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
- Meltdown! by Jill Murphy
- Over the Hills and Far Away A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes from Around the World by Elizabeth Hammill
- 5 Wild Numbers by Bella Gomez
3+ readers
- Square by Mac Barnett
- Wonder Goal! by Michael Foreman
- The Match by Russell Ayto
5+ readers
- The Great Telephone Mix-Up (Little Gem) by Sally Nicholls
- The Bad Mood and the Stick by Lemony Snicket
- Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz
7+ readers
- Hoakes Island by Ian Friel
- The Uncracked Code by Tamara Macfarlane
- A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold
9+ readers
- You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed
- How to Bee by Bren MacDibble
- Spirit by Sally Christie
11+ readers
- The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson
- A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge
- Girls for the Vote by Linda Newbery
13+ readers
- Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge
YA readers
- Release by Patrick Ness
- Moonrise by Sarah Crossan
- The Girl in the Broken Mirror by Savita Kalhan
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!
LoveReading4Kids is a modern and creative way of emphasising the value and importance of books in this digital age #booksforlife
Amrit Bunet – Teen
I have told all my friends, family & teachers to see for themselves just how great the site is. Without fail, they are hugely impressed.
Alexander Boxall – age 11
It has introduced my children to books we hadn’t come across before. Real children’s reviews gives a great insight into what others think to
Lorraine Woods
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
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
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
Love “Lovereading4kids” as my son gets to hear about & read new books before his mates which keeps him interested in reading=a very happy Mum
Liz Evans
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
Owl Babies
Martin Waddell
Three little owl babies sit in the tree and wait…and
wait…and wait…for their Mummy to come home from
hunting. Stunning…
Maisy Goes to Bed
Lucy Cousins
Celebrate twenty-five years of Maisy with this classic novelty book
reissue that remains as popular today as it was 25 years ago! Lift
the flaps and…
Zzzzz A Book of Sleep
Il Sung Na
Wonderful illustrations coupled with a gorgeous storyline of an owl
who at night watches while others go to sleep but as dawn breaks
can you guess…
Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrated by Clement Hurd
This classic children's book looks wonderful in its new edition and
has lost none of its effectiveness as a book to lull children to
sleep. As…
Spot Loves Bedtime
Eric Hill
A favourite with children now for generations, Spot never loses his
charm. It's bedtime, but Spot can't settle down until he finds
Teddy,…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
Dog Diaries
James Patterson
Illustrated by Richard Watson
In a nutshell: It's a (very funny, very readable) dog's life
Narrated at breathless speed by super-excited puppy Junior, this
new series…
Cuckoo Song
Frances Hardinge
Frances Hardinge creates a brilliant sense of menace in this
chillingly dark fairy story . Something sinister, beyond just
getting wet, happens to…
My Box-Shaped Heart
Rachael Lucas
In a Nutshell: Fractured families | First love | Fresh starts |
16-year-old Holly feels like an outsider, except when she's…
The Lie Tree
Frances Hardinge
Award-winning Frances Hardinge is spellbinding is this hugely
entertaining and dramatic Victorian thriller. When Faith's father
dies suddenly…
Fish Boy
Chloe Daykin
Illustrated by Richard Jones
Shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | Longlisted for the
UKLA 2018 Book Award March 2017 Debut of the Month In…
How to Bee
Bren MacDibble
May 2018 Book of the Month How To Bee is unlike any story I have
ever read. The narrative voice is heartfelt and the author uses a
mild form…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
William Bee's Wonderful World of Trains, Boats and Planes
William Bee
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | If you love vehicles, then this
is the book for you! William Bee shows off a multitude of amazing
vehicles,…
ABC Pop-Up
Courtney Watson McCarthy
A collectible Alphabet pop-up, for design connoisseurs of all ages.
