Lovereading4kids Weekly Staff Picks
Reading is fundamental to the development of children and countless research shows the links between good reading skills from an early age and future success in life. However, finding books children want to read or authors that excite them, can be difficult; the choice is daunting and guidance rather thin on the ground.
So, Lovereading4kids was created to be the best recommendation site for Children’s Book from toddlers to teens. It has been created using the experience we have as parents and book lovers, who want our children to read great books. Secondly, it has been created from what we have learned from setting up our first book site lovereading.co.uk
Books for all ages! Top downloads
Baby and Toddler
- Tabby McTat Picturebook and CD by Julia Donaldson
- The National Trust: ABC: A Walk in the Countryside by Rosalind Beardshaw
- Six Little Chicks by Jez Alborough
3+ readers
- Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson
- The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
- Tyrannosaurus Drip 10th Anniversary Edition by Julia Donaldson
5+ readers
- The Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine
- Children's Discovery Atlas by Anita Ganeri
- Best Friends! by Wendy Finney
7+ readers
- The Accidental Billionaire by Tom McLaughlin
- My Mum's Going To Explode! by Jeremy Strong
- My Evil Twin is a Supervillain by David Solomons
9+ readers
- Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll
- Eye of the Wolf by Daniel Pennac
- Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
11+ readers
- The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood-Hargrave
- The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson
- Who Let the Gods Out? by Maz Evans
13+ readers
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
- One by Sarah Crossan
- Holes by Louis Sachar
YA readers
- Knife Edge by Malorie Blackman
- A Monster Calls: Special Collector's Edition by Patrick Ness
- Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
Register now – FREE for a unique range of services specifically created to help parents and anyone who likes to buy books for children choose the best books for boys and girls of all ages.
- Download and print off the Opening Extract of every ‘featured book’ on our site, even the picture books.
- Discover new writers through our unique children’s author ‘like-for-like’ recommendation service.
- Read our exclusive online book reviews by Julia Eccleshare, author and children’s books editor at the Guardian.
- Enjoy regular emails to keep you up to date on the latest and best in your chosen age ranges. (Please be reassured that your e-mail address will remain confidential to Lovereading and not sold to any of those horrible spam people).
Register now and try it out. We know choosing books for children will become a joy!
We love Lovereading4kids because they put books in front of us we wouldn’t otherwise have read. They make us more adventurous readers!
Emily Jacques
I love Lovereading as it provides an honest opinion and showcases a range of fiction. Suited to both parents & kids alike, it’s a must-use.
Georgie Rowe – age 16
It is THE website to use for narrowing down your search for any book. Definitely knocks the socks off any other book review website.
Nickey and Tomasz Hawryszczuk
Lovereading is just a convenient way to find new books and hear others opinions on them.
Sarah Murray – age 15
I love ‘LoveReading 4 kids’ because they let you read and learn things you’d never dreamed of learning before.
Emily Horncastle – age 11
I love all the books they recommend & put up for me to review. I also love the fact that they give new authors the chance to share their boo
Daisy Pennock – age 15
A great way to introduce kids to great books, authors & genres. Parents can find age-appropriate books to share with their children.
Judi Davies – Aberdare Girls Sch
At @HHSHaringey we love @lovereading4kids because our pupils can practice reviewing & get free upcoming books before anyone else!
