Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite inspirational stories written by some amazing people from intrepid explorer Bear Grylls to acclaimed author Amy Sparkes.

Shine Like the Stars by Anna Wilson & Harry Woodgate

Told from the point of view of the natural world, this exquisitely illustrated and thought-provoking story invites us to connect with the world around us and achieve our potential. We are all connected to the natural world, and it is connected to us. This inspiring book is one of Minipreneur’s favourites and shows children that just as the stars shine brightly in the night sky, so can they.

£12.99 published by Andersen Press

You Vs The World: The Bear Grylls Guide to Never Giving Up by Bear Grylls

This book retells Bear Grylls’ most extreme adventures in a kid-friendly way. He shares the life lessons he’s learned along the way, and how the skills needed to survive in the wild can be used in everyday life. From finding confidence to bouncing back from failure, Bear gives children the tools they need to survive and thrive in their own lives. This book gives Minipreneur the mindset they need to thrive so we highly recommend it for any young person in your life too.

£10.99 published by DK

Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer by Jeffrey Boakye

Due to be published in June, this is an inspiring book of how two school friends get together to produce a new fanzine full of song lyrics which changes both their lives in unpredictable ways. From one big lightning bolt of an idea that hit Kofi like electricity and a genius money-making scheme to Kelvin’s photographic memory and a school obsessed with music, this story shows children that no matter what has gone wrong in the past, even someone who ends up in detention all the time can turn their life around to become a real leader.

£7.99 published by Faber

Hugg ‘n’ Bugg: The Comb by Ian Brown & Eoin Clarke

This is a heart-warming inspiring story of a pair of Himalayan misfits who team up and find friendship. The unlikely pairing of Hugg, a messy yeti, and Bugg, a flea that feels the cold, shows the wonder of teamwork. Stunning illustrations of the animals and landscapes of the Himalayas by Eoin Clarke brings the story to life. This is a perfect story to start conversations about helping others or to talk to your little ones about creatures that live in colder climates and their adaptations.

£7.99 published by Graffeg

Harriet the Strongest Girl in the World by Ben Lerwill & Beatrice Blue

This is a powerful, joyful, and affirming story about a little girl with a lot of strength trying to find her place in the world. Written by award-winning journalist and acclaimed author Ben Lerwill, the book celebrates physical strength and difference in an exuberant, heartfelt way. This is an empowering read about finding a place where you truly belong that will speak to children of all genders and backgrounds thanks to the humorous text, stunning illustrations and its brilliant cast of larger-than-life characters.

£7.99 published by Puffin

The Repair Shop Stories: The Toy Bus by Amy Sparkes & Katie Hickey

The Repair Shop is one of the most enduringly popular TV series around, exploring the stories of treasured objects and what they mean to the families who own them. This heart-warming and beautifully written book is based on the true story from the show about how a simple toy bus changed a family’s life for ever. Featuring warm and nostalgic illustrations by best-loved illustrator Katie Hickey, the picture book written by acclaimed children’s author Amy Sparkes includes the much-loved repairers Dom, Brenton, Steve and Lucia in a story that will touch the hearts of children and grown-ups of all ages.

£12.99 published by Walker Books

Speak Up! by Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola

Featuring an unforgettable central character, Rocket, who will take children on a journey towards finding confidence in speaking up for what they believe in. This empowering, heartwarming picture book is a love letter to libraries and the power of reading. And it shows the incredible power we all have when we find our voice and speak up about the things that matter. Minipreneur was inspired by the story of Rocket’s peaceful protest against the closure of her local library.

£7.99 published by Puffin Books

Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite animal-inspired picture books, stories and activities this season.

Skunk! Skedaddle! by Peter Bently & Laurie Stansfield

Discover that skunks don’t always stink, with Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning author Peter Bently and talented illustrator Laurie Stansfield. In his wonderful new book, Bently tells the story of Sally the Skunk who nobody wants to be friends with because they think that skunk’s are smelly. Sally is desperate to show the townspeople that she would never let off a stink around friends. When she bumps into the town robber, it’s time to show everyone how useful her stink can be! This is the perfect book to introduce your child to the concept of prejudice and that they should judge others. The story will also show them that everyone has something to share with the world that makes them special and unique.

£12.99 published by Andersen Press.

Yes You Can, Cow by Rashmi Sirdeshpande & Rikin Parekh

This is a lovely, heart-warming story about believing in yourself and doing your best based on the ever-popular nursery rhyme ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’. It introduces children to the concepts of stage fright and fear of failure showing them that having self-belief and the support of kind friends can help you overcome life’s obstacles.

