial games there. Emperor Hadrian has one last
favour to ask of the gladiator animals before he will grant them their greatest wish - free-
dom. They must go to the far-off and strange land of Britain to win over the crowds of his
empire. But this will be no happy-go-lucky holiday… Instead of buckets and spades, our
stripy hero and his friends will need all their powers and wits about them if they're going to
survive their most wild and rebellious opponents yet. Cram-packed with jokes and burs4ng
with ac4on, this is a hilarious romp and mad-cap introduc4on to Roman Britain.
Ancient Egypt
NEW
Deary, Terry. The Gold in the Grave. Egyp1an Tales Lower KS2
A band of Ancient Egyp4an thieves plot to rob the tomb of a dead king. Tutankhamen has
been buried in his rocky tomb. But there is a plot to rob the grave of its vast wealth as soon
as possible a�er the funeral. A motley gang of villains have all the skills they need to under-
take the crime - the key member of the team is young Paneb, who is small and lithe and the
only one who can slip through the tunnel and into the funeral chamber. It's a risky venture,
because, if he's caught, the punishment is slow torture and death. Egyp4an Tales are ex-
ci4ng, funny stories based on real events.
Ancient Egypt/
Myths &
legends/Comic
Strip format
Williams, Marcia. Tales of Gods and Pharaohs. Upper KS2
Full of mystery and adventure, the stories of the Egyp4an pharaohs and their ancient gods
are steeped in thousands of years of history. From the crea4on myth to the curse of
Tutankhamen and the fall of Cleopatra, Marcia Williams' classic comic strip retellings bring
new life to the myths and wonders of this ancient civiliza4on.
Ancient Egypt/
Adventure
NEW
Hulme-Cross, B. The Pharaoh’s Charioteer Upper KS2
Join Arthur and Finn as they travel back to ancient Egypt to discover dangerous rivalries,
and a prince and princess with strong opinions. Can they prevent a kidnapping and stop a
war? Fascina4ng historical facts combine with ac4on- packed fic4on to create a drama4c
and gripping adventure.
Anglo-Saxons/
Myths &
Legends
Morpurgo, Michael. Beowulf. Upper KS2
In fi�h-century Denmark, a murderous monster stalks the night, and only the great prince
of the Geats has the strength and courage to defeat him. Beowulf's terrifying quest to de-
stroy Grendel, the foul fiend, a hideous sea-hag and a monstrous fire-dragon is the oldest
surviving epic in Bri4sh literature.
Anglo Saxons/
Adventure
NEW
Bradman, Tony. Anglo-Saxon Boy Upper KS2
Magnus is the son of Harold Godwinson, lord of the Southern Saxons and ruthlessly
ambi4ous claimant to the throne of England. Overnight, Magnus finds himself cast centre-
stage in the blood-soaked family feud that led to one of history's most famous ba�les. This
is the family tragedy behind 1066: live it with Magnus, as the wolves of history close in on
his Anglo-Saxon boyhood.
Adventure/
Ancient China
Pullman, Philip. The Firework-Maker’s Daughter KS2 Lower & Upper KS2
Story set in Ancient China. What Lila wants to be more than anything else in the world is . . .
a Firework-Maker! But firework-making is not just about being able to make Crackle-
Dragons and Golden Sneezes. There is also one special secret: every Firework-Maker must
make a perilous journey to face the terrifying Fire-Fiend! Not knowing that she needs
special protec4on to survive the Fire-Fiend's flames, Lila sets off alone. Her friends, Chulak
and Hamlet - the King's white elephant - race a�er her. But can they possibly reach her in
4me?
Adventure/
Myths &
Legends/
Humour
NEW
Evans, Maz. Who let the Gods out? Upper KS2
Elliot's mum is ill and his home is under threat, but a shoo4ng star crashes to earth and
changes his life forever. The star is Virgo - a young Zodiac goddess on a mission. But the pair
accidentally release Thanatos, a wicked death daemon imprisoned beneath Stonehenge, and
must then turn to the old Olympian gods for help. A�er centuries of cushy re4rement on
earth, are Zeus and his crew up to the task of saving the world - and solving Elliot's problems
too?
