This story is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed with Dr Sue Bodman and Glen Franklin of UCL Institute of Education (IOE)
Shu Lin is starting at a new school. She stands alone in the playground and at lunchtime she eats by herself from little boxes of brightly coloured food. ""What's up with her?"" says Barney.
But when Shu Lin’s grandpa comes to school and shows the class his amazing Chinese paintings, everything changes….
With a stunning double-gatefold spread revealing a beautiful Chinese picture, this uplifting story shows the transformative power of art and imagination in developing cultural understanding and empathy.
Being a big sister to a new baby brings big responsibilities.
Sona Sharma's house is full of people who joke often and argue sometimes. Relatives come unannounced, the phone rings frequently and friends drop in all the time. Then one day Amma tells Sona she is going to have a baby. Is that good? Sona isn't sure – she has always enjoyed being an only child – and straight away she has a word with her best friend, Elephant. When Sona learns that there will be a baby naming ceremony, she is determined to find the perfect name for her new brother or sister. Because although she realizes that her life is about to change, and while she's having some difficulty in coming to terms with having to share everything with the new baby – including Amma and Appa, her grandparents and her home – Sona Sharma wants to be the very best big sister she can be.
Book Band: Lime, ideal for ages 6+
A powerful and personal story from Joyce Dunbar about what it's like to experience hearing difficulties.
'Joyce Dunbar is one of the best writers for children today.' Guardian
Dylan can't hear as well as he used to be able to and he doesn't want to be different from his friends - he wants things to go back to the way they used to be. As his hearing gets worse he becomes more and more isolated from his friends. Luckily his dog Pluto is there to keep him down to earth...
This heartwarming story from Joyce Dunbar has beautiful black-and-white illustrations by John Shelley and is perfect for children who are developing as readers.
The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with book-banded stories to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2 by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence. With engaging illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for home and school. For more information visit www.bloomsburyreaders.com.
'Any list that brings together such a quality line up of authors is going to be welcomed … Bloomsbury Readers are aimed squarely at children in Key Stage 2 and designed to support them as they start reading independently and while they continue to gain confidence and understanding.' Books for Keeps
Matilda is a new girl at Pearl's school, but there's something really different and cool about her family she has TWO dads!
Pearl is sure that Matilda's family must be very different to her own but, as they become friends, she starts to discover that maybe Matilda's family aren't so different after all …
A funny and heart-warming tale featuring a same-sex parent family. This light-hearted story will open up discussion and encourage children to be open minded and inclusive. This charming tale of friendship is all about celebrating what makes us different and similar to one another and is perfect for sharing with children aged 3 years and up.
Mel Elliott is a UK based artist and writer. She graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2007. She began designing fun, printed products and has grown her I Love Mel signature into a successful brand which has been featured in several media outlets. She is best known for her contemporary colouring books. Mel lives and works on the south coast of England and her book,The Girl with Two Dads is inspired by her daughter, Pearl.
When a majestic whale is stranded near their Scottish seaside town, Tulsi and Satchen must summon all their courage to save it in this thrilling adventure from award-winning author Jasbinder Bilan.
After rowing out to an island near their seaside home, Tulsi and Satchen discover a whale that has been trapped in a fishing net. Determined to try to free the poor creature, they repeatedly dive down into the freezing sea to cut the netting, but eventually, exhausted and with a storm rolling in, they have to admit defeat.
As they head for home to seek help, their boat capsizes in the storm and they’re left clinging to it, dangerously adrift. Just as they think all is lost, help arrives from an unexpected source …
Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.
Miss Clover has made a space station. Posy, Ben and Alfie must take turns to play with it. But Posy doesn't want to share, and everyone gets cross. Can the children learn to enjoy it together?
This series introduces young children to different aspects of our emotions and behaviour. A fictional story is backed up by suggestions for activities and ideas to talk about, while a wordless storyboard encourages children to tell another story related to the subject, encouraging speaking and listening skills.
Supports the Personal, Social and Emotional Development Area of Learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Rebecca Ashdown's The Perfect Parents is every child's guide to raising model parents. It's easy - just follow Mimi's simple steps. Sometimes, Mimi's parents don't seem to get the hang of all that training, but Mimi knows her rigorous routine of strict discipline has worked when her parents agree to get her a puppy . . . Suddenly the roles are reversed and Mimi has to learn that being trained is sometimes very hard work.
A short novella based on the beloved characters from Alice Oseman’s acclaimed debut novel Solitaire and graphic novel series Heartstopper – now a major Netflix series. From the author of the 2021 YA Book Prize winning Loveless.
The festive season isn't always happy for Tori Spring and her brother Charlie. And this year's going to be harder than most.
I used to think that difficult was better than boring, but I know better now…
I’m not going to think about the past few months, about Charlie and me, and all of the sad. I’m going to block it all out Just for today.
""Happy Christmas, "" I say.
‘Deliciously silly, with hilarious catchphrases… a great cheer-up book’ The Guardian
‘HILARIOUS! Proper laughs!’ Pamela Butchart
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A laugh-out-loud young fiction series from bestselling author Joanna Nadin, perfect for fans of Horrid Henry.
Head teacher Mrs Bottomley-Blunt thinks 4B is the WORST CLASS IN THE WORLD. She says school is not about footling or fiddle-faddling or FUN. It is about LEARNING and it is high time 4B tried harder to EXCEL at it.
But best friends Stanley and Manjit didn’t LITERALLY mean to get covered in newt pond water just before the Class Photo. And they really didn’t LITERALLY mean to cause TOTAL MAYHEM by trying to get fake teeth to the very best tooth fairy. These things just happened, even though they had FOOLPROOF plans to get away with it all.
Highly illustrated and featuring two hilarious madcap adventures in one book, these stories are just right for children ready for their first chapter books.
Enormous fun, madcap and relatable' – The Bookseller
The brilliantly funny third SAM WU book – the bravest scaredy-cat in the world! Perfect for reluctant readers and fans of Pamela Butchart.
Sam Wu is NOT afraid of anything. Except for quite a lot of things. Like ghosts. Sharks too. And also THE DARK! And so when Sam goes camping in the woods with his friends and cousin Stanley, who knows what scary kind of things they’ll face …?
Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of the Dark is the third book in this brilliantly funny and accessible new series – perfect for newly confident readers, fans of Pamela Butchart and Julian Gough's Rabbit and Bear.
'The third in the Sam Wu adventure series about conquering all sorts of fears in a humorous manner. This series is going from strength to strength and is a great accessible read.' – Booktrust
Also by Katie and Kevin Tsang:
Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Ghosts - 9781405287517
Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Sharks - 9781405287524
Katie and Kevin Tsang met in in 2008 while studying at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Since then they have lived on three different continents and travelled to over 40 countries together. They currently live in London.
Kevin was born in Copenhagen and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of Sam Wu's experiences are based on Kevin's childhood (he's feeling much more confident now). Katie was born and raised in Southern California. She has previously worked at Booktrust, the UK's largest children's reading charity, and also writes YA fiction as Katherine Webber.
