Top 20 Book recommendations: Best books for children by key stage

Are you struggling to get your child reading enough to thrive academically? Discover the 20 best children’s books by key stage, which will spark a lifelong love of reading.

Helping your child to develop strong reading skills and a love of reading is one of the most important things you can do for them. I’ve seen the benefits that regular reading can have on academic performance first-hand as a teacher and tutor, so it is always my recommendation that parents ensure their children are regularly reading.

Why reading matters for academic success

Reading builds highly transferable skills in children, which are at the core of learning across the curriculum, making it unsurprising that children who read every day score higher on tests. Our experienced Birchwood Tutors all agree that the children who make the most progress are those who build reading into their daily routine, so simply finishing a few books is not enough – reading must happen regularly. 

Regular reading for enjoyment has the power to transform your child’s academic performance. I have taught students who struggled across the board or who had inexplicably reached a plateau in their progress, and for these students, reading often changes everything. Finding a book which piqued their interest and got them hooked on reading allowed them to discover the world of vocabulary, improve their focus, and achieve a deeper level of comprehension. 

Our book recommendations by stage

Starting children on their reading journey is often the hardest part, as it can take time to discover books that truly engage them. Offering children a wide range of reading materials across various genres and themes is essential when encouraging them to read more. There are endless choices, but below are my go-to books, which I recommend to my students both in class and in tutoring sessions. 

Key stage	Age	Book title	Author	Why we recommend
KS1	5–7	The Tiger Who Came to Tea	Judith Kerr	This classic story uses rhythm and repetition to support early reading.
KS1	5–7	The Gruffalo	Julia Donaldson	A rhyming text supports phonics while the imaginative story engages young readers.
KS1	5–7	Winnie-the-Pooh	A.A. Milne	Introduces richer vocabulary and a more sophisticated narrative structure.
KS1	5–7	The Worries: Sohal Finds a Friend	Jion Sheibani	A great book to start conversations about worries and anxieties with young children.
KS2	7–9	Dog Man series	Dav Pilker	An easy introduction to longer books that is very successful at engaging even the most reluctant reader.
KS2	7–11	How to Train Your Dragon series	Cressida Cowell	An exciting adventure series with humour and increasingly complex language.
KS2	7–11	Moon Juice: Poems for Children	Kate Wakeling	A super collection to explore and inspire children to have a go at writing their own poems using the guide in the book.
KS2	8–11	Murder Most Unladylike series	Robin Stevens	Agatha Christie for kids – these mysteries encourage critical thinking and key reading strategies, e.g making predictions.
KS2/KS3	9–13	Percy Jackson & the Olympians series	Rick Riordan	Engaging adventure stories with mythology. Great for building vocabulary and reading stamina.
KS2/KS3	9–13	The Kid Who Fell Through Time	Greg James and Chris Smith	This fun and engaging story travels through time from Roman Britain to Ancient Egyptian times. Great for building cross-curricular links.
KS2/KS3	9–14	Artemis Fowl	Eoin Colfer	An exciting story about morality that explores themes of family. A great option for building up stamina between KS2 and KS3.
KS3	11–12	The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time	Mark Haddon	A story told from a unique perspective which encourages empathy and analytical thinking.
KS3	11–14	Wildlands	Brogen Murphy	A utopian adventure where humans are not allowed into the wilderness of the UK. A 13-year-old and her sister are stranded and must survive.
KS3	11–14	Wonder	R.J. Palacio	A story about kindness, resilience, and character, which develops empathy and gives opportunity for discussion.
KS3	12–14	The Teenage Guide to Digital Wellbeing	Tanya Goodin	This non-fiction guidebook offers practical advice to help teens find a balance between online and offline life. A must-read for children living in the age of the smartphone.
KS3	12–14	Wink	Rob Harrell	A real-life story of resilience and finding a way through tough times, including illness,  while navigating secondary school.
KS4	14–16	The Silver Chain	Jion Sheibani	A coming-of-age story about a young girl using music to help her through challenging times.
KS4	14–16	Animal Farm	George Orwell	A classic book to develop political understanding and critical thinking.
KS4	14–16	Things Fall Apart	Chinua Achebe	An examination of colonialism, identity, and tradition. A great book to broaden cultural awareness.
KS4	14–16	Macbeth	William Shakespeare	A KS4 staple which introduces literary analysis, themes, and figurative language – all through a tragic, gripping story!

Each of these books goes beyond the simple skill of reading the words on the page. Regular reading of titles like these exposes learners to different writing styles, ideas, and voices. This encourages them to develop their vocabulary and comprehension –  literacy skills essential for future endeavours and for achieving your academic goals. 

Tips for reading at home

There are a few ways in which you can encourage and support your child’s reading at home as you explore our book recommendations:

• Read together – Making reading a shared activity is a fantastic way to engage KS1 and early KS2 children and will help improve confidence and fluency.

• Discuss and reflect – For KS3 and KS4 readers, encourage them to share their thoughts on their reading and ask them about the characters and plots. 

• Vary genres – Ensure your child is reading across a range of different genres to boost their vocabulary and build a broad literacy foundation.

• Link in with a tutor – Let your child’s tutor know what they are reading at home so they can touch on their reading during tutoring sessions. 

If you would like to explore how our world class tutoring (from anywhere) can support your child’s reading journey –  while helping them discover books they truly enjoy – get in touch with Birchwood Tutors to discuss the next steps.

My final thoughts

Reading is truly the most valuable gift we can give to our children, as it has the power to open doors and help them build skills that they will use throughout their lives. The titles listed above go beyond stories and aim to inspire curiosity, encouraging children to develop a lifelong love of reading. Finally, remember that each reader’s journey is unique, so it is important to explore a wide range of genres until you find something that truly captures their imagination.