9 Lantana Books to Support KS1 English and PSHE

Welcome to ‘Lantana for Educators,’ our new blog series created to help educators bring inclusive, thoughtful and engaging children’s books into the classroom. We’ll be sharing ideas, resources and inspiration for using Lantana titles with pupils. To begin, we’re coming up with a series of curriculum-linked booklists, mapping selected titles to key stages and learning goals in the National Curriculum, with practical classroom links for reading, writing, spoken language, PSHE and wider discussion.

We’re beginning with Key Stage 1 English and PSHE, exploring books that support early literacy while helping children talk about families, feelings, friendship, identity and the world around them. A free PDF of this classroom sheet, as well as individual book-specific teaching resources, are available for download below.

This resource is based on research on the National Curriculum of English in England and the PSHE Curriculum, and developed in consultation with experienced educators. You can download a printable sheet here ⬇️

The Jasmine Sneeze

English focus: word reading (–s, –es, –ing, –ed, –er and –est endings), own experience, drawing on background information, prediction, sequencing events, discussing the significance of title and events

PSHE learning opportunity: Respecting self and others

Haroun the cat loves sleeping in the sunlit courtyards of Damascus– but there is one problem: jasmine makes him sneeze. 

The playful title is a perfect starting point for prediction, while the story gives children opportunities to sequence events, link to their own experience, and explore new vocabulary. It can also support early word reading work, including words with common endings such as -s, -es, -ing, -ed, -er and -est. Pupils also have the opportunity to draw on background information provided by the author about the cultural significance of Jasmine in Damascus.

The story also supports PSHE discussions about personal likes and dislikes, respectful relationships with other people, and community belonging. 

Try this in class: Before reading, ask pupils: “What do you think a jasmine sneeze might be?” After reading, create a simple story map showing Haroun’s problem, plan and outcome.

You’re Strong With Me trilogy

English focus: contractions, repeated language, predictable phrases, reading fluency

PSHE Learning Opportunities: Families, Safe relationships, Mental health and wellbeing

The You’re Strong With Me, You’re Safe With Me, and You’re Snug With Me trilogy is ideal for building confidence with repeated language and predictable phrases. The reassuring structure of the books supports oral participation, fluency and expressive reading. The repeated ‘I’m…’ sentences support pupils to grasp and familiarise with contractions. These stories not only explore and celebrate a mother’s love and care for her child, but also open gentle conversations about care, safety and the adults who help children feel secure. 

Try this in class: Invite pupils to create their own reassurance sentence and learn contractions using the pattern “You’re ___ with me.”

Watch Me Bloom

English focus: poetry, haiku, vocabulary, drawing on background information

PSHE learning opportunity: Mental health and wellbeing

This mindful collection of haiku about flowers introduces children to concise poetic language and close observation. It is a lovely way to help pupils appreciate poetry, perform poems aloud and build natural vocabulary. The book includes a glossary of floral fun facts, encouraging pupils to bring in background information to the poems. The book also supports PSHE discussions on mental health and wellbeing by encouraging children to slow down, engage their senses, and connect with the natural world.

Try this in class: Take pupils outside or show images of flowers, then write a three-line haiku class poem using sensory words.

In My Skin

English focus: poetry, literary language, own experience, predictable phrases, discussing the significance of title and events

PSHE learning opportunities: Mental health and wellbeing, Friendships, Physical activity and nutrition

In My Skin is a poetic celebration of movement, identity and possibility. Told through many children’s voices, it supports rhythm, repetition and performance. It encourages pupils to recognise simple recurring literary language. It also gives pupils language for talking about themselves, their bodies, their feelings and their place in the world. 

Try this in class: Ask pupils to complete the sentence “In my skin, I …” and use their responses to create a class poem.

Letters in Charcoal

English focus: discussing the significance of title and events, sequencing events, drawing on background information, prediction

PSHE learning opportunities: Respecting self and others, Careers education

This powerful story explores what happens when a girl in a community where few people can read decides to learn from the letters around her. It is a strong title for discussing the significance of the titles and practising skills of sequencing events and prediction. The author also provides background information about the history of palenques and literacy in Latin American, encouraging classroom discussions about why reading and writing matter, and how literacy can help people connect, learn and change their lives. The title also prompts PSHE learning discussions around community, belonging, and personal aspirations.

Try this in class: Ask pupils: “Why are letters important?” Then invite them to write or draw a message they would like someone else to read.

The Playdate

English focus: inference, discussing the significance of titles and events

PSHE learning opportunities: Economic wellbeing, Families, Friendships, Respecting self and others, Mental health and wellbeing

At first, The Playdate seems to be a simple story about two children spending time together. But as the story unfolds, pupils can begin to notice that the children and adults may be experiencing the playdate differently. This layered story is useful for pupils to engage in making inferences, perspective-taking and sensitive discussion about fairness, socioeconomic difference and empathy. It particularly supports the PSHE learning opportunity ‘Economic wellbeing’ by sensitively illustrating the difference between needs and wants. 

Try this in class: Ask the children to identify the different characters in the story. Then make a two-column chart: “What the children were doing” and “What the adults were doing.”

The Great Henna Party

English focus: prediction, vocabulary, own experience, sequencing events, drawing on background information

PSHE learning opportunities: Families

This warm family story centres on a henna party and the excitement of the henna name game, where the name of the person Noor loves the most will be painted on her hand. But whose name will she choose? This story gives children opportunities to predict who Noor will choose, learn new vocabulary and talk about their own experiences with family celebrations. The teacher could also provide background information on the henna practice and encourage children to connect it to the story. It also supports PSHE discussions around the different ways families spend time together and show care and love to each other.

Try this in class: Invite pupils to talk, draw or write about a family celebration, tradition or special gathering.

Listening to the Quiet

English focus: inference, prediction, discussing the significance of title and events

PSHE learning opportunities: Families, Mental health and wellbeing

In Listening to the Quiet, Jacki and her mother learn sign language as Mama begins to lose her hearing. This story is a rich text for inference, as children can explore what characters feel and how they show love without always using words. The story also opens up PSHE discussions around different types of families, the different ways families communicate love, and navigating change and loss. 

Try this in class: Ask pupils to communicate a feeling without speaking, then discuss how we can understand others through actions, expressions and gestures.

Nimesh the Adventurer

English focus: own experience, prediction, inference, sequencing events

PSHE learning opportunities: Respecting self and others

Nimesh the Adventurer turns an ordinary walk home from school into a wildly imaginative journey, complete with a shark in the corridor, a dragon in the library and a trip to the North Pole. This makes it a strong KS1 choice for prediction and sequencing, as children can anticipate each new twist and then map the journey from beginning to end. It also works beautifully as a writing stimulus, encouraging pupils to bring in their own experience and transform familiar everyday routines into their own adventure stories.

Try this in class: Ask pupils to choose an ordinary journey — walking to school, going to the shops, crossing the playground — and reimagine it as an adventure. What unexpected creatures, places or challenges might appear along the way?

Using the booklist in your classroom

These books can be used in many ways: as whole-class read-alouds, guided reading texts, PSHE discussion starters, poetry prompts, writing models or display inspiration. We’d love to hear how you use these titles in your classroom, and if you have any feedback on what booklist or resources you’d like to see in the future!

Download the printable KS1 English and PSHE booklist PDF here.