RE Themed Reading Books

We Are Britain!

Benjamin Zephaniah and Prodeepta Das

This is a collection of poetry from the performance poet Benjamin Zephaniah. The poems celebrate the diversity of British society by portraying different British children in their home environments. The children featured in We Are Britain! are from a range of backgrounds and cultures and it shows that despite their differences, the children have many similar preoccupations whatever their cultural background.

Making Friends: Emily Learns About Tolerance

Deborah Chancellor and Elif Balta Parks.

This story explores the themes of mutual respect and tolerance in a way that is relatable to young children. When Emily observes how different the girl living next door to her is, she feels unsure of whether they can play together. The girl and her family visit the mosque and sometimes speak in a different language. At the end of the story Emily discovers that feelings of uncertainty can be normal when families are different to each other, but it does not mean the girls cannot be good friends

A Faith Like Mine

Laura Buller

This book uses photographs and detailed personal accounts to offer insights into different faiths as experienced by children. A Faith Like Mine is a helpful book for learning about how different faiths may look in a diverse selection of children’s lives.

Last Stop on Market Street

Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson

Winner of numerous awards, this picture book follows CJ and his grandmother as they make a bus journey across town. As they chat about what is important in life, the pair take in the truly diverse city scape, encountering a multitude of passengers and passers-by of all demographics. The story of the journey and the striking illustrations come together to positively depict a world wherein cultural divisions and segregation can find no place to land and difference is celebrated for its enriching cultural effect.  

Let's Celebrate! Festival Poems from Around the World 

Debjani Chatterjee 

This book contains poems celebrating 24 fantastic festivals from around the world, by poets from across the globe...Eid, Diwali, Hannukah, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, Pancake Day, the Cherry Blossom Festival - and lots more! With glowing illustrations, this is an exciting journey of discovery that brings each festival vividly to life.

Let's Celebrate! Special Days Around The World

Kate DePalma

Lyrical, sensory nonfiction text and vibrant illustrations invite readers to experience a child's-eye view of 13 special days around the world, such as the Spring Festival, Inti Raymi, Eid al-Fitr, Dia de Muertos and the New Yam Festival. Includes a global festival calendar and educational notes about why we celebrate.

The Christmas Promise

Alison Mitchell & Catalina Echeverri

This book presents the traditional nativity story from a Christian perspective, showing how the baby in the manger was a special king that had been promised from years before in order to bring hope, forgiveness and peace. With striking illustrations and an easy to follow storyline, The Christmas Promise is a book for exploring how the story of the birth of Jesus fits into the wider Christian narrative of the Bible.

The Easter Story

Brian Wildsmith

This is the Christian story of Easter as told through the eyes of the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem and watched the events of the Easter story unfold. The text is accompanied by beautiful illustrations and would be suitable to use with the whole primary age range as they explore the meaning behind the Christian festival.