Growing in Confidence: Brilliant Books for Lower Key Stage Two

Readers in Years 3 & 4 come in all shapes, sizes and reading abilities. Some are confident readers, well on their way to lengthy middle grade novels, while others are still getting to grips with phonics and taking their first steps into chapter books. Fortunately for teachers and parents, there are so many wonderful books just perfect for 7 to 9 year olds (and beyond).

Here is a collection of 12 fantastic new books your young readers will devour!

Find out more from the publishers’ descriptions below:

Ivy Newt and the Storm Witch

by Derek Keilty & Magda Brol (illustrator)

Scallywag Press – April 2023

Meet Ivy Newt, the newest witch on the block! The first in a series of illustrated adventures set in Miracula, a fabulous new ‘world’ full of magic and drama. Ivy and her shape-shifting familiar Tom are ready for action!

Ivy’s parents, the King and Queen of the Sand Witches, have prepared her an amazing birthday present – a magic act where they disappear. But hold on, they really do disappear! To rescue Ivy’s parents, she and Tom must travel all over Miracula on broomsticks and flying carpets and defeat the evil Queen of Grotland.

The Little Lost Kitten

by Holly Webb & Abigail Hookham (illustrator)

Barrington Stoke – February 2023

Lucy and her dad are still feeling sad about the loss of their lovely cat Patch, who had been part of their family for such a long time. So when a little lost kitten turns up in their garden, Lucy doesn’t want to tell her dad in case it upsets him.

But she grows to loves the little kitten and he doesn’t seem to have a home, so Lucy is really upset when he disappears and finally she has to tell her dad the truth. Will her dad be able to thelp Lucy find the little kitten and can they offer him a new home?

This book has a dyslexia-friendly layout, typeface and paperstock so that even more readers can enjoy it. This book is part of the Little Gems range, fully-illustrated first chapter books designed to support reading speed and stamina.

Magic Faces: Heroes of the Pirate Ship

by Esi Merleh & Abeeha Tariq (illustrator)

Uclan Publishing – March 2023

Austin, Alanna, and sausage dog Ozzy have been transformed into pirates! Their mission is to find a golden treasure chest before their time in this world runs out.

When two very suspicious pirates climb aboard the New Leaf ship and start snooping around, Austin and Alanna know they must help their crewmates…can they save the ship and complete their mission on time?

Simply by opening the box of facepaints, adventure waits for Austin, Alanna and Ozzy. With full colour illustrations throughout, Magic Faces is the perfect chapter book series to support moving on from picture books.

Lizzie & Lucky: The Mystery of the Disappearing Rabbit

by Megan Rix & Tim Budgen (illustrator)

Puffin Books – January 2023

When Lizzie and her adorable puppy Lucky go to a magic show, things begin to get strange. During a performance the world famous, and very large rabbit, Rudy mysteriously disappears… and not on purpose! Now, it’s up to Lizzie and Lucky to find Rudy and get to the bottom of who stole the rabbit and why…

A fun and sparky tale, featuring an adorable dalmation sidekick! The perfect read for any young animal enthusiast. Featuring an authentic representation of a young girl growing up with hearing loss, author Megan Rix draws on her own experiences from living with partial deafness.

Star Friends: Mystic Forest

by Linda Chapman & Kim Barnes (illustrator)

Little Tiger – February 2023

Do you believe in magic? Maia and her friends do! And when they meet the Star Animals, a whole world of magical adventure unfolds.

The Star Friends are very excited to be going on a camping trip in the forest, but when they arrive things start to go wrong. Could someone be trying to sabotage the camp using magic? If so, the Star Friends are determined to stop it.

Kate on the Case: The Headline Hoax

by Hannah Peck

Piccadilly – January 2023

Follow fearless young reporter Kate and her sidekick mouse, Rupert, as she heads to the city for her biggest challenge yet!

Kate receives a VIP invitation to the headquarters of newspaper THE LOOKOUT POST to help her hero, top reporter Catherine Rodriguez! But Kate’s dream-come-true begins to sour when she discovers that all is not as it should be at the newspaper.

