Diverse Fiction for KS1

Between bullies at school and changes at home, Charlie Challinor finds life a bit scary. And when he's made guardian of a furry fox cub called Cadno, things get a whole lot scarier. Because Cadno isn't just any fox: he's a firefox - the only one of his kind - and a sinister hunter from another world is on his trail. Swept up into an unexpected adventure to protect his flammable friend, Charlie's going to need to find the bravery he never thought he had, if he's going to save the last firefox.

There is a new girl at Billie's school, and Billie takes it upon herself to show her around, teach her the Biscuit Laws, and remind her that yes, two women can get married (after all, Billie's mums' wedding is the event of the year). But then suspicion sets in. The new girl seems very close to Billie's best friend Layla. And doesn't she know a little too much about the latest big school heist - the theft of Mrs Robinson's purse?

Maddy Yip is perfectly happy in life, until she realises that everyone she knows has a talent - except for her! Maddy is determined to change that, with the help of her brothers, bewildered grandad and her best friend Dev. There are disastrous attempts at breakdancing and playing the recorder, revolting cakes and a magic disappearing trick that ends up with a hunt for the school guinea pig. Will Maddy ever find her true calling?

Before you start reading, there are a few things you should know: 1. I, Esha Verma, am a genius inventor extraordinaire. 2. I like lists. 3. I did not mean to turn my teacher into a pigeon. Some things just can't be helped. Esha Verma, her snotty apprentice Broccoli and his secretly cunning pet tortoise have a dream. They are going to win the legendary Brain Trophy - the ultimate inventing prize.

Accompanied by the constant, rumbling 'ba-dum ba-dum' of its passage through the city, the subway has stories to tell. Between sunrise and sunset, it welcomes and farewells people, and holds them - along with their joys, hopes, fears and memories - in its embrace. Originally published in Korean,' I Am the Subway' vividly reflects the shared humanity that can be found in crowded metropolitan cities.

When Shu Lin starts at her new school, she wears yellow rain boots and a pink coat. At recess, she stands alone in the playground. At lunchtime, she eats by herself from little boxes of brightly colored food. Her classmates aren't sure what to make of her. But one day, when Shu Lin's grandpa comes to school to share his amazing artwork, everything changes. With a stunning double-gatefold spread revealing a beautiful Chinese painting, this uplifting story shows the transformative power of art and imagination in developing cultural understanding and empathy.

Anisha Mistry is all set to be a bridesmaid at her Aunty Bindi's wedding tomorrow - until she finds a note in her family's letterbox. Bindi's groom has been kidnapped and will only be released if the wedding is called off! With best friend Milo, a mischievous granny, a runaway lobster, a giant chauffeur, and some super sleuthing skills, it's up to Anisha Mistry to find her uncle and save the big Indian wedding of the year.

Noor loves her mum, and all the other hijabi women in her family, but wonders why do they wear headscarves? Is it so they can hide snacks for later? Or because they're a super spy and hiding their secret identity? Full of curiousity, Noor sets out to find her answer, but her family are all busy and have no time to answer this important question. Just as Noor is ready to give up on her quest, her Ammu arrives home and knows just the thing to say. This heart-warming yet funny tale is a celebration of Muslim women, curious children and family love.

Asiya's hijab is like the ocean and the sky, no line between them, saying hello with a loud wave. It's Faizah's first day of school, and her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab - made of a beautiful blue fabric. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful. In the face of hurtful, confusing words, will Faizah find new ways to be strong? This is an uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond shared by siblings and of being proud of who you are, from Olympic medallist Ibtihaj Muhammad.

I'm Humza Khan, the greatest eleven-year-old rapper Eggington has ever known; soon everyone will know my name. Only problem is school has got really weird, man. All my teachers are disappearing and our aunties are taking over. It wasn't too bad at the start, they keep feeding us delicious snacks. Like, all the time. But now these aunties are trying to mess with my music, so me and my best friends Umer and Wendy are going to hunt for the truth. Cos something big and bad is going on and we won't let anything mess with my music... or you know, the world.

Liddy is to excited to sleep! Tomorrow she's going to the Dim Sum Palace with her family, so when a tempting smell wafts into her bedroom, she has no choice but to follow it - to a real palace! There are dumplings, baos, buns and more tasty treats than one girl can possibly eat. But before Liddy can take a bite, she slips and falls into a bowl of dumpling filling. The chefs are so busy making dim sum, they don't notice they've prepared a most unusual dish for the Empress - a Liddy dumpling! Worst of all, she looks good enough to eat.

Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang, 'New Kid' is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real, from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft. Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of colour in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds - and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?

Mum works really hard, but today there is no money left and no food in the cupboards. Forced to visit the local foodbank, Mum feels ashamed that they have to rely on the kindness of others, but her young daughter can still see all the good in her day like reading and drawing, and even the foodbank. Maybe one day things will be different but for now together they brighten up even the darkest of days.

The boy next door loves to lick the wind. 'You should try it', says his mum. 'All the best winds are at the beach'. And so begins an amazing afternoon by the sea for two boys. One doesn't always speak with words and likes throwing stones - the other likes to collect shells and make sandcastles. But the sea works its magic and by the end of the day the boys discover they both love to lick the wind - together.

Set off on a series of incredible adventures with an adorable family as the stories they read burst into fantastical life. Battle dragons, dodge dinosaurs, zoom to the moon and explore the world in a hot-air balloon, before winding down in a wonderfully cosy bedtime ending. This is both a funny, heartfelt celebration of stories and a brilliant way to show all children different kinds of family.

Being a big sister to a new baby brings big responsibilities. One day Amma tells Sona she is going to have a baby, and although she realises that her life is about to change, and while she's having some difficulty in coming to terms with having to share everything with the new baby - including Amma and Appa, her grandparents and her home - Sona Sharma wants to be the very best big sister she can be.

A Traveller girl with a passion for design and technology collects cans for her local recycling plant and uses the metal to renovate an elderly neighbour's caravan.

My parents decided it would be a good idea to move house AND move me to a new school at the same time. As if I didn't have a hard enough time staying out of trouble at home, now I've also got to try and make new friends. What's worse, the class bully seems to think I'm the perfect target.

Boy Bear can't hear Dad Bear coming to wake him up in the morning, but he can feel the floor vibrate with his heavy footsteps. He can only grasp little bits of what his teacher says to him at school. He can't catch what his friends are laughing at. With the support of Dad Bear, Boy Bear visits an audiologist and, eventually, he gets hearing aids. Suddenly, he understands the question everyone has been asking him.

A little boy and his pet dragon are the very best of friends. They laugh, they sing, they dance, they snooze. They are both amazing - just like everyone else! A celebration of friendship and being yourself with a positive message about celebrating diversity.