Ancient
Greeks/Myths
& Legends
NEW
Kimmell, E. King Midas and Other Greek Myths Upper KS2
Walk among the gods and goddesses, men and monsters, in this volume of classic Greek
myths. Here are twelve of the most beloved legends of Greek mythology, from Pandora and
her dreaded box to Icarus with his wings of wax, and, of course, that greedy, gold-fingered
King Midas. Vibrant art adds a fresh twist to this collec4on, giving today's readers their own
Victorians/
Classic
NEW
Williams, Marcia. Oliver Twist and other great Dickens stories. Lower & Upper KS2
Retellings in a lively comic strip style of 5 Dickens most popular stories. Oliver Twist, Great
Expecta4ons, Christmas Carol, Tale of Two Ci4es and David Copperfield.
Victorians
NEW
Doherty, Berlie. Far From Home: The Sisters of Street Child Upper KS2
A companion novel set in Victorian England which tells the story of Lizzie and Emily, the two
sisters of Jim Jarvis, the main character in Doherty's novel, "Street Child". No previous
knowledge of Street Child required. (Street Child is also available to borrow as part of the
Power of Reading collections).
Titanic/
Animal/
Adventure
Morpurgo, Michael. Kaspar, Prince of Cats. Upper and lower KS2
A wonderfully emo4onal but heart-warming tale from the pen of one of the foremost
writers for children. Brilliantly interwoven in historical fact at the 4me of the sinking of the
Titanic is the story of Kaspar the Savoy cat, who we also discover is a survivor of the sink-
ing of the Titanic. The story is u�erly compelling and brought to life s4ll further by some
really dreamy illustra4ons by Michael Foreman.
Fantasy/
Imaginary
Worlds/
Modern Classic
Lewis, C.S. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Upper KS2
Four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie— step through a
wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by
the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great
Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.
Animal/Classic Kipling, Rudyard. The Jungle Book. Upper KS2
The stories tell of Mowgli’s upbringing among the wolves; his lessons in the Law of the
Jungle from Baloo the bear, Bagheera the black panther and Kaa the python; his kidnap by
the Monkey People and his clash with the evil 4ger, Shere Khan. This is an abridged
illustrated version.
Rainforests/
Animals
Lynne, Cherry. The Great Kapok Tree KS1 & 2
In the Amazon Rainforest a man is chopping down a great Kapok tree. Exhausted from his
labours he puts down his axe and rests. As he sleeps, the animals who live in the tree
plead with him not to destroy their world.
Rainforests/
Conserva1on/
Animals
NEW
Morpurgo, Running Wild Upper KS2
A boy on holiday in Asia is saved from a tsunami by an elephant and encounters hunters
who are killing 4gers and orangutans and destroying the jungle to produce palm oil.
Animal/
Classics
Grahame , Kenneth. Wind in the Willows. Upper KS2
This 4meless tale has never been out of print and remains one of the best loved children’s
4tles in English literature. Grahame’s wonderful imagina4on and quiet humour con4nue
to charm children and adults alike and this edi4on is beau4fully complemented by some
stunning illustra4ons. This is an abridged illustrated version.
Animal/Africa/
Tradi1onal
Tale
Don, Lari. The Tortoise’s Gi@ KS1
One hot, dry summer in Zambia, the rain stops falling. Soon, the animals are very hungry
and thirsty. How can they recover? They have heard of a wonderful tree that can produce
fruit, but it will only do so if it is asked by name - and no one can remember what it is
called! The animals agree to send a messenger to the wise mountain to find out the
name of the tree and bring it back. One by one, the animals set out, but remembering the
name is not as easy as they had imagined...
