Each of our Year Group Recommended Reads lists contains 50 books specially picked out for reading for pleasure in each primary year group, from Preschool to Year 6. The lists are designed to provide recommendations of age-appropriate and accessible books across a range of genres and styles.

You will find a balance across different genres and styles. Some children naturally navigate towards non-fiction, while others find graphic novels or poetry the most enjoyable forms to pick up and read. Each list contains a balance of age-appropriate fiction, picture books, non-fiction, poetry and graphic novels, with a handful of novelty or tactile books added in too. The lists cater for different reading styles, interest levels, publication dates (you’ll find some true golden oldies as well as brand-new titles on each list) and also books that contain a diversity of characters and settings. Please see the lists below to access a wealth of quality reading choices to enjoy.

There is a great deal of research about the impact of reading at home. For example:

‘There is a growing body of evidence which illustrates the importance of reading for pleasure for both educational purposes as well as personal development. Reading enjoyment has been reported as more important for children’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status. There is a positive link between regular reading outside school and higher scores in reading assessments. Other benefits to reading for pleasure include increased general knowledge’.

We encourage all parents, at whatever stage of primary school their child is currently, to prioritise reading with and to their child, every day if possible. This is the best possible contribution you can make to your child’s current and future academic success.