Balfour Primary School, Year 6 Wishlist

What was life like for families in wartime Britain? Take a walk down a street in Liverpool to find out. Explore family life during World War Two, from rationing to air raids, bomb shelters to evacuees. This beautifully illustrated book gives insight into the daily experiences of adults and children on the Home Front. Thoughtfully interspersed with spreads on the key moments of the war and information about them, such as what caused the outbreak and what happened on VE Day.

This true story of a woman whose brilliance and mechanical expertise helped Britain win World War II is sure to inspire STEM readers and fans of amazing women in history. Beatrice Shilling wasn't quite like other children. She could make anything. She could fix anything. And when she took a thing apart, she put it back together better than before. When Beatrice left home to study engineering, she knew that as a girl she wouldn't be quite like the other engineers - and she wasn't. She was better. Still, it took hard work and perseverance to persuade the Royal Aircraft Establishment to give her a chance. But when World War II broke out and British fighter pilots took to the skies in a desperate struggle for survival against Hitler's bombers, it was clearly time for new ideas. Could Beatrice solve an engine puzzle and help Britain win the war?

Michael never knew his father, an RAF pilot lost in the war. And his French mother, heartbroken and passionate, doesn't like to talk about her husband. But then Auntie Snowdrop gives Michael a medal, followed by a photograph, which begin to reveal a hidden history. A story of love and loss. A story that will change everything and reveal to Michael who he really is.

Fourteen-year-old aspiring footballer Kadeen Best is sent to stay with her Aunt Mel in London after her beloved older brother is tragically killed and she identifies the shooter - a dangerous crime lord. She must carry her grief while adjusting to her new home - away from everything she knows and loves in Jamaica - and living with her strict aunt. Kadeen must lie low, as if she's recognised, she'll put them both in serious danger. Desperate for a distraction, Kadeen practises football in the local park where she's asked to try out for a girls' team. Kadeen thinks her aunt won't approve, so she keeps it secret, and finds herself part of a new family: the SW2s. But when Aunt Mel finds out, she is furious and bans Kadeen from playing. Can she convince her aunt to let her play her way to the top with the SW2s and avoid attracting the crime lord's attention?

Leo and his best friend Sangeeta are the odd ones out in their school. But as Leo's dad is always telling him, it's because they're special. Only thing is, if they're so special, how come they never see anyone who looks like them in their school history books?Then, on a class trip to a nearby cathedral, Leo's attention is drawn to a large marble slab high above the doors of the hall. Right there, bang in the middle of a list of war heroes, Leo finds himself staring at something incredible: his own name. Desperate to know who this other Leo was, the two friends embark on a search. And together, they begin to uncover missing stories from the past, ones which they are determined to put back into their rightful place in the pages of history. Touching on themes of historical racism, The Lion Above the Door shines a light on the stories our history books have yet to contain and the power of friendships that can last through generations.

Charlotte Philby's grandfather was the most infamous double agent in history. Inspired to find out about his world, Charlotte discovered that there were plenty of untold stories of courage and secrets and daring - and so many were about women. There are a host of extraordinary tales involving female spies: from dare-devil skiers delivering top-secret information, to clever codebreakers taking down the world?s biggest criminals, to brave undercover agents fighting alongside the French Resistance. Starring Edith Cavell, Elizebeth Friedman, Noor Inayat Khan and many more, the stories in this book explore the hope, courage, fear, loves and lives of these remarkable women. Featuring top-secret spying info and imagined newspaper articles covering incredible spy stories, this is your chance to find out about the women who hid in the shadows, but deserve to be in the spotlight.

It is the autumn of 1941, and Rosie Raja is back for another action-packed and electrifying adventure. After successfully helping her spy father complete his mission in France, Rosie has gained quite a reputation for herself and is determined to continue her secret agent escapades. This time around, Rosie finds herself undercover in the magnificent and scorching city of Cairo, officially to make sure Egypt's amazing historical artefacts are kept safe from the Nazis. but really to root out a traitor in the British ranks. With the stakes higher than they've ever been, can Rosie and her father keep each other safe? A thrilling and empowering coming-of-age WWII adventure set in the dazzling city of Cairo which follows an engaging, determined, Muslim heroine called Rosina Raja.

