I had my eye on Starminster for a while after seeing its beautiful front cover, and I’m so glad I finally got my hands on it. Without a doubt, it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year and easily makes my top 5!

The title of this book caught my eye, and I knew straight away that it would be packed full of rebellion, danger and adventure – and I was not disappointed!

When I saw that Struan Murray was releasing a brand-new book, I just knew I had to preorder it straight away. Then I found out it was about dragons—and suddenly waiting for it felt impossible! And when I finally saw the cover, I knew it would be sitting proudly at the front of my classroom for a long, long time.Dragonborn takes you to the wild and wonderful world of Skralla, a place full of strange creatures, powerful dragons, and brave young heroes. The story follows a group of bold friends as they face the reality of living alongside humans. As Alex tries to discover her true form, she begins to uncover ancient secrets and soon realises that she may be the key to Skralla’s future.This book is an exciting rollercoaster of love, bravery, and self-discovery. From the very first page, I was hooked—just like with all of Struan Murray’s stories. I especially love how tiny clues at the beginning of the book suddenly become super important later on - I’m almost tempted to read it again just to look out for more!As always, Murray’s writing is incredibly powerful, making you feel like you really are in Skralla—running wild with the characters, setting things on fire and living in caves filled with treasure. I adored the fierce and fearless characters and found myself dreaming of their wild, rule-breaking world.One of my favourite elements was the hilarious and clever entries from Pups’ memoirs that pop up throughout the book. They add a sprinkle of humour in between the action-packed and dramatic moments, making it a fun and fast-paced read.If you love dragons, adventure, or books like the Skandar series, Dragonborn is a must-read. It would make a brilliant class novel and is sure to get kids excited about reading—and totally hooked on Struan Murray’s magical stories!

Greenwild is a wonderfully magical adventure that swept me away into a rich, green world full of nature and imagination. It’s one of those stories that feels really unique with a mix of our real-world beauty and a bundle of magical, fictional plants and creatures that felt so alive, I had to keep Google nearby just to picture them all properly!

If you loved the first Whisperwicks book, you’ll be thrilled to know that Impossible Trials is just as magical—maybe even more! I preordered it the moment I could because I couldn’t wait to dive back into the twisting, turning roads of Wreathenwold. And guess what? Jordan Lees didn’t disappoint!

Nevermoor is a fun, magical, and adventurous story that is perfect for confident readers who love fantasy.

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of Joni Jones and the Ghost Train from the author, P.D. Leyshon—and I’m so glad I did! This book has absolutely everything a spooky adventure needs: ghosts, zombies, pirates, creepy settings, and loads of suspense. If you like your stories exciting, a bit scary, and packed full of twists, then this is the book for you.

I bought Murder! By Narwhal! Based on the glowing reviews that I read online and because murder mysteries are something that I love but don’t read enough of. Although it took me a few chapters to get into the flow of things, I was soon gripped and fully committed to solving the mystery myself before the end of the book! 

Natasha Farrant has done it again with The Children of Castle Rock, delivering another breathtaking adventure filled with secrets, rebellion, and high-stakes adventures.

If you love stories full of adventure, friendship, and a little bit of mystery, Ghostlines by Katya Balen is the perfect book for you! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked it up, but thestunning cover and glowing recommendations convinced me to give it a try—and I’m so glad I did. This book made me laugh, kept me hooked, and even made me cry!

This is another captivating by book by Hannah Gold that combines adventure with environmental issues and conservation. 

Leonora Bolt: Secret Inventor is such a fun book, and I would recommend it to anyone, young or old, who likes an easy, exciting adventure story. The book itself is published with brilliant illustrations that bring the story and characters to life and adds an extra sparkle to the experience. The font also changes throughout the book, bringing yet another element of fun to the read. 

Written by the same author as Once, Now is the third book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone story. Morris Gleitzman deliberately separates the timelines between books, making this a great entry point for new readers without giving away spoilers from the earlier stories.

I first discovered Once while looking for books to help teach about World War II. It’s a short read, so I decided to give it a try—and I’m so glad I did! I ended up reading all six books in the series without picking up anything else in between. This story has a special place in my heart, and I believe it’s an important read for anyone learning about World War II, Hitler, or the experiences of Jewish people during the war.

I discovered Earthquake Terror while searching for a story to support our geography topic on earthquakes. The blurb sounded dramatic and full of suspense—just the kind of story to spark interest—and although I couldn’t get enough copies for a class set, it’s definitely going into our class library to enrich learning.

This was the first of the Lottie Brooks series that I read (reading books out of order... how dare you, Miss C!) and I enjoyed every second of it. I vaguely remember chuckling out loud a number of times, resulting in some pretty strange looks from my family.

This is a lovely, quick-paced story that is packed full of everything Ancient Rome.

I was recommended this book by one of my pupils who had been hooked from the second they began to read. Their enthusiasm alone was enough to reel me in and I was not disappointed.  

This book is one of the best children's books that introduces young readers to the horrors faced by Jewish children during the Second World War. It is deeply moving, honest and shares the devastating realities in a gentle and sensitive way. I knew from the blurb that I would adore this book and I can't wait to share it with my class.

Stitch is a fun, cheery and unique story about friendship and the importance of embracing who you are. Padraig Kenny has done an excellent job at bringing these sweet "monsters" to life and communicating the importance of celebrating difference and being true to yourself.

As a child, this was by far one of my favourite books. I have extremely fond memories of reading this with my Mum and laughing out loud and holding my stomach from laughing too much. Of course, now that I am older and don't find toilet humour funny, I see that the fond memories I have are entirely based on the silly content of the book and the way in which it was read to me by my family.

Nightjar is a simple but beautiful story that can be enjoyed by readers of any age. The front cover alone is absolutely gorgeous, but the sweet story inside is just as lovely. 

I knew that I would love this book from the minute I read the blurb to my class. As a crime-fiction- and mystery-lover, the idea of a horror book for children caught my attention straight away, and this book did not disappoint. 

This was a brilliant read to hook my Year 4 class in to the topic of Ancient Greeks. They found it really fun to read and were laughing out loud throughout the book. At first, I was a little worried about how much toilet humour features in the story, however the children seemed to love this and I didn't bat an eyelid after a few chapters.