Books to read aloud to Year 6

Vanya and the Wild Hunt

Author: Sangu Mandanna Illustrator: Kristina Kister

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 8+

11-year-old Vanya is catapulted into a world of magic and monsters when she joins the enchanted school of Auramere. There, sh…

People Like Stars

Author: Patrice Lawrence

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 8+

Ayrton was stolen as a baby – and Stanley’s mysterious grandmother did it! But can they find her? A gripping story of family secre…

We Are Family

Author: Oliver Sykes Illustrator: Ian Morris

Interest level: 7-11

Reading age: 7+

A narrative set of poems which convey the highs and lows of the authors real experience growing up in a large family raised b…

Alex vs. Axel: The Impossible Quests

Author: Sam Copeland Illustrator: Dotty Sutton

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 9+

A normal kid called Alex and the heroic Axel swap worlds and must complete quests to return home in this fast-paced, hilarious fan…

Fia and the Last Snow Deer

Author: Eilish Fisher Illustrator: Dermot Flynn

Interest level: 7-11

Reading age: 9-11

Set in prehistoric Ireland during an endless winter, Fia and her snow deer set out on a perilous adventure to find the Deer Mother…

Stitch

Author: Pádraig Kenny Illustrator: Steve McCarthy

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 9+

A powerful re-imagining of Frankenstein that provokes empathy and compassion. Compelling and thrilling.  

Red Sky at Night, Poet’s Delight

Author: Alex Wharton Illustrator: Ian Morris

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 7+

A vibrant collection of poems from Children’s Laureate Wales 2023-25, celebrating nature andwordplay. 

Impossible Things

Author: Dan Schreiber

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 8+

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness

Author: Mai K. Nguyen

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 7+

Anzu journeys to the underworld realm of Yomi to battle against Japanese mythological beingsin order to reclaim and celebrate her …

Rise and Fall: Great Empires that Shaped the World

Author: Peter Allen

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age:

A marvellous nonfiction resource that showcases nine fascinating cultures, looking at how each empire rose to power, and what its …

The Super Sunny Murder Club

Author: Various Editor: Serena Patel and Robin Stevens Illustrator: Harry Woodgate

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 9+

A collection of exciting, action-packed mystery stories from 13 brilliant contemporary authors – all with a summer theme. A perfec…

Welsh Giants, Ghosts and Goblins

Author: Claire Fayers

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 9+

A collection of carefully modernised, engaging stories from the rich tradition of Welsh myths, legends and ghost stories.&nbs…

And I Hear Dragons

Author: Various Editor: Hanan Issa Illustrator: Eric Heyman

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 9+

A joyous collection of poems celebrating Welsh identity in its many forms – and the dragons inside us all. 

Lunar

Author: Chris Bradford Illustrator: Charlotte Grange

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 7+

With a great mix of science fiction and science fact, this nail-biting race-against-time is presented in an accessible format with…

The Hidden Story of Estie Noor

Author: Nadine Aisha Jassat Illustrator: Sandhya Prabhat

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 9+

Estie feels her truth is unheard when she is expelled from school and sent to Scotland for the summer. When she discovers a secret…

Mayowa and the Sea of Words

Author: Chibundu Onuzo

Interest level: 7-11

Reading age: 9+

When Mayowa learns how to channel the emotions stored in books, she must decide how to use her power in a difficult political situ…

Stolen History

Author: Sathnam Sanghera Illustrator: Jen Khatun

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 9+

An accessible and fascinating look at the British Empire and how it still affects our lives today.

Skylar and the K-Pop Headteacher

Author: Luan Goldie

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 8+

This funny, engaging, body-swap adventure explores fandom, friendship and empathy via an unmissable dance competition, viral video…

The Wonder Brothers

Author: Frank Cottrell-Boyce Illustrator: Steven Lenton

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 8+

A funny, glitter-spangled, mystery thriller for anyone who likes a dose of danger with their magic.

The Boy Who Fell from the Sky

Author: Benjamin Dean

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 8+

Zed’s dad is the First Hunter of Demons. But when Zed meets a Demon, he discovers that they’renot as terrifying as the myths say. …

Amazing Asia

Author: Rashmi Sirdeshpande Illustrator: Jason Lyon

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 8-9

This beautifully designed book celebrates the diversity of Asia, with in-depth information about the world’s largest and most popu…

Scrap

Author: Guy Bass Illustrator: Alessia Trunfio

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 8+

Scrap the robot has vowed never to help another human. Now two children need him, and he’s catapulted into a breakneck adventure f…

Best Friends Forever

Author: Lisa Williamson

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 9+

This funny and touching coming-of-age story reflects the experiences of many youngsters making the transition to secondary school …

I Am Wolf

Author: Alastair Chisholm

Interest level: 9-14

Reading age: 9+

A pacy dystopian page-turner.

Impossible Creatures

Author: Katherine Rundell Illustrator: Tomislav Tomić

Interest level: 9+

Reading age: 8+

Katherine Rundell has created an incredibly real-feeling magical world and story to rival classics like Narnia, with writing that …

The Final Year

Author: Matt Goodfellow Illustrator: Joe Todd-Stanton

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 9+

When he falls out with his best friend and then his little brother is rushed into hospital, Nate’s world is turned upside-down. Th…

High-Rise Mystery

Author: Sharna Jackson

Interest level: 9-11

Reading age: 9+

High-Rise Mystery is the perfect ‘whodunnit’. As the two girls sift through red herrings and reveal a series of tower block secret…