Recommended Reads
This is a list of books that have been highly recommended for or have featured on the Shropshire Bookfest Book Award shortlists since the project began in 2010. This list also lists books by authors who have been programmed onto the Schools’ Week programmes that have supported their creative writing workshops in primary schools across Shropshire.
Harklights by Tim Tilley
Big Book Award 2022 shortlister: Wick has always lived in the dark and dreadful Harklights Match Factory...
The Boy Who Met a Whale by Nizrana Farook
Big Book Award 2022 shortlister: From the author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant comes another brilliant escapade....
An Alien in the Jam Factory by Chrissie Sains
A ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2022 shortlist. Scooter McLay’s cerebral palsy affects how quickly he...
Georgia and the Edge of the World by Robin Boyden
A ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2022 shortlist. Georgia has grown up loving stories of adventure...
I Lost my Granny in the Supermarket by Jo Simmons
A ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2022 shortlist. This is a new, hilarious adventure from the...
The Small Things by Lisa Thompson
Big Book Award 2022 shortlister: Anna’s anxious when she’s picked to befriend the new girl in her...
Stick Boy by Paul Coomey
A ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2022 shortlist. It’s tough fitting in when you’re born to...
The Great (Food) Bank Heist by Onjali Q Raúf
A ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2022 shortlist. On Voucher Thursdays, Nelson, Asha and Mum head...
Swan Song by Gill Lewis
A ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2022 shortlist. Excluded from school, Dylan is forced to move...
The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr
A ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2022 shortlist. September 1939. When Jimmy is evacuated to a...
Twitch by M. G. Leonard
Big Book Award 2022 shortlister. The internationally bestselling author of Beetle Boy writes a thrilling mystery adventure about...
Ruby’s Worry
Ruby loves being Ruby. Until, one day, she finds a worry. At first it’s not such a...
Perfectly Norman
Norman had always been perfectly normal. That was until the day he grew a pair of wings! ...
Meesha Makes Friends
Meesha loves making things … but there’s one thing she finds difficult to make – friends. She...
The Day That Aliens Nearly Ate Our Brains
A new, hilarious book from author Tom McLaughlin, creator of the highly-acclaimed The Accidental Prime Minister. Best...
The Accidental Billionaire
A new, hilarious book from author Tom McLaughlin, creator of the highly-acclaimed The Accidental Prime Minister. Funny...
The Story Machine
Reds love being red. Yellows love being yellow. And Blues love being blue. The problem is that...
Along Came a Different
Reds love being red. Yellows love being yellow. And Blues love being blue. The problem is that...
Perijee & Me
When 11-year-old Caitlin discovers a shrimp-like alien creature on the shores of her island home, she takes...
The Building Boy
All at once, it was as if the stars leapt closer. Grandma grabbed the boy, raising him...
Rock Bottom
Nick is truly, madly in love with Jessie Stone. And she doesn’t even know his name. In...
Daddy Frog and the Moon
Award-winning author Pippa Goodhart comes together with an exciting new illustrator Augusta Kirkwood to produce this gentle...
You Choose
Imagine you could go anywhere, meet anyone and do anything. Where would you live? Where would you...
A Bottle of Happiness
There was once a big mountain. The people on one side were rich and worked only to...
Romeosaurus & Juliet Rex
A bumbling triceratops must prove himself worthy in New York Times bestselling author Mo O’Hara’s second hilarious picture book...
The Legend of King Arthuratops
A bumbling triceratops must prove himself worthy in New York Times bestselling author Mo O’Hara’s second hilarious picture book...
The Fintastic Fishsitter
Six Really Important Tips for Fish-Sitting a Zombie Goldfish: 1. Keep Fang away from Frankie2. Zombie goldfish...
The Boy Who Fooled The World
When Cole’s painting brings worldwide acclaim and instant fame, he discovers that white lies and fine art...
The Goldfish Boy
A story about finding friendship when you’re lonely and hope when all you feel is fear. Twelve-year-old...
Runaway Robot
Runaway Robot is a funny and heartwarming adventure about two best friends helping put themselves back together, from...
Cosmic
Interstellar shenanigans from the inspired pen of the great Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Cosmic tells the side-splitting story of long-legged Liam...
Somerset Tsunami
A sinking boat. A girl in disguise. A disappearing sea. When Fortune Sharpe carves a boat from...
Secrets of a Sun King
Emma Carroll bewitches again in a fabulous tale of mysterious packages, Egyptian tombs, a pharaoh’s deadly curse...
The Soup Movement
To aid his recovery from a life-threatening illness Jordan and his family move out of the city...
My Embarrassing Dad’s Gone Viral
My Dad – the King of Cringe! What’s a boy to do when his mum disappears, his...
Make Me Awesome
Hey you! Yes, you! Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and thought Wow! My...
My Name is Bear
A Hot Contender for the Picture Book Award 2020 shortlist, this hilarious new story from Nicola Killen...
The Snow Dragon
This book was a Hot Contender for the Picture Book Award 2020 shortlist. You can be late...
Paper Planes
This book was a Hot Contender for the Picture Book Award 2020 shortlist. Mia and Ben are...
Little Bear’s Spring
A Hot Contender for the Picture Book Award 2020 shortlist, this is a glorious reminder for children...
This is Gus
A Hot Contender for the Picture Book Award 2020 shortlist, this laugh-out-loud story about Gus the grumpy...
Show and Tell
Meet Class 2L. These kids are excited.It’s SHOW & TELL day, and you’re all invited! All schoolchildren...
Ravi’s Roar
Most of the time Ravi can control his temper but, one day, he lets out the tiger...
The Runaway Pea
WINNER of the Picture Book Award 2020, this is a quirky caper, with bright, bold illustrations from...
I am a Tiger
Selected for the Picture Book Award 2020 shortlist, this comes from rising star Karl Newson with vibrant...
What’s That in Dog Years?
Winner of the Big Book Award 2020. About the book: Gizmo has been my best friend since...
Armistice Runner
About the book: Lily has lots of worries. She’s struggling to compete in her fell-running races and,...
My Parents Cancelled My Birthday!
About the book: ‘How had it come to this? How could nice, normal parents suddenly CANCEL THEIR...
Eagle Warrior
About the book: Bobbie is thrilled that a golden eagle has settled near her family farm. But...
Slick
About the book: Eric Young is the first child android to be trialled in society, but he...
Malamander
About the book: Nobody visits Eerie-on-Sea in the winter. Especially not when darkness falls and the wind...
Race to the Frozen North by Catherine Johnson
This book was a ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2020 shortlist. About the Book: Matthew...
Mo, Lottie & The Junkers by Jennifer Killick
This book was a ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2020 shortlist. About the Book: Mo...
Midnight at Moonstone by Lara Flecker
This book was a ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2020 shortlist. About the Book: Kit’s...
Help I Smell a Monster by Justin Davies
This book was a ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2020 shortlist. About the Book: When...
Flying Free by Nicola Davies
This book was a ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2020 shortlist. About the Book: Colin...
Fire Girl, Forest Boy by Chloe Daykin
This book was a ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2020 shortlist. About the Book: A...
Drone Racer by Andy Briggs
This book was a ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2020 shortlist. About the Book: 12...
Dragon Daughter by Liz Flanagan
This book was a ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2020 shortlist. About the Book: On...
Bone Talk by Candy Gourlay
This book was a ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2020 shortlist. About the Book: More...
Anna at War by Helen Peters
This book was a ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2020 shortlist. About the Book: As...
The Greedy Goat written and illustrated by Petr Horacek
About the Book: A funny, read-aloud farmyard tale that teaches colours and days of the week from...
One Button Benny by Alan Windram, illustrated by Chloe Holwill-Hunter
About the Book: Benny was different… Benny was special… Benny was a robot… Benny had a bright...
There Is No Dragon In This Story by Lou Carter, illustrated by Deborah Allwright
About the Book: A hilarious story about a dragon who wants to be the hero, but is...
Dear Dinosaur by Chae Strathie, illustrated by Nicola O’Byrne – WINNER Picture Book Award 2018
About the Book: After a trip to the museum, Max writes a letter to his favourite dinosaur, the...
A Storm of Strawberries by Jo Cotterill
About the Book: Darby loves summer on her family’s strawberry farm – but is the weather about to...
The Legend of Podkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood – WINNER BIG BOOK AWARD 2018
About the Book: A thick white blanket covers the wide slopes of the band of hills known...
Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll
About the Book: We weren’t supposed to be going to the pictures that night. We weren’t even...
Jake Atlas and the Tomb of the Emerald Snake by Rob Lloyd Jones
About the Book: When Jake’s parents vanish, Jake and his sister team up with shady tomb robbers...
They Didn’t Teach THIS in Worm School! by Simone Lia
About the Book: Marcus is a worm. He likes the colour brown. He likes mud (because it’s...
The Matilda Effect by Ellie Irving
About the Book: Matilda loves science and inventing. Her heroes are Marie Curie, Leonardo da Vinci and...
Animalcolm by David Baddiel
During the Autumn term of 2017, Year 6 children from 7 primary schools in Shropshire were tasked with...
All the Things That Could Go Wrong by Stewart Foster
During the Autumn term of 2017, Year 6 children from 7 primary schools in Shropshire were tasked with...
The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson
During the Autumn term of 2017, Year 6 children from 7 primary schools in Shropshire were tasked with...
Just Call Me Spaghetti Hoop Boy by Lara Williamson
During the Autumn term of 2017, Year 6 children from 7 primary schools in Shropshire were tasked with...
The Dragon With a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis
During the Autumn term of 2017, Year 6 children from 7 primary schools in Shropshire were tasked with...
The Everything Machine by Ally Kennen
During the Autumn term of 2017, Year 6 children from 7 primary schools in Shropshire were tasked with...
The Accidental Billionaire by Tom McLaughlin
During the Autumn term of 2017, Year 6 children from 7 primary schools in Shropshire were tasked with...
‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ by Tom McLaughlin
About the book: When Joe tells a local news reporter exactly what he would do if he...
‘Stonebird’ by Mike Revell
About the book: When eleven-year-old Liam moves house to be closer to his grandma, he’s thrown into...
‘Half a Man’ by Michael Morpurgo
About the book: A poignant tale of the physical and mental scars of war from the acclaimed...
‘A Tiger Tale’ by Holly Webb
About the book: A moving story about coping with loss from bestselling author Holly Webb and illustrated...
‘In Darkling Wood’ by Emma Carroll
About the book: ‘You’re telling me there are fairies in this wood?’ When Alice’s brother gets a...
‘How to Fly with Broken Wings’ by Jane Elson (WINNER – Book Award 2016)
About the book: ‘If Finn Maison shouts jump you jump or you are dead.’ Twelve-year-old Willem has...
‘Geek Inc.’ by Mark Griffiths
About the book: Somewhere in the small, dull town of Blue Hills, the impossible is happening. Inanimate...
‘The Bomber Dog’ by Megan Rix (WINNER – Book Award 2014)
About the book: GREY is just a puppy when he arrives at the War Dog Training school....
‘I am Still Not a Loser’ by Jim Smith
About the book: You know when someone’s horrible to you in a dream and you wake up...
‘Skull in the Wood’ by Sandra Greaves
About the book: Desperate to get away from his mum and her boyfriend, Paul, ‘the four-eyed pillock’,...
‘Secrets, Lies & Locker 62’ by Lil Chase
About the book: Secrets have a special home at Mount Selwyn High. For years, students have posted...
‘The Last Wild’ by Piers Torday
About the book: In a world where animals no longer exist, twelve-year-old Kester Jaynes sometimes feels like...
‘The Case of the Deadly Desperados’ by Caroline Lawrence
About the book: When desperados kill a preacher and his wife in a small frontier town, their...
‘The Get Rich Quick Club’ by Rose Impey
About the book: Banksy and Baxter are next-door neighbours and business partners with one ambition: to get...
‘Shadow’ by Michael Morpurgo
About the book: When a western dog shows up outside the caves in Afghanistan where Aman lives...
‘Put Out the Light’ by Terry Deary
About the book: This thrilling adventure from bestselling ‘Horrible Histories’ author Terry Deary brings the Blitz to...
‘Divine Freaks’ by Fiona Dunbar
About the book: “Hey, I’m Kitty Slade. Just your average, normal girl, doing, you know, normal stuff. Got a...
‘The Brilliant World of Tom Gates’ by Liz Pichon (WINNER – Book Award 2012)
About the book: Tom Gates is a master of excuses, expert doodler, comic story writer extraordinaire –...
‘Boy in a Dress’ by David Walliams (WINNER – Book Award 2010)
About the book: The sparkling debut children’s novel from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing...
‘The Beautiful Game: Hannah’s Secret’ by Narinder Dhami
About the book: Hi, I’m Hannah, and I’m the future captain of the England women’s football team!...
‘The Thornthwaite Inheritance’ by Gareth P Jones
About the book: Ovid and Lorelli Thornthwaite are 13 year old twins and have been trying to...
‘Wilma Tenderfoot and the Case of the Frozen Hearts’ by Emma Kennedy
About the book: A stolen jewel. Some frozen hearts. And a fish scale. Sounds like a case...
‘Wolven’ by Di Toft
About the book: Wolven is a fantasy firmly rooted in the mysterious present. A boy and his...
No Country by Patrice Aggs & Joe Brady
Winner of the Big Book Award 2022: Set in a future Britain where civil war rages and...
Rainbow Grey by Laura Ellen Anderson
A ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2022 shortlist. Ten-year-old Ray Grey lives in the magical Weatherlands,...
SkyWake Invasion by Jamie Russell
Big Book Award 2022 shortlister: An exciting and original debut sci-fi adventure trilogy for the gaming generation,...
Freddy vs School by Neill Cameron
A ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2022 shortlist. Freddy is proud to be a robot boy...
Crowfall by Vashti Hardy
A ‘Hot Contender’ for the Big Book Award 2022 shortlist. :A rip-roaring, island-hopping adventure – and unforgettable ecological...
How to Grow a Unicorn
Shortlisted for the Shropshire Bookfest Picture Book Award 2022 A rollicking, rhyming read-aloud treat from wordsmith extraordinaire,...
Ned and the Great Garden Hamster Race
Shortlisted for the Shropshire Bookfest Picture Book Award 2022 A new picture book from Kim Hillyard highlighting...
Maybe…
Shortlisted for the Shropshire Bookfest Picture Book Award 2022 We all know a cheeky monkey who doesn’t...
Dogs in Disguise
Winner of the Shropshire Bookfest Picture Book Award 2022 An exciting new collaboration between the Roald Dahl...
A Tricky Kind of Magic by Nigel Baines
Big Book Award 2024 shortlister: Cooper is brilliant at magic tricks. Card tricks, clever illusions – he...
Lost on Gibbon Island by Jess Butterworth
WINNER – Big Book Award 2024: The Last Bear meets The Life of Pi in this adventure-filled...
The Boss of Everyone by Danny Wallace
Big Book Award 2024 shortlister: Imagine if you got to be the boss of EVERYONE—even your dad!...
Moonflight by Gill Lewis
Big Book Award 2024 shortlister: The seventh-born rat of the seventh-born litter is always a rat in want of...
The Night Animals by Sarah Ann Juckes
Big Book Award 2024 shortlister: Uncover the ghost animals within in this moving and uplifting story about...
The Piano at the Station by Helen Rutter
Big Book Award 2024 shortlister: Lacey Layton’s smart tongue and quick temper are constantly getting her confined...
Who Ate All The Bugs? by Matty Long
WINNER of the Picture Book Award 2024, voted as favourite by over 1,100 children from 28 primary...
Dick the Delightful Duck by Kaye Umansky & illustrated by Ben Mantle
Picture Book Award 2024 shortlister: Even the most delightful ducks can have a bad day . ....
The Quickest Bedtime Story Ever! by Louise Fitzgerald & Kate Hindley
Picture Book Award 2024 shortlister: From bestselling, award-winning artist, Kate Hindley, who won the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book...
The Dodo Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Catherine Emmett & Claire Powell
Picture Book Award 2024 shortlister: An inspiring story about the incredible things that can happen when you...
The Boy with Big Decisions by Helen Rutter
Big Book Award 2026 shortlisted title: Fred’s parents make every decision, from which snacks to eat to...
‘Grimstink’ by Daniel Peak
Big Book Award 2026 shortlisted title: Alien Grimstink has travelled 90,000 light years to annihilate all life...
‘The First Year’ by Matt Goodfellow
Big Book Award 2026 shortlisted title: Nate’s eleven and has just finished Primary School. After a challenging...
‘Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo’ by Philippa Leathley
Big Book Award 2026 shortlisted title: On her tenth birthday, Meticulous ‘Metty’ Jones receives her fate, as...
‘Relic Hamilton: Genie Hunter’ by Joseph Coelho
Big Book Award 2026 shortlisted title: Relic Hamilton is just your average 12-year-old, living a quiet life...
‘Wildlands’ by Brogen Murphy
Big Book Award 2026 shortlisted title: Twenty-five years into the future, no humans are allowed in the...
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