A good reading list is a starting point, not a race. Choose books that make you curious. Mix comfortable reads with a few that stretch you, and enjoy harder stories with an adult when you need help.

Stories to try

These are our suggestions, not an official 11+ set-text list. Borrow a copy or read a sample with a parent or librarian to see whether it suits you.

  • The Worst Witch — Jill Murphy. A shorter school adventure. Notice how actions and dialogue reveal a character's feelings.
  • The Wild Robot — Peter Brown. Try summarising a short chapter in two sentences, then explain why a character made a choice.
  • Charlotte's Web — E. B. White. Explore friendship and descriptive language. It includes loss, so you may want to read it together.
  • The Sheep-Pig — Dick King-Smith. Follow the characters' changing opinions and look for evidence that explains them.
  • The Boy at the Back of the Class — Onjali Q. Raúf. Talk about friendship, empathy and the meaning of unfamiliar words. It includes difficult experiences of displacement.
  • The Secret Garden — Frances Hodgson Burnett. A stretch read with older vocabulary. Read together and discuss dated attitudes as well as descriptions of places.

Read beyond stories

Try a children's science book, a biography, a poem and a news report written for children. In non-fiction, notice headings, facts and explanations. In poems, listen for rhythm and think about the pictures the words create.

For more choices, explore BookTrust's Great Books Guide with an adult or ask your school librarian. There is no need to buy a whole collection.

Turn one new word into a useful word

  1. Read the whole sentence and guess the meaning.
  2. Check it in a dictionary.
  3. Write a short meaning in your own words.
  4. Use it in a new sentence.
  5. Revisit it later in the week.

For example, reluctant means not keen or willing. “I was reluctant to leave the warm house.” Learn a few interesting words well rather than stopping at every unfamiliar one.

Ask three different questions

  • Find: Where did the character hide the key?
  • Infer: How can you tell the character was worried? Point to a clue.
  • Explain: Why might the writer describe the room as gloomy?

Keep reading enjoyable

Ten relaxed minutes can be a useful start. Take turns reading aloud, listen to an audiobook alongside the text, or swap a book that is not working for you. You do not need to finish every title here. Regular reading and thoughtful conversation matter more than ticking boxes.