It's 1940 and hundreds of families are being forced to flee Nazi-occupied France. Noor refuses to stand by while Nazi forces invade her home and terrorise her people, so she travels to England and signs up to join the war efforts, despite her mother's wishes. It isn't long before her talents are noticed and she is chosen by Winston Churchill to sneak back into France as an undercover agent. Noor returns home - but this time, as a secret agent ... Can Noor keep her true identity hidden, report her findings back to London and help the Allies win the war?

In 1942, a young woman named Sophie Scholl arrives in Munich to begin her studies at university. Reunited with her beloved brother Hans, a medical student, she finds new friends in a group of young Germans united in their passion for jazz music, dancing, art and philosophy - all things that the Nazi regime regards with deep suspicion. In her lectures, Sophie hears whispers of a mysterious group called The White Rose who dare to defy the Nazis. Incendiary leaflets begin to appear, protesting the betrayals and atrocities of the fascist regime and calling on others to act. At the same time, Sophie discovers that her new friends, including her brother, are united by more than just their love of art and music. Soon, she will become another petal of The White Rose and be drawn into a world of rebellion and subterfuge, compelled to carry out acts of great danger and courage.

War comes to the streets of Paris and Safiyyah's life changes for ever. Her best friend's family have fled, and the bombing makes her afraid to leave the mosque where she lives. But when her father is arrested by the Nazis for his secret Resistance work, it falls to Safiyyah to run the dangerous errands around the city. It's not long before hundreds of persecuted Jews seek sanctuary at the mosque. Can Safiyyah find the courage to enter the treacherous catacombs under Paris and lead the Jews to safety?

Thirteen-year-old Joelle Breton stumbles across Indian-born RAF pilot Mohinder Singh when his plane crashes in occupied France and it's up to her and her parents to hide him from the Nazis. After all, her parents are brave members of the French Resistance and will do everything they can to help get Mohinder back to Britain. But when they are betrayed and tragedy strikes, Joelle and Mohinder will have to act fast if they are ever to evade the enemy. Flashbacks offer dramatic stories set in key moments of history, perfect for introducing children to historical topics.

Now or Never brings a young soldier, Private Fazal Khan, from his home in India to the battlefields of the Second World War. Fazal's world is now focused on Company 32 and the animals he cares for in the midst of one of the most frightening times in history. And as he and his friends make their way to the beaches of Dunkirk, Fazal must deal with even more than the terrors of a dangerous trek to reach the evacuation zone. The Company's captain defends his troops in the face of a terrible betrayal at the point of rescue: not everyone has welcomed the help brought by the Royal Indian Army Service Corps. Now Fazal is forced to question why he is even there and why he is expected to be loyal to a king whose people don't all see him as their equal.

It's the Second World War as you've never seen it before - discover the hidden stories of incredible human spirit during the world's darkest hour. Everyone knows what Adolf Hitler, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill were doing during World War II, but what about ordinary people? In this beautifully illustrated book, war historian Hattie Hearn reveals some of the most incredible true tales from the war, including:- The Canadian cabin boy who avoided German U-boats crossing the Atlantic - The Navajo soldiers who developed a secret code to outfox their enemies - The African-American jazz singer who worked as a spy for the French Resistance.

Susan is worried about her mum. She's struggling with long hours at her job in the factory and it's a long time since they've heard from Susan's dad, who's on the front line in North Africa. Everything is in short supply in London, but Susan decides she's going to cheer her mum up by getting her a treat, and what could be more rare at that time than a sweet, delicious banana? But what lengths will Susan have to go to find one? Let Operation Banana commence!

There's a war going on out there, and I'm missing it. When war comes to London in 1939, Ronnie Smith is scared and excited: scared of the bombs that fall at night, but excited to race his friends to collect the best bits of shrapnel every morning. But for Ronnie, the battles aren't just in the sky and on the streets. They're at school and at home too. His little brother is up to no good with a secret job and dangerous new friends, and Ronnie's worried he's getting himself into big trouble. Ronnie's desperate to help his little brother. But he isn't expecting to uncover secrets that could change the fate of the whole war.