Animal Lewis, Gill. Sky Hawk. Upper KS2
Shortlisted for the 2012 Branford Boase Award for outstanding Debut novel. Sky Hawk is
an intense and touching story of how protec4ng a rare bird forges a deep and special
friendship between two children. The osprey is Iona’s secret but she trusts Callum to keep
it and together the two of them do all they can to keep the bird safe. The pact they make
will change lives forever.
Animal Morpurgo, Michael. Not Bad for a Bad Lad. Upper KS2
When a young boy gets a reputa4on for being naughty at school, he reacts by being the bad
lad that everyone expects. Leaving school, he becomes a thief and eventually ends up in
Prison. But Mr Alfie, the stable manager, decides to give the boy a chance, lePng him look
a�er the horses. It turns out that his skill with horses saves him from a life of crime. An
inspiring story of life, friendship and following your dreams.
Animal
NEW
Tomlinson, Jill. The Owl who was afraid of the Dark. Yr2/3
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 hun4ng with his parents. Mrs Barn
Owl sends him down from his nest-hole to ask about the dark and he meets a li�le boy wai4ng
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. He realizes that
through these encounters that dark is super a�er all.
Animal Knight, Richard. Winter Shadow. Lower KS2
A wonderful story of a li�le girl who finds an abandoned wolf cub and how they become
inseparable as they grow up together. Slowly the fear that the local village people have of
wolves begins to dissipate, un4l one day Maria awakes to find Shadow has disappeared... It’s
a story of happiness, sadness and an apprecia4on of the wonders of the world around her, but
in the end it’s a li�le 12 year old girl’s realisa4on that life must go on and that there’s a reason
for his departure.
Animal/
Mystery/
Adventure
NEW
Lewis, Gill. Scout and the Sausage Thief Year 2/3
This is a new series for younger readers and features puppies that are learning to become
working dogs. Each book will star a different dog and in this one German shepherd Scout, ‘the
smart one’, is the hero. Scout wants to be a police dog just like her mum and dad and gets a
chance to show off her talent for sniffing out crime when sausage thief Frank Further strikes!
It’s a fun adventure story and children will love Scout and the other inhabitants of Li�le
Barking.
Animal/
Humour/
NEW
Macdonald, Alan. Ask Oscar. Lower KS2
A boy meets a very special dog who has the ability to talk. Meet Oscar. He's no ordinary dog...
Sam has wanted a dog for AGES, so when Oscar turns up on this doorstep he can't believe his
luck. And when he finds out Oscar's secret he can't believe his ears! Now he just needs to per-
suade his mum and dad to let Oscar stay. But first the town's dogs are under threat, and the
duo need to hatch a plan! It's daring, It involves a Poopoma4c machine, flying iced buns and
the Queen. So it can't fail.
School/
Humour
NEW
Fine, Anne. On Planet Fruitcake Lower KS2
Philip has an incredible imagina4on, and when he lets it run riot in school one day it really gets
his classmates thinking. Purple cows . . . brains in pots . . . a clever and beau4ful chicken . . .
What will they think of next?!
School/
Humour
NEW
Butchart, Pamela. Vampire Rat Lower KS2 Lower KS2
Winner of the Children’s Book Award 2016, Books for Younger Readers category . A third riot-
ous adventure for Jodi, Maisie, Zach and all the rest in 4J including the fast-paced narrator,
Izzy. This 4me, they decide that their new head teacher is a vampire rat, based on his being
slightly scary, having the blinds drawn in his office during the day and the fact he's banned
garlic bread at lunch4mes. Now they just have to come up with a plan to vanquish him…
Imaginary
Worlds
Animals/
Adventure
Dahl, Roald. Fantas1c Mr Fox. Lower KS2
Boggis, Bunce and Bean are nasty, mean farmers who hate Mr Fox. They are
determined to get him, so they lie in wait outside his hole, each one crouching behind
a tree with his gun loaded, ready to shoot, starve or dig him out. But clever, handsome
Mr Fox has other plans!
