Adding books to Christmas stockings is a must, but which books will actually be read and loved? Whilst we’re all grateful to David Walliams for having a new title ready just in time for the festive shopping once again (and if you haven’t read it yet, The Ice Monster is another winner!), wouldn’t it be lovely for our children to branch out and discover new favourite authors?
As teachers, we are fortunate to enjoy frequent book discussions with children who have a variety of literary tastes and interests but you may not know that we also read a lot of children’s fiction ourselves. Afterall, one of the best ways to encourage children to read is to rave about what we have just enjoyed too!
So, if you’re looking for a stocking filler that comes highly recommended, look no further. You will find the books grouped as Early Readers (for children within the first year or two of reading independently), Starting to Fly (able to tackle longer chapter books) and Soaring with Confidence (for accomplished readers). We hope you find it useful and welcome your comments and suggestions at the bottom.
Soaring with Confidence
Beetle Boy, M G Leonard
Fish in a Tree, Lynda Mullaly Hunt
The Last Wild, Piers Torday
The House with Chicken Legs, Sophie Anderson
The 1000 Year Old Boy, Ross Welford
Sky Hawk, Gill Lewis
Welcome to Nowhere, Elizabeth Laird
Letters from the Lighthouse, Emma Carroll
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen
The Explorer, Katherine Rundell
Pax, Sara Pennypacker
There are further recommendations longlisted in the Redbridge Children’s Book Award here.
Starting to Fly
The Parent Agency, David Baddiel
A Boy Called Christmas or The Girl Who Saved Christmas, Matt Haig
The Creakers or The Christmasaurus, Tom Fletcher
The Girl with the Lost Smile, Miranda Hart
The Wild Robot and The Wild Robot Escapes, Peter Brown
Julius Zebra, Gary Northfield
Kensuke’s Kingdom, Michael Morpurgo
Dead Man’s Cove, Lauren St John
The Last Chance Hotel, Nicki Thornton
Early Readers
Swallows and Spiders, Julia Donaldson
Mudpuddle Farm, Michael Morpurgo
The Bolds, Julian Clary
Claude, Alex T. Smith
The Truth Pixie, Matt Haig
Wigglesbottom Primary, Becka Moor & Pamela Butchart
Little Legends, Tom Percival
Lottie Lipton Adventures, Dan Metcalf
Captain Pug, Laura James
Uncle Gobb, Michael Rosen
Bananas in my Ears, Michael Rosen
Betsey Biggalow, Marjorie Blackman
Roald Dahl (shorter books include The Twits and Billy and the Minpins)
Winnie the Witch chapter books (e.g. Winnie Takes the Plunge), Laura Owen & Korky Paul
Paddington, Michael Bond
Oliver Moon, Sue Mongredien
Thank you,
Mrs Oshungbure