Book List for Reception Plans – Summer

This list includes required and suggested books for all the plans in reception for Summer. It is worth checking which books are essential for the plan(s) you are teaching. If you are not teaching all the plans you will not need to obtain all these books (purchase or borrow from your local library), so please check against your chosen plans which books are essential.

Any book listed as ‘out of stock’ or ‘out of print’ may be available to purchase at or may be available through your local library. We have arranged a deal with KBC (Kent Book Company) for Hamilton users to get a 20% off RRP on all books required for our Literacy Units that they have in stock. We have no commercial arrangement with KBC but we hope this will be an alternative and useful way for you to obtain the necessary texts for our Literacy Units. Click on find out more!

Summer A

  • On the Moon by Anna Milbourne and Benji Davies (Usborne Books, ISBN: 978-0746052112 or 978-1409539070)
  • The Solar System by Emily Bone, Terry Pastor and Tim Haggerty (Usborne Books, ISBN: 978-1409514244)
  • Winnie in Space by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul (OUP, ISBN: 978-0192732194)
  • I Took the Moon for a Walk by Carolyn Curtis and Alison Jay (Barefoot Books, ISBN: 978-1841488035)
  • Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy (MacMillan’s Children’s books., ISBN: 978-0230015470)
  • Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker (Kingfisher, ISBN: 978-0753414903 or Turtleback Books, ISBN: 978-0613888578)

Unfortunately this book is currently out of print

  • Living in Space by Katie Daynes (Usborne Books, ISBN: 978-0746074497)
  • Beegu by Alexis Deacon (Red Fox, ISBN: 978-0099417446)
  • Laura’s Star by Klaus Baumgart (Little Tiger Press, ISBN: 978-1854306968, book/CD pack ISBN: 978-1845064167)
  • Man on the Moon (a day in the life of Bob) by Simon Bartram (Templar Publishing, book/CD pack 978-1840113693 or 978-1840114911)
  • How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers (Harper Collins, ISBN: 978-0007150342)
  • Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman and Ben Court (Simon & Schuster Children’s, ISBN: 978-1416917052)
  • I’m Coming to Get You by Tony Ross (Andersen, ISBN: 978-1842707432)
  • Here Come the Aliens by Colin McNaughton (Walker, ISBN: 978-0744543940)
  • Bob’s Alien Spotter Guide by Simon Bartram (Templar Publishing, ISBN: 978-1840113938)

Unfortunately this book is currently out of print

  • Space Poems Chosen by Gaby Morgan (Macmillan, ISBN: 978-0-330-44057-8)
  • We’re Off to Look for Aliens by Colin McNaughton (Walker Books, ISBN: 978-1-4063-1352-9)
  • Q Pootle 5 by Nick Butterworth (Harper Collins, ISBN: 978-0007172351)
  • The Aliens are Coming by Colin McNaughton (Walker, ISBN: 978-1406312126)

Unfortunately this book is currently out of stock.

