Books to Read Before you leave Primary School
These are some of our favourite books that we think you would love to share and read.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
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Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar A beautifully illustrated story of a caterpillar eating his way through the book. |
Mr Wolf's Pancakes
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Title: Mr Wolf’s Pancakes Mr Wolf wants to make pancakes but is unable to read the recipe book, write the names of the ingredients or count the money to buy them. His neighbours are unwilling to help him, but are soon lured by the delicious smell of pancakes when he successfully completes his task. |
Room on the Broom
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Title: Room on the Broom A very funny story of quick wits and friendship, Room on the Broom is another smash hit from the unparalleled picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of |
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
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Title: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river and squelch through the mud in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest! |
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
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Title: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Exuberantly coloured artwork and favourite animals make this rhythmic story the perfect introduction to looking and learning about colours. |
The Otter Who Wanted to Know
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Title: The Otter Who Wanted to Know Pat is an adorable little sea otter. She likes turning up her toes and floating in the sea, chasing fish and asking a hundred and one questions. One day Pat's quiet life is turned upside down when she gets caught up in a pretty scary adventure. |
Hansel and Gretel
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Title: Hansel and Gretel Hansel and Gretel is perhaps the darkest and greatest of the fairytales from the Brothers Grimm. This extraordinary book brings the classic childhood tale to a new generation courtesy of one of the world's greatest picture book artists, Hans Christian Andersen Award-winner Anthony Browne. |
Little People, Big Dreams: Muhammad Ali
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Title: Little People, Big Dreams: Muhammad Ali Learn about African-American boxer Muhammad Ali in this accessible picture book biography for young children. Born in Kentucky, USA, in 1942, Ali started boxing aged 12 and went on to become an Olympic gold medalist and renowned heavyweight boxing champion. |
What’s the Difference?
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Title: What’s the Difference? Ever wondered what makes a mandarin different from a clementine? A nectarine from a peach? A |
The Wonder
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Title: The Wonder This is a story about a boy whose head is always full of wonder. We follow him on an average-seeming school day, where his daydreams transform the world around him. Unfortunately, lots of other people - the park keeper, the bus driver, the lollipop lady - all tell him to get his head out of the clouds. It is only in art class that he realises he can bring the wonder out of his head for the whole world to enjoy. |
Staff Favourite Books
Our staff have listed their favourite books, have a look through and see how many you’ve read!
Special Book - Nana's Stories
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Staff: Special Book "Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me with this story book. Thank you to James for sorting out the tech stuff, to Barry for helping with the computer, to Perryfields who are part of this story, to Artspace where I painted the illustrations, to Origin Arts where I have learned such a lot about watercolour, to Clare and Jef, Danny, Marth, Henry, Peter, Xanderand, Ro and of course to the knitted toys, without whom this story could not be told" - Joan Collier |
Ms Vaughan - The Smartest Giant In Town
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Staff: Ms Vaughan George wished he wasn't the scruffiest giant in town. So when he sees a new shop selling giant-sized clothes, he decides its time for a new look: smart trousers, smart shirt, stripy tie, shiny shoes...until he bumps into some animals who desperately need his help - and his clothes! |
Mrs Davis - Cinderella
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Staff: Mrs Davis Mrs Davis's favourite story is the Fairy Tale Cinderella. The story involves handsome Princes, wicked step-mothers, A fairy Godmother, helpful mice, some lovely sparkling shoes and a huge sprinkling of magic! When Cinderella's cruel stepmother prevents her from attending the Royal Ball, she gets some unexpected help from a variety of sources. At the ball, she dances with the Royal prince and it looks as if all her dreams are coming true. However, when the clock strikes midnight, it all falls apart and disaster strikes. Will Cinderella get the happy ending she deserves? |
Mrs Cole - The Incredible Journey
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Staff: Mrs Cole The Hunter children must go abroad for the summer, so they reluctantly leave their three pets in the care of a friend. But the faithful animals only know they must get home again, somehow. So the labrador, the old bull terrier and the dainty Siamese cat set off on a perilous journey through the wilderness. But how will domestic animals fare against river rapids, hunger, icy temperatures and ferocious wild beasts? And if they make it home, will their owners be waiting for them? |
Mr Hines - Fantastic Mr Fox
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Staff: Mr Hines Mr Hines' favourite book is Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl. He loves the way that Mr Fox and his family manages to get one over on Farmer Boggis, Farmer Bunce and Farmer Bean! |
Miss Davies - A Christmas Carol
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Staff: Miss Davies Miss Davies' favourite book as a child and even now, is a book called A Christmas Carol, which was written in Victorian times by someone called Charles Dickens, it was first published in 1843. I love this book because it made my imagination work and I started to visualise the scenes. The main character is a man called Ebenezer Scrooge who hates Christmas but then three ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve, the Ghost of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future, they all show him different Christmas scenes which then make Scrooge become a generous man who loves Christmas. This book made me become an avid Charles Dickens fan and I started collecting all of his works. |
Mrs Allen - The Magic Faraway Tree
