Recommended reads for children and young people

• Teen Reads

Fiction

• Spy stories; Animals stories; If you like Harry Potter, Books for Boys

Picture Books

• Dinosaur Roar!; Food Glorious Food!, Pets, Wordplay

When a book might help

• Ready for School, Starting School, Bedtime
• When a book might help - books for difficult situations

All about Dickens!

This month it is all about Charles Dickens, as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth. As he was born in Portsmouth, there will be a lot of local interest and primary schools will often link an introduction to Dickens with work on the Victorians .

The original novels are obviously difficult for younger children, but many feature memorable child characters and have been adapted well to give a taste of Dickens for younger audiences.

Here are some books on Dickens and by Dickens to look out for in your local library, or to reserve online and collect:

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  Peter Hicks "Charles Dickens"

  A good and readable introduction to Dickens’ life, which provides a insight into his writing.

   

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  Valerie Wilding "Charles Dickens: Oliver Twist and other tales that will make you ask for more!"

  A more fun approach, in Horrible History style, ,which introduces the novels in particular.

   

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  Charles Dickens "Oliver Twist" (retold by Mary Sebag-Montefiore)

  One of a series of accessible retellings for younger children by Usborne.

   

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  Marcia Williams "Oliver Twist and other great Dickens stories"

  Dickens told in pictures! Marcia Williams captures the feel of the books with a lot of humour and the stories are easy to follow.