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
- Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
- 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
- The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon
- Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. by Anne Frank
YA readers
- A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
- A Monster Calls: Special Collector's Edition by Patrick Ness
- ...And a Happy New Year? by Holly Bourne
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 it promotes reading choices, new authors and a sense of community for children of all ages!
Rachel Bridgeman
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 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 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
At @HHSHaringey we love @lovereading4kids because our pupils can practice reviewing & get free upcoming books before anyone else!
Helen Swinyard – Heartlands High
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
I love ‘LoveReading 4 kids’ because they let you read and learn things you’d never dreamed of learning before.
Emily Horncastle – age 11
Lovereading4kids is great, we get books really early never late. We love to read and review, and think you would like it too. The excitement
Jasmine Harris-Hart, age 12
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
Because I Love You
David Bedford
Illustrated by Rebecca Harry
Little Bear is keen to know all the ways in which Mummy Bear loves
him. Gently, Mummy Bear reminds him of all the things that have
done in the…
Are You Sitting Comfortably?
Leigh Hodgkinson
March 2016 Book of the Month Leigh Hodgkinson's picture book is a
stylish investigation into how and where to read a book.…
Under the Love Umbrella
Davina Bell
Illustrated by Allison Colpoys
This brightly illustrated picture book is a celebration of the
enduring love that surrounds your children, wherever they are in
the world. The…
Return
Aaron Becker
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the
Month August 2016 A triumphant final story in Aaron Becker's
superbly…
Five Minutes' Peace
Jill Murphy
Celebrate thirty years of the Large family in this stunning
anniversary edition of a modern picture book classic. There can't
be a mum in the…
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
The Marvels
Brian Selznick
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 | Shortlisted
for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2016 | Shortlisted
for…
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (illustrated by Helen Oxenbury)
Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Winner of the 1999 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Full of the most
wondrous wit and humour, wonderful magic and believable nonsense,
this…
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…
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…
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…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Books Reviewed by Children
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…
Little Adventurers: What Bear? Where?
Philip Ardagh
Illustrated by Elissa Elwick
With an activity idea and an information page with every story in
the series, the Little Adventurers four will encourage hours of
immersive play, and…
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 Wrong Train
Jeremy De Quidt
In a Nutshell: Sinister short stories Sublimely spine-tingling,
this evokes all the dread of an ominous tap-tap-tapping on your
door in the dead of…
Raymie Nightingale
Kate DiCamillo
Some momentous things happen in the course of this book: a father
leaves, buildings are burgled, a cat is lost and found, hearts are
broken, good…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Bookshelf Essentials
Carrie's War
Nina Bawden
Chosen by Jacqueline Wilson, February 2012 Guest Editor: "This is a
very touching utterly convincing book about three wartime evacuees
billeted…
Princess Smartypants and the Missing Princes
Babette Cole
After bringing girl power to picture books over 30 years ago,
feisty Princess Smartypants returns to a new audience in the first
of three highly…
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Sir John Tenniel
A lovely hardback edition to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of
this world famous children's classic. A book that's chock full of
great…
Stick Man
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Creators of The Gruffalo, best selling author/ illustrator Julia
Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are back with another bestseller on
their hands.…
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig
Eugene Trivizas
Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
This much-loved picture book puts a comic and clever twist on the
familiar fairytale. Three polite young wolves set off to make their
way in the…
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
Little Women
Louisa May Alcott
Illustrated by Sophie Allsopp
The four sisters, each with a striking and strong character,
between them represent any girls growing up at any time. Meg, the
eldest, is sixteen and…
I Capture the Castle
Dodie Smith
In a nutshell: Iconic | Outspoken | Big Issues | Difficult Truths A
story about writing, this is also a wonderfully romantic story told
by a young…
Greek Myths Stories of Sun, Stone and Sea
Sally Pomme Clayton
Illustrated by Jane Ray
A beautiful edition of ten of the best loved Greek myths, each
exquisitely illustrated by Jane Ray, are gathered together is this
lovely edition. The…
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
T. S. Eliot
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
The world-famous rhymes starring cats such as Macavity the Mystery
Cat and Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat are beautifully presented in
this edition…
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…
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...