Imaginary
Worlds
Dahl, Roald. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Lower & Upper KS2
A book that requires no introduc4on. Charlie Bucket loves chocolate. And Mr Willy
Wonka, the most wondrous inventor in the world, is opening the gates of his amazing
chocolate factory to five lucky children. It's the prize of a life4me! Gobstoppers,
wriggle sweets and a river of melted chocolate delight await - Charlie needs just one
Golden Ticket and these delicious treats could all be his.
Imaginary
Worlds
Dahl, Roald. The BFG. Lower and Upper KS2
This is a delighTul, funny and exci4ng story about a special friendship between two
people from different worlds – a giant and a child. As the story develops it shows how
trust and love develops between them. It also shows that bullying must not be
tolerated and Dahl is at his might best here by eventually ensuring the big bad giants
get their comeuppance whilst the big friendly giant wins the day alongside the li�le
girl Sophie.
Imaginary
Worlds/
Adventure/
Reeve, Philip. Cakes in Space. Lower KS2
Astra's family are all snoring in their sleeping pods aboard their spaceship, but Astra is
WIDE AWAKE. With her robot friend, Pilbeam, she goes off exploring and soon finds
out the ship is in deep trouble. It's been knocked off course and invaded by a gang of
Poglites, an alien salvage crew searching for spoonage (they just LOVE collec4ng
spoons)! But even the Poglites need Astra's help when they discover something far
more sinister lurking in the canteen. Sure, they're cakes; but no one would describe
them as sweet.
Imaginary
Worlds/
Adventure
NEW
Reeve, Philip. Pugs of the Frozen North. Lower KS2
The Race to the Top of the World! It comes around once in a life4me, and the prize?
Your heart's desire. Shen and Sika can't resist the chance to win, but compe44on is
fierce. The path to victory is li�ered with snow trolls, sea monsters, and a gang of
par4cularly hungry ye4s. But Shen and Sika have something the other contestants
don't have. Actually, they have 66 other things; pugs to be exact. That's a 264 paw-
powered sled. Let the race begin!
Imaginary
Worlds/
Adventure/
Family
NEW
Boyce, Frank Co�rell. Sputnick’s Guide to Life on Earth Upper KS2
Frank Co�rell Boyce takes the sad story of Laika, the first living creature to orbit Earth,
and uses it as inspira4on for a story about the importance of home. It’s both brilliantly
funny and extraordinarily moving. Prez is living with a temporary foster family when
he opens the door to Sputnik. Prez sees an alien – in a kilt – everyone else sees a dog.
Over the course of the summer Prez and Sputnik have some amazing adventures and
break a lot of laws, including some of the laws of physics, but in the process they save
the world, and reunite Prez with his grandfather. As wild as a cartoon strip, this
wonderful story pinpoints all the best things about life on Earth.
Humour/
Adventure
NEW
Brown, Jeff. Invisible Stanley. Lower KS2
Stanley uses his invisibility for good causes. Amazing things always happen to Stanley
Lambchop... Stanley is very surprised when a big storm hits - and he turns completely
invisible! At first it's brilliant - he can get on the trail of some bank robbers and help
his li�le brother with his magic tricks. But being invisible. isn't always easy... Will
Stanley ever reappear?
Humour/Space/
Adventure
NEW
Reeve, Philip. Fun Fair Repair Lower KS2
Follows the adventures of a girl who lives on a funfair planet in outer space, when a
mystery villain seems to be sabotaging the rides. Emily loves living on Funfair Moon -
especially when she gets to help Jinks & O'Hare, the extraordinary repair team. But
when chaos strikes during a crucial funfair inspec4on, Emily has to act fast. Can she
deal with a violent fudgesplosion, a gravity inversion, and a marauding candyfloss
creature? Or does this spell doom for Funfair Moon? The highly-an4cipated fourth
scin4lla4ng adventure from the amazingly talented team of Reeve and McIntyre.
