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
- Where Is Little Fish? by Lucy Cousins
- Count with Little Fish by Lucy Cousins
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
- King of the Sky by Nicola Davies
- The Great Big Book of Feelings by Mary Hoffman
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
- The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day by Christopher Edge
- To the Edge of the World by Julia Green
- You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed
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
- Rebound by Kwame Alexander
- Holes by Louis Sachar
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
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…
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
Judith Kerr
This classic story of Sophie and her extraordinary tea-time guest
is now brought to life in an exciting luxury pop-up edition to
celebrate its 40th…
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,…
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…
Peepo! 30th Anniversary Edition
Allan Ahlberg
Fabulous illustrations, wonderful rhyming text with not a word out
of place; this is a book that no nursery bookshelf can be without.
This book…
The Wardrobe Monster
Bryony Thomson
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month April 2018 A charming story of
bedtime fears with a neat twist to it. Dora and all her toys wake
up grouchy and…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
The Five Realms: The Gift of Dark Hollow
Kieran Larwood
Illustrated by David Wyatt
In a nutshell: brave rabbits continue their fight against a
terrifying enemy The story of rabbit hero Podkin One-Ear continues
in this…
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…
Shapes, Colours, Numbers
Dario Zeruto
Wow, what a clever, inspired way to teach shapes, colours, numbers.
Contained in a neat, white slipcase is a sturdy board book, split
down the…
Judy Moody Saves the World!
Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Another day. Another mood. Meet Judy Moody at her moodiest best, in
this laugh-a-minute third adventure in the international
bestselling series.
Iguana Boy Saves the World With a Triple Cheese Pizza
James Bishop
In a nutshell: can one boy and four iguanas save the world? You
betcha There might be a lot of superhero books around at the
moment,…
Judy Moody Gets Famous!
Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Another day. Another mood. Meet Judy Moody at her moodiest-best, in
this laugh-a-minute second adventure in the international
bestselling…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
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…
Things a Bright Girl Can Do
Sally Nicholls
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | October 2017 Book of the Month
This inspirational novel about three young Suffragettes from very
different…
Sunk!
Rob Biddulph
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | No child's bookshelf is
complete without one, and preferably more than one of Rob
Biddulph's joyful,…
The Loneliest Girl in the Universe
Lauren James
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | September 2017 Book of the
Month | In a Nutshell: Stellar story of survival in outer space A
uniquely…
Running on the Roof of the World
Jess Butterworth
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | June 2017 Debut of the Month In
a Nutshell: Spirit of survival abounds on an epic Himalayan…
Moonrise
Sarah Crossan
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Shortlisted for the Costa
Children's Book Award 2017 In a Nutshell: Death row injustice |
Undying…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
The Shakespeare Timeline Wallbook
Christopher Lloyd, Dr. Nick Walton, Patrick Skipworth
Illustrated by Andy Forshaw
The Shakespeare Timeline Wallbook will give readers (of all ages)
special insight into all the 38 plays, as well as into the man and
his time. A…
The Science Timeline Wallbook
Christopher Lloyd, Patrick Skipworth
Illustrated by Andy Forshaw
The story of human invention and engineering began at least 10,000
years ago in the stone age and has continued non-stop ever since
with each…
Bugs
Simon Tyler
This handsome, large format information book provides a fascinating
introduction to the world of bugs (meaning the entire class of
insects). Readers…
Stuff You Should Know About the Human Body
John Farndon
Illustrated by Tim Hutchinson
Take a tour round the inside of the human body in this unusual and
quite excellent information book. It examines our component parts,
from cells to…
How Does a Lighthouse Work?
