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
- Goodnight Everyone by Chris Haughton
- A Big Day for Migs by Jo Hodgkinson
- A Bear-y Tale by Anthony Browne
3+ readers
- Mr Pegg's Post by Elena Topouzoglou
- Baby's First Bank Heist by Jim Whalley
- I Want My Dad! by Tony Ross
5+ readers
- Norman the Norman and the Very Small Duchess by Philip Ardagh
- Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz
- The Day War Came by Nicola Davies
7+ readers
- Junkyard Jack and the Horse That Talked by Adrian Edmondson
- The Twitches Bake a Cake by Hayley Scott
- Dog Diaries by Steven Butler & James Patterson
9+ readers
- Boy Underwater by Adam Baron
- Kat Wolfe Investigates by Lauren St.John
- Mirror Magic by Claire Fayers
11+ readers
- Cogheart by Peter Bunzl
- Where the World Ends by Geraldine McCaughrean
- Midnight by Derek Landy
13+ readers
- My Messed-Up Life by Susin Nielsen
- The Family Tree by Mal Peet
- The Tiger on His Back by Bernard Ashley
YA readers
- The Weight of a Thousand Feathers by Brian Conaghan
- After the Fire by Will Hill
- Before I Die by Jenny Downham
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!
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
It gives me a chance to read types of books that I would not normally try, and it motivates me to read every night to finish it!
Alice Horncastle, age 14
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
We love Lovereading4kids because it promotes reading choices, new authors and a sense of community for children of all ages!
Rachel Bridgeman
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
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 really exciting to read and review new books, thrilling to see my reviews online and I love finding the final published copies on sale.
Sam Harper – age 10
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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
Whatever Next!
Jill Murphy
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month January 2018 Celebrating
thirty-five best-selling years, Whatever Next! is a classic story
of a child's…
Each Peach Pear Plum
Allan Ahlberg, Janet Ahlberg
Illustrated by Janet Ahlberg, Janet Ahlberg
A delightful board book with simple rhyming text and engaging
interactive pictures. Children will be able to find characters that
are mentioned in…
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
Lynley Dodd
First published in 1983 and still as good today. Written by Lynley
Dodd, who is a New Zealander, this is the first in a series of
books about the…
With My Mummy
James Brown
Illustrated by Cally Johnson-Isaacs
One of our special picks for Mothering Sunday The ahhh-factor is at
its highest setting in this sweet but sturdy little board book. On
each page a…
There's a Walrus in My Bed!
Ciara Flood
Children and adults will take very different things from this
clever picture book but both will enjoy it enormously. Flynn is
excited, he's got…
Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrated by Clement Hurd
This classic children's book looks wonderful in its new edition and
has lost none of its effectiveness as a book to lull children to
sleep. As…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
The Twitches Bake a Cake
Hayley Scott
Illustrated by Pippa Curnick
June 2018 Book of the Month | More delightful small-scale fun and
big adventure in this new story starring toy rabbit family the
Twitches…
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…
The Extinction Trials: Exile
S.M. Wilson
In a Nutshell: Dystopian dangers, deadly dinosaurs = Jurassic Park
meets The Hunger Games | Pounding hot on the clawed heels
of…
Midnight
Derek Landy
In a Nutshell: Can a coldblooded killer be curtailed as time ticks
down? Following hot on the heels of Resurrection, this eleventh
instalment of…
The Wild Folk
Sylvia V. Linsteadt
In a nutshell: magical quest adventure story with a strong sense of
the natural world | Perfect for readers who enjoy magical
adventures…
The Knights and the Best Quest
Kaye Umansky
Illustrated by Ben Whitehouse
Interest Age 8+ Reading Age 8 A masterly and hilarious retelling of
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
A Berlin Love Song
Sarah Matthias
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | In a nutshell: an unusual and
unforgettable wartime love story | Lili Petalo is a…
The Wizards of Once
Cressida Cowell
Winner of the 2018 Blue Peter Awards - Best Story | One of Our
Books of the Year 2017 | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month
October…
Countless
Karen Gregory
Longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | One of Our Books of
the Year 2017 | In a Nutshell: Compelling and compassionate account
of…
Socks for Mr Wolf
Tatyana Feeney
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | October 2017 Book of the Month
Beautifully illustrated throughout, this stunning book by Tatyana
Feeney is an…
I am Bat
Morag Hood
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | This must be one of the
brightest and best picture books of the year. With minimalist
illustrations –…
La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One
Philip Pullman
Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2018 | One of Our Books of the
Year 2017 | November 2017 Book of the Month More than two…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
50 Ways to Feel Happy
Vanessa King, Val Payne & Peter Harper
Illustrated by Celeste Aires
We all want our children to be happy and resilient, but may not
realise that they can be taught skills to make them happier people.
