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
- Oi Dog! Board Book by Kes Gray, Claire Gray
- A Great Big Cuddle by Michael Rosen
- Six Little Chicks by Jez Alborough
3+ readers
- No, Nancy, No! by Alice Tait
- The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield
- Forever or a Day by Sarah Jacoby
5+ readers
- The Great Big Book of Friends by Mary Hoffman
- Lots The Diversity of Life on Earth by Nicola Davies
- King of the Sky by Nicola Davies
7+ readers
- The Book Case by Dave Shelton
- Max Champion and the Great Race Car Robbery by Alexander Mccall Smith
- The Chocolate Factory Ghost by David O'Connell
9+ readers
- To the Edge of the World by Julia Green
- The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day by Christopher Edge
- Tin by Padraig Kenny
11+ readers
- The City of Secret Rivers by Jacob Sager Weinstein
- Twelve Nights by Andrew Zurcher
- The Goose Road by Rowena House
13+ readers
- Truly, Wildly, Deeply by Jenny McLachlan
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- Savage Island by Bryony Pearce
YA readers
- I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman
- Encounters by Jason Wallace
- I Stop Somewhere by T. E. Carter
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!
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 love lovereading4kids because I’ve read amazing books I would never have picked up, and its opened doors to new genre’s I now love.
Harriet Cunningham
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
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
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
LoveReading4Kids is a modern and creative way of emphasising the value and importance of books in this digital age #booksforlife
Amrit Bunet – Teen
I love Lovereading4kids because I get an opportunity to put my opinion forward and to try new books
Elosie Clarkson – age 11
It’s a community united by a passion for books and promoting the best there is in children’s literature.
Sam Bateman and family
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
Beep Beep Beep Time for Sleep!
Claire Freedman
Illustrated by Richard Smythe
This book will be heaven for digger devotees, and a dream come true
for their parents too. A busy day on the motorway is drawing to a
close: the…
Dozy Bear and the Secret of Sleep
Katie Blackburn
Illustrated by Richard Smythe
This book is dedicated to tired parents, grandparents and children
and could prove a real godsend to them all. It's designed and
written…
The Lion Book of Nursery Rhymes
Julia Stone
Illustrated by Cally Johnson-Isaacs
November 2014 Book of the Month Every child needs a collection of
nursery rhymes and this collection of favourites with their clear
and unfussy…
Teddy Bedtime
Georgie Birkett
Award-winning illustrator Georgie Birkett makes bedtime with the
teddies charming as they jump and play and sing as they get ready
for bed. A glossy…
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…
Dinosaurs Don't Have Bedtimes!
Timothy Knapman
Illustrated by Nikki Dyson
Pity the poor mum in this story who has to wrestle a very lively
young dinosaur fan into bed. Her little boy knows just how
dinosaurs behave, what…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Lydia Monks
Award-winning duo Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks have created a
brilliant new adventure for the clever Ladybird, star of What the
Ladybird…
Uncle Shawn and Bill and the Pajimminy-Crimminy Unusual Adventure
A. L. Kennedy
Illustrated by Gemma Correll
In a nutshell: Dahl-esque story in defence of Unusualness Children
who like their stories filled with larger-than-life characters,
crazy comedy and…
Truly, Wildly, Deeply
Jenny McLachlan
The brilliant, irresistible and gorgeously romantic new novel from
Jenny McLachlan, the breakout star of young, laugh-out-loud teen
fiction. Annie…
Firecrackers
Zaro Weil
Illustrated by Jo Riddell
April 2018 Book of the Month Beautifully illustrated by Jo Riddell,
this collection of poems and stories is a perfect gift…
Twelve Nights
Andrew Zurcher
April 2018 Debut of the Month | In a Nutshell: Mystery | Magic |
Otherworldly wraiths | An ambitious and atmospheric fantasy…
Judy Moody: Around the World in 8 1/2 Days
Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Another day. Another mood. Meet Judy Moody at her moodiest best, in
this laugh-a-minute seventh adventure in the international
bestselling series.
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
Indigo Donut
Patrice Lawrence
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | In a Nutshell: Soaring
soundtrack to resilience and love Real-life grit, gripping mystery,
magnificent love…
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,…
La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One
Philip Pullman
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | November 2017 Book of the Month
More than two decades after Northern Lights the first book
of…
The Dollmaker of Krakow
R. M. Romero
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | October 2017 Debut of the Month
In a Nutshell: An enchantingly heartrending conjuration that
weaves…
Triangle
Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | April 2017 Book of the Month |
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2017 Brilliant
and…
Black Moon
L. A. Weatherly
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | March 2017 Book of the Month A
fitting and truly fabulous end to the breathtaking Broken Trilogy.
