Our list of suggested books for children aged 4 to 7 offers:
- Windows into the lives of all children
- Mirrors for children’s own lives.
All children see themselves in stories. All children are seen.
Stories help children become empathetic and reflective. Themes on our list include: family and friendship; exploring feelings; kindness and community; our planet; change and bereavement; moving home or country; the power of speaking up.
Many schools also read these wonderful picture books to children in Key Stage 2.
How many of these books do you have in your school?
Find a printable list of the Windows and Mirrors booklist here.
Read our Diversity and Inclusion statement here.
- A Child’s Garden- a story of hope by Michael Foreman 1 November 2023A little boy lives in a village torn apart by war. He can no longer reach the hills; they are blocked by barbed wire. He finds a little plant that he nurtures. A message of optimism in a world that can seem hopeless. Connection and nature will rise again.
- Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts 9 February 2024Ada’s head is full of questions; why, what, how and when? ‘How does a nose know there’s something to smell? And does it still stink if there’s no nose to tell?’ This fabulous rhyming story is perfect for Year 1+ to inspire curiosity and perseverance in young, would-be scientists. Follow your passion; and your nose!
- Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon by Kat Zhang and Charlene Chua 8 February 2023The class are making dragons. Sadly, none of the ones Amy makes feel right. At home, Amy and her family find a dragon costume in the attic. Teamwork, glue and lots of glitter and… ta da! She has a dragon to proudly show her classmates.
- Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang and Charlene Chua 8 February 2023Amy loves to eat bao – yummy Chinese dumplings – but she’s not great at making them. Her mum, dad and grandma all try to teach her. Learning to make a bao is not easy! Cooking as a family, sharing food and… patience feature in this story.
- And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell and Henry Cole 8 February 2023Roy 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.
- Astro Girl by Ken Wilson- Max 23 February 2023Astrid loves the stars and space. While her mama is away, she finds out all sorts of facts with her papa about being an astronaut. When she gets to pick her mama up, there is a surprise. What will it be and why has mama been away?
- Billy and the Dragon by Nadia Shireen 8 February 2023Billy and her animal friends are enjoying a party when a dragon swoops down and grabs Fatcat. How will Billy save him? Fortunately, Billy has a great brain and a plan! And maybe the dragon isn’t such a baddy after all! A story with a twist. See unit in Talk Through Stories
- Chapati Moon by Pippa Goodhart and Lizzie Finlay 8 February 2023Mrs 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.
- Clean Up! By Nathan Byron and Dapo Adeola 8 February 2023Rocket 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!
- Cloud Babies by Eoin Colfer and Chris Judge 8 April 2024Erin has a wonderful imagination and sees cloud babies in the sky. She becomes ill and spends lots of time in hospital. Her cloud babies help her and other children. Going back to school is hard; she misses her school friends on hospital days and her hospital friends on school ones. What will Erin’s parents ...
- Dadaji’s Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Ruchi Mhasane 8 April 2024A little boy and his grandfather love to paint. When grandfather dies, the boy stops painting. He is just too sad. A little girl asks him to teach her to paint. Together, they discover the joy of colour, of painting and the other village children join in too, ‘grandfather will always be with him’. New ...
- Do You Remember? by Sydney Smith 9 February 2024A boy and his mum share memories of when they lived with dad in a faraway place. Some are very beautiful; lying on a blue blanket in the sun. Some more painful; a scary rainstorm and leaving their home. They begin to make new memories together. Lyrical and stunningly illustrated for Year 1+.
We Want Our Books by Jake Alexander
When the library closes, Rosa and her sister decide to put on a protest. At first, nobody notices them, nobody listens. But eventually, crowds of book lovers join them and the precious library is saved. A book about the power of using our voices, the power of… community.
We’re Going to Find the Monster by Malorie Blackman and Dapo Adeola
Eddie and Charlie set off over the ocean, up a mountain and through a jungle to find the monster. And all before breakfast! Who is the monster exactly? A fabulous story for children in Reception to join in with.
Weirdo by Zadie Smith and Nick Laird
The animals at Kit’s house think the new pet is a weirdo. At first, the new pet thinks about ‘ways to make herself more like the others’. She soon realises that being different has its own special joy. Is she a weirdo or is she just… Maud?
When the Storks Came Home by Isabella Tree and Alexandra Finkeldey
Beanie loves birds. She finds out that storks used to live near her but were hunted to extinction. She and her neighbours hatch a plan to bring them back. Based on a real project, a book to inspire budding environmentalists.
Word Trouble by Vyara Boyadjieva
Ronnie moves to a new country and learns to speak the language. At first, it’s hard. Soon, he starts to collect more and more words and more and more friends! A wonderful book for the early years, exploring the delight and challenge of starting school when you’re learning English.
New to list January ’24
You’re So Amazing! By James & Lucy Catchpole and Karen George
Amazing Joe! Poor Joe! Joe would rather just be… Joe. Is he amazing because he can queue for an ice-cream or go down a slide? ‘People need to relax’ says his friend Simone. An important book: disabled children have their own normal stories.