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.

  • The Boys by Lauren Ace and Jenny Lovlie 8 February 2023
    Four boys; one makes art, one makes music, one tells stories and one likes to understand how things work. As they grow up and difficulties arise, the friends realise ‘the best way to face problems is to talk and listen’. A book to celebrate the value of friendship.
  • The Can Caravan by Richard O’Neill and Cindy Kang 1 June 2023
    Mrs Tolen has a broken hip and worries she will have to move from her caravan into a house. Her young friends decide to help. With hard work and a visit to the recycling plant, her home is safe for her. A story celebrating the traditional Traveller values of community and recycling.
  • The Comet by Joe Todd-Stanton 11 October 2023
    Nyla’s dad gets a new job and they move from the country to the town. She is used to her dad cooking dinners, reading stories; she is used to seeing the sky. Change is hard but seeing a comet reminds Nyla of what she loves. Can Nyla and her dad make their new house a ...
  • The Drama Llama by Rachel Morrisroe and Ella Okstad 11 October 2023
    When Alex worries or has a drama, a llama appears and causes mayhem. Alex can’t get rid of it. We learn that ‘when a fear or worry starts to leave you feeling stressed, find someone to talk to because talking is the BEST.’ A book with fabulous rhymes and funny illustrations.
  • The Extraordinary Gardener by Sam Boughton 10 July 2023
    Jo lives in a grey world and has a wondrous imagination. One day, he decides to plant a tiny seed. The seed turns into a plant and he decides to grow all sort of other things, in all sorts of new places. Jo turns the ordinary… extraordinary. See unit in Talk Through Stories
  • The Family Tree by Kate Ferdinand 9 February 2024
    Amongst magical forest families, live Ash, Willow and their dad. Dad introduces them to a new person. The children like her but also miss their mum. What will bring this blended family together? As they bake, they get to know one another and their home starts to glow with love and magic.
  • The Girl Who Planted Trees by Caryl Hart and Anastasia Suvorava 8 December 2023
    A small girl decides she wants to bring the forest back to her mountain. She plants pips and seeds and gives them water and love. Despite storms and the blazing sun, she never gives up. And soon the whole community is involved. A beautiful tale of hope, resilience and connection.
  • The Girls by Lauren Ace and Jenny Lovlie 8 February 2023
    Four little girls are best friends and ‘as different as they are the same’. One is an adventurer, one has good ideas, one is practical and one makes everyone laugh. They stay rooted together as they grow, just like the tree they used to play beneath. A book for children in Year 1 and above.
  • The Great Storm Whale by Benji Davies 16 January 2024
    Grandma tells Noi a story about a storm that destroyed a little girl’s home. And how, bit by bit, things from her old home began to turn up on the beach. Who has been bringing them to her? A tale of family, history and connection to nature.
  • The Invisible by Tom Percival 17 January 2023
    When Isabel’s family don’t have enough money to pay the bills, they move to the other side of the city. In this new part of town, she feels invisible. Isabel begins to build a community. ‘The more people came together… the more they could all be seen’. A book about hope and belonging. See unit in ...
  • The Kindest Red by Ibtihaj Muhammed, S.K Ali and Hatem Aly 23 February 2023
    The children at Faizah’s school spend the day deciding the sort of world they would like. Faizah chooses kindness and spends the day being kind to friends. At the end of the day, her friend Sophie shares something precious with her. Kindness can come back to you.
  • The Many Colours of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar and Alea Marley 8 February 2023
    Harpeet loves to wear colourful patkas (turbans); yellow when he feels sunny and red for courage. When he moves schools, he feels shy and wears his white patka. What might make him feel colourful again? Making a friend, of course.

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.

  • The Boys by Lauren Ace and Jenny Lovlie 8 February 2023
    Four boys; one makes art, one makes music, one tells stories and one likes to understand how things work. As they grow up and difficulties arise, the friends realise ‘the best way to face problems is to talk and listen’. A book to celebrate the value of friendship.
  • The Can Caravan by Richard O’Neill and Cindy Kang 1 June 2023
    Mrs Tolen has a broken hip and worries she will have to move from her caravan into a house. Her young friends decide to help. With hard work and a visit to the recycling plant, her home is safe for her. A story celebrating the traditional Traveller values of community and recycling.
  • The Comet by Joe Todd-Stanton 11 October 2023
    Nyla’s dad gets a new job and they move from the country to the town. She is used to her dad cooking dinners, reading stories; she is used to seeing the sky. Change is hard but seeing a comet reminds Nyla of what she loves. Can Nyla and her dad make their new house a ...
  • The Drama Llama by Rachel Morrisroe and Ella Okstad 11 October 2023
    When Alex worries or has a drama, a llama appears and causes mayhem. Alex can’t get rid of it. We learn that ‘when a fear or worry starts to leave you feeling stressed, find someone to talk to because talking is the BEST.’ A book with fabulous rhymes and funny illustrations.
  • The Extraordinary Gardener by Sam Boughton 10 July 2023
    Jo lives in a grey world and has a wondrous imagination. One day, he decides to plant a tiny seed. The seed turns into a plant and he decides to grow all sort of other things, in all sorts of new places. Jo turns the ordinary… extraordinary. See unit in Talk Through Stories
  • The Family Tree by Kate Ferdinand 9 February 2024
    Amongst magical forest families, live Ash, Willow and their dad. Dad introduces them to a new person. The children like her but also miss their mum. What will bring this blended family together? As they bake, they get to know one another and their home starts to glow with love and magic.
  • The Girl Who Planted Trees by Caryl Hart and Anastasia Suvorava 8 December 2023
    A small girl decides she wants to bring the forest back to her mountain. She plants pips and seeds and gives them water and love. Despite storms and the blazing sun, she never gives up. And soon the whole community is involved. A beautiful tale of hope, resilience and connection.
  • The Girls by Lauren Ace and Jenny Lovlie 8 February 2023
    Four little girls are best friends and ‘as different as they are the same’. One is an adventurer, one has good ideas, one is practical and one makes everyone laugh. They stay rooted together as they grow, just like the tree they used to play beneath. A book for children in Year 1 and above.
  • The Great Storm Whale by Benji Davies 16 January 2024
    Grandma tells Noi a story about a storm that destroyed a little girl’s home. And how, bit by bit, things from her old home began to turn up on the beach. Who has been bringing them to her? A tale of family, history and connection to nature.
  • The Invisible by Tom Percival 17 January 2023
    When Isabel’s family don’t have enough money to pay the bills, they move to the other side of the city. In this new part of town, she feels invisible. Isabel begins to build a community. ‘The more people came together… the more they could all be seen’. A book about hope and belonging. See unit in ...
  • The Kindest Red by Ibtihaj Muhammed, S.K Ali and Hatem Aly 23 February 2023
    The children at Faizah’s school spend the day deciding the sort of world they would like. Faizah chooses kindness and spends the day being kind to friends. At the end of the day, her friend Sophie shares something precious with her. Kindness can come back to you.
  • The Many Colours of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar and Alea Marley 8 February 2023
    Harpeet loves to wear colourful patkas (turbans); yellow when he feels sunny and red for courage. When he moves schools, he feels shy and wears his white patka. What might make him feel colourful again? Making a friend, of course.

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.

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