This beautifully presented pop-up book is a refreshing take on
learning the…
Carve the Mark
Veronica Roth
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | In a Nutshell: Deadly dilemmas
amidst Star Wars-esque intergalactic enmity | First book in an
ambitiously epic…
Nanette's Baguette
Mo Willems
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | There's a surprise twist at the
end of this tale of little Nanette, entrusted by her mother to get
the…
The Journey
Francesca Sanna
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Winner for the 2017 Klaus
Flugge Prize | Winner of the UKLA 2017 Book Award | Shortlisted for
the CILIP Kate…
Indigo Donut
Patrice Lawrence
Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2018 | One of Our Books of the
Year 2017 | In a Nutshell: Soaring soundtrack to resilience
and…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
Dinosaurs : and Other Prehistoric Creatures
Matt Sewell
Opinions on what dinosaurs looked like have changed a lot recently,
and instead of imagining them as big lizards with muddy-brown or
green scales,…
Hidden World Forest
Libby Walden
Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman
With large flaps on every page, short accompanying explanatory
sentences and attractive illustrations, this is a great book to
introduce children to…
Exploring Space
Martin Jenkins
Illustrated by Stephen Biesty
How amazing that less than 100 years after the invention of the
motor car, humans have built and launched vehicles that can leave
the solar system.…
The Barefoot Book of Children
Tessa Strickland, Kate DePalma
Illustrated by David Dean
Innovative and inclusive, The Barefoot Book of Children empowers
young readers to learn about the different lives of children around
the globe. …
Migration
Mike Unwin
Illustrated by Jenni Desmond
Imagine: you're flying high over the Himalayan mountains, on a
journey filled with danger. The temperature is far below freezing,
the air is thin,…
Lift-the-flap Questions and Answers about Long Ago
Katie Daynes
Illustrated by Peter Donnelly
Facts and flaps are an irresistible combination in this
illuminating information book. Divided into sections Where, Who,
Why, What, How, When…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
Goodbye Days
Jeff Zentner
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a Nutshell: Loss,
friendship and the light of re-finding your way | An…
The Goldfish Boy
Lisa Thompson
Longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | Longlisted for the
UKLA 2018 Book Award A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month
January…
The Hypnotist
Laurence Anholt
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award | Winner of the Historical
Association's Young Quills Award 2017 Jack has left his native
Ireland…
Orangeboy
Patrice Lawrence
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award | Winner of the YA Book
Prize 2017 | Winner of Waterstones Children's Book Prize
2017,…
Colin and Lee, Carrot and Pea
Morag Hood
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award One of our Books of the
Year 2016 | July 2016 Debut of the Month Simplicity is the charm of
this…
Out of Heart
Irfan Master
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Donating your heart is the
most precious gift of all. Adam is a teenage boy who lives with his
mum and…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
The Amazing Dinosaur Detectives
Maggie Li
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | May 2016 Book of the Month
Attractive, friendly illustrations and an interactive approach make
this a fun…
Jim's Lion
Russell Hoban
Illustrated by Alexis Deacon
Russell Hoban's moving, unflinching tale of a boy who finds bravery
during illness is dramatically reimagined in graphic-novel format
with new art by…
The Prince and the Pee
Greg Gormley
Illustrated by Chris Mould
The title says it all! Set in a gloriously depicted fairy-tale
landscape this clever picture book has lots of fun with a situation
that all parents…
William Bee's Wonderful World of Trucks
William Bee
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2017 Irresistible for
anyone mad about trucks! There's so much to learn about the…
The Building Boy
Ross Montgomery
Illustrated by David Litchfield
September 2016 Debut of the Month There's an air of fairy tale in
this beautiful and touching picture book, but its foundations
are…
Zoo Boy
Sophie Thompson
Illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | Julia Eccleshare's Debut of the
Month, February 2016 When Vince turns eight years old he discovers
he has…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
Blue Moon Day
Anne Fine
A collection of short stories set in a range of different schools.
The Mega Quiz
Barbara Mitchelhill
Illustrated by Tony Ross
In a nutshell: comic mishaps and triumphs of a schoolboy detective
A sign in his local library catches the eye of schoolboy detective
Damian Drooth:…
Follow That Car
Lucy Feather
Illustrated by Stephan Lomp
Hey you, Mouse needs help! He has to catch the gorilla in the
bright yellow car, let's go! On Mouse's instructions, readers
follow the…
Puppy Academy: Murphy and the Great Surf Rescue
Gill Lewis
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
In a nutshell : daring puppy heroes Gill Lewis's little stories of
the doggy students of the Puppy Academy have much to…
Invisible Inc.
Steve Cole
Illustrated by Jim Field
In 3 : invisible goodies – dastardly baddies – killer
chickens (poultry-geists!) Steve Cole is a national
treasure:…
The Secret Railway
Wendy Meddour
Illustrated by Sam Usher
In three words: secret worlds - adventure – magic There are
echoes of Narnia in this exciting adventure which begins with
two…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
Blue Moon
Jenny Oldfield
Illustrated by Gary Blythe
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 This thrilling pony story has
everything fans of the genre want: a wild, beautiful setting (the
Rocky…
The Sticky Witch 4u2read
Hilary Mckay
Illustrated by Mike Phillips
Interest Age 8+ Reading Age 7 In a nutshell: two children and their
cat escape a sticky situation Hilary McKay's name on…
Dick Turpin: Legends and Lies
Terry Deary
Illustrated by Stefano Tambellini
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 8+. This title is part of the
Barrington Stoke Reality Check series - true stories that are
stranger than fiction. It's a…
All Sorts to Make a World
John Agard
Illustrated by Michael Broad
Interest Age 7-12 Reading Age 7+ A magical story about bringing
people together. Shona has met a lot of apparently very
different…
Clare and her Captain
Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Catherine Rayner
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - November 2015 Julia
Eccleshare's Book of the Month Award-winning Michael Morpurgo is
always at his best when…
ANZAC Boys
Tony Bradman
Illustrated by Ollie Cuthbertson
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 8+ Children are hyper-sensitive to
unfairness, and the lives described in this Barrington Stoke
World…