Roman Belyaev
Join a group of school children on this voyage of discovery and
discover the answers to lots of questions as well as fascinating
facts…
The Nature Timeline Wallbook
Christopher Lloyd, Patrick Skipworth
Illustrated by Andy Forshaw
The most innovative approach to non-fiction since Horrible
Histories, the What On Earth Wallbooks present information in a way
guaranteed to inspire…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
Odd Dog Out
Rob Biddulph
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Odd Dog Out has all the
qualities that made Blown Away and Grrrrr! so popular with critics
and readers!…
Black Light Express
Philip Reeve
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a nutshell: dazzling
journeys into other worlds | Philip Reeve continues to turn
us…
The Island at the End of Everything
Kiran Millwood-Hargrave
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Shortlisted for the 2018 Blue
Peter Awards - Best Story | Shortlisted for the Costa Children's
Book…
Goodnight Everyone
Chris Haughton
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Perfect for the end of
every day, award-winning Chris Haughton captures the soothing time
as the sun goes…
Bottle of Happiness, A
Pippa Goodhart
Illustrated by Ehsan Abdollahi
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award A new fable that goes full
circle as it explores the value of possessions against values of
friendship and…
It Starts with a Seed
Laura Knowles
Illustrated by Jennie Webber
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award The life cycle of a tree
is beautifully described in this outstanding book. A narrative
poem…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
The Tigerboy
Ted Hughes
Described as Metamorphosis for young readers, this story by Ted
Hughes is indeed filled with a sense of transformation, visceral
and almost…
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…
Just Call Me Spaghetti-Hoop Boy
Lara Williamson
March 2017 Book of the Month A touching and amusing story about
belonging and the search for an heroic identity. Adam has always
known that he was…
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 Secret Dog
Joe Friedman
Good dog stories are irresistible and this one has everything that
young readers want. Josh is living on a Scottish island with his
crofter uncle…
Collection of Curiosities: Bugs
Vicky Egan
This handsome information/activity book is packed with bug facts,
figures and features. There are lots of beautiful close up images
of insects, some…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
Imagination According to Humphrey
Betty G. Birney
Illustrated by Jason Chapman
Children's favourite Humphrey the hamster is back for another
adventure, his twelfth no less. The good news is that he's just
as…
Timmy Failure We Meet Again
Stephan Pastis
Loveable world-class detective Timmy Failure is back for a new
adventure. And his business partner and side-kick Total, a.k.a. the
polar bear is with…
Laugh Out Loud
James Patterson
In a nutshell: lively, comic story celebrating kids' reading and
determination James Patterson creates books kids love, and his
latest book is…
Scorpia The Graphic Novel
Anthony Horowitz, Antony Johnston
Illustrated by Kanako Damerum, Yuzuru Takasaki
Eyebrow-raisingly, heart-stoppingly pacey adventures starring the
boy every would-be teen superhero wants to be, the Alex Rider books
are now…
How to Update Your Parents
Pete Johnson
Illustrated by Nikalas Catlow
This is a hilarious story of dead fish, gorillas with bananas in
their ears, poetry, cunning plans and highly legal documents (kind
of). Oh and…
Danny Dingle's Fantastic Finds: The Super-Sonic Submarine
Angie Lake
Illustrated by Shanith MM
In a nutshell: fart-powered non-stop adventure, part book part
comic-strip | Fresh from their triumph in the Science Club Soap Box
Derby…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
The Black Knight of Gressingham 4u2read
Philip Ardagh
Illustrated by Mike Phillips
Interest Age 7-12 Reading Age 7 Philip Ardagh is one of the
funniest - and cleverest - authors around and his stories of the
Green Men of…
Fame Thing
Jonathan Meres
Illustrated by Jake McDonald
One of our Super Readable Books of the Year 2016 | Interest Age
8-12 Reading Age 8 | In a nutshell: funny story of football,
fandom…
Free Lance and the Lake of Skulls
Paul Stewart, Chris Riddell
Illustrated by Chris Riddell
Interest Age 8+ Reading Age 8 | In a nutshell: magic, knights and
double-dealing Free Lance is a knight for hire, and sometimes has
to take…
Billy Button, Telegram Boy
Sally Nicholls
Illustrated by Sheena Dempsey
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | July 2016 Book of the Month
Meet the Buttons. Mrs Button runs a shop – the nicest thing
about it, she…
The Queen's Tale
Kaye Umansky
Illustrated by Alexandre Honore
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ Snow White's wickedest stepmother
is one of the darkest characters in fiction and here she is shown
in the…
Young Werewolf
Cornelia Funke
Illustrated by David Roberts
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 Matt was your average boy until a
dangerous encounter awakens a wolf inside of him! This is a fun
supernatural…
