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That Rabbit Belongs To Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton

A classic and catchy story of right and wrong that is perfect to explain the concepts of property and justice. Equally suited to classroom discussion and bedtime reading, this is one of those timeless picture books children will want to revisit. A great year 1 book to discuss in storytime.

Numenia and the Hurricane by Fiona Halliday

A touching picture book story that follows a young bird who struggles against the elements to find and rejoin her family. Told in rhyming verse, this is a great book to read aloud to a year 1 class in literacy or circle time. The stunning illustrations are an ideal impetus for art ideas.

Cinnamon by Neil Gaiman

A stunning modern fable with vibrant illustrations. Cinnamon is a mysterious princess who has pearls for eyes, cannot see and does not speak. While many people try to help her, but none succeed – until a fearsome tiger befriends her and changes her life forever. An ideal book with rich language to share in Year 1.

I Can Only Draw Worms by Will Mabbitt

A hysterically funny book about worms and their amazing adventures. The writer invites the reader to use their imagination, and this is a good book to help develop inference. A clever picture book for 5-6-year-olds, and one that can be read again and again.

King of the Classroom by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton

An inspiring and confidence-building picture book that follows a boy going to school for the first time. Ideal for reading and sharing with children starting a new school, class, or activity. The artwork – with hints of Basquiat, is inclusive and could be a useful source for classroom display ideas.

Yokki and the Parno Gry by Richard O’Neill

This traditional Romani folk tale sees Yokki – a boy with lots of ideas and passion for telling stories – enchanting his family with tales of a magic horse who will take them to a better life. This highly illustrated short text is an atmospheric and engaging introduction to Roma life, and a good book to discuss in KS1.

Goodnight Everyone by Chris Haughton

The perfect bedtime story about going to sleep. Each page will make the reader ever so slightly more … sleepy. Stunning visuals and engaging and comforting characters. The use of repetition will be useful for children who are reluctant readers in year 1.

Oof Makes an Ouch! by Duncan Beedle

When Oof – who is still learning to talk – starts to make up new and interesting words, his best friend Pib gets jealous in this vibrantly illustrated picture book. Great for reluctant readers, mixed ability groups and performing with a class, with lots of impetus ideas for story writing, PSHE links and wall displays.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

A family walks through the countryside on an unlikely search for a bear. But there’s a surprise on the other side of the forest. A wonderful story, with many fun and repetitive lines which will help children remember the more difficult words. A great book for year 1 children to read as a group, with lots of repetition.

The Pocket Chaotic by Ziggy Hanaor and Daniel Gray-Barnett

A charming and well-crafted picture book story about Alexander, a joey who lives in his kangaroo mother Nancy’s pocket, his quest for order and tidiness, and his ultimate independence. There’s a lot to discuss here with themes of organisation, self-reliance and living with other people. With vibrant and florescent illustrations, this is a great book for reluctant readers in year 1, and also to read to classes in KS1, particularly at the start of a new school year.

The Bad-tempered Ladybird by Eric Carle

This short story is about a ladybird who argues with every other living creature he meets. This ideal book for year 1 children also uses a clock face cleverly to illustrate the passing hours, making it ideal for introducing children to an analogue clock face and telling the time.

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

A modern classic about a mouse who escapes the clutches of various other animals who want to eat him by creating a monster who is scarier than all of them put together. A surefire Year 1 favourite.

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

The classic tale of Paddington, a bear from Darkest Peru, who joins the Brown family with nothing but a hat, a suitcase and a jar of marmalade. This is a good text for 5 and 6-year-old children who are starting to read independently, and the perfect way to introduce younger children to book series and books that can be read in more than one sitting.

Cops and Robbers by Allan Ahlberg

There’s a dastardly plan to steal all the Christmas presents in London. But Officer Pugh has other ideas and catches all but one of the robbers red-handed. A fun and memorable book for classroom storytimes.

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd

Hairy Maclary likes to wander off for a walk with his friends. But the scary Scarface Claw is just around the corner. A great book for introducing children to rhyme. An ideal book to aid language and literacy development, this is a fun text for year 1 pupils to share.

