Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall
One day in the garden with his dad and sister, Jabari decides to make a flying machine. Planning and building can be frustrating. Jabari’s dad encourages him to ‘blow away all the mixed feelings inside’. The moment of achievement makes Jabari, his family and the reader smile!
That’s not a daffodil! By Elizabeth Honey
Mr Yilmaz, a kindly neighbour, brings Tom a daffodil. ‘That’s not a daffodil’ declares Tom when he sees the brown bulb. Together, they water it and protect it from life’s knocks and bumps. Both friendship and a beautiful yellow flower blossom.
Chapati Moon by Pippa Goodhart and Lizzie Finlay
Mrs Kapoor has just cooked a feast when her freshly baked chappati rolls out the door. There’s a lively chase by people and animals as it bumps, jumps and spins. Where will it end up and will anyone get to eat it? A lovely retelling of the runaway pancake tale.
Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
Julian decides he wants to be a mermaid and creates an outfit for himself. How does his nana respond? Why, she takes him to visit other mermaids. ‘Like you, honey’ she says. ‘Let’s join them’. A story of love, acceptance and swishy tails that challenges gender stereotypes.
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell and Henry Cole
Roy and Silo are a penguin couple who are both boys. They swim together, walk together and sing together. One day they begin to take care of an egg in their nest and soon have a baby penguin as part of their family. What do you need to make a family? Love.
Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival
Ruby has a Worry that stops her doing the things she loves. When Ruby finds a friend and shares her Worry, she feels like herself again. This story helps children name the feeling of ‘worry’ and understand that other people have worries too. The message? Talking helps.
See unit in Talk Through Stories
My Beautiful Voice by Joseph Coelho and Alison Colpoys
Miss Flotsam’s clothes are ‘a flutter of fabric filled with the spice of colour’. She loves poetry. A little girl in her class rarely speaks. Inspired and nurtured by Miss Flotsam, she slowly finds her voice. And when she does… it is beautiful.
Clean Up! By Nathan Byron and Dapo Adeola
Rocket visits her grandparents and decides to find a way to clean up the plastic spoiling the beauty of the beach. ‘It feels as though there is more plastic than sand!’ When Rocket decides to do something she does so… with va-va-voom!
Look Up! By Nathan Byron and Dapo Adeola
Rocket is a little girl with big ambitions; she wants to be an astronaut one day. The story is full of Rocket’s fabulous facts and contagious enthusiasm. She is a girl on a mission.
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
‘I’m jumping off the diving board today’ says Jabari when he visits the swimming pool with his dad and sister. It’s a bit high, a bit scary. ‘It’s OK to feel a little scared,’ says his dad. Children will identify with Jabari’s fear and bravery in this story.