£12.99 published by Faber & Faber

Calm Down, Zebra by Lou Kuenzler & Julia Woolf

One of Minipreneur’s favourite authors, Lou Kuenzler has teamed up again with the wonderful Julia Woolf who has produced yet more beautiful illustrations for this celebration of colours and patterns featuring the incorrigible yet loveable zebra from the pair’s best-selling book Not Yet, Zebra. Zebra is eager to get in on the act as Annie tries to teach her little brother Joe about colours. But although things don’t turn out quite the way she imagines, together they make the world a brighter and more beautiful place.

£6.99 published by Faber & Faber

Cleo the Completely Fine Camel by Wendy Meddour & Carmen Saldana

Cleo is a “completely fine” camel. Really, everything is just great. Honestly. A sweltering hot day? Well, Cleo has never felt better! Is she thirsty? No really she’s fine. A desert sandstorm? Not a problem, because Cleo is fine (even while buried under two feet of sand). It’s only when an ostrich who tells it like it is turns up that Cleo has the courage to admit that, just maybe, she’s not fine at all. Written by the talented Wendy Meddour with fantastic illustrations by Carmen Saldana, this book is perfect for showing children not to be afraid of sharing how they really feel and speaking their truth regardless of how they might be seen by those around them.

£7.99 published by Oxford University Press

The Selfish Crab by Anya Glazer

Claude has the most beautiful shell of all the crabs on the beach. It makes him feel special and he’s determined never, ever to part with it. Of course, hermit crabs change their shells as they grow-in fact they often swap with each other. But when it’s time to swap, Claude says ‘NO!’. His decision spins the hermit crab community into chaos and it means that little Alphonso’s shell is much too big. At the seaside this is dangerous. Can Claude give up his selfish ways in time to save his friend? The wonderful author-illustrator Anya Glazer teaches children the downside of selfish behaviour in a fun and relatable way.

£7.99 published by Oxford University Press

Look and Find Puzzles: Dogs and Cats by Kirsteen Robson & Gareth Lucas

Children you love dogs and cats will treasure this entertaining book filled with puzzles that will keep them busy all the way to nap time. The pages of this book are packed with dogs and cats to find, match and count and there’s a little white mouse hiding in every picture. Simple text and picture prompts direct specific searches and there are plenty of other delightful details to discover and talk about with their grown-ups.

£4.99 published by Usborne

Walter The Wonder Snail by Neil Clark

Filled with funny scenarios, rich artwork and a stunning colour palette, this book by talented author-illustrator Neil Clark is a lovable read at bedtime or indeed any time! Walter is a brave, curious snail who meets a whole host of heart-warming animal characters who inspire him to continue on a big adventure even though he’s just a tiny creature. The book will encourage young children to think big and not to be afraid of change.

£7.99 published by Happy Yak

Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite children’s books about the natural world this season.

Meet the Weather by Caryl Hart & Bethan Woollvin

With words by award-winning bestselling author Caryl Hart and bold, striking artwork by stellar illustrator Bethan Woollvin, this book is the perfect first introduction to weather and will be great for getting your little ones interested in the natural world. As the bold, bright follow-up to the acclaimed picture books Meet the Planets and Meet the Oceans, it is packed with gorgeous illustrations of everything from rainy rainforests to snowy mountains and stormy seas. Combining STEM learning with a gorgeous rhyming twist, it’s perfect for all little meteorologists!

£7.99 published by Bloomsbury

RSPB Nature Guide: Seashore by Catherine Brereton & Kate McLelland

Full of charming and life-like illustrations by Kate McLelland, RSPB Nature Guide: Seashore is the perfect contemporary spotter’s guide for young wildlife watchers. Published in collaboration with the RSPB, the largest wildlife conservation charity in Europe, this is the fourth book in the RSPB Nature Guide series, following Birds, Wildlife and Minibeasts. The guide book is jam­packed with facts – children will learn that seaweed is used to
make ice cream, and that grey seals can eat 10kg of fish a day (that’s about the weight of two bowling balls!). From bright-beaked puffins and sunbathing seals to slippery seaweed and limpets clinging to rocks, there are over 200 different animals, plants and other wildlife to discover in this spotter’s guide.

