Category: News

This summer The Children’s Literacy Charity invites families, schools and supporters to join our Summer Reading Campaign — sparking imagination, encouraging reading, and raising vital funds to support children who are struggling with literacy.

We’ve created inspiring summer reading lists for children in Key Stages 1–3, filled with stories of big adventures and unforgettable characters from diverse voices.

One in three children from a disadvantaged background leaves primary school unable to read well. With your help, we can change that. The Children’s Literacy Charity provides specialist one-to-one and small group tutoring to children in school who are the furthest behind, closing their literacy gap and allowing them to leap ahead with learning.

Open a Book, Open a World

Summer is the perfect time to relax with a great book, but it’s also a vital opportunity to keep young minds active and engaged. Without regular reading, many children experience the ‘summer slide’, where literacy skills slip back. That’s why we’ve pulled together a list of recommended summer reads: exciting, inclusive, and designed to keep imaginations alive and reading confidence strong over the summer holiday.

These books have been carefully selected to capture the interest of the children while also encouraging shared reading experiences with parents of younger children. They are perfect for sparking conversations, deepening understanding, and bringing stories to life through meaningful book talk.

PRE SCHOOL / NURSERY
	We’re Going on a Lion Hunt by David Axtell follows two children exploring the savanna as they journey through tall grass, lakes, and dark caves in search of a lion. When they finally find it, their courage turns to worry, and they race home very quickly.
	The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Nick Sharratt retells the classic tale of three hungry goats who need to cross a bridge guarded by a grumpy troll. They cleverly trick him one by one until even the biggest goat can cross safely.
	The Foggy, Foggy Forest by Nick Sharratt is a fun picture book where readers peek through misty pages to guess which fairy‑tale creatures are hiding ahead. Each page reveals a silly surprise, like an ogre doing yoga or Red Riding Hood selling ice‑cream, mixing fun with mystery .
	Mr Gumpy’s Outing is about a man who takes animals and children on a boat ride. When they all misbehave, the boat tips but they still have fun in the end.
	Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy is about Baby Bear who uses a cardboard box, his wellies, and a colander to fly to the moon. He meets an owl, has a picnic in space, then safely returns home for his bath and bedtime.

YEAR ONE AND YEAR TWO
	Beegu by Alexis Deacon tells the tale of a small, three-eyed alien who crashes on Earth and feels lost and alone. Though most grown-ups ignore her, a few kind children and puppies befriend her, giving her hope until she’s finally rescued .
	The River is about a boy named Rowan whose feelings change like a river. When he’s sad, the river stops flowing—but as he heals, it starts to move again.
	The Runaway Pea is about a little pea who jumps off a plate and goes on a fun adventure around the kitchen. He rolls past all sorts of trouble looking for excitement and adventures/
	The Snail and the Whale is a rhyming story about a tiny snail who travels the world on a whale’s tail. When the whale gets stuck, the snail finds help and saves him.
	How to Be a Lion is about Leonard, a kind lion who likes poems and makes friends with a duck. When others tell him he should be fierce, he shows it’s okay to be different.
	Billy and the Minpins by Roald Dahl tells of a young boy named Billy who sneaks into a dark forest despite his mother’s warnings. There, he discovers tiny tree-dwelling Minpins and bravely helps them defeat the fearsome Gruncher using clever thinking.
	Our Tower by Joseph Coelho and Richard Johnson tells of three children living in a tall, grey tower block who follow a magical call into an enchanted tree and meet a mysterious green man. Through their adventure, they learn that true wonder and community magic already exist in their own neighbourhood.
	The Rainbow Bear by Michael Morpurgo is about a lonely polar bear who dreams of catching a rainbow and turns into a colorful bear—only to find that his bright new fur makes it hard to stay safe in the icy wilds. With help from a kind boy and wise friends, he learns that being himself, an ordinary white bear is what truly keeps him home and happy.
	The Great Explorer by Chris Judge follows young Tom as he bravely journeys across the icy North Pole to find his missing explorer father. Along the way, he faces snowy challenges but never gives up, driven by hope and family love .

YEAR THREE AND YEAR FOUR
	The Wild Robot tells the story of Roz, a robot that washes ashore on a deserted island and learns to survive by adapting to the local wildlife. She befriends and adopts an orphaned gosling named Brightbill, forming a family and building a caring community with the animals .
	Too Small Tola is about a small girl in Nigeria who shows she’s strong and brave in everyday life. She helps her family and neighbours in clever and caring ways.
	Leonora Bolt: Secret Inventor is about a clever girl who secretly builds inventions on a remote island. When she learns her uncle is stealing her ideas, she sets off on a daring mission to stop him.
	The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Sheperd. Tomas discovers a magical dragonfruit tree in his grandfather’s garden that hatches into a tiny, mischievous dragon he names Flicker, leading to chaotic adventures.
	The Creakers by Tom Fletcher is a children’s novel about a brave girl named Lucy who discovers a hidden world beneath her bed, inhabited by mysterious creatures called Creakers who have taken all the grown-ups. As Lucy ventures into this strange upside-down world, she learns about courage, friendship, and the importance of understanding others who seem different.
	Claude in the City by Alex T. Smith follows a small, dapper dog named Claude and his scruffy sock friend, Sir Bobblysock, as they explore the city on a day out. During their visit to a café, shops, and a museum, Claude accidentally foils an art robbery and becomes the unexpected hero of the day .
	The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton follows Joe, Beth, and Frannie as they discover a magical tree in the Enchanted Wood, where strange lands appear at the top. With their new friends, they climb the tree and have exciting adventures in places like the Land of Take-What-You-Want and the Land of Do-As-You-Please.
	Charlie Changes Into a Chicken by Sam Copeland is about a boy who starts turning into different animals whenever he gets too stressed. As he and his friends try to figure out what’s causing it, Charlie learns to face his worries and accept who he is.
	Ottoline and the Yellow Cat is about a clever girl named Ottoline and her friend Mr Munroe who solve a mystery about stolen pets and jewels. They discover the thief is a sneaky cat in disguise.
	The Thirteen-Storey Treehouse is about two friends, Andy and Terry, who live in a wacky treehouse full of fun things like a bowling alley and a lemonade fountain. They have wild adventures while trying to write a book in all the chaos.

