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
- Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
- Tabby McTat Picturebook and CD by Julia Donaldson
- A Busy Day for Birds by Lucy Cousins
3+ readers
- The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
- Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson
- Goodnight Everyone by Chris Haughton
5+ readers
- The Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine
- Grandad's Secret Giant by David Litchfield
- What's My Name? by Wendy Finney
7+ readers
- My Mum's Going To Explode! by Jeremy Strong
- Mango & Bambang: Tiny Tapir Trouble by Polly Faber
- Danny Dingle's Fantastic Finds The Jet of Justice by Angie Lake
9+ readers
- Eye of the Wolf by Daniel Pennac
- Dragon's Green Worldquake Book One by Scarlett Thomas
- Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
11+ readers
- Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
- The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood-Hargrave
- Cogheart by Peter Bunzl
13+ readers
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. by Anne Frank
- The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon
YA readers
- ...And a Happy New Year? by Holly Bourne
- A Monster Calls: Special Collector's Edition by Patrick Ness
- A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
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!
At @HHSHaringey we love @lovereading4kids because our pupils can practice reviewing & get free upcoming books before anyone else!
Helen Swinyard – Heartlands High
You give me age appropriate ideas of books I can read and buy for the children and find out what other children their age think of them too.
Katie Lonsdale
We love Lovereading as my 5 year old loves to read new books before anyone else has a chance, she says it makes reading exciting!
Tracey Chorley
Writing reviews help the children with their literacy skills and we always read the books together which gives us good quality family time!
Cat Bisland (on behalf of the Bi
I love Lovereading because I often never know what to read and this helps you find a good book. I have recommended this to many people.
Shannon-Louise Masters – 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
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
I think Lovereading4kids is an amazing company because of the friendly staff and the fabulous chance to read great books before publication.
Adam Graham
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
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…
The Last Book Before Bedtime
Nicola O'Byrne
It might be the most important story of the day, but in Nicola
O'Byrne's witty book the telling of the last book before bedtime
is…
Peace at Last
Jill Murphy
A new board book edition of the picture book classic, in a size
that's perfect for little paws! A timeless storybook classic full
of bright…
Old Bear's Bedtime Stories
Jane Hissey
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - December 2015 Book of the Month
Jane Hissey's Old Bear stories make perfect bedtime reading:
warm-hearted…
Where the Wild Things are
Maurice Sendak
Jacqueline Wilson, February 2012 Guest Editor: "The text is very
minimal but perfect - and the illustrations are glorious. This
isn't a scary…
10 Ten-Minute Stories
Various Authors
If your New Year resolution was to spend ten minutes a day reading
to your children, then this attractive collection of fairy stories
from around the…
This month's 'featured books':
Carnegie Greenaway
Buffalo Soldier
Tanya Landman
Winner of the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal The Judges comment
“We were particularly impressed with how Buffalo Soldier
explored what it means to…
I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato
Lauren Child
Winner of the 2000 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Witty, colourful and
unpredictable this is a delightful picture book that has a
very…
The Stars at Oktober Bend
Glenda Millard
Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017 | Longlisted for the
UKLA 2017 Book Award | August 2016 Book of the Month | In a…
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…
The Marvels
Brian Selznick
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 | Shortlisted
for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2016 | Shortlisted
for…
The Bone Sparrow
Zana Fraillon
Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017 and awarded the
Amnesty CILIP Honour | Shortlisted for the Guardian Children's
Fiction Prize 2016…
This month's 'featured books':
Books Reviewed by Children
Bathroom Boogie
Clare Foges
Illustrated by Al Murphy
How do you follow a roaring success like Kitchen Disco? Why, with a
Bathroom Boogie of course. Who knew that when we're out our
bathrooms…
Isadora Moon Goes on a School Trip
Harriet Muncaster
In a nutshell: half-vampire, half-fairy, Isadora makes a new friend
Lively, told in short chapters and filled with illustrations
this…
Goodnight Everyone
Chris Haughton
Perfect for the end of every day, award-winning Chris Haughton
captures the soothing time as the sun goes down and all the animals
begin to fall into…
The 91-Storey Treehouse
Andy Griffiths
Illustrated by Terry Denton
Lovereading comment to follow soon. For more irresistible, funny,
highly illustrated reads for the under tens, try the Tom Gates
series by Liz…
The Detective Dog
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Sarah Ogilvie
A celebration of dogs and books alike, Julia Donaldson employs
typically sparkling rhyme to tell the story of Peter – a very
nice child though…
Mango & Bambang: Tiny Tapir Trouble
Polly Faber
Illustrated by Clara Vulliamy
Polly Faber and Clara Vulliamy's Mango and Bambang stories are
perfect for newly independent readers. There are four funny,
entertaining…
This month's 'featured books':
Bookshelf Essentials
Lady Lollipop
Dick King-Smith
Illustrated by Jill Barton
Award-winning author Dick King-Smith is best known for 'Babe', the
story of the Sheep-Pig. A lover of all animals and a master teller
of stories…
Two Monsters
David McKee
Delightfully witty, Two Monsters is a classic picture book with a
strong message about understanding other people's point of view.
The Two…
The Whisper
Emma Clayton
Twins Mika and Ellie first appeared in The Roar, a suspenseful
thriller set in a not-too-distant future Britain in which humanity
lives behind a huge…
Black Beauty
Anna Sewell
A truly timeless adventure of a horse with an unbreakable spirit
and a bond that eventually goes almost full circle. Animal lovers
will love the…
How Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen
Russell Hoban
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
A must-read for anyone who thinks that fooling about is a waste of
time! Through the brilliant combination of Russell Hoban and
Quentin Blake,…
The Big Green Book
Robert Graves
An enchanting, strange and sometimes chilling tale, masterfully
illustrated by Maurice Sendak.
This month's 'featured books':
Classics
Goodnight Mister Tom
Michelle Magorian
A heart breaking and heart warming story of a special friendship
that grows between Willie Beech, evacuated to the country to avoid
the Blitz on…
Charlotte's Web
E. B. White
Illustrated by Garth Williams
How a wise spider saves a young pig from slaughter is the most
touching of animal stories. Fern saves Wilbur, the runty little
piglet of the litter…
Smith
Leon Garfield
Illustrated by Kenny McKendry
Smith is a sort of artful dodger character of his time. Set in 18th
century London, this is the story of a 12 year old and how, having
pickpocketed…
Buddy
Nigel Hinton
In a nutshell: Iconic | Outspoken | Big Issues | Difficult Truths
Buddy is a moving and totally convincing account of a boy's
faltering relationship…
Tales from Hans Christian Andersen
Naomi Lewis
Illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark
The Princess and the Pea and The Little Match Girl, two of Hans
Christian Andersen's best-loved tales, are included in this
beautifully…
The Iron Man
Ted Hughes
One of the most dramatic and exciting stories of all time, this
classic modern fairy story by the former Poet Laureate takes on the
biggest theme of…
