Windows and Mirrors booklist

Windows and Mirrors booklist

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.

  • Word Trouble by Vyara Boyadjieva 16 January 2024
    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.
  • You’re So Amazing! By James & Lucy Catchpole and Karen George 1 June 2023
    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.

A Child’s Garden- a story of hope by Michael Foreman

A 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

Ada’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 Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang and Charlene Chua

Amy 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.

Astro Girl by Ken Wilson- Max

Astrid 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

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

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!

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.

  • Word Trouble by Vyara Boyadjieva 16 January 2024
    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.
  • You’re So Amazing! By James & Lucy Catchpole and Karen George 1 June 2023
    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.

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?

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’.

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.

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