Books to read aloud to ages 7 and 8

Follow the adventures of Beti and her baby goat Naughty in this beautifully written and illustrated book as they explore the natural world which surrounds her little round house in the Welsh countryside. 

Rhodopis is a rarity in the north of Greece, with her red hair and blue eyes. Soon, she is kidnapped and turned into a slave. When the Pharoah finds a slipper, he declares he will marry the owner. This version of the Cinderella story is based on an Egyptian tale.

Fox siblings Ted and Nancy live in the big city but decide to find Grimwood, a faraway forest where they can lie low. Nadia Shireen’s first illustrated middle grade novel is a brilliantly hilarious and heartwarming tale, full of her trademark anarchic humour. 

Joseph Coelho has written the brilliant poems in this book to help children spread happiness. 

Can Maysa and Musa solve the mystery of who destroyed the competition cookies? Relatable and funny, this is a story about everyday family life, with a gentle mystery and a BIG lie at the heart of it. 

Despite the book’s large size, the format is ideal for reluctant or newly confidant readers, the print large, well-spaced and liberally aided by the illustrations.

This is the story about how four classmates have a massive impact on the life of Ahmet, a boy that comes to their school as a refugee from Syria. An inspiring and sweet tale that should help children be the best they can be and realise the power of kindness.

Sometimes we all need a bit of a positive boost, and this book of 50 poems packed with positivity and happiness is just the ticket.

A brilliantly funny, and gloriously rambling, historical hunt for a monster with a great twist at the end and a subtle message about not judging by appearances.

When a dead giant falls from the sky and squishes their village, two trainee witches find themselves caught up in the hunt for a killer in a land where their suspects could squash them with just a footstep. 

Lulu the badger undergoes specialist training, before embarking on a Top Secret mission to secure world peace, in this hilarious, illustrated chapter book. 

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an incredible sword-fighter, dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking hero who ever lived.