£9.99 published by Bloomsbury

Does A Monkey Get Grumpy?: Animals have feelings, just like you! by Moira Butterfield & Adam Ming

This bright, fun, read-aloud non-fiction picture book by talented duo Moira Butterfield and Adam Ming is all about animals and their feelings, written in an engaging way to spark the imagination of curious young readers with a thirst for knowledge. With a different emotion per spread, this funny, moving and adorable picture book explores emotions such as sad, happy, grumpy and kind. Children will love making connections between their own feelings and their favourite animals – including elephants, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, monkeys, deer and much more. With rhythmic text, informative facts and adorable animal characters, this book will help children identify basic feelings, while introducing ideas of empathy and animal welfare.

£7.99 published by Bloomsbury

Pets and Their People: The Ultimate Guide to Caring For Animals – Whether You Have One or Not! by Jess French

This heart-warming guide to the many different types of pet will help kids choose the pet that would choose them. With author and vet Dr Jess French, delve deeper into the world of pets than you ever have before! Children will learn lots about the different animals that we might think of as pets, including their history, behaviour, and body language. Importantly, you will discover practical things to do with pets, such as how to treat them kindly, look after their everyday needs, and give them the best life possible. The best thing is, your child doesn’t even need a pet to enjoy them!

This book provides inspiration for kids who can’t own pets, showing them that we can care for animals in lots of other ways, too – from volunteering at animal shelters to leaving food for them out in the wild. From old favourites such as playful puppies and cuddly cats, to more unusual pets such as lizards and snakes, to bugs and hedgehogs in parks and gardens, there are many fascinating animals to meet.

£12.99 published by DK

Frog’s Bog by Marielle Bayliss & Mariela Malova

With timeless illustrations from Mariela Malova, this is a fantastically written rhyming story by the talented Marielle Bayliss about a Frog who is trying to find somewhere to relax but is struggling to succeed in his endeavours thanks to some inconsiderate animals sharing his world. This books is perfect for educating children about the different creatures that live in waterways and is great at explaining the difference between different bodies of water, including a glossary at the back describing what are rivers, streams, brooks and more. The book is the first in a new series of titles aimed at showing children the benefits of living in a caring, sharing world.

£7.99 published by Graffeg

Wild Family by Ben Lerwill & Harriet Hobday

Families come in all shapes and sizes, from spiders who can carry hundreds of their babies, to elephants who babysit each other’s calves. Perfect for every animal and wildlife fan, discover the incredible true stories of our wilder family members. Did you know that clownfish can have hundreds of babies? Or that some families like to be on the move, like monarch butterflies who will travel together for their entire lives! Meet families of all shapes and sizes, in these incredible true stories about wild families. Written by Ben Lerwill, these fascinating stories are fully illustrated with imaginative, colourful artwork by Harriet Hobday. The book is perfect for dipping into and to treasure all year round. It’s filled with facts that curious young minds will never forget.

£14.99 published by Puffin

The Fossil Hunter by Kate Winter

Curious young readers between 7 to 11 years, will love unearthing the mysteries of ancient fossils and discover the life and legacy of fossil hunter Mary Anning in this beautifully illustrated, fact-filled book. Beautifully illustrated by brand-new talent Kate Winter, with stunning panoramic fold-out pages, this is a book to treasure and to read again and again, perfect for all fans of natural history and curious young explorers.

Mary Anning scoured the cliffs and seashores of Lyme Regis for strange rocks and shells. Monstrous marine reptiles and dinosaurs had once reigned the land and seas here millions of years ago, disappearing only to leave mysterious traces for humans to puzzle over. Mary’s fossils paved the way for modern palaeontology and helped to piece together a picture of how the dinosaurs lived and evolved. Little did she know that 200 years later we would still be talking about her amazing discoveries and how she influenced our understanding of the history of the earth.

£14.99 published by Puffin

Usborne Book and Jigsaw: Wild Animals by Sam Smith & Nikki Dyson

With the inspired pairing of a colourful book and jigsaw set, children will love this package created for one of Minipreneur’s favourite publishers by the talented pairing of Sam Smith and Nikki Dyson.  Kids will have endless fun exploring jungles, deserts, oceans and more to discover all kinds of incredible creatures that share our planet. Packed with Dyson’s appealing illustrations, the book is full of fascinating facts about all the wild animals inside.

£9.99 published by Usborne

Ada and the Galaxies by Alan Lightman, Olga Pastuchiv & Susanna Chapman

In this dazzling picture book written by renowned physicist Alan Lightman collaborating with Olga Pastuchiv, photographs taken from the Hubble telescope are seamlessly layered with charming illustrations by the stellar illustrator Susanna Chapman to beautifully bring to life this enchanting story of a curious child and her caring grandfather, who share a love for our incredible night sky and the mysteries it holds. The book also includes ideas for young readers to launch their own investigations inspired by Ada’s discoveries, making this book ideal for budding young scientists and stargazers.

