Free resource · the UK
Homeschool reading list by age
Read-alouds, first chapter books and novels for ages 3 to 15+, mixing British favourites with classics children everywhere love. Ages are a guide only — read ahead of your child and skip anything that doesn't suit your family.
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Ages 3–5: picture books to read aloud
Read the same favourites again and again — repetition builds vocabulary and early phonics. Pause to let your child finish rhymes.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Counting, days of the week and a life cycle.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
Colours, animals and a pattern to join in with.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
A much-loved British classic about an unexpected visitor.
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
An I-spy rhyme full of nursery-rhyme characters.
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
Clever rhyme and a twist.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Big feelings, beautifully told.
Ages 5–7: early readers and longer read-alouds
Keep reading aloud even once your child can read — they can understand far harder stories than they can decode.
Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Gentle chapters for brand-new readers.
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
A classic read-aloud, one chapter at a time.
The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
A different land at the top of the tree each chapter.
A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
Gentle, funny chapters about a bear from Peru in London.
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
Funny, illustrated first chapter book.
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Rhyme and repetition that early readers can tackle themselves.
Ages 7–9: first chapter books
Let your child choose some books purely for fun. Series are great for building reading stamina.
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
Friendship, farm life and a lot to talk about.
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Inventive language children love to imitate.
The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy
Mildred's mishaps at witch school — short and funny.
The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson
A girl in a children's home tells her own story.
Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
A boy flattened by a falling board — and the start of many letter-writing projects.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
A classic fantasy read-aloud.
Ages 9–12: middle-grade novels
Ask your child to tell back a chapter in their own words, or keep a short reading journal — it's easy evidence of learning for your records.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Friendship and a big, scruffy dog.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Kindness, difference and point of view.
Matilda by Roald Dahl
A book about loving books.
Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
A boy shipwrecked on an island finds he isn't alone.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A neglected garden brings two lonely children back to life.
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
Sailing, camping and adventure in the Lake District.
Ages 12–15: novels for young teens
Read some of the same books as your teen and talk about them — it's one of the best parts of homeschooling older children.
Once by Morris Gleitzman
A boy in Nazi-occupied Poland. Deals with war and loss; best read together.
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
The classic quest — a great family read-aloud too.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
A seemingly perfect community with a dark secret.
Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian
A wartime evacuee and the gruff man who takes him in. Deals with abuse; preview first.
Watership Down by Richard Adams
An epic journey of a band of rabbits — great for discussing leadership.
Holes by Louis Sachar
A funny, twisty mystery set at a desert camp in Texas.
Ages 15+: older teens and senior years
Mix modern and classic books, and include some non-fiction. Check what any senior course or exam requires before you plan the year.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
A girl in Nazi Germany, narrated by Death. Deals with war and grief.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Justice and racism in 1930s Alabama.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
A short fable about power — good for discussion.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A witty classic for confident readers.
Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman
A powerful story about prejudice and love. Mature themes; preview first.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
A short, powerful novel about friendship and the Great Depression.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
A world where books are burned — great for discussing ideas and media.