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.
- My Monster and Me by Nadiya Hussain and Ella Bailey 8 February 2023This little boy has a worry monster. ‘It was always BIG. When it stood in front of me, I could see nothing but it’s tummy’. Talking to gran one day, helps the monster get smaller. A book to help children make friends with their monsters. See unit in Talk Through Stories
- My Must-Have Mum by Maudie Smith and Jen Khatun 8 February 2023Jake’s mum can ‘make something new out of any old thing’. Their flat is full of things she has tinkered with, mixed or mended. Jake worries she might want to change him too. A heart-warming bond between a mum and her son with an ‘upcycling’ theme. See unit in Talk Through Stories
- My Name is Not Refugee by Kate Milner 29 March 2023What is it like to leave your home, your town and your community? To hear words you don’t understand, to taste new food? The child in this story reminds us; ‘You’ll be called Refugee but remember Refugee is not your name.’
- My Nana’s Garden by Dawn Casey and Jessica Courtney Tickle 8 February 2023A child explores her nana’s garden with her through the seasons. When nana passes away, the little girl and her mum sing nana’s songs, remember her words and plant her seeds. In time, the garden is once again ‘blooming with life’.
- My Two Grannies by Floella Benjamin and Margaret Chamberlain 8 February 2023Alvina’s two grannies like different things. One likes rice and peas, the other likes steak and kidney pie. When both look after her, they squabble. Alvina suggests they take turns doing the things they like. Will they get along better? A tale of respect and friendship.
- Never Show a T-Rex a Book by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Diana Ewen 8 February 2023A little girl starts to imagine what would happen if she read to a T-Rex; the dinosaur might ‘get all excited and want to read even MORE.’ A fun celebration of the magic of stories and what might, just might happen to a T-Rex (or you) if you carry on reading and reading!
- One Little Word by Joseph Coelho and Allison Colpoys 9 February 2024Two best friends argue; the argument grows until they feel more like enemies. A rollercoaster of shouting, shoving and tears ensues. What will it take to heal their friendship? Why, one little word of course. Oh, and a hug.
- Our Tower by Joseph Coelho and Richard Johnson 23 February 2023Despite the grey, concrete tower the children live in, there is ‘a power that resides in the smiles of our neighbours. A magic that seeps out when we swap our home-baked flavours.’ A moving and important story to share with children in Key Stage 1 and 2.
- Out of the Blue by Robert Tregoning and Stef Murphy 27 April 2023The child in this story feel sad and alone. Everything in the world is the colour blue; including the grass and he loves… yellow. Is it okay to love yellow? Will his dad still love him? ‘Life is like a rainbow – we all love different things.’ A story to celebrate individuality and diversity.
- People Need People by Benjamin Zephaniah and Nila Aye 8 December 2023A fabulous poem that bounces along, why not join in as if it’s a song? A celebration of connection, family, friendship; ‘to make life appealing and give life some meaning, it’s useful to have other people’. Oh yes, people will always need people.
- Princesses Break Free by Timothy Knapman and Jenny Lovlie 27 April 2023Princess Tilly is no ordinary princess. She doesn’t wait to be rescued and inspires other princesses to do the same. ‘For the first time, princesses everywhere were doing exactly what they’d always WANTED to do!’ Soon princes, witches and fairy godmothers join in the revolution!
- Ravi’s Roar by Tom Percival 8 February 2023Like all children, Ravi sometimes feels cross. One day he becomes so furious, he turns into a tiger and ROARS. At first, it feels good. But soon nobody wants to play. A book to help children learn to understand anger – even if they do sometimes still need ‘a bit of a growl!’ See unit in ...
Cloud Babies by Eoin Colfer and Chris Judge
Erin 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 and teachers do to help her?
New to list April ’24
Dadaji’s Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Ruchi Mhasane
A 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 to list April ’24
Do You Remember? by Sydney Smith
A 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+.
Eco Girl by Ken Wilson-Max
Eve loves trees. In fact, she wishes she could talk to them. On a visit to Grandma for her birthday, she gets a magical surprise. A little Baobab tree of her own, just like generations of her family have. Happy Birthday Eco Girl!
Everything Changes by Clare Helen Walsh and Asa Gillard
Mummy and daddy can’t live together anymore; it’s confusing and worrying. The family build a new life, do different things and talk about what it feels like.
‘Sometimes grown-ups separate, but parents are forever’. What keeps them together even if they are apart? Love.
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
A girl finds a box filled with ‘yarn of every colour’. She knits a jumper for her dog, her friends, for buildings and trees. The yarn never runs out. A mean person steals the box. Will the magic work for him too? A modern fairy tale about kindness… and baddies!
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho
A young girl notices her eyes look different from her friends. Her eyes ‘kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea’ like her mama’s, her amah’s and her baby sister’s. They connect her to her family, to her history. A book to help children recognise their own beauty.
Faruq and the Wiri Wiri by Sophia Payne and Sandhya Prabhat
Faruq’s granny loves to cook. He wants to be a chef when he grows up, not a doctor like his dad. ‘Why can’t boys learn to cook?’ he wonders. One day, he prepares a fabulous feast for his family with the wiri wiri pepper. What could be more joyful? For everyone! A true celebration!
Finn’s Little Fibs by Tom Percival
Finn loves visiting his beloved grandmother more than anything. One day, he finds himself telling her a little fib. The fib grows; he feels sad and his tummy feels strange. In fact, he feels awful. He takes a big step and tells her the truth. And guess what? He feels so much lighter. A book about honesty.
