The Chalk Team share their favourite books, to inspire your next read!
World Book Day is a celebration of stories, knowledge, and the transformative power of reading. At Chalk, we believe that books are not just a gateway to learning but also a source of inspiration, connection, and growth. To mark this special day, our team has come together to share some of our favourite books—titles that have shaped our perspectives, sparked our creativity, and reminded us why we’re so passionate about education. Whether you’re a teacher, a book lover, or simply looking for your next great read, we hope our recommendations inspire you to pick up a book and get lost in its pages!
Maiyah – Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chebowsky.
I love this book because the character is super relatable and reminds me of when I was a teenager.
Pav – BFG – Roald Dahl
I loved it as a kid with the humour and imagination, it shows you can overcome any challenge and shows value of true friendship. It just used to give me a warm and fuzzy feeling when I was younger reading this book. I was also excited when we read it in class or when my mum read it to me. Over Christmas I bought the girls the BFG book set which once they are a bit older to understand, I am hoping they like them as much as I did.
Sharon – A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Such a classic, I just love it
Su – Bram Stoker Dracula
I love a good romance!
Vicky – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The writing is beautiful; it is a very dark story and setting is fabulous (if you haven’t been to Haworth you should)! I also love the fact that the Bronte sisters were absolute feminist icons and all wrote under male pen names to get published.
Sade – Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
I love how it makes you feel totally transported to 1950s Japan due to it’s descriptiveness, you can see every scene, smell and every smell, taste every taste and the plot totally envelopes you as well.
Becky – The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
The reason I love this book is because it helps me to reflect and reset my mind.
Jemma – A court of Thorns and Roses series
I like it because its fantasy genre and a good form of escapism – along with the Real Housewives
Jas – The hungry caterpillar, by Eric Carle
This was my favourite book as a child and now it’s my sons favourite book.
Sarah – Everything I know about love – Dolly Allerton
A book about growing up so is really relatable and extremely funny too! An easy read, which helps me to unwind from my busy life.
Georgia – Verity by Colleen Hoover
It’s a gripping thriller with dark twists, suspense, and a mix of romance and mystery that keeps you guessing! It’s a page turner!
Dan – Stick man – Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
Great memories of reading this book to both my boys EVERY night for about a year. Memorised every word!
Rachel – That’s like choosing your favourite child! It can’t be done!
I have a top 3.
Stephen King – Green Mile – spooky but it’ll make you cry.
Stephen King – Shawshank Redemption – originally a short story then a movie masterpiece. Friendship against the odds and what a twist!
Alice Walker – The Color Purple – another one to make cry and rage against inequality and injustice. My first copy fell apart, possibly due to all the tears and snot…!
We hope our recommendations have sparked your curiosity and encouraged you to explore new worlds through reading. After all, every book is an opportunity to learn, grow, and connect—values that lie at the heart of education. Happy World Book Day, and happy reading!