Will Kate be able to make the scoop of the century? It’s going to take all the courage she’s got…

Diary of an Accidental Witch: Unexpected Guests

by Perdita and Honor Cargill

& Katie Saunders (illustrator)

Little Tiger – February 2023

Bea Black is determined to become the BEST witch she can be and learn EVERYTHING about magic. So when a school visit from some VERY important guests is announced, Bea is thrilled! It’s her chance to help Little Spellshire School for the Extraordinary Arts and show off what she’s learned so far.

But when the visitors arrive, they are NOT who the students and teachers were expecting. In fact, they’re the opposite! With the witch school at risk of being exposed, it’s up to Bea to use her ordinary special skills to save the day.

There’s a Beast in the Basement

by Pamela Butchart & Thomas Flintham (illustrator)

Nosy Crow – January 2023

Chaos and mayhem reign as Izzy and her friends take on another hilarious (mis)adventure. There’s no such thing as an ordinary day at school when they’re around…

Izzy and her friends overhear their head teacher talking about “missing treasure” and “running out of time”. They know this means there’s TREASURE buried in the school somewhere and that Mr Graves wants it all for himself. So Jodi says they’ve got to find it first, and they should start by searching the staffroom.

After seeing things they will never forget, they head to the basement. Gary Petrie’s dad is working down there and he’s seen something SHINY! So they send Zach’s cat down with a camera strapped to her head and study the footage carefully. What they see is SHOCKING and CHANGES EVERYTHING. It’s not treasure in the basement, it’s a BEAST with SHINING EYES and it’s coming to get them! RUN!!!

Next to Alice

by Anne Fine & Gareth Conway (illustrator)

Barrington Stoke – February 2023

At first Ben doesn’t want to sit next to Alice. He thinks she’s scary. She tells him off for sloppy drawings and careless handwriting. She even complains about his table manners! But when Ben starts to take Alice’s advice, he sees a few changes. Maybe sitting next to her isn’t as bad as he feared. So what will Ben do when he gets the chance to go back to his old seat?

This book has a dyslexia-friendly layout, typeface and paperstock so that even more readers can enjoy it. It has been edited to a reading age of 7.

The Broken Dragon

by Karen McCombie & Anneli Bray (illustrator)

Barrington Stoke – February 2023

Tyra’s really happy to move in with her nan. But starting at a new school can be tricky and Tyra is worried about fitting in. Then Nan surprises Tyra with a beautiful china snow dragon, and Tyra has an idea. She’ll take the dragon into school. The other children will love it – and maybe it’ll make them like Tyra too! But disaster strikes and the beautiful dragon is smashed. Can Tyra find a way to repair Nan’s special present and make some new friends along the way?

This book has a dyslexia-friendly layout, typeface and paperstock so that even more readers can enjoy it. It has been edited to a reading age of 7.

Kyan Green and the Infinity Racers

by Colm Field & David Wilkerson (illustrator)

Bloomsbury Children’s Books – February 2023

When Kyan finds a battered old racing-car game in the loft, he doesn’t believe the big claims written on the box. I mean, what kind of ‘Infinite Race’ only has seven pieces of track?

So it comes as a shock when the game really does take him on the journey of a lifetime – through multiple universes! Whether he’s a space pilot on the trail of underwater aliens or an unwitting robber in a stolen police car, every adventure is more thrilling than the last.

When he lands in a universe as a stunt driver racing for a million-pound prize, he thinks he’s found the way to save his family and their home. But the life of an infinity racer is about to prove much more dangerous than Kyan has bargained for …

Rainbow Grey: Battle for the Skies

by Laura Ellen Anderson

Farshore – February 2023

Rainbow Grey may be only ten years old but the future of the whole world depends on her! It’s up to Ray to defeat Tornadia Twist – the greatest villain that ever lived . . .

Ray has to figure out what her ultimate magical gift is and use this power to stop Tornadia before she destroys the Weatherlands and Earth. With epic adventures, magic galore and everything at stake, the battle for the skies is ON!

Click on the covers below to find out more or purchase online:

Bookshop.org: