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Peters' best books of 2020

December 13th 2020

As 2020 starts drawing to a close, we look back at some of our favourite new books published this year. With selections for all age groups from EYFS and KS1 through to KS5 and beyond, all of these books were selected as Peters' Books of the Week by our team of librarians. 

EYFS/Key Stage 1

Key Stage 2

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 4

Key Stage 5

 

EYFS/Key Stage 1

Egg by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet

"Very clever, the illustrations say it all and are packed full of humour. The single word is effective and the theme of difference and acceptance is presented in a positive way. Great for PSHE used or just for fun!"

 

Bad Cat by Nicola O'Byrne

"Hilarious, and the evil cat expressions throughout are genius. All cat owners will identify with this, and its good fun anyway for general sharing."

 

Too Much Stuff! by Emily Gravett

"Superb illustrations perfectly match the rhyming text that delivers an important message about materialism and possessions. Wonderful just to share for enjoyment or to use as a discussion tool." 

 

Hello! a counting book of kindnesses

"Deceptively simple book, perfectly demonstrating a refugee journey in ways children can understand. Great for this important topic, but also a lovely read."

 

Where Snow Angels Go by Maggie O'Farrell

"A beautiful illustrated novel full of rich language with a nostalgic, dreamlike quality. Would suit a wide age range especially in an educational setting, as a quick guided read for younger KS2, or for G&T KS1. Reads aloud well."

 

Good Dog by Sean Taylor and David Barrow (illustrator)

"Laugh-out-loud funny tale of an adorably naughty dog, accompanied by fabulously expressive illustrations. Great fun for dog lovers."

 

Key Stage 2

The Midnight Guardians by Ross Montgomery

"The pages turn quickly and the mix of magical realism and WW2 tension works pretty well. Gripping, unusual adventure with strong themes of self-belief, courage and the bonds of family and friendship."

 

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

"Moving tale of difference and community action, with a well-rounded main character. Issues are well-handled and it's an enjoyable read."

 

The Night Bus Hero by Onjali Rauf

"Written from a bully's perspective, an engrossing read on the impacts of homelessness. Told through humour it also includes themes of kindness and empathy whilst celebrating that people can change for the good."

 

The Miracle on Ebenezer Street by Catherine Doyle

"An assured update of a classic, this seasonal adventure is sprinkled with sly humour, moments of heartbreak and a little bit of magic – gorgeous."

 

Butterfly Brain by Laura Dockrill and Gwen Millward (illustrator)

"An intriguing, powerful tale that takes many turns and is both cautionary and cathartic. The intricate verse and evocative illustrations express the powerful emotions around grief and healing in a moving way. Very good for PSHE or Literacy uses."

 

Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant

"Has the nostalgic adventure of Blyton with the emotion and character strength of Ibbotson. Cracking, original read that is both unconventional and gripping."

 

The Faraway Truth by Janae Marks

"A real gem that explores many aspects and while could descend into the maudlin, it doesn't and the strong characters come through. And for a story about familial relationships and injustice, it does leave you wanting to make cupcakes!"

 

A World Full of Poems: Inspiring Poetry for Children illustrated by Sonny Ross

"What an absolutely great collection – a diverse range to make you laugh and think. A lovely anthology ."

 

How to Build an Orchestra by Mary Auld and Elisa Paganelli (illustrator)

"Beautifully illustrated and really informative, with the CDs working well with the text. Fantastic resource for classrooms and homework alike."

 

Key Stage 3

Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

"Engaging plot and plucky main character are beautifully rendered by the lyrical text. Fantastic read with plenty to savour – perfect for historical fiction fans."

 

October, October by Katya Balen

"Wonderfully warm and lyrical, with vivid and imaginative characters and an unusual story with universal themes. Great for promoting discussion on the value of nature to well-being."

 

Lost by Ele Fountain

"Thought-provoking and emotional with strong characterisation and unexpected plot twists. A captivating read which is hard to put down. Great for junior fiction and teen fiction crossover."

 

The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke and Ayesha L Rubio

"Thrilling, utterly engrossing adventure with strong characterisation and a great sense of place. Fantastic debut with plenty of appeal, a real treat."

 

The Lost Soul Atlas by Zana Fraillon

"Both a compelling fantasy quest and a powerful evocation of life on the streets, this is a fantastic tale from a talented writer."

 

The Kid Who Came from Space by Ross Welford

"A real treat of a book: engaging, vivid characters; the alien abduction plot is completely believable; and it packs a real emotional punch. An absolute must and could have some empathy uses."

 

Key Stage 4

Every Little Piece of My Heart by Non Pratt

"Mysterious set-up engages straight away, and the strong characterisation ensures multiple narrators don't distract from a compelling and very enjoyable read."

 

You Should See Me in A Crown by Leah Johnson

"Manages to combine issues of racism, homophbia and mental health into a really enjoyable, lighthearted book with an endearing protagonist. An excellent debut."

 

The Great Godden by Meg Rosoff

"Unsettling, well crafted coming-of-age tale with a great sense of place and a clever narration that allows for subtle plot and character developments going on around our self-absorbed heroine. Absorbing read for thoughtful teens."

 

Last Lesson by James Goodhand

"Brutal, visceral, literary thriller with an incredibly engaging main character and a superb twist. Brilliantly written and with great teen appeal."

 

Again Again by E Lockhart

"Intriguing and clever, on the surface a simple love story but the various plot strands and alternative outcomes make this an engrossing read. Main character is flawed but believable, convincingly depicted by strong writing."

 

And the Stars Were Burning Brightly by Danielle Jawando

"Intense, harrowing and extremely emotional, this is an incredible debut novel that will leave you both drained and incredulous. Thought-provoking and horribly realistic, an important read for the online generation."

 

Key Stage 5

Punching the Air by Ibi Zozoi and Yusef Salaam

"Powerful, lyrical tale of systemic racism and the redemptive quality of art. Not an easy read but well-written and affecting, all the more so for being based on real events."

 

Cane Warriors by Alex Wheatle

"Brutal, unforgiving narrative and speech written in patois may be hard to swallow, but this is an important and powerful read."

 

On Midnight Beach by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

"Beautifully written, completely immersive tale of love and loss with a strong sense of place. Powerful coming-of-age novel that deserves a wide audience."

 

Wranglestone by Darren Charlton

"Love story and zombie horror make for an unlikely combo, but it works beautifully. A terrifyingly gripping, surprisingly romantic read."