We invited a panel of teachers, literacy and reading experts, book reviewers and editors – see right – to choose their top 11 best books for under 11s. From picture books to older fiction, together they make an exciting and varied list of recommended reads for children from three to 11.
Paula Hubbard, Springboard Stories
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
by JK Rowling (Bloomsbury)
This book could be the start of a beautiful relationship.
Framed
by Frank Cottrell Boyce (Macmillan)
Touching, clever and it makes you want to hunt out pictures of great art on the internet. A brilliant class read.
The Silver Sword
by Ian Serraillier (Red Fox)
This book was read to me by Mrs Taylor as a class read when I was ten – it literally changed my life.
The Book With No Pictures
by BJ Novak (Puffin)
This book with no pictures needs no words!
Harvey Slumfenburger's Christmas Present
by John Burningham (Walker)
A perfect festive read.
The Tale of Despereaux
by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press)
A new old-fashioned fairytale.
What Happened When in the World
by various (DK Children’s)
This is a brilliant dip in book.
Nothing
by Mick Inkpen (Hodder)
This sweet, sweet tale will tug at your heart strings but don’t hold that against it. It’s a beautiful story, you will love it.
Songs and verse
by Roald Dahl (Puffin)
This is a great, subversive, hilarious, clever book.
Duck in the Truck
by Jez Alborough (HarperCollins)
More rhyming with this classic that’s great to read aloud.
Each Peach Pear Plum
by Allan and Janet Ahlberg (Puffin)
This is really the perfect book for reading to pre-schoolers. The pictures offer lots of opportunities for guessing what comes next and the introduction of familiar characters gives lots of opportunity to springboard into other books.
11 best books to read before you're 11
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