Helen Swinyard – Heartlands High
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
The Gruffalo
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
“A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw
the mouse and the mouse looked good.”So begins the story of
how a clever…
The Bedtime Bear
Ian Whybrow
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Bear is making his way to bed, but he seems to be taking a
circuitous route. He goes through the jungle, on a bike, with a
tiger; past the North…
The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep A New Way of Getting Children to Sleep
Carl-Johan Forssen Ehrlin
Illustrated by Irina Maununen
When Roger can't fall asleep, Mummy Rabbit takes him to see Uncle
Yawn, who knows just what to do. In this volume, children can join
Roger on his…
Silver
Walter de la Mare
Illustrated by Carolina Rabei
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month April 2017 | “Slowly,
silently now the moon/ Walks the night/ in her silver…
How the Elephant Got His Trunk
Anna Milbourne
Illustrated by John Joven
This retelling of Kipling's Just So story is thoroughly appealing
and effective. It's bright and attractive to look at –
John…
Mr Underbed
Chris Riddell
Award-winning Chris Riddell tells a witty and inventive story that
is perfect for bedtime. When Mr Underbed pops up from under Jim's
bed asking…
This month's 'featured books':
Carnegie Greenaway
The Sleeper and the Spindle
Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by Chris Riddell
Winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2016. A deluxe edition of
the thrillingly reimagined fairy tale by the magical partnership
of…
Wild Animals of the North
Dieter Braun
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 | A gorgeously
illustrated study of the Northern Hemisphere's wild…
Maggot Moon
Sally Gardner
One of our Books of the Year 2013. Winner of the two most
prestigious children's book awards - the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013
and the Children's…
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe
Penelope Lively
Winner of the 1973 CILIP Carnegie Medal The Ghost of Thomas Kempe
is a timeless and haunting story, critically acclaimed, this
Carnegie award…
Wolf Hollow
Lauren Wolk
Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017 | A young girl's
kindness, compassion, and honesty overcome bullying. Powerful,
poignant and…
Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Illustrated by Steve Lenton
Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017 | Longlisted for the
UKLA 2017 Book Award | With all the invention, originality and
insight that is…
This month's 'featured books':
Books Reviewed by Children
Never Say Die
Anthony Horowitz
June 2017 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: simply the best
action-packed, stylish adventure and escapism Anthony
Horowitz's…
This month's 'featured books':
Bookshelf Essentials
Pippi Longstocking
Astrid Lindgren
Illustrated by Tony Ross
Not to be missed, this is a newly translated edition of this
classic story about a wonderful little girl. Pippi Longstocking is
nine years old; she…
Peter Pan In Scarlet
Geraldine McCaughrean
At last a sequel to one of the most endearing classics of all time.
The author chosen to undertake this literary feat is not a
household name…
Lost and Found: Board Book
Oliver Jeffers
Celebrating the value of friendship, this is an exquisitely
illustrated picture book with a simple story line. Opening his door
and finding a penguin…
Gangsta Granny
David Walliams
Category Winner of The Red House Children's Book Award 2013 &
Shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2012. Following in
the…
The Granny Project
Anne Fine
When Granny begins to need more looking after, Mum and Dad decide
she'd be better off in a home. But Ivan, Tanya, Nicholas and Sophie
have…
Not Now, Bernard
David McKee
Two of our Guest Editors chose Not Now, Bernard - celebrating it's
35th anniversary in 2015 - as one of their favourite books. Sophie
Mckenzie 'This…
This month's 'featured books':
Classics
A Dog So Small
Philippa Pearce
Award winning Philippa Pearce captures a child's longing –
and need – for a dog perfectly in this brilliant imaginary
story. Ben…
Gobbolino, the Witch's Cat: Macmillan Classics Edition
Ursula Moray Williams
Illustrated by Catherine Rayner
Gobbolino is a cat who can do magic but, despite his family's
traditions, he doesn't want to be a witch's cat. All Gobbolino
yearns…
The Kingdom by the Sea
Robert Westall
Guardian award-winning novel about courage, friendship and war.
Reissued into the Essential Modern Classic list. Lovereading Review
to follow...
The Jungle Book (with an Introduction by Christopher Paolini)
Rudyard Kipling
A magical adventure right in the heart of the jungle, The Jungle
Book tells how a little boy child grows up in the care of some of
the mightiest…
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens
Illustrated by Alan Marks
Ebenezer Scrooge is a mean-spirited old man who hates everything -
even Christmas! But when three spirits visit him one Christmas Eve,
Scrooge is…
Island of Adventure
Enid Blyton
Illustrated by Stuart Tresilian
A surprise holiday at Craggy-Tops for Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann, Jack
and Kiki the parrot should have been perfect! With the sea breaking
below them at…
