Windows and Mirrors
Our booklist
In 1990, Professor Rudine Sims Bishop published an article called “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors”. The article shared the importance of all children seeing themselves reflected in what they read.
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.
Find a printable list of the Windows and Mirrors booklist here.
Ava and the Acorn by Lu Fraser and Paddy Donnelly
Ava and grandad’s favourite oak tree changes each season. Buds in spring, bees and beetles in summer. When the oak tree dies, grandad says; ‘the acorn was part of that tree in the same way that you’re part of me’. A small part of all of us always lives on.
Billy and the Dragon by Nadia Shireen
Billy 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
Changing Tides by Julia Moscardo
Lula and her dad and Theo and his mum are making a new family together. How will things turn out when they go to the seaside? Building a sandcastle is a wonderful way to have fun. But how will they feel when the tide crashes into it?
New to list May ’25
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.
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!
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?
Confetti by Dean Atta and Alea Marley
Ari loves the colours of confetti. She sees the colours at Pride, at her mummy’s baby shower and at her own birthday party. She throws confetti too when her uncle and his husband get married. There are so many different days and ways to celebrate love, joy and family.
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 and soon the other village children join in too. ‘Grandfather will always be with him’.
Dance Just Like So by Annemarie Anang and Natelle Quek
Gran loves to dance the Shooby-Dee Mambo and decides to teach it to the community. She twirls and shimmies and everyone bops, taps, wiggles and shakes along. Gran hurts her knee, ouch. Kwesi has a great idea to keep the joyful dance classes going. Find out how Gran joins in!