£7.99 published by Walker Books

Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite children’s books about learning from learning how to cook to social-emotional learning and reading with confidence.

No Pets Allowed! A Bloomsbury Reader by Chitra Soundar & Fay Austin

The Bloomsbury Readers series includes book-banded stories by award-winning authors and features online guided reading notes by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), ideal for independent reading at Key Stage 2. This new book in the series aimed at children aged 6+ years is a funny, uplifting story about family and the healing power of pets from internationally published author Chitra Soundar whose stories have been published internationally and translated into Chinese, German, French, Japanese and Thai. Minipreneur loves the Bloomsbury Readers series as the brilliant books get kids excited about reading and cover a wide range of genres with something for all tastes and interests.

£6.99 published by Bloomsbury Education

Chews Your Own Tasty Adventure by Sai Pathmanathan & Lucia Vinti

This is a fun interactive cookbook which empowers children to choose and experiment with cooking in an easily accessible way as each simple recipe has only six ingredients. The perfect gift for a budding chef, this is a beautiful hardback that celebrates international recipes and Sai is an expert on making science & cooking interesting for kids. From cupcakes to churros and paratha to pide, kids choose each ingredient in an interactive game and then see which recipes they can create. Perfect for beginner cooks to start their cooking adventure, with a maximum of six key ingredients for each recipe and clear and simple instructions, but also challenges young cooks to experiment with new techniques and ingredients. Includes fun facts for each recipe and lots of top tips. The stylish illustrations from Lucia Vinti make this a perfect gift for children who love to experiment.

£14.99 published by Faber

Oaka Books – Topic Packs

With the loss of classroom time over the past two years, being able to help struggling pupils get back up to speed is essential for their progression. Using Oaka topic packs, pupils will understand and remember topics more quickly, giving them valuable time for catching up on life in general, whilst keeping up academically. Teachers have repeatedly said that using Oaka topic packs has changed the way pupils view their learning. Home educators love these products as they help children re-engage with their learning, creating an effective learning structure that is easy to use.

£7.97 per pack (including booklet, workbook and active-learning game) from www.oakabooks.co.uk

Read With Oxford – Stage 4 – Biff, Chip and Kipper: A Mammoth Task and Other Stories by Roderick Hunt & Alex Brychta

This Read With Oxford Stage 4 collection of four funny stories is ideal for children who are gaining more reading confidence with the ability to read lots of everyday words and sometimes read by themselves. Featuring the much-loved Biff, Chip and Kipper characters created by Roderick Hunt MBE and Alex Brychta MBE, this is one of the exciting range of carefully levelled reading books that will help build your child’s reading confidence.

£10.99 published by Oxford University Press

Read With Oxford – Stage 5 – Biff, Chip and Kipper: Turtle Beach and Other Stories by Roderick Hunt & Alex Brychta

This Read With Oxford Stage 5 collection of four funny stories is ideal for children who are beginning to read independently and enjoy reading a whole story by themselves. Featuring the best-loved chracters Biff, Chip and Kipper co-created by Roderick Hunt MBE and Alex Brychta MBE, this is one of the exciting range of carefully levelled reading books that will help improve your child’s reading skills. It also includes tips for parents and activities to get kids to retell the story in their own words and talk about elements of the story they’ve just read.

£10.99 published by Oxford University Press

Going to the Fair and Other Poems by Sue Gordon & Hâf Gardner

The importance of reading poetry to the development of young children’s literacy and language skills cannot be overstated. Which is why Minipreneur was very pleased to discover this charming collection of playful poems by Sue Gordon which has been beautifully illustrated by Hâf Gardner. We’re certain that the book will amuse, delight and excite children whilst inspiring them to enjoy writing and creating their own illustrated poems with space to do just that at the end of the book.

£3.99 published by Purple Mash Publishing

Step Inside Science: Your Body by Lara Bryan & Teresa Bellon

From one of Minipreneur’s favourite publishers of children’s books for kids of all ages, this informative book will help young readers to discover how the body works and if filled with bright illustrations and clever peep-through details. Children will find out what happens to food after you eat it, discover how and why you breathe, and learn how your growing muscles can lift heavy objects.