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Staff: Mrs Allen The Magic Faraway Tree was Mrs Allen's all time favourite book as a child. The stories take place in an enchanted wood in which a gigantic magical tree grows. I wanted to join Joe, Beth and Frannie and their cousin Rick on a journey full of magic and adventure up the Magic Faraway Tree! |
Mr Tilley - Stig of the Dump
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Staff: Mr Tilley Barney is a solitary eight-year-old, given to wandering off by himself. One day he tumbles over, lands in a sort of cave, and meets' somebody with shaggy hair wearing a rabbit-skin and speaking in grunts. He names him Stig. They together raid the rubbish dump at the bottom of the pit, improve Stig's cave dwelling, and enjoy a series of adventures. |
Mrs Brown - A Squash and a Squeeze
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Staff: Mrs Brown Mrs Brown loves the book A Squash and a Squeeze by Julia DOnaldson - in fact she loves all her books and enjoys reading to her grandchildren. Mrs Brown said "The reason I have chosen this one is because I like the rhyming and the moral behind the story which is perfect for our society, as in be happy with what you have got!" |
Mrs Halliday - Mrs Wobble The Waitress
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Staff: Mrs Halliday Mrs Halliday loves to read funny books, and this book always makes her giggle! If you like this story, there are lots more in the Happy Families series to look forward to, and they are all funny. |
Mr Neale - The Jungle Book
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Staff: Mr Neale Although I love travelling to Africa - especially Kenya - to photograph all the beautiful animals, I would love to one day visit India and have the opportunity to photograph; panthers, bears, tigers, indian elephants, pythons and all the other amazing native wildlife... as featured in this wonderful story book about a young man cub called Mowgli. |
Mr Grindrod - Little Rabbit Foo Foo
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Staff: Mr Grindrod Little Rabbit Foo Foo goes through the forest bullying all the creature he encounters: mice, worms, tigers, even goblins - none are safe from Little Rabbit and his motorbike. However, the Good Fairy warns him that unless he changes she will turn him into a goonie. And, ultimately, that's just what she does! |
Mrs Ellerton - Charlotte's Web
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Staff: Mrs Ellerton I love this book because I imagined myself as Fern raising a piglet. I also loved that E.B. White gave the animals voices, it brought the whole book to life. Fern's Dad is a farmer and has a new litter of pigs but he is going to get rid of the smallest one, Fern begs him to let her keep it. She named him Wilbur and he becomes firm friends with the most unlikely animal, a huge spider named Charlotte, and the adventures begin! |
Miss Griffiths - My Best Friend Bob
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Staff: Miss Griffiths Brian and Bob are best friends. They do everything together, such as eating peanuts and playing I Spy - the usual things guinea pigs like to do. But one day, Bob is taken away. Will the two best friends ever see each other again? All's well that ends well and Brian and Bob are reunited. |
Ms Holt - Watership Down
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Staff: Ms Holt Ms Holt's favourite book is Watership Down, by Richard Adams who told the story initially to his own children on a car trip. It tells the adventures encountered when a rabbit named Fiver has a vision that the future of their warren is unsafe and they have to flee from the destruction of their home when it is invaded by man. They have to leave immediately and other rabbits are persuaded to join them on the long journey ahead when Fiver leads them to a safe place. There are so many different and unique characters in this book and it not only teaches the cycle of life but also lessons of kindness, bravery, confidence, perseverance and teamwork. |
Mr Harrison - Peter Pan
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Staff: Mr Harrison My favourite ever book is Peter Pan by JM Barrie. Originally, it was written as a playscript and tells the story of a young boy who can fly across the sky and who never grows up! |
Miss Maynard - Handa's Surprise
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Staff: Miss Maynard Handa's Surprise by Eileen Browne tells the story of Handa who wants to take a present of fruit to her friend Akeyo to surprise her. On the way different animals can't resist helping themselves to the fruit in Handa's basket until eventually there is no fruit left! |
Mrs Sutcliffe - Katie Morag
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Staff: Mrs Sutcliffe Mrs Sutcliffe loves the Katie Morag stories, by Maira Hedderwick, because they remind her of being at home in Scotland. |
Mrs Eglesfield - The Wizard of Oz
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Staff: Mrs Eglesfield The first novel in the Oz books, the Kansas farm girl named Dorothy ends up in the magical Land of Oz after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their home by a tornado. Upon her arrival in Oz, she learns she cannot return home until she has destroyed the Wicked Witch of the West. |
Miss Moseley - The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
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Staff: Miss Moseley Poor Jemima. All she wants to do is lay her eggs in peace, and be allowed to hatch them herself. At last she flies off and finds the perfect place. Little does the silly duck realise that the charming gentleman who has lent her his woodshed is busily planning a delicious meal of . . . roast duck! |
Mrs Briggs - Heidi
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Staff: Mrs Briggs Little orphan Heidi goes to live high in the Alps with her gruff grandfather and brings happiness to all who know her on the mountain. When Heidi goes to Frankfurt to work in a wealthy household, she dreams of returning to the mountains and meadows, her friend Peter, and her beloved grandfather. |
Miss J Ferman - Five on Kirrin island Again
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Staff: Miss J Ferman What can Uncle Quentin be up to - all alone - on Kirrin Island. He won't let anyone visit - not even George and the rest of the Famous Five. But Quentin isn't really all alone on the island - somebody is watching his every move! |
Mr Redfern - The Monster Machine
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Staff: Mr A Redfern A monstrous tale of invention! This is a story about monsters making a discovery. They need to work together to solve a problem! This is a fun read about inventions, monsters and all the mischief you can imagine. I wonder which monster will be your favourite? |
Mrs Poole - Elmer
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Staff: Mrs Poole This is a story which tells us the importance of being different. An elephant with an amazing sense of humour who is proud to be special. |