National Children's Day

If I Ran the Country

To help you celebrate National Children's Day, we've shared some of our favourite books all about the incredible things that children and young people can do.

From trying to save the planet to tackling bullying, these books are all about the inspiring things that children are doing to shape their future. There are also some books packed with tips and suggestions for joining in!

Take a look - and let us know your favourites by sharing with us on X!

  • Break the Mould

    Author: Sinéad Burke Illustrator: Natalie Byrne

    Interest level: 9-12

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Break the Mould

    Author: Sinéad Burke Illustrator: Natalie Byrne

    Interest level: 9-12

    Reading age: 9+

    How can children learn to embrace their own individuality and accept others’ differences? This attractive guide encourages a young…

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  • If I Ran the Country

    Author: Rich Knight Illustrator: Alan Sanders

    Interest level: 9-13

    Reading age: 9+

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  • If I Ran the Country

    Author: Rich Knight Illustrator: Alan Sanders

    Interest level: 9-13

    Reading age: 9+

    This entertaining, fact-filled book about politics invites young readers to imagine how they would run a country if they unexpecte…

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  • Do Something for Someone Else

    Author: Loll Kirby with foreword by Michael Platt Illustrator: Yas Imamura

    Interest level: 6-8

    Reading age: 7+

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  • Do Something for Someone Else

    Author: Loll Kirby with foreword by Michael Platt Illustrator: Yas Imamura

    Interest level: 6-8

    Reading age: 7+

    Emphasising that every small act of kindness can make a genuine difference, this thought-provoking picture book is sure to motivat…

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  • Greta and the Giants

    Author: Zoë Tucker Illustrator: Zoe Persico

    Interest level: 4-8

    Reading age: 5+

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  • Greta and the Giants

    Author: Zoë Tucker Illustrator: Zoe Persico

    Interest level: 4-8

    Reading age: 5+

    This story, inspired by the life of Greta Thunberg, is for very young children. Suitably for the age group, it's a tale of hope, p…

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  • Kids Fight Plastic

    Author: Martin Dorey Illustrator: Tim Weeson

    Interest level: 6-11

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Kids Fight Plastic

    Author: Martin Dorey Illustrator: Tim Weeson

    Interest level: 6-11

    Reading age: 8+

    By 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Kids Fight Plastic presents powerful facts about how oceans a…

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  • The Barefoot Book of Children

    Author: Tessa Strickland Kate DePalma and David Dean

    Interest level: 4-8

    Reading age: 5+

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  • The Barefoot Book of Children

    Author: Tessa Strickland Kate DePalma and David Dean

    Interest level: 4-8

    Reading age: 5+

    This is a beautifully comprehensive and thought-provoking picture of the many different ways in which people live around the world…

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  • High Five to the Hero

    Author: Vita Murrow Illustrator: Julia Bereciartu

    Interest level: 6-11

    Reading age: 7+

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  • High Five to the Hero

    Author: Vita Murrow Illustrator: Julia Bereciartu

    Interest level: 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…

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