The Reading Recommendations of Our PYP Students

Books Our Youngest Readers Love and Recommend

There are moments while growing up when a book isn’t just a book: it’s a friend that walks beside you, a safe place to return to, a window that opens onto new worlds.
At this stage of life, reading is a constant discovery of ourselves, of others, and of how stories can transform the way we see the world.

At H-FARM, reading isn’t something students have to do; it’s something they get to do. It’s part of how we learn, imagine, and grow together. So, we asked our PYP students to share the books they’ve loved most and would recommend to their friends.

What came out is a wonderfully varied list: full of adventures, laughter, imagination, and meaning. A small portrait of how our young readers see the world with curiosity, courage, and wonder.

For the youngest readers: colors, giggles, and first discoverie

The youngest members of our PYP community love stories they can touch, look at, laugh about, and sometimes even sing along to.
Among the most popular titles is The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a timeless classic that continues to enchant generations: a hungry caterpillar who turns into a butterfly, teaching the days of the week and the importance of healthy eating. “This book is read all over the world,” one of our youngest readers said and maybe that’s exactly its secret: a universal simplicity that speaks to everyone.

Another favorite is That’s Not My…, a much-loved tactile series where every page invites discovery through touch soft, rough, smooth, shiny. “It’s a sensory book, I love it,” one student shared. Reading here becomes a full experience, where words meet the senses.

The Gruffalo stories by Julia Donaldson are also high on the list, loved for their rhymes, rhythm, and funny-but-brave characters. They’re books made to be read aloud, to make you laugh and hold your breath — perfect for discovering how words can become music.

Other little gems include The Boy Who Lost His Bellybutton, a wonderfully weird and colorful tale full of surreal humor, and Dall’ape alla zucca (“From Bee to Pumpkin”), a playful alphabet book that turns learning letters into a rhyming song.

And finally, Bimbo Leone (“Lion Boy”) a tender story with a big heart, reminding readers that we’re all different, yet all special.

For growing readers: mystery, courage, and new worlds

As readers grow, so do their stories: longer plots, deeper emotions, and a touch of mystery.
Among older PYP students, series like Agatha Oddly and Miss Detective have become favorites. Both feature clever, curious protagonists who solve mysteries with intuition and courage, showing that thinking differently can be a real superpower.

Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls remains another much-loved choice. These short, inspiring biographies read like modern fairy tales, telling the stories of women who changed the world through the strength of their ideas. It’s a book about courage, told with simplicity and grace.

La cosa più importante (“The Most Important Thing”) also struck a chord with many students: a gentle picture book that invites readers to see the world through different eyes, reminding us that there isn’t one single truth, there are many.

And then there’s Alla ricerca di Lola (“Finding Lola”) an adventure about perseverance and kindness, with a main character who, as one student said, “never gives up.”

For tireless readers: magic, journeys, and imagination

By the time we reach the oldest PYP students, imagination truly takes flight.
The Percy Jackson and Harry Potter sagas dominate the list, filled with heroes, mythical creatures, and spells that fascinate because, behind the magic, they speak to real-life themes: friendship, courage, identity.
As one student put it, “These books let you see different worlds, but in the end, they still talk about you.” That’s the real magic of fantasy: holding up a mirror to who we are.

Classic stories still shine, too. Alice Through the Looking Glass remains a favorite for its limitless imagination and for the way it surprises you on every page, a journey that flips logic upside down and invites new ways of thinking.

And to close, Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl, full of humor and tenderness, it’s the story of a father and son whose clever plan turns into a celebration of love and mischief.

Reading to grow

Looking through this list, it’s clear that it doesn’t really matter what kind of book it is, every story leaves something behind.
Whether it’s a laugh, a question, or a spark of curiosity, reading helps us learn about ourselves, others, and the world around us.

And if there’s one thing our PYP students remind us of, it’s that reading isn’t just something we do at school; it’s an adventure that begins every time we open a book.