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

Three baby owls wait for their mother to come, and wonder where she is. They wait and wait, and it becomes darker and darker, and in a happy ending, the mother returns. A great book for reassuring children and discussing in circle time.

The Smile Shop by Satoshi Kitamura

When a young boy goes shopping for the first time, just before he decides to buy something he loses his pocket money. Disaster! But then he discovers a ‘Smile Shop’ and wanders in. A refreshing modern fable with strong visual elements this is an ideal book for sharing, reading aloud and discussion with pupils.

The Emperor of Absurdia by Chris Riddell

A wonderfully illustrated fantasy story about a strange world of wardrobe monsters, snoring fish; with a clever twist ending. Highly imaginative, this is a useful book to develop reading stamina in more independent 5-6-year-olds who have a longer attention span.

There Are Cats in This Book by Viviane Schwarz

This innovative book with flaps and clever pictures puts the reader in charge of saving the cats from an impending flood. Ideal for children who enjoy books with interactive elements. A good book to inspire imaginative children in year 1.

Captain Toby by Satoshi Kitamura

When Toby can’t sleep due to the wind, rain and thunder outside, he finds himself and his home transported into the ocean where a giant octopus lurks. This is a wonderful book to read and share with younger children, and with sparkling and imaginative artwork, and memorable characters, this picture book is also a great impetus for creative writing ideas in lower KS1.

Mister Magnolia by Quentin Blake

This engaging story-length poem sees Mister Magnolia, an eccentric man who has many fascinating objects around his house but is missing a boot. Then one day receives an unexpected parcel in the post. What could it be? The rollicking rhymes and energy in this story make Mister Magnolia an ideal book to read aloud to, or with, children in year 1.

Katie Morag’s Island Stories by Mairi Hedderwick

Set in Scotland, Katie Morag is a mischievous character who is always up to something. This book contains four of the most popular Katie Morag stories. A good book for children who enjoy empathising with story characters.

My Friend Bear by Jez Alborough

A young bear wishes he had real friends, and not just his teddies. But then his teddies start to talk. A good book to help lower KS1 children discuss friendships, and what it means to have a friend.

Avocado Baby by John Burningham

When the Hargreaves family let their child eat an avocado, very strange and inexplicable things start to happen. A great book for year 1 children to use to develop imaginative ideas.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr

When the doorbell rings during Sophie’s tea time, there’s a big striped tiger at the door. And he’s very, very, hungry! This classic tale is an ideal class read-aloud for the end of the day, and to use as an impetus for creative writing in year one literacy lessons.

Meg and Mog by Helen Nichol

An ideal story for first reading aloud. Meg, a witch, and Mog, her cat, travel by broomstick to a Halloween party. A good text for year 1 children who are phonetically confident, this is a perfect book to inspire Haloween themed writing and displays.

Not Now, Bernard by David McKee

Bernard is a boy with an issue. He’s found a monster in the garden, and however hard he tries to get help, no one seems to listen. So he tries to deal with the monster himself, with some very funny results. A great book for year 1 children to discuss in storytime.

A Dark, Dark Tale by Ruth Brown

A visually stunning story about a black cat’s journey through a spooky wood and a strange house. There’s a gripping ending, and this is a great book to share with a class, use for paired reading, or to inspire descriptive writing in KS1.

Dogger by Shirley Hughes

Dogger is Dave’s beloved toy animal, who goes missing, only to turn up at the school fete. But can he buy him back before someone else does? This is a wonderful and heart-warming animal story to help children discuss and understand possessions, loss and how to resolve problems.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

A bear has lost his hat. And he wants it back. Everyone he asks says they haven’t seen it, except a deer who provides a hint of hope. Great illustrations and ideal for reading aloud. A great book for year 1 children to read aloud.

The Dark by Lemony Snicket

In this beautifully illustrated story about overcoming fears, Laszlo comes back from a journey never again afraid of the dark. A more challenging text that lends itself to group reading, this is an ideal year 1 book to help develop ideas for children’s creative writing.

