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.
- Little Red by Bethan Woollvin 27 April 2023Some little girls are scared of wolves but not this little girl. Little Red is brave. Little Red is clever. Little Red will not be tricked by a silly wolf. A fabulous retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, perfect for Reception and Year 1 children.
- Look Up! By Nathan Byron and Dapo Adeola 8 February 2023Rocket 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.
- Love Grows Everywhere by Barry Timms and Tisha Lee 11 October 2023Love grows on the street…and reaches out to those we meet. A neighbour from across the way. A friend from school who’d like to play.’ A book that pays homage to the fact that love makes a brighter world. Wonderful illustrations to reflect all children’s lives.
- Luna Loves Christmas by Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers 8 December 2023Sometimes Luna spends Christmas at her mum’s, sometimes at her dad’s. This year, her whole family are doing something special. They are volunteering and making deliveries for the food bank and being part of a Christmas dinner where everyone is welcome.
- Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai and Kerascoet 8 March 2024When she was young, Malala wished that all girls in her country could go to school like her. When girls were no longer allowed to, she spoke up. And, although people tried to silence her, she continues to help ‘make the world a more peaceful place’.
- Mama’s Sleeping Scarf by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Joelle Avelino 1 November 2023While she’s at work, mama lets Chino play with her special scarf. All day, Chino plays, runs and eats with it. The scarf connects her to mama, papa, her grandparents. It wraps them in love until they all come together for a family dinner. The delight of everyday things!
- Max and the Tag-along Moon by Floyd Cooper 8 February 2023Max loves his granpa. When he leaves his house one night, granpa reminds him that the moon will follow Max home. Once in his dark bedroom, Max misses granpa and the moon. But as granpa says, ‘That ol’ moon will always shine for me… on and on!’ And it does. A reassuring story of ...
- Meesha Makes a Friend by Tom Percival 8 February 2023Meesha loves making things but finds it difficult to make friends. Hiding in a quiet corner at a noisy party Meesha discovers she is not the only person who finds it tricky. A book to help children recognise their own feelings and how others might be feeling too.
- My Beautiful Voice by Joseph Coelho and Alison Colpoys 8 February 2023Miss 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.
- My Bindhi by Gita Varadarajan and Archana Sreenivasan 11 September 2023It is an important moment in Divya’s life; time to wear a bindhi. She is nervous about what her school friends might say and is ‘all mixed up’. Is she scared or is she proud? She bravely stands up in class and explains, ‘it can see inside me and protect me. It makes me feel ...
- My Dad by Susan Quinn and Marina Ruiz 8 December 2023A little boy tells us what’s so special about his dad: from baking the best cookies to bathtime fun. ‘I love the time I spend with Dad – he’s the best a dad can be. And every day is special when it’s just my Dad and me.’
- My Dad is a Grizzly Bear by Swapna Haddow and Dapo Adeola 17 January 2023This dad is a grizzly bear with fur that scratches and scritches and a very loud roar. Sometimes he laughs and teases. Sometimes he’s grumpy and sleepy. But he always gives the very best hugs. A fun, lively story for Nursery and Reception.
Little Red by Bethan Woollvin
Some little girls are scared of wolves but not this little girl. Little Red is brave. Little Red is clever. Little Red will not be tricked by a silly wolf. A fabulous retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, perfect for Reception and Year 1 children.
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.
Love Grows Everywhere by Barry Timms and Tisha Lee
Love grows on the street…and reaches out to those we meet. A neighbour from across the way. A friend from school who’d like to play.’ A book that pays homage to the fact that love makes a brighter world. Wonderful illustrations to reflect all children’s lives.
Luna Loves Christmas by Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers
Sometimes Luna spends Christmas at her mum’s, sometimes at her dad’s. This year, her whole family are doing something special. They are volunteering and making deliveries for the food bank and being part of a Christmas dinner where everyone is welcome.
Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai and Kerascoet
When she was young, Malala wished that all girls in her country could go to school like her. When girls were no longer allowed to, she spoke up. And, although people tried to silence her, she continues to help ‘make the world a more peaceful place’.
Mama’s Sleeping Scarf by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Joelle Avelino
While she’s at work, mama lets Chino play with her special scarf. All day, Chino plays, runs and eats with it. The scarf connects her to mama, papa, her grandparents. It wraps them in love until they all come together for a family dinner. The delight of everyday things!
Max and the Tag-along Moon by Floyd Cooper
Max loves his granpa. When he leaves his house one night, granpa reminds him that the moon will follow Max home. Once in his dark bedroom, Max misses granpa and the moon. But as granpa says, ‘That ol’ moon will always shine for me… on and on!’ And it does. A reassuring story of family love.
See unit in Talk Through Stories
Meesha Makes a Friend by Tom Percival
Meesha loves making things but finds it difficult to make friends. Hiding in a quiet corner at a noisy party Meesha discovers she is not the only person who finds it tricky. A book to help children recognise their own feelings and how others might be feeling too.
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.
