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!
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’s a community united by a passion for books and promoting the best there is in children’s literature.
Sam Bateman and family
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
It is fantastic, you get to read lots of books and you always find something new and amazing in them.
Erica Motoc, age 7
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 Lovereading4kids because it promotes reading choices, new authors and a sense of community for children of all ages!
Rachel Bridgeman
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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
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…
Old Bear
Jane Hissey
Old Bear was first published in 1986 and became one of the
bestselling picture books ever with spin off merchandise that
ensured he became a…
Goodnight World
Debi Gliori
It's hard to think of a more perfect bedtime book than Goodnight
World. The sun is going down and the world is getting ready to go
to sleep.…
Bedtime with Ted
Sophy Henn
It's bedtime for Ted, but he's just too busy yet – flip the
flaps and you can see why: Ted is in the bath with some penguins,
busy…
Goodnight Buster! (Touch-and-Feel)
Rod Campbell
A wonderful touch and feel book with pull tabs from the author, Rod
Campbell, who we suspect is responsible for more books that get
kids to sleep…
I Want a Bedtime Story!
Tony Ross
After all these years the Little Princess still rules the palace
and its inhabitants – including the queen, the admiral and
the prime minister.…
This month's 'featured books':
Carnegie Greenaway
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…
A Monster Calls
Patrick Ness
Illustrated by Jim Kay
Winner of the 2012 Carnegie Medal AND 2012 Kate Greenaway Medal.
This is the first time, in the Awards 75 year history, that one
book has won both…
Railhead
Philip Reeve
Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017 | Shortlisted for the
UKLA 2017 Book Award | August 2016 Book of the Month Set…
Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse
Chris Riddell
Shortlisted for the 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal - Winner of the
Costa Children's Book Award 2013 Bestselling
author/illustrator…
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…
A Great Big Cuddle
Michael Rosen
Illustrated by Chris Riddell
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 | Joint Winner
of the CLiPPA 2016 (CLPE Children's Poetry Award). …
This month's 'featured books':
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…
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…
William Bee's Wonderful World of Trains, Boats and Planes
William Bee
If you love vehicles, then this is the book for you! William Bee
shows off a multitude of amazing vehicles, starting with the steam
engine, then…
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…
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
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle
This is a much-loved classic but as relevant today as it was when
first published in 1969! The vivid and colourful illustrations and
cut back and…
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…
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,…
Good Night, Gorilla
Peggy Rathmann
All young readers will delight at knowing the trick the animals
play on the unsuspecting zoo keeper! It's bedtime and the zoo
keeper sets off…
The Blue Balloon
Mick Inkpen
This was the book that introduced the lovable Kipper to millions of
children the world over. A truly wonderful story to share and to be
treasured and…
Pippi Longstocking
Astrid Lindgren
Illustrated by Tony Ross
Not to be missed, this is a newly translated edition of this
classic story about a wonderful little girl. Pippi Longstocking is
nine years old; she…
This month's 'featured books':
Classics
King Arthur And His Knights Of The Round Table (with an introduction by David Almond)
Roger Lancelyn Green
One of the best known and best loved stories in mythology, how a
small boy pulls the sword from the stone thus proving that he is
its rightful keeper…
The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn (with an Introduction by Darren Shan)
Mark Twain
This is a wonderful adventure of three boys from very different
worlds. At the heart of the story is the relationship between
Huckleberry Finn and…
Through the Looking Glass: Macmillan Classics Edition
Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll's follow-up to Alice's Adventures through the Looking
Glass includes the introduction of Tweedledum and Tweedledee
those…
Tales from Grimm
Antonia Barber
Illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain
Nine of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm's best-known stories are retold
with great fluency in this beautifully produced edition which is
perfectly…
Heidi
Johanna Spyri
Freedom to roam in the high Swiss Alps brings great happiness in
this story of Heidi and her unusual childhood high up in the Swiss
Alps. When…
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…