You Can’t Take An Elephant On the Bus by Patricia Cleveland-Peck

A hysterically and laugh out loud funny rhyming picture book where a variety of unlikely animals cause complete chaos. An ideal addition to your classroom library of books for year one pupils and also a good book to discuss when reading at home.

Penguin by Polly Dunbar

A very accessible picture book ideal for reading aloud and acting out. A boy receives a penguin for a present. Only when a lion goes by does it speak, and when it does, something surprising happens. A wonderfully fun book to read aloud to a class and encourage participation and inference.

A Royal Lullabyhullaballoo by Mick Inkpen

A Little Princess, cannot get to sleep because of a roaring dragon, a clanking knight, and a stomping giant outside her window. That’s until she hears a special lullaby. A laugh out loud read for pupils in year 1, and a good choice for paired reading with older siblings.

You Choose! by Pippa Goodhart

An unusual and imaginative book that makes the reader think. Each brightly illustrated double-page spread has a question, such as ‘Imagine you could go anywhere – where would you live?’ and invites the child to come up with answers. This incredibly imaginative book is a gift to infant teachers looking to develop creative writing and help pupils to scaffold story ideas.

Stanley’s Stick by Neale Layton and John Hegley

Stanley finds a stick. But it’s not just any stick – with his stick, Stanley can do anything and go anywhere. A great book to stimulate your child’s imagination, develop written story ideas, oral storytelling and reading out loud performance.

What to do if an Elephant Stands on Your Foot by Michelle Robinson

A clever book with a twist on every page. With very funny situations and illustrations, this book is ideal for teachers to read aloud with voices, and for children to read and act out in small groups.

How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth by Michelle Robinson

A hysterically funny guide with step by step instructions for cleaning this unusual pet. But beware, very strange things can happen if the instructions are not followed carefully! Sparkling illustrations. A great book for Year 1 to share.

Dinosaurs in the Supermarket! by Timothy Knapman

Be warned! A trip to the supermarket will never be the same after your child has read this outrageously funny and addictive rhyming story. A good book to share with younger siblings, this book’s use of repetition will help children to develop their inference skills and develop the confidence to read more independently.

The Adventures Of The Dish And The Spoon by Mini Grey

This award-winning short text is a terrific rhyming picture book with stunning illustrations. Equally perfect for shared reading, call and respond and encouraging your child to read independently.

Have fun comparing Fiction and Nonfiction texts in the classroom with these easy to prepare ideas!

If so, we have a few activities you can try out to help your kiddos see the similarities and differences between the two types of text.

Class Discussion + Anchor Chart

Select 2 books on one topic.  As a class, take a picture walk through both books.  Decide which is fiction and which is nonfiction.  Have your kiddos help you make post it notes to label their reasons.

You could also divide into groups and have each group make their own chart using 2 books.

Daily 5 Bucket Book Sort

Have your students sort books in their Daily 5 buckets (or independent reading buckets) into 2 piles; fiction / nonfiction. 

Once all of the students have their Daily 5 buckets sorted into 2 piles, do a gallery walk around the room to have students look at everyone's sorting.  This leads to great conversation.

Scholastic Book Club Sort

Use a Scholastic Book Club flyer to have students sort book covers into 2 columns; fiction / nonfiction. 

Practice! 

Use our FREE Fiction or Nonfiction pack to have students analyze fiction vs. nonfiction.

There are several opportunities for students to practice and show their thinking.  Grab this freebie HERE!  Check them out below:

Fiction or Nonfiction Features Sorting Page

Walk Around the Room Fiction / Nonfiction Scenarios

Judge a Book By its Cover Page // Take a Closer Look Pages

Follow up your lesson with a Print a Standard pack!  These printable packs have 6 different task sheets for extension, re-teaching, independent work ,and assessment!    Find the RL 1.5 standard (fiction vs. nonfiction) HERE.

Boost your Fiction vs. Nonfiction teaching lessons with this Reader Ready pack for the RL.5 standard (fiction vs. nonfiction)!  It includes a 'Good Reader' Tool, anchor chart idea, and multiple practice pages!  That can be found HERE!