Bloomsbury Young Readers

Bloomsbury Young Readers are the perfect way to get children reading, with book-banded stories by brilliant authors like Sarah Crossan and Chitra Soundar. With gorgeous colour illustrations and inside cover notes to help children get the most out of stories, this series is ideal for home and school. Guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) are available at bloomsburyguidedreading.com.

Fizzy and the Party

By Sarah Crossan, illustrated by Nicola Colton 

Book Band: White | Ideal for ages 6+ 

It’s time for Fizzy to go to bed, but next door, Mrs Crumbleboom and her band are having a party. Fizzy is desperate to join in the fun. Will Mum let her stay up just a little bit longer?

This family comedy from Ireland’s Children’s Laureate Sarah Crossan, starring the characters from Fizzy and Bandit, is perfect for Key Stage 1 (KS1) children who are learning to read by themselves. It features illustrations from Nicola Colton, creator of the Jasper and Scruff books, and a feisty heroine children will love.

Manju’s Magic Muddle

Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Verónica Montoya 

Book Band: Gold | Ideal for ages 6+ 

Manju’s stuck at home and she is BORED. Looking for entertainment, she summons the genie. When he turns up with a terrible cold, the genie can’t hear any of Manju’s wishes properly and his magic is even more strange than usual. Can Manju help him sort out the muddle?

The characters from Manju’s Magic Wishes return in this quirky comedy from Chitra Soundar, perfect for Key Stage 1 (KS1) children who are learning to read by themselves. It features illustrations from Verónica Montoya and hilarious mishaps that children will love.

A Hundred and One Daffodils

Malachy Doyle, illustrated by Denise Hughes 

Book Band: Lime | Ideal for ages 6+ 

Dusty the fox cub can’t wait for her very first spring; Dad has told her there will be a big party. All Dusty has to do is find 101 daffodils to prove it really is spring. That is a lot of flowers! Will Dusty and her friends be able to find them all?

This heart-warming tale from Irish author Malachy Doyle is perfect for Key Stage 1 (KS1) children who are learning to read by themselves. It features engaging illustrations from Denise Hughes and explores the themes of seasons and plant life cycles.

The Gingerbread Man

Kandace Chimbiri, illustrated by Richy Sánchez Ayala 

Book Band: Turquoise | Ideal for ages 6+ 

An old woman dreams that a gingerbread man will make her happy so she bakes a beautiful one. But as soon as he’s out of the oven, he has other ideas! He’s fast enough to outrun the old woman and her husband but half the village wants to eat him. How can this possibly make the old woman happy?

Kandace Chimbiri’s retelling of The Gingerbread Man has a Caribbean twist and is perfect for Key Stage 1 (KS1) children who are learning to read by themselves. It features illustrations from Richy Sánchez Ayala and an entertaining chase that children will love.

Let’s Play, Daddy Bear!

Dawn McNiff, illustrated by Andy Rowland 

Book Band: Purple | Ideal for ages 6+ 

Little Bear lives with Daddy Bear at weekends, and usually they play games like Monster Chase and Dad-is-a-Big-Climbing-Frame. But today, all Daddy Bear is doing is tap-tap-tapping on his keyboard. Waiting is so boring! Can Little Bear convince him to play?

This charming story from Dawn McNiff is perfect for Key Stage 1 (KS1) children who are learning to read by themselves. It features illustrations from Andy Rowland and explores a topic many young children will relate to.

Praise for the Bloomsbury Young Readers series

‘Every child needs a Bloomsbury Young Reader. Fun, stretching, just the right length, full of adventurous vocabulary and punctuation.’

-Julie-Ann McCulloch, Specialist EAL Teacher 

‘Not only will the books give youngsters a boost into solo reading, they’ll also make it easier and more enjoyable for the adults helping children as they come with useful tips and notes.’
– LoveReading4Kids 

The author

Rhiannon Challenger

Community Engagement Manager and Editor at Nexus Education. BA Hons English Literature.