Families come in all shapes and sizes, but they have one important thing in common: they have a huge impact on us when we’re growing up. We’ve gathered together this collection of stories all about family life to celebrate families whether they’re big or small, noisy or quiet, silly or serious. These books are full of fascinating families to help your class think about their relationships with their families and to meet new families that might be completely different from their own.
My New Brother
Oxford Reading Tree Story Sparks
Oxford Level 1 (Reception/P1)
Will George ever get used to his new baby brother? The baby gets all the attention, he makes George’s parents tired all the time, and his crying wakes George up at night! This is a beautiful wordless book, perfect for discussing the experience of having a new sibling.
Take a look at the whole Level 1 pack or buy My New Brother on Amazon.
This book is also available on Oxford Reading Buddy, with accompanying quiz to test comprehension.
My Family
Project X Origins
Oxford Level 1+ (Reception-Year 1/P1-2)
Meet all of the members of one boy’s family in this fully-decodable non-fiction book. It explores what each member of the family enjoys doing, making it a great starting point to get children talking about their own families.
Take a look at the whole Level 1+ pack or buy My Family on Amazon.
Family Festivals
Oxford Reading Tree Floppy’s Phonics
Oxford Level 5 (Reception-Year 2/P1-3)
Find out about different family festivals from around the world in this stunning photographic non-fiction reader, aligned to Letters and Sounds. It’s perfect for phonics group work and independent reading practice.
Take a look at the whole Level 5 pack or buy Family Festivals on Amazon.
Find a quiz to test comprehension for this book on
Oxford Reading Buddy.
Go Away, Molly!
Project X Origins
Oxford Level 6 (Reception-Year 2/P1-3)
This is another great book for talking about getting on with a younger sibling. Max wants to read his new comic in peace but his little sister Molly wants to play. He tries to find somewhere quiet to read but Molly keeps disturbing him. Will he be able to get away if he shrinks?
Take a look at the whole Level 6 pack or buy Go Away, Molly! on Amazon.
This book is also available on Oxford Reading Buddy, with accompanying quiz to test comprehension.
My Dad Does Belly Dancing
TreeTops Fiction
Oxford Level 11 (Year 2-4/P3-5)
Cal’s dad takes up belly dancing to get fit, which is embarrassing enough, but then the whole belly dancing club come to dance at Cal’s school. To Cal’s surprise his dad is the star of the show and he ends up feeling very proud of him. This is a great book to give children a different perspective on embarrassing parents!
Take a look at the whole Level 11 pack or buy My Dad Does Belly Dancing on Amazon.
Isadora Moon
By Harriet Muncaster
Ages 6-8 (Year 2-3/P3-4)
Half vampire, half fairy, and totally unique! Isadora Moon is special because she’s different. Her mum is a fairy and her dad is a vampire and Isadora is a bit of both. She loves the night, bats, and the colour black, but she also loves the outdoors, using her magic wand, and the colour pink. These first chapter books are all about acceptance and fitting in, with clear parallels to many children’s own situations.
Buy Isadora Moon books on Amazon.
The Greatest Treasure of All
TreeTops Reflect
Oxford Level 17 (Year 4-6/P5-7)
This adventurous story explores family dynamics in a different culture. Set against the beautiful and sunny backdrop of Goa, join twins Anita and Vikram as they set out to solve a family mystery on a treasure hunt like no other. This is a sensitive exploration of coping with change in the family, including a grandparent suffering from dementia.
Take a look at the whole Level 16-17 pack or buy The Greatest Treasure of All on Amazon.
Find a quiz to test comprehension for this book on
Oxford Reading Buddy.
The Fabulous Fantora Files
TreeTops Chucklers
Oxford Level 19 (Year 5-7/P6-S1)
Perfect for fantasy fans, this book is narrated by a cat called Ozymandias, giving a whole new perspective on family life! Ozy guides the reader through a collection of stories, postcards and poems from the Fantora Files, to build up a fascinating picture of the magical Fantora family.
Take a look at the whole Level 18-20 pack or buy The Fabulous Fantora Files on Amazon.
Find a quiz to test comprehension for this book on
Oxford Reading Buddy.
We hope your class enjoy getting to know all of these fascinating families and that they help them realise that even if mums and dads and brothers and sisters can be a bit of a pain sometimes, or even extra embarrassing, families are fabulous!
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