  • Bob’s Best Ever Friend by Simon Bartram (Templar Publishing, ISBN: 978-1840113730)
  • Aliens in Underpants Save the World by Clare Freedman and Ben Cort (Simon and Schuster, ISBN: 978-1847383020)
  • Aliens Love Smelly Jelly by Tony Mitton and Guy Parker-Rees (Orchard Books, ISBN: 978-1408314135)
  • The Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Anderson (Ladybird, ISBN: 978-0721415505) or version by Susanna Davidson (Usborne Young Readers, ISBN: 978-0746063248)
  • The Princess and the Pea by Lauren Child (Puffin, ISBN: 978-0141500140)
  • The Pea and the Princess by Mini Grey (Red Fox, ISBN: 978-0099432333)
  • A version of Beauty and the Beast, e.g. by Max Eilenberg and Angela Barratt (Walker Books, ISBN: 978-1406326055) or by Ladybird (Ladybird, ISBN: 978-1846469732) or by Louie Stowell and Victor Taveres (Usborne, ISBN: 978-0746085394)
  • Rapunzel by Ladybird (Ladybird, ISBN: 978-1846469923)
  • The Frog Prince by Susanna Davidson and Mike Gordon (Usborne, ISBN: 978-0746085264 or 978-1409547020)
  • King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table by Marcia Williams (Walker Books, ISBN: 978-1406318661)
  • The Kiss That Missed by David Melling (Hodder Children’s Book, ISBN: 978-0340797181 or 978-0340999851)
  • How to be a Knight by Sir Geoffrey de Lance (Templar Publishing, ISBN: 978-1840119282)
  • George, the Dragon and the Princess by Chris Wormell (Red Fox, ISBN: 978- 1862301863)
  • Prince Cinders by Babette Cole (Picture Puffin, ISBN: 978-0140555257)
  • What Were Castles For? (Usborne Starting Point History) by Phil Roxbee Cox (Usborne, ISBN: 978-0746052563)
  • Castles – Eyewitness Series (Dorling Kindersley, ISBN: 978-1405329279)
  • See Inside Castles by Katie Daynes (Usborne, ISBN: 978 – 0746064467)
  • The Best Ever Book of Castles by Philip Steele (Kingfisher Books, ISBN: 978-0753401460)

Unfortunately this book is currently out of print.

  • Meg’s Castle by Helen Nicoll & Jan Pieńkowski (Puffin, ISBN: 978 – 0140502602)
  • In the Castle by Anna Milbourne and Benji Davies (Usborne, ISBN: 978-0746062364or 978-1409535775)
  • 1001 Knights and Castles Things to Spot by Hazel Maskell and Teri Gower (Usborne, ISBN: 978-1409507451)
  • Good Knight Sleep Tight by David Melling (Hodder Children’s Books, ISBN: 978-0340860939)
  • Serious Trouble by Arthur Howard (Harcourt Children’s Books, ISBN: 978-0152058531)
  • The Dragon Machine by Helen Ward(Templar Publishing, 978-1840119909)
  • Dragon Poems by John Foster and Korky Paul (OUP, 978-0192763075)
  • A version of Saint George and the Dragon, e.g. by Geraldine McCaughrean (OUP, 978-0192723765)
  • The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch (Annick Press, 978-0920236161)
  • George and the Dragon by Christopher Wormell (Red Fox, 978-0099417668)
  • Moon Dog by Helen Ward(Templar Publishing, 978-1840118742)
  • The Tin Forest by Helen Ward (Templar Publishing, ISBN 978-1840117431)
  • The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash and Lynn M. Munsinger (Little, Brown Books for Children, 978-0316590312)
  • George, the Dragon and the Princess by Chris Wormell (Red Fox, 978-1862301863)
  • The Egg by M. P. Robertson (Frances Lincoln, 978-1845077990)

