7 books to read with your class before SATs
May is all of a sudden very close and children are no doubt beginning to feel those prickles of nerves and anticipation. Teachers too; it’s an intense time right! So let’s ease some of those pressure with stories that remind children of how brilliant they are…books that help them overcome mistakes, know who to turn to when they need lifting up and texts that giggle away the nerves.
Let the pressure of SATs melt away with these wonderful titles!
Billie Jean Peet Athlete by Andrea Beaty
A brilliant picture book that’s great for KS2. Join Billie as she navigates mistakes and quite literally ‘bounces’ back (did you like our basketball pun?)
Can I build another me? by Shinsuke Yoskitake
Celebrate children’s uniqueness and talents with this engaging book.
Test Trouble by Serena Patel
An easy KS2 chapter book that won’t take weeks to read; it’s funny and relatable and perfect for validating those nervous emotions.
Under the Love Umbrella by Davina Bell
You’d be hard pressed to find a book sweeter than this one. It so eloquently describes how love and support surround us. This would make a great assembly book!
Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Joke Book
We love this one, but any joke book will do! Great to break the tension in the weeks leading up to SATs…or even on the morning of the tests!
I am the Subway by Kim Hyo-eun
Widen the lens from the intense focus on SATs and look at the lives all around us. Great for building empathy and for a little bit of escapsim!
Evil Emperor Penguin by Laura Ellen Anderson
Along the same lines as the joke book, this book was the winner of the 2025 Lollies for KS2. Daft and fun to read!