Adventure/
Survival/
Morpurgo, Michael Kensuke’s Kingdom. Upper KS2
I heard the wind above me in the sails. I remember thinking, this is silly, you haven't
got your safety harness on, you haven't got your lifejacket on. You shouldn't be doing
this ...I was in the cold of the sea before I could even open my mouth to scream.'
Washed up on an island in the Pacific, Michael struggles to survive on his own. With
no food and no water, he curls up to die. When he wakes, there is a plate beside him
of fish, of fruit, and a bowl of fresh water. He is not alone …
Adventure/
Fantasy/Polar
Region
NEW
Bell, Alan. Polar Bear Explorers’ Club Upper KS2
When Stella and three other junior explorers get separated from their expedi4on can
they cross the frozen wilderness and live to tell the tale? Join Stella Starflake Pearl
and her three fellow explorers as they trek across the snowy Icelands and come face-
to-face with frost fairies, snow queens, outlaw hideouts, unicorns, pygmy dinosaurs
and carnivorous cabbages.
Adventure/
Pirates/Classic
NEW
Stevenson, Robert Louis. Treasure Island Upper KS2
An abridged retelling of the classic story about a boy who joins a pirate crew on the
search for buried treasure. Part of the Real Reads series which bring great books to a
wider readership, while always honouring the context and structure of the original.
Adventure/
Humour
Johnson, Pete. Detec1ve Brother Lower KS2
When Jamie and Harry’s hotel gets robbed while they’re there on holiday, Jamie finds
he is the number one suspect! Can Jamie’s magic cape help him find the real villain?
Or will it be le� to “Detec4ve” Harry to solve the crime?
Humour/
Friendship
Walliams, David. Billionaire Boy Upper KS2
Shortlisted for the pres4gious Sheffield Children's Book Award 2011. Hugely entertaining,
this cap4va4ng story is also thought provoking about the perils of having too much money.
Joe Spud is the richest twelve-year-old in the world; he has everything his heart desires –
except friends and happiness. As one disaster follows another, Joe and his father both
learn the hard way what really ma�ers.
Humour/
Family/
Adventure
Walliams, David. Gangsta Granny Upper KS2
Ben’s granny is really boring; staying with her is a nightmare of ea4ng cabbage, playing
Scrabble and being treated like a baby. But then he discovers something rather AMAZING
about his dull old gran; she has a biscuit 4n full of jewellery including the biggest and most
sparkling diamond he has ever seen. Life with a gangsta gran is quite a different thing and
soon Ben is off on a wild and hilarious adventure.
Humour/
Family/
Adventure
NEW
Walliams, David. Grandpa’s Great Escape Upper KS2
Jack's Grandpa...wears his slippers to the supermarket, serves up Spam a la Custard for
dinner and o�en doesn't remember Jack's name, but he can s4ll take to the skies in a
speeding SpiTire and save the day...An exquisite portrait of the bond between a small boy
and his beloved Grandpa - this book takes readers on an incredible journey with SpiTires
over London and Great Escapes through the city in a high octane adventure full of comedy
and heart.
Humour/
Family/
Adventure/
Superheroes
NEW
Solomons, David. My Brother is a Superhero. Upper KS2
Luke is a comic-reading super-hero expert, but he’s gone to the toilet at the crucial mo-
ment when an alien arrives in his tree-house and it’s his never-read-a-comic-in-his-life
brother Zach who gets superpowers and instruc4ons to save the universe – life couldn’t
get any unfairer. But even super-heroes need back up, and when Zach is kidnapped, it falls
to Luke to save his brother and the world. This is an excellent adventure story with real
heart, that’s also properly funny, with humour that comes from the characters as well as
the situa4on.