This book is different from others. YOU decide what happens in this story.
Your best friend Tom has mysteriously disappeared while investigating the ancient Mayan civilization in Mexico. The only clue is a patch of fresh blood on an altar that Tom had been examining just hours before he vanished. Now, it is up to you to find him. Will you dare to travel back in time to the world of the Maya? Or is Tom still in the present, held prisoner by some unknown enemy? Choose your next move wisely. The wrong decision could have deadly consequences ...

Meet the children of Elliot and Virgo, beloved heroes of Who Let The Gods Out? It's the turn of football-loving Vesper and super bright Aster to take on the world's worst-behaved immortals. Beginning with Maya bad boy, Kizin, and his Lords and Ladies of Death ... Superstar author Maz Evans's hilarious new adventure is a welcome return to the bestselling world of the Who Let the Gods Out? series.

An exciting pick-your-path adventure series for kids to practise making good choices and learn character-building skills and principles. Cami is heading off on the trip of a lifetime to an ancient Maya city in Mexico. The only snag? She'll also be babysitting her two younger brothers. They go missing and she stumbles on the find of the century, but can she pull the pieces of an ancient mystery together to save her brothers and save the day? Navigate the paths of grit, resilience, and initiative? What will you decide? Children will love the funny and irresistibly page-turning narrative, and will want to revisit this book time and time again to choose the multiple different paths through the adventures.

Embark on a captivating exploration into the rise and fall of the rich and colourful Maya civilisation with Blue Peter Award winning author David Long. Largely forgotten for centuries, the ancient Maya were incredible. Their cities across Central and South America featured astonishing pyramids and palaces, while they were also successful farmers and highly creative artists.

The Maya were the first people in the Americas to learn how to read and write, and they invented things like rubber, chocolate and chewing gum. They had a deep understanding of astronomy, mathematics and timekeeping, though they also had some horrible, bloodthirsty traditions such as making human sacrifices. Find out what life as an Ancient Maya was actually like while also investigating why this mysterious civilisation was close to dying out when the region was conquered by Spanish conquistadors in the sixteenth century.

Discover the fascinating world of the Maya through 99 questions and answersWhere did the Maya live? Who was Pakal the Great? And just why were the Maya so crazy for corn? Find out the answers to all these questions and many, many more in this high-interest romp through the world of the Maya. 99 Questions About... makes historical civilisations come alive with interest, humour and occasional weirdness.

The core information is excellent support for curriculum topics, while the dip-in structure and light amounts of text will entice even reluctant readers who enjoy the light-hearted Horrible Histories approach to learning. The high-interest approach is complimented by a striking, two-colour design, featuring simple but eye-catching graphics. Fun reading for children aged 8 and up.

Books in the series:Ancient EgyptiansAncient GreeksAztecsBeninMayaRomansShang DynastySong DynastyStone, Bronze and Iron AgesVikings

Find out about the incredible ancient civilizations of the Americas, right up until the Spanish conquest. Discover the monumental pyramids and mountain cities of the Maya, Inca, and Aztec people. Explore the sites of Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, and Tenochtitlan, learn the pictures of the Mayan language, unearth the history of chocolate, and find out how naughty children were punished with chillis!Peer into the past with amazing illustrations, see some of the most impressive ancient structures in the world, and stock up on facts to amaze your friends with.

Packed with information, artefacts, and colourful illustrations, DKfindout! Maya, Incas, and Aztecs brings their worlds to life. The DKfindout! series introduces children to a range of exciting topics in a fun, engaging way. Checked by specialist consultants and an educational expert, this is not only a source of information you can trust, but one that is age-appropriate and supports your child's schoolwork.

Books you may also enjoy from the DKfindout! series include DKfindout! Ancient Egypt, DKfindout! Ancient Rome and DKfindout! Stone Age.

Join expert cryptozoologist Dr Soothfast for a round-the-world adventure in hunt of the creatures science has yet to catalogue... with fold-out pages and a monstrous pop-up on every page!Each creature in this book has been spotted in the wild, and many people believe them to be real-life monsters - but science cannot yet prove that they exist. Uncover the evidence, and discover the strange stories behind these curious creatures, known by experts as 'cryptids'.

