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This is a sweeping fantasy about Zélie’s attempt to restore magic, pursued by the crown and complicated by her feelings for an enemy. Its imagined kingdom also carries themes of racial oppression and resistance.

A visually lively introduction to evolution, this book connects cells, changing environments, extinction events and human origins across immense stretches of time. Its clear sequence and labels may help readers build a first framework for how life changes.

Expect a character-led fantasy adventure with romantic tension, shifting identities and a heroine negotiating personal freedom against obligations to her country. Its appeal lies in pursuit, hidden histories and gradual character change; the ending continues some series threads rather than resolving every larger question.

This is a compact, suspenseful story about a girl confronting the consequences of indifference. Its animal narrator makes a difficult conflict approachable, while the events invite careful thought about what one person can and cannot change.

This is a wartime story about a child trying to understand occupation, separation and moral choice. Its strongest thread is Marit’s changing view of courage, loyalty and compassion amid danger.

A lively science book for readers who enjoy surprising animal facts and questions about perception. It moves across many species and senses, using illustrations, explanations and researchers’ work to make unfamiliar experiences imaginable.

A globe-spanning introduction to solstice and daylight, Solstice combines short child-centred stories with scientific and cultural information. Its 14 examples, varied artwork and pictographs invite readers to compare how the sun shapes daily life in different places.

A warm, unusual story about an orphan girl and a gorilla forming a family, while facing official scrutiny and prejudice. Its humour and tenderness sit alongside uncertainty about belonging and justice.

A visually rich introduction to freshwater, moving from scientific foundations to living habitats and worldwide challenges. Its final practical section invites readers to connect large environmental questions with choices at home and in their communities.

This is an engaging introduction to the First World War, linking its broad history to individual experiences. Its movement between people, countries and wartime settings makes a distant conflict feel immediate without turning it into fiction.

This offers a tense journey story alongside a close account of sibling care. Clem’s storytelling, memories and uncertain perspective add emotional depth, while the political setting invites reflection on belonging, surveillance, displacement and how families preserve hope under pressure.

This is a child-centred school story told from a hamster’s viewpoint. Its appeal lies in observing pupils and families through Humphrey’s perspective, with plans to address problems and a generally gentle tone.

A candid wartime diary brings together ordinary adolescent thoughts, changing relationships and sustained confinement. Its personal perspective offers historical testimony, while the surrounding persecution and known fate create considerable emotional weight.

This is a suspenseful historical story about family separation and friendship under political pressure. The documentary-style sections let readers see events through children’s eyes while gradually revealing the risks surrounding their attempts to stay connected.

This is a tender but melancholy fable about learning to love when love brings vulnerability. Edward’s changing relationships provide a strong emotional thread, while recurring images and the narrator’s access to his thoughts invite attentive reading.

This is a short, poetic remembrance of a childhood home where prominent Black cultural and political figures gathered. Its words are spare, while the paintings make the people, rooms and atmosphere expansive.