It's…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
The Story of Life
Catherine Barr, Steve Williams
Illustrated by Amy Husband
Shortlisted for the English Picture Book Award 2016 This is an
exciting and dramatic story simply told in words and pictures about
how life began and…
Bird House
Libby Walden
Illustrated by Clover Robin
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2018 This chunky book
imitates a bird house in shape and makes a great format for an
attractive…
The Spot the Mistake: Lands of Long Ago
Mike Jolley, A. J. Wood
Illustrated by Frances Castle
For an information book, Lands of Long Ago takes a highly unusual
approach, filling its pages with errors. Young readers are
challenged to find…
The School of Music
Meurig Bowen, Rachel Bowen
Illustrated by Daniel Frost
This excellent book is an inspiring and all-encompassing guide to
the world of music for young people. By inviting them to imagine
they are attending…
Women in Science
Rachel Ignotofsky
March 2017 Non Fiction Book of the Month | In a nutshell: an
inspiring introduction to 50 pioneering women scientists | …
Many Moons
Remi Courgeon
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2017 Beautifully
produced to make the most of its clever design, this is a book
whose charm…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
Good Dog McTavish
Meg Rosoff
Illustrated by Grace Easton
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Interest Age 8-12 Reading
Age 8 | In a nutshell: dog to the rescue in witty domestic…
Encounters
Jason Wallace
April 2018 Book of the Month | Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book
Award | In a Nutshell: Alleged alien encounter inspired by true
events…
Old Hat!
Emily Gravett
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Longlisted for the UKLA 2018
Book Award June 2017 Book of the Month | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of
the…
Optimists Die First
Susin Nielsen
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award March 2017 Book of the
Month | In a Nutshell: how to hope for the best even when you've
been through…
The Pest in the Nest Book 2
Julian Gough
Illustrated by Jim Field
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Gorgeously illustrated and
with a classic feel, this is a brilliantly funny story of a rabbit
and a bear who…
Me and Mister P
Maria Farrer
Illustrated by Dave Gray, Daniel Rieley
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a nutshell: an unusual
friend makes things better | Arthur is understandably surprised
when…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
Bruno and Titch
Sheena Dempsey
Perfect for pet-lovers (and especially guinea pig lovers)
everywhere, this funny story of finding a home and a person to care
for him is told from…
Only You Can Save Mankind
Terry Pratchett
Illustrated by Mark Beech
This is an absolutely cracking whiz-bang of a story. Set in an
unreality, that is actually scarily real, it plays with your mind
and really, really…
Scenes from the Epic Life of a Total Genius
Stacey Matson
Illustrated by Simon Kwan
In a nutshell: the agony and the ecstasy of the pre-teen The return
of Arthur Bean, self-proclaimed creative genius and star of one
already highly…
Me and Mister P
Maria Farrer
Illustrated by Dave Gray, Daniel Rieley
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a nutshell: an unusual
friend makes things better | Arthur is understandably surprised
when…
Digger Disaster
Rose Impey
Illustrated by Chris Chatterton
The combination of dinosaurs and diggers will make this completely
irresistible to many young children, but there's lots for all
readers to…
Mortimer's Picnic
Nick Ward
With clever comic timing this story builds to a surprise ending
rather like The Gruffalo. Mortimer is planning a picnic with his
best friend…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
Attack of the Alien Dung!
Gareth P. Jones
Illustrated by Steve May
In a nutshell: pets protect the world from alien attack | Planet
Earth Is under constant threat from aliens, and who is there to
protect…
Stormbreaker Graphic novel
Anthony Horowitz, Antony Johnston
Brilliantly visualised, these graphic novel versions of the
best-selling stories of boy spy Alex Rider add a fantastic new
dimension to the original…
Mind Writer
Steve Cole
Illustrated by Nelson Evergreen
One of our Super Readable Books of the Year 2016 | Interest Age
8-12 Reading Age 8 | In a Nutshell : accessible | edgy |…
There's a Dragon in My Dinner
Tom Nicoll
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
February 2016 Debut of the Month Dragons come in all shapes and
sizes in children's stories, but the one that Eric finds in a
box…
Just Plain Weird
Kaye Umansky
Illustrated by Chris Mould
A brilliantly funny odd couples comedy from one of our very
funniest authors for children. The Primms and the Weirds are
totally different:…
Pinocchio
Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark
Michael Morpurgo has created a fresh version of the classic story
of Pinocchio, the wooden puppet with a terrible habit of telling
lies who comes…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
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…
Itch Scritch Scratch
Eleanor Updale
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
One of our Dyslexia Friendly Books of the Year 2014 - A Dyslexia
Friendly Picture Book for Parent and Child With wit and brio
this…
Running from the Rainbow
Karen Mccombie
Illustrated by Jessica Secheret
Interest age 9-12, Reading age 8+. A fun, sweet story of a girl
building confidence and making friends when she moves to a new
school. Starting…
Wolfman
Michael Rosen
Illustrated by Chris Mould
A Dyslexia Friendly Picture Book for Parent and Child Best-selling
Michael Rosen teams up with the brilliant illustrator Chris Mould
in…
Mind Writer
Steve Cole
Illustrated by Nelson Evergreen
One of our Super Readable Books of the Year 2016 | Interest Age
8-12 Reading Age 8 | In a Nutshell : accessible | edgy |…
The Ghost of Shadow Vale
Jonathon Stroud
Illustrated by Siku
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+. This thrilling Icelandic myth
published by Barrington Stoke in their RELOADED series that
introduces readers…