£9.99 published by Usborne

First Questions and Answers: How Does My Body Work? by Matthew Oldham & Daniel Taylor

Whether it’s walking, talking, breathing, growing, eating or excreting, the human body has a lot going on.  Filled with big questions children ask (and adults might struggle to answer) about how the body works, this engaging lift-the-flap book covers numerous topics to introduce curious young readers aged 4+ years to the amazing workings of the human body.

£9.99 published by Usborne

Find Your Happy by Emily Coxhead

Full of vibrant illustrations and practical ideas, this is an accessible, friendly and uplifting book of feelings written and illustrated by Emily Coxhead, the much-loved creator of The Happy News which is read by over 20,000 subscribers in 33 different countries, and celebrates all that’s good in the world! Exploring feelings common to all young children, this is an uplifting and practical guide for children, helping them to understand their emotions and empowering them with tools to feel better.

£7.99 published by Walker Books

Here are some of Minipreneur’s favourite bedtime stories. We love reading them at bedtime but they are so good that they can be read at any time of the day!

Oscar’s Story by Margaret Sturton

This heart-warming tale written and beautifully illustrated by Margaret Sturton tells the story of Oscar and his older sister. When she starts reading books with no pictures in them, Oscar worries she’ll never share picture books with him again… Oscar loves story time, but best of all he loves the pictures in his books and the games he plays with his big sister, based on the characters. So when she comes home from school one day with a book that only has words, he doesn’t understand. Why does she like it so much, and how can he ever share it with her? This is the ideal book to read to children at bedtime as the story reinforces the fact that all books are magical with the power of imagination.

£12.99 published by Andersen Press

Squishy McFluff’s Camping Adventure! by Pip Jones and Ella Okstad

The  second Squishy McFluff picture book sees Ava and her invisible cat go camping with things getting interesting when she meets Idris and his puppy Farida who are staying at the same campsite. Pip Jones’s joshing humour and pacy rhyme is full of charm, and beautifully reflects those competitive conversations we all know so well. With a happy ending, and a new friendship gained, this story is sure to win hearts. Minipreneur thinks this is a great story to share with little ones at bedtime but it’s also perfect for any time of the day as it’s sure to inspire camping holidays!

£7.99 published by Faber

I’m Not Scared: A Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog Adventure by Britta Teckentrup

Filled with gorgeous, richly textured and softly coloured illustrations, this is a charming and relatable story from award-winning author and illustrator Britta Teckentrup about navigating childhood fears and follows on from the lovely story book Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog Take an Evening Stroll. From dark basements to deserted streets, swooping birds to cars’ glaring headlights, menacing foxes to friendly cats, the two creatures spend a day and evening confronting things that are both frightful and harmless. As the two hedgehogs walk through their neighbourhood, they talk casually about their fears and strategies for dealing with them – whistling, holding hands, counting, being still and accepting kindness. Vibrating with warmth and charm, this gentle story offers valuable skills for identifying and dealing with the things that make us scared. This book helped Minipreneur understand that everyone gets scared no matter how big or little you are.

£10.99 published by Prestel

A Treasury of Tales for Five-Year-Olds by Gabby Dawnay & Heidi Griffiths

Snuggle up together with your child at bedtime and enjoy this collection of forty charming and engaging stories written by Gabby Dawnay and selected especially for five-year-olds by literacy experts. This beautiful book contains original and inclusive stories about animals, dragons, nature, vehicles, music and more, as well as reimagined fairytales from around the world. From tales of pirate adventures to heart-warming animal stories, there will be something for every young reader in this rich collection. The stories are arranged in order of increasing complexity so that children can increase their reading confidence as they make their way through the book with their grown-up. This is the perfect present for any children you know who are turning five soon and Heidi Griffiths’ charming and engaging illustrations make this book one children will cherish even as they grow older.

£14.99 published by Frances Lincoln

A Pinch of Love by Barry Timms & Tisha Lee

This is Barry Timms and Tisha Lee’s second book on the subject of love. This story celebrates the love that comes through cooking and sharing food as told from the perspective of a boy and his grandmother. The gentle rhyming verse and beautiful illustrations make this a warm and charming book that’s perfect for bedtime.

£7.99 published by Frances Lincoln

Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories by Jarvis

Full of funny mix-ups and comic misunderstandings, as well as genuine warmth and affection, these four stories are the start of an irresistibly charming new chapter book series from award-winning creator Jarvis. Minipreneur thinks these are great bedtime stories to share with kids aged 5+ years with their heart-warming tales about not hurting the feelings of others and the ups and downs of friendship told with witty charm by the talented author-illustrator Jarvis.

£9.99 published by Walker Books