YEARS FIVE AND SIX
	Pugs of the Frozen North by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre follows a young boy named Shen and his friend Sika as they enter a thrilling sled race to the North Pole—powered by 66 pugs. Along the way, they face yetis, sea monsters, and snow trolls in a whimsical, fast-paced Arctic adventure full of heart and humour.
	The Nowhere Emporium by Ross MacKenzie tells the story of Daniel, a lonely boy who stumbles into a magical shop that appears and disappears without warning, filled with rooms made from dreams and stories. As Daniel becomes part of the Emporium, he must uncover its secrets and protect it from a dark force that threatens to destroy everything.
	Keisha Jones Takes on the World by Natalie Denny follows bold and big-hearted Keisha, a young girl determined to make a difference in her community. With the help of her friends, family, and her own unstoppable drive, Keisha tackles local issues and learns how powerful one voice can be.
	The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf tells the story of a kind-hearted child who befriends Ahmet, a new classmate and refugee from Syria. As they learn about his past, the group of friends come up with a brave plan to help reunite Ahmet with his family.
	Children of the Benin Kingdom by Dinah Orji follows a young girl named Ada, who discovers her true heritage as she journeys through the powerful and vibrant ancient Benin Kingdom. As she uncovers secrets about her past, Ada must find the courage to embrace her identity and fight for what is right.
	Zombierella by Joseph Coelho is a spooky and funny version of Cinderella. When Ella dies in an accident and comes back to life, she goes to the royal ball as a zombie and finds out surprising secrets.
	The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo is about a toy rabbit who learns about love and loss as he travels from one owner to another. Through his adventures, Edward discovers what it means to care for others and to have a true heart.
	The New Famous Five by Enid Blyton (reimagined by various authors) brings back the classic characters in a modern setting, where they tackle mysteries with updated gadgets and today’s challenges. The group still shares the same spirit of adventure, friendship, and clever problem-solving that made the original stories so loved.
	Windrush Child by Benjamin Zephaniah tells the story of Leonard, a young boy who moves from Jamaica to England with his family as part of the Windrush generation. As he grows up, Leonard faces racism and struggles with identity, but also learns about resilience, belonging, and the importance of family.
	Kensuke’s Kingdom is about a boy named Michael who gets stuck on an island after falling off a boat. He meets an old man named Kensuke, and they become friends and help each other to survive.

KEY STAGE THREE
	The Crossover is about twin brothers Josh and JB who love basketball and play on the same team. As they grow up, family problems and growing apart challenge their bond.
	The Girl Who Stole an Elephant is about a brave girl named Chaya who steals from the rich to help the poor. When she gets caught, she escapes into the jungle on an elephant and has a wild adventure with her friends.
	When Life Gives You Mangoes by Kereen Getten is about a girl named Clara who can’t remember what happened last summer and feels left out in her Caribbean village. As she uncovers the truth, she learns to face her past and begins to heal.
	Northern Lights by Philip Pullman follows a brave girl named Lyra who travels to the Arctic to rescue her kidnapped friend and uncover a secret about Dust, a mysterious substance. Along the way, she faces danger, meets armoured bears and witches, and learns her journey is part of a much bigger battle.
	The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson is about Matthew, a boy with severe OCD who rarely leaves his room and spends his time watching the world from his window. When a toddler goes missing, Matthew becomes an unlikely detective and must face his fears to help solve the mystery.
	A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll follows Addie, an 11‑year‑old autistic girl in a Scottish village who campaigns for a memorial to the women persecuted as witches centuries ago. While facing bullying and misunderstanding, she finds her voice, stands up for justice, and learns to embrace who she is .
	Skulduggery Pleasant is about a girl named Stephanie who meets a talking skeleton detective and discovers a secret world of magic. Together, they fight an evil sorcerer and go on dangerous adventures.
	The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd is about Ted, a boy with Asperger’s, and his sister Kat, who help solve the disappearance of their cousin Salim after he vanishes from a capsule on the London Eye. Together, they unravel clues across London and piece together a clever plan that explains how Salim slipped away .
	Ghost by Jason Reynolds follows Castle “Ghost” Cranshaw, a seventh-grade boy haunted by a traumatic childhood where his father once shot at him and his mother. When Ghost joins a track team, he learns to channel his pain into running, finds community, and starts believing in a better future .
	The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster is about a bored boy named Milo who drives through a magical tollbooth and enters a strange world full of wordplay and number puzzles. On his journey, he learns to appreciate learning, curiosity, and the wonders of the world around him.