Great Books Guide: For 6 to 7 year olds

The Lost Homework

Author: Richard O’Neill Illustrator: Kirsti Beautyman
Publisher: Child’s Play
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 6+

Sonny lives on a Traveller community site with his family and he’s super excited about a family wedding. This smart, charming book is written by an author of Traveller heritage and has a lovely message about informal learning opportunities being all around. 

Mark and Shark: Detectiving and Stuff

Author: John Dougherty Illustrator: Katie Abey
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+

Mark and his best friend Shark run a detective agency, although they’ve not yet been offered any cases to solve. Luckily, they also deal with ‘stuff’, which Shark prefers, as she’s not very good at detectiving. She often gets the wrong end of the stick and tends to mistake most objects for seals, so tries to eat them.

When Ursula, a large, aggressive polar b…

Sadiq and the Pet Problem

Author: Siman Nurali Illustrator: Anjan Sarkar
Publisher: Raintree (imprint of Capstone Global Library)
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 5+

Sadiq is excited about getting a pet for the classroom, but which one should the class choose? Sadiq is a relatable little boy from Somalia, who has everyday experiences that children will identify with.  

Hilda and the Mountain King

Author: Luke Pearson
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 7+

Hilda is turned into a troll child and must venture into the Hall of the Mountain King on a quest to become human again in the sixth instalment of Luke Pearson's brilliant graphic novel series.

Cats React to Science Facts

Author: Izzi Howell
Publisher: Wayland
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 7+

Izzi Howell's genius book combines genuinely astonishing scientific facts with hilarious and cute cat pictures: a perfect book for sparking conversations (and with "aww" appeal).

The Misadventures of Frederick

Author: Ben Manley Illustrator: Emma Chichester Clark
Publisher: Two Hoots
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 7+

Emily is playing in the forest when she sees a boy watching her from a grand house. She invites him to play, but his mother refuses - will Emily be able to convince him to face his fears and come outside? A sophisticated, skilful picture book.

The Secret of the Tattered Shoes

Author: Jackie Morris Illustrator: Ehsan Abdollahi
Publisher: Tiny Owl
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 6+

Jackie Morris' retelling of the classic fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses is accompanied by Ehsan Abdollahi's transfixingly beautiful illustration, updating the story for a new generation.

High Five to the Hero

Author: Vita Murrow Illustrator: Julia Bereciartu
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 7+

What if heroes weren't always the strong and silent type? Vita Murrow brings the stars from some of our favourite stories into the modern day with this thought-provoking collection.

Argh! There’s a Skeleton Inside You!

Author: Idan Ben-Barak Illustrator: Julian Frost
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 5+

Quog and Oort are off to Kevin’s birthday party but – oh no! – their spaceship is broken. This beautifully crafted story distils complex ideas into a fun story. Thoroughly recommended for anyone exploring the world of science with young children.

Claire: Justice Ninja

Author: Joe Brady Illustrator: Kate Ashwin
Publisher: The Phoenix
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 7+

This fun graphic novel has 12 relatable short stories for young readers to enjoy, with a young hero who intends to right the world of wrongs: whether it's litter in the street or your mum eating all the pepperoni off a pizza. 

Bad Nana: That’s Snow Business

Author: Sophy Henn
Publisher: HarperCollins
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 6+

What happens when Bad Nana gets involved with the Winter Wonderland Variety Show? The third book in Sophy Henn’s young middle grade series is brilliant, and and the final message about having fun is pitch perfect. 

Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country

Author: Atinuke Illustrator: Mouni Feddag
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 7+

A perfect book for young children interested in their cultural heritage or for those with a passion for travel and geography, this would also make a gorgeous gift for anyone interested in Africa.

You Smell! And So Does Everything Else

Author: Clive Gifford Illustrator: Pete Gamlen
Publisher: Laurence King
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 6+

The bright and brilliant book is full of interesting facts and silly puns about our sense of smell - for example, did you know that some people sweat in colour and that without our sense of smell we wouldn't be able to taste anything? The energetic illustrations and text are perfectly pitched at the age where children are fascinated by poo, farts, and other …

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez

Author: Andrea Beaty Illustrator: David Roberts
Publisher: Abrams
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 6+

Sofia Valdez isn’t just a do-gooder: she’s a do-better, visiting people in her community who can’t get out much, or just stopping for a chat. Andrea Beaty’s brilliant rhyming text tells Sofia’s story flawlessly, and David Roberts' characters and imagery are stunning.

Poems Aloud

Author: Joseph Coelho Illustrator: Daniel Gray-Barnett
Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 6+

This dynamic collection of verse brings poetry alive, both for the reader and their audience. Perfect to encourage children to develop a love of poetry and performance.

Is My Teacher a Robot?

Author: Dave Cousins Illustrator: Catalina Echeverri
Publisher: Stripes
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 6+

When Robin the robot wakes up one day convinced he's a teacher, he ends up as a supply cover for Jess and Jake's class - but when he disappears on the night of the science fair, the children fear the worst. A zany twist on school life with lots of laughs, adventure, and a suitably challenging vocabulary for younger readers.

The Adventures of Harry Stevenson, Guinea Pig Superstar

Author: Ali Pye
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 6+

Harry the guinea pig is going to school for the first time! But the day turns out to have some unexpected results. This illustrated young reader book contains two stories and lots of charming black and white illustrations, perfect for young animal fans that aren't looking for long reads.

Wigglesbottom Primary: Break-Time Bunnies

Author: Pamela Butchart Illustrator: Becka Moor
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 6+

There's always something going on at Wigglesbottom Primary! Children looking for silly chapter books with lots of pictures will love these zany stories.

Agents of the Wild: Operation Honeyhunt

Author: Jennifer Bell Illustrator: Alice Lickens
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+

Orphan Agnes is flabbergasted to find a shrew in a safari suit sitting on her bed one afternoon. He informs Agnes that she has been selected as a field agent for the covert organisation SPEARS, the Society for the Protection of Endangered and Awesomely Rare Species Can she rise to the challenge? Fast-paced and funny, this entertaining eco-chapter book with a…

Professor Astro Cat’s Deep Sea Voyage

Author: Dr Dominic Walliman Illustrator: Ben Newman
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 7+

Professor Astro Cat is back with his friends Gilbert, Martha, Felicity, Evie and Astro Mouse, setting sail on an incredible deep sea voyage in this book full of stunning retro illustrations and fascinating ocean facts.