Adventure/
Historical /
NEW
Carroll, Emma. Sky Chasers. Upper KS2
Set during the reign of King Louis and Marie Antoine�e, when France is racing against its
enemy England, to be the first to fly in a hot air balloon. This wonderful reimagining of real
life events is full of adventure, peril and excitement. Emma has created a daring,
courageous character in Magpie, a girl who doesn’t quite fit but despite her differences
has a strong sense of loyalty and a desire (despite her criminal background) to do what’s
right. She is a fantas4c character and one that stands out as a strong willed, intelligent girl
with a fierce determina4on to follow her own heart to achieve her dreams no ma�er what
conven4ons try to hold her back. She proves to be a fierce and brave friend.
Mystery/
Family/
Mental Health
NEW
Thompson, Lisa The Goldfish Boy Upper KS2
Trapped indoors by his obsessive fears of germs and much else Ma�hew watches his
neighbours’ lives and details their every move. That’s why he’s the person who knows
when toddler Teddy was last seen in his grandfather’s garden. When Teddy goes missing is
it Ma�hew who holds the answer that everyone is seeking? Alongside the detec4ve drama
in the background, Lisa Thompson is also insighTul about Ma�hew’s crippling anxie4es
and how they resolve.
Emmigra1on/
Immigra1on/
Refugees
NEW
Lewis, Gill. Story Like the Wind Upper KS2
A small group of refugees is crowded onto a boat on the sea. They share their stories as
the boat travels towards the dream of safety and freedom. One boy, Rami, has brought
his violin, and his story of how the violin was invented, and of a stallion that could run like
the wind, weaves through the other stories, bringing them all together into a celebra4on
of hope and of the power of music and story.
Adventure/
Family/
Mul1cultural
Davies, Nicola. Rubbish Town Hero. Upper KS2
Chipo and his li�le sister Gentle live on Papa Fudu's dumpsite in Rubbish Town, searching
for valuable things amongst the rubbish to try to stay alive. Life isn't easy - luckily, Chipo
has spirit, courage and lots of imagina4on! And now, he has a plan...But when Chipo and
Gentle are caught with something precious that Papa Fudu wants for himself, they have to
think quick, move fast. Suddenly they're on the run...Along with their friend Dede and their
loyal dog, Mouse, Chipo and Gentle set off on a dangerous and exci4ng journey to find a
safe place to call home - mee4ng a cast of extraordinary characters along the way.
Le�ers Durant, Alan. Dear Father Christmas. KS1 & Lower KS2
When Holly sees a man who looks like Father Christmas, she decides to write him a le�er:
"Dear Father Christmas - is it snowing in Lapland? Please answer. Love Holly." And so be-
gins the start of a touching penpal friendship with Father Christmas himself in which Holly
learns about the magic of elves, reindeer and life in Lapland, as well as gePng some very
special Christmas surprises
Diaries/
Autobiography/
WW2
Diary of Anne Frank. (Abridged) Upper KS2
Sensi4vely edited and with a connec4ng commentary by the editor, the abridged edi4on
of The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank gives readers their first introduc4on to the
extraordinary diary of an ordinary girl who has long become a household name. There are
beau4ful line drawings, family photographs, and an A�erword to explain why the Diary
ends so abruptly.
Shakespeare Shakespeare, William. Macbeth—Graphic Novel Upper KS2
The epic tale of Macbeth retold in graphic-novel format. Macbeth and Banquo are ScoPsh
generals returning home from a victorious war campaign. Their journey is interrupted
when three strange witches come upon them and predict their futures. They claim that
Macbeth will one day become King of Scotland! Macbeth is s4rred by the prophesy. With
the help of his scheming wife, he sets into mo4on a sinister plan that will paint bloody
strokes across the en4re landscape of Scotland.
Shakespeare Williams, Marcia. Mr William Shakespeare’s Plays. Upper KS2
Seven classic Shakespeare plays presented in an accessible comic strip format. Romeo
and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Winter’s Tale and
the Tempest are all brought vividly to life.
* Reviews taken from Lovereading4kids website
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