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
- Samson the Mighty Flea by Angela Mcallister
- Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
3+ readers
- Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson
- The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
- Goodnight Everyone by Chris Haughton
5+ readers
- The Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine
- Clare and her Captain by Michael Morpurgo
- The Ice Bear by Jackie Morris
7+ readers
- My Mum's Going To Explode! by Jeremy Strong
- The Snow Leopard by Jackie Morris
- Mango & Bambang: Tiny Tapir Trouble by Polly Faber
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
- The Wrong Train by Jeremy De Quidt
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon
YA readers
- A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
- Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett
- ...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!
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 Lovereading4kids because I get an opportunity to put my opinion forward and to try new books
Elosie Clarkson – age 11
I am so pleased to have signed my kids up as they are reading a much wider range of books and even choosing books out of their comfort zone.
Angela East
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
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
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
I love finding new books to read. My mummy and me look at the new ones coming out. I have written reviews of some of them!
Jessica Cobbin – age 7
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
Fairytales Gone Wrong: Get Some Rest, Sleeping Beauty!
Steve Smallman
Illustrated by Neil Price
Young children will learn the importance of rest in this hilarious
story all about sleep and as result bedtime should become an easier
time of the…
Tufty
Michael Foreman
Tufty the little duck grows up in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
(his parents are very fond of the Royal Duck and Duckess (sic) who
give the ducks…
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…
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…
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…
My Favourite Bedtime Rhymes
Illustrated by Sanja Rescek, Hannah Wood
A charming collection of all your favourite bedtime rhymes,
delightfully illustrated by best-loved illustrators Hannah Wood and
Sanja Rescek. …
This month's 'featured books':
Carnegie Greenaway
The Sleeper and the Spindle
Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by Chris Riddell
Winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2016. A deluxe edition of
the thrillingly reimagined fairy tale by the magical partnership
of…
The Edge of the Cloud
K. M. Peyton
Winner of the 1969 CILIP Carnegie Medal K.M. Peyton won the
Carnegie Medal for this romantic and passionate story set in the
run up to…
One
Sarah Crossan
Winner for the Children's Book Award 2017 - Books for Older Readers
Category | One of our Books of the Year 2016 | Winner of the CILIP
Carnegie Medal…
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
J. K. Rowling
Illustrated by Jim Kay
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 | Exciting news
for all Harry Potter fans, Bloomsbury has published the first fully
illustrated…
Northern Lights
Philip Pullman
Winner of the 1995 CILIP Carnegie Medal Part one of Philip
Pullman's magnificent trilogy. His ‘Dark Materials', is the
story…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Books Reviewed by Children
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Pax
Sara Pennypacker
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Touching and thought-provoking this is a lyrically-told story
perfectly presented in a beautiful book. Peter's life falls apart
after his…
This month's 'featured books':
Bookshelf Essentials
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…
Tim All Alone
Edward Ardizzone
Tim returns from a long sea voyage to find that his home is boarded
up, a ‘To Let' sign in the window, and his parents gone. He
cries a…
The Hobbit
J R R Tolkien
An absolute classic of children's literature, the great adventure
of Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarfs. It's important to remember
how…
Follyfoot
Monica Dickens
A pony lover's dream, Follyfoot is a great adventure story which
will also touch the heart of all who care about animals. Full of
drama and action…
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…
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
C. S. Lewis
Illustrated by Pauline Baynes
One of our 'Must Reads'. C.S Lewis's classic fantasy book The Lion,
the Witch, and the Wardrobe tells the story of the four Pevensie
children,…
This month's 'featured books':
Classics
Z for Zachariah
Robert C. O'Brien
In a nutshell: Iconic | Outspoken | Big Issues | Difficult Truths A
powerful post-apocalyptic novel in which nuclear war has devastated
America. Z…
A Dog So Small
Philippa Pearce
Award winning Philippa Pearce captures a child's longing –
and need – for a dog perfectly in this brilliant imaginary
story. Ben…
Faery Tales
Carol Ann Duffy
Poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, brings her gifts as a poet to this
enchanting collection of all kinds of fairy stories. Familiar
favourites such as…
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…
A Little Princess (with an Introduction by Adeline Yen Mah)
Frances Hodgson Burnett
Chosen by Jacqueline Wilson. Step into the shoes of Sara, a girl
with a lively imagination who although well-mannered is absolutely
no angel, as fate…
The Trumpet of the Swan
E. B. White
Louis the cygnet may be unable to utter a sound unlike her siblings
and his parents but Louis is determined to overcome this impediment
by learning…