Summer B

  • Home by Alex T Smith (Scholastic, 978-1407105406)
  • Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley (Harper-Collins, 978-0007212071)
  • Slow Loris by Alexis Deacon (Red Fox Books, 978-00990414261)
  • The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse by Helen Ward (Templar Publishin,g 978-1-84011-188-0)
  • The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch by Ronda and David Armitage (Scholastic, 978-1407103150)
  • What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen? by Nick Sharratt (Walker Books, 978–1406322279)
  • Harry’s Home by Catherine and Laurence Anholt (Orchard Books, 978-1408302156)
  • Diary of a Baby Wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley (Harper Collins, 978-0007351756)
  • A New Home for a Pirate by Ronda Armitage and Holly Swain (Puffin, 978-0141500256)
  • A House in the Woods by Inga Moore (Walker Books, 978-1406324327)
  • The Lighthouse Keeper’s Catastrophe by Ronda and David Armitage (Scholastic,978-1407106502)
  • A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle (Little Simon, Simon & Schuster, 978-0689870644)
  • Homes (Around the World) by Kate Petty (Frances Lincoln, 978-1845075569)
  • The Lighthouse Keeper’s Rescue by Ronda and David Armitage (Scholastic, 978-0439993807)
  • The Bear’s Winter House by John Yeoman and Quentin Blake (Andersen Press,978-1842709160)
  • The House that Jack Built by Jenny Stow (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, ISBN: 978-1845079437)
  • The Gingerbread Man (Ladybird ISBN: 978-1846469800)
  • The Three Little Pigs by Nick Sharatt and Stephen Tucker (MacMillan Children’s Books, ISBN: 978-0333963975)
  • A version of The Three Little Pigs, e.g. Lift-the-flap fairy tales: The Three Little Pigs by Stephen Tucker and Nick Sharratt (MacMillan Children’s Books, ISBN: 978-0333963975) or Three Little Pigs by Heather Amery and Stephen Cartwright (Usborne First Tales, ISBN: 978-0746058398) or The Three Little Pigs by Ladybird (Ladybird, ISBN: 978-1846469954)
  • The Hill and the Rock by David McKee (Andersen Press, ISBN: 978-1849393058)
  • The Old House by Pamela Duncan-Edwards and Henry Cole (Puffin, ISBN: 978-0142414804)
  • Home Sweet Hamish by Natalie Russell (Bloomsbury, ISBN: 978-0747583196)
  • Houses Long Ago (See inside) by Rob Lloyd Jones (Usborne, ISBN: 978-1409507444)
  • Houses and Homes (Around the World) by Ann Morris (William Morrow: ISBN: 978-0688135782)
  • Harry’s Home by Catherine and Laurence Anholt (Orchard Books, ISBN: 978-1408302156)
  • Home for a Bunny by Margaret Wise-Brown (Golden Books, ISBN: 978-0307930095)
  • The Sand Horse by Ann Turnball and Michael Foreman (Andersen Press 978-1842700990)
  • Melrose and Croc beside the Sea by Emma Chichester Clark (Harper Collins 978-0007182442)
  • Rover by Michael Rosen and Neil Layton (Bloomsbury 978-0747546894)
  • Little Rabbit Lost by Harry Horse (Puffin 978-0140568516)
  • The Sandcastle by M.P Robertson (Frances Lincoln 978-1845078003)
  • The Magic Beach by Alison Lester (Allen & Unwin 978-1741752687)
  • Winnie at the Seaside by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul (OUP 978-0192727268)
  • Flotsam by David Weisner (Houghton Mifflin 978-0618194575)
  • Seashore (Usborne Beginners) by Lucy Bowman(Usborne 978-0746088647)
  • Harry by the Sea by Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham (Red Fox 978-0099189718)
  • Kipper’s Beach Ball by Mick Inkpen (Hodder Children’s Books 978-0340956564)
  • Curious George goes to the Beach by Margret and H.A. Rey (Houghton Mifflin 978-0395978382)
  • Clumsy Crab by Ruth Galloway (Little Tiger Press 978-1845061098)
  • Meerkat Mail by Emily Gravett (Macmillan Children’s Books 978-1405090759)
  • At The Beach by Roland Harvey (Allen & Unwin 978-1741147049)
  • The Little Boat by Kathy Hendersen and Patrick Benson (Walker Books 978-0744552539) – available from Hamilton Education (
  • Cat on the Hill by Michael Foreman(Andersen Press 978-1842704714)
  • Sea Squares by Joy N. Hulme and Carol Schwartz(Hyperion Books 978-1562825201)
  • Come Away From the Water Shirley by John Burningham (Red Fox 978-0099899402)
  • Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell (MacMillan 978-0230747722)
  • The Train Ride by June Crebbin and Stephen Lambert (Walker Books 978-0744547016)
  • Seaside Poems by Jill Bennett and Nick Sharratt (OUP, ISBN: 978-0192763273)
  • Sharing a Shell by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks (MacMillan Children’s Books, ISBN: 978-1405020480)
  • Read Me 2 chosen by Gaby Morgan (Macmillan, ISBN: 978-0330391320)
  • The Works 4 chosen by Pie Corbett and Gaby Morgan (Macmillan, ISBN: 978-0330436441)