Books featuring male role models for mixed ages

A bedtime countdown book which celebrates the power of the extended family. 

Can Stanley’s octopus help Stanley face his fears? A moving and visually stunning book about expressing your emotions through art – with a lovely father-son relationship at its heart. 

Olu’s nervous about going to nursery – but luckily his teacher is the very cool Jay! A reassuring, gentle story to allay any worries about this first step. 

Zahra hates long walks, so when Uncle Jerome picks her up from school and suggests they take ​‘the long walk home’, she is less than thrilled. But when birds become pterodactyls, Zahra begins to see this walk is like nothing she’s ever experienced before. Huge fun.

Ava and her grandad share happy memories of an old oak tree in this heartfelt exploration of growth, change and loss told through the magic of seasonal changes. A beautiful picture book. 

A sweet, quirky and affectionate story about brothers and learning to give your sibling space sometimes. 

Vinay and his ​“Council of Friends” are disrupted by the arrival of his cousin. Together, they learn to set aside their differences and empathise with each other’s feelings. 

Sam and his dad love football. When an accident has long-lasting effects, everything at home changes. A moving depiction of a father-son relationship, set in Wales.

Recently orphaned Will is sent to stay with an uncle he doesn’t know in a remote, mountainous valley. By caring for an injured osprey, he slowly comes to terms with his grief and learns to trust again. 

A young boy expelled for hurting a classmate is sent to stay with his Grandad in a tiny village, where he begins to find comfort in the peace and beauty of nature. This moving novel sensitively explores some of the pressures faced by teenagers and their potential impact on mental health. 

Willie Beech, a lonely and deprived child, is evacuated to a tiny English village just before the Second World War, and finds himself living with reclusive widower Thomas Oakley.

Kyle bonds with his eccentric grandad over ashared passion for protecting wildlife in a local stream.This powerful book includes themes of illness and bullying but maintains an optimistic, humorous tone. 

11-year-old Vanya is catapulted into a world of magic and monsters when she joins the enchanted school of Auramere. There, she must battle against the forces of the Old Ones and a dark family secret.. 

Kofi earns a scholarship to a prestigious private school and must overcome bullying and academic pressures to achieve his dream of becoming a professional athlete. A moving and important story. 

Best of enemies William and Florence don’t want their dads to date so they plan a series of pranks to keep them apart in this brilliantly funny, heartfelt and uplifting story. 

The 1980s-set story of Otie Brodie, a 12-year-old runner who grows up to be Coach in the Run series.