My Favourite Early Years Teacher Books: The Ones That Shaped Me

My Fave 5!

One of the best forms of CPD isn’t always found in a training course or conference hall.Sometimes it’s in the quiet of a book that challenges you, reassures you, and makes you look at your practice through a fresh lens.

Over the years, I’ve found five books that have truly shaped the way I teach, lead, and view play and learning in the early years. Each one gave me something unique: a spark of inspiration, a challenge to my thinking, or a deep sense of clarity.

Here are the ones that left their mark on me!!

1. Can I Go and Play Now? – Greg Bottrill

This book was a game-changer because it gave me permission to believe in play: really believe in it. Greg writes with passion and conviction, reminding us that joy, curiosity, and magic matter far more than endless tick boxes.

The impact for me?

Confidence.Confidence to stand firm in my values and to see play not as a warm-up act for “real learning,” but as the curriculum itself.

2. Interacting or Interfering – Julie Fisher

Julie Fisher’s work is essential reading for anyone serious about early years practice. She asks the hard question: when are we supporting children’s learning, and when are we getting in the way?

This book helped me see interaction as a skill: something intentional, reflective, and deeply respectful of children’s voice in play.

It shifted the way I worked with children, and it reminded me that silence can sometimes speak louder than words.

3. The Reception Year in Action – Anna Ephgrave

Anna’s work is rooted in trust: trusting children, trusting play, and trusting ourselves as practitioners to let go of rigid planning.

This book showed me what child-initiated learning really looks like when we’re brave enough to step back.

It gave me the freedom to simplify, to strip away the over-planning, and to make space for children to show me where the learning truly is.

4. Learning Through Woodwork – Pete Moorhouse

This one blew my mind. Woodwork, as Pete shows, is about so much more than hammers and nails. It’s about creativity, resilience, and problem-solving.

I loved this book because it reframed woodwork for me: not as an “extra,” but as an essential strand of children’s learning. It taught me to see risk and challenge as powerful tools for building confidence and independence.

5. Free to Learn – Peter Gray

This is the book that took me beyond the classroom and into the heart of what education means.

Peter Gray makes a compelling case for freedom, play, and exploration as the most natural, human ways of learning.

What I took from it was clarity: play isn’t just a part of learning… play is learning. This book gave me a wider perspective and reaffirmed that our work in early years isn’t just important, it’s essential.

Why These Books Matter

Each of these books gave me something different, a new perspective, a challenge, a reassurance. Together, they shaped the way I see my role: not as someone filling children up with knowledge, but as someone creating the conditions where curiosity, confidence, and joy can thrive.

Whether you’re an ECT finding your feet, an experienced teacher looking for fresh inspiration, or a headteacher wanting to deepen your understanding of early years, these are books I’d recommend time and time again.

About Me

I’m Mr. Mc (aka Dan McFarland) a primary teacher, senior leader, speaker, and trainer passionate about early years education and teacher wellbeing. After overcoming severe burnout myself, I’ve built a life around balance, health, and supporting others. Through my blog, webinars, keynotes, and resources, I help teachers create classrooms filled with play, connection, and joy, while also finding ways to thrive outside of the classroom too.

I provide CPD for schools, pre schools and even businesses (through my inspiring back from burn out journey and leadership). I also speak at colleges, schools and more! I provide face to face training and online.

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