Then decide for yourself - do they really exist? From well-known creatures like the Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster, to the lesser-known, but just as curious Jersey Devil and Chupacabra, this magnificent book is the must-have guide to a collection of cryptids from around the world. Playfully blending historical accounts with a fictional narrator, and using a graphic-novel panel on every page for stunning visual story-telling, this graphic guide is perfect for readers 7+. With bright, graphic artwork from DC-illustrator Berat Pekmezci and a spine-tingling text from monster-lover and fiction author Eleanor Hawken.

A replica of the Ozian book from Wicked, The Story of Oz & the Wonderful Wizard presents the Wizard?s arrival in Oz as a beautifully illustrated, thrillifying poem told over ten spreads and featuring three large, breathtakingly illustrated, fantabulous pop-up spreads. With beautiful production quality and gold foil detailing on the cover, this is a stunning replica that will delight fans.

Antoine de Saint-Exup?ry's tender and magical classic fable, adapted as a brand-new pop-up book! Please ? draw me a sheep. I blinked. The voice belonged to a charming little prince.

The characters of Antoine de Saint-Exup?ry's classic tale have captured the hearts of generations of readers. Meet the pilot stranded in the desert. Meet the Little Prince who tends his beautiful rose on a planet of his own.

Follow him as he embarks on a strange and wonderful journey to puzzling new planets and finally to Earth, where he discovers the nature of love. Now with enchanting pop-ups that bring iconic scenes to life!

Discover a treasure trove of bugs and other invertebrates in this deluxe pop-up book. Packed with multi-layered pop-ups and flaps to lift, this incredible feat of paper-engineering takes a close-up look at insects and arachnids, and their incredible lives. From shiny bright beetles, to giant-winged butterflies, to silk-weaving spiders, this book reveals wonder after wonder, page after page.

Written by award-winning wildlife journalist, Ben Hoare, and illustrated in striking colour and texture by rising star Jasmine Floyd, this fact-packed pop-up shows the true beauty of the insect kingdom. With a sparkling holographic cover and stunning Psychedelic design, it's the perfect gift for anyone from seven to 99!

An intricate pop-up book to mark the centenary of Tukankhamun's Tomb's discovery in 1922. 100 years ago, Howard Carter and his team made an incredible find: the undisturbed tomb of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, buried for more than 3,000 years. Now you too can discover the treasures of Tutankhamun's tomb, in this fascinating book all about ancient Egyptian mummies.

Packed with multi-layered pop-ups and flaps to lift, this incredible feat of paper-engineering allows the reader to make their own finds, page after page. From the pyramids and tombs where mummified pharaohs were buried, to the process of making a mummy, you'll soon be an expert on the art of mummification and the amazing rituals involved. Written by internationally-successful author Moira Butterfield of A Trip to the Future, consulted by Stephanie Boonstra of the Egypt Exploration Society, and illustrated by award-winning Vietnamese duo Quang and Lien, this fact-packed pop-up is sure to be a hit with readers 7+.

Readers will delight in this re-telling of this classic story of Neverland, pirates and flying. Robert Sabuda's elegant text and paper engineering give new life to favourite characters like Captain Hook, Tinkerbell, Wendy, Michael, John, and of course, Peter Pan himself!

Fall down the rabbit hole again and again with Adam Sabuda's best creation yet! Building on his reputation as one of the most innovative paper-engineers working in children's books, Robert Sabuda dazzles us with his reworking of Alice in Wonderland. The book consists of 7 spreads with breathtaking super-size pop-ups and additional pop-ups contained within mini story books. Special effects include printed foil, acetate pull-tab scenes and on the first spread a peep show of Alice falling into Wonderland.

Praise for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: A Pop-up Adaptation : 'breathtaking, three-dimensional images that are incredibly imaginative, intricately detailed, and perfectly executed... a fresh look at the story and offering details that add greatly to the reading experience.' School Library Journal 'This will very likely come to be seen as the definitive pop-up version of Alice, but it will also further establish Sabuda as the foremost visionary of the genre.' Booklist, Starred Review