Great Books Guide 2025-26: Books from Wales

On her first day of school Wini the squirrel and her classmates learn some very important lessons about how to be a good friend. A perfect choice for any young readers starting their journey through school.

When it comes to mathematics Mostyn is the cleverest sheep in the land, but can he find a way to stay awake long enough to keep count of the sheep in his flock? A fun, colourful story about solving the silliest of problems!

As the sun sets, little monsters everywhere get ready for bed. Whether you’re a skeleton, vampire or a phantom, you still need to tidy away your toys, brush your teeth and snuggle up for a bedtime story. A mischievous rhyming bedtime story for sleepy little monsters.

When Spark’s home is destroyed in a storm, he has nowhere to live. Will he ever find a new home? Celebrating kindness and friendship, this is a charming story with beautiful illustrations. 

When a curious squirrel and an inquisitive mole venture into the unknown parts of the forest that they have been warned against, they find joy and friendship with the ​‘other’ they were told to fear. A fantastically clever and funny book with an important message at its heart.

When the day comes for Divya to wear a bindi for the first time she is a whirlpool of different emotions. But talking to her classmates about her experience enables her to find joy, strength and pride in her Hindu identity.

When a new pupil starts school in Ysgol Arswyd/​Scary School she understandably feels a bit unsure. But her nerves quickly disappear as she realises that these monsters are more interested in being friendly than being fiendish. A fun read especially on Halloween!

After being banned from the latest school trip Dylan makes a wish that all teachers disappear. But when his wish is granted, he realises that the reality is not the paradise he imagines. A fun-fantasy about being careful what you wish for.

The clueless but loveable fairy Pip becomes involved in a whirlwind of political intrigue when the fairies’ food stores turn mouldy in this hilariously anarchic full colour graphic novel.

In an attempt to stop the closure of their much-loved school garden club, its members decide to use the produce they have grown to hold a street food festival. But will it be enough to save their precious club? An engaging, informative look at how food can change children’s lives for the better.

A book that introduces 20 of the most interesting and inspiring Black and Asian people living and working in Wales today in a way that’s fun and engaging for young readers.

When Meg notices her friend, Mr Beynon, has gone missing she has a feeling that her efforts to help the widower find a new companion on the internet could be responsible for his disappearance. But with the help of her dog and a good friend, neuro-divergent Meg navigates her way through the challenging world around her to solve the mystery and save her friend.

This collection of funny, thought-provoking and imaginative poems about the world around us is written by the Children’s Laureate Wales. 

For as long as Huw can remember, Nan has refused to talk about her brother Johnny, but as she succumbs to the grip of dementia, she lets slip enough information for Huw and his friends to investigate the facts about what really happened to Johnny all those years ago.

After the death of her best friend and moving to the other side of the country, Gwen is feeling sad and isolated. But an unexpected friendship with a fashion-designing mermaid helps her re-discover her strength and self-confidence. An engaging graphic novel that deals with loss, isolation and the importance of friendship.

A creepy and unsettling tale of faerie folk, revenge and a sinister soft toy, set in the Victorian era.