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.
- 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 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 11 November 2024Gran 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! New to ...
- Dim Sum Palace by X. Fang 20 June 2024Liddy is so excited about her trip to the Dim Sum Palace, she can’t sleep. Soon she finds herself in a real palace where chefs are making dumplings. Yum! She slips into the dumpling mix and soon finds she is a Liddy dumpling! What will happen to Liddy? Let’s hope nobody eats her…
- 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+.
- Eco Girl by Ken Wilson-Max 11 October 2023Eve 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 9 February 2024Mummy 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 29 March 2023A 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 8 February 2023A 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 11 September 2023Faruq’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 11 September 2023Finn 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 ...
- Flower Block by Lanisha Butterfield and Hoang Giang 27 September 2024One night, Jeremiah plants tiny seeds and makes a wish. The next day, vines magically sprout through his ceiling and up to the floors of his tower block. As he and his brother explore, they discover more flowers and more new people. How will the community feel about their tower full of flowers?
- Forever Star by Gareth Peter and Judi Abbot 1 June 2023Tim and Tim, the space heroes, would like to be dads and decide to adopt a child who needs a new start. They travel through space and find… Little Jim. ‘I think that’s our boy! Our very own starlight, our very own joy.’ Their very own forever family.
Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate
Grandad and Gramps travelled the world in their camper van but sadly Gramps isn’t around anymore. The child in this story listens as Grandad remembers their joyful trips. Will Grandad take one more trip to the beach? Stunning illustrations and a powerful story of love and loss.
Hello! A Counting Book of Kindness by Hollis Kurman
Families running away from war, floods or scary places need a safe place to live. This counting book beautifully illustrates hope, action and the importance of kind gestures. From beds ‘to keep us safe and warm’ to ‘sharing new stories and words’.
Home for Grace by Kathryn White and Rachael Dean
A little girl and her mum befriend a homeless woman called Grace. They share gifts with her; she shares stories with them. Sometimes they eat soup together. Grace tells them how she had to ‘leave her home and cross the sea’. A story to celebrate kindness and connection.
I am Nefertiti by Annemarie Anang and Natelle Quek
Nefertiti’s grandma chose her name and she is proud of it. When Nefertiti plays drums with a band, her new music teacher shortens her name to “Nef’. Nefertiti feels her body shrink. Will she be able to play the drums when she feels this way? Our names matter.
I Love You Because I Love You by Muro’n Thi Van and Jessica Love
There are small and big reasons why we love the people we love. Because they care, carry or play with us. Because they cook with care. Because people let us speak or let us make mistakes. Because they know when we’re sad or afraid. In the end, we love them because… we love them.
New to list Nov ’24
I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith
When the boy in this story starts to speak, the words get stuck. On bad speech days, he stays ‘quiet as a stone’. His dad helps him see how his voice bubbles and churns like a beautiful river. A book to help children understand stammering.
If all the world were… by Joseph Coelho and Alison Colpoys
A stunningly illustrated book about the love between a little girl and her grandad. When he passes away, she has a ‘kaleidoscope of memories’ that she writes and draws. A book to explore families, love and loss.
If I Were Prime Minister by Trygve Skaug and Ella Okstad
What would you do if you were prime minister? This child would buy ice cream for everyone and have cars powered by legs. Anyone who wanted a dog, could have one. Anyone who wanted a friend could have at least two. A funny, lively tale and a great stimulus for writing in Year 2+.
If I Were The World by Mark Sperring and Natelle Quek
Three children explore what the planet is facing: harmful gases, extinction and floods. They also help us see the action we can take as a community. An uplifting, energetic book, stunningly illustrated about looking after our amazing planet.