Written by a…
The Teenage Guide to Friends
Nicola Morgan
In a Nutshell: Warm-hearted handbook for happy, healthy friendships
With comforting clarity, this thorough guide provides vital insight
into all…
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…
Women in Science
Rachel Ignotofsky
March 2017 Non Fiction Book of the Month | In a nutshell: an
inspiring introduction to 50 pioneering women scientists | …
The Story of Space
Catherine Barr, Steve Williams
Illustrated by Amy Husband
The story of space is told with all the drama and excitement it
merits but clearly and simply for the youngest readers. Over forty
colourful pages…
Three Cheers for Women!
Marcia Williams
Three Cheers for Women is a hugely inspirational book for children.
It is full of facts, quotes and jokes brought together in a really
fun way…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
Aubrey and the Terrible Ladybirds
Horatio Clare
Illustrated by Jane Matthews
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award June 2017 Book of the Month
| A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month June 2017 A sequel
to…
There May Be a Castle
Piers Torday
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a nutshell: the
unbeatable power of the imagination | Piers Torday's
beautifully…
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…
Frogkisser!
Garth Nix
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award A brilliantly funny take
on fairytales and quests. Lovereading comment to follow. Garth Nix
said:…
The Street Beneath My Feet
Charlotte Gullian
Illustrated by Yuval Zommer
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Detailed, ingenious and
graphically beautiful this information book opens, as the best do,
with an…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
Chaos Descends
Shane Hegarty
Illustrated by James De La Rue
In a nutshell: monster monster-hunting fun Book three in Shane
Hegarty's Darkmouth series serves up another helping of
monster…
Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth
Judd Winick
January 2017 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: irresistible
adventure story told in words and pictures | Prepare yourselves:
children…
Middle School: Escape to Australia
James Patterson
February 2018 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: Rafe Khatchadorian
heads down under In this special episode of the hugely popular
Middle…
The Gold Thief
Justin Fisher
In a nutshell: thrilling adventure in a magical other world | After
his adventures in the thrilling Circus of Marvels, all its
young…
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…
Choosing Crumble
Michael Rosen
January 2014 Book of the Month Best-selling Michael Rosen captures
the dilemma of any dog choosing a new home – and any…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
The Covers of My Book are Too Far Apart (And Other Grumbles)
Vivian French
Illustrated by Nigel Baines
A Dyslexia Friendly Picture Book for Parent and Child | Whisper it,
but not everyone automatically loves reading. Some people
think…
The Grunts in a Jam
Philip Ardagh
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Award winning Philip Ardagh's Mr and Mrs Grunt are as disgusting as
ever as they trundle into this fourth adventure in their ramshackle
caravan…
Journey to the River Sea
Eva Ibbotson
A special 15th anniversary edition of this award-winning classic
adventure from Eva Ibbotson in which orphaned Maia travels from
England to the…
Timmy Failure Mistakes Were Made
Stephan Pastis
Wimpy Kid fans will love this new boy-diary with a difference.
Saddled with the name Timmy Failure, our narrator has clearly been
dealt a tough hand.…
Puppy Academy: Murphy and the Great Surf Rescue
Gill Lewis
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
In a nutshell : daring puppy heroes Gill Lewis's little stories of
the doggy students of the Puppy Academy have much to…
The Beautiful Game
Alan Gibbons
Illustrated by Chris Chalik
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 | In a nutshell: the highs and lows
of our national obsession | Football has the power to…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
Who's a Big Bully Then?
Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Joanna Carey
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+. How do you see off the school
bully? Sick of being picked on and called ‘chicken' the
narrator of this…
The First Hunter
Robert Swindells
Illustrated by Si Clark
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 8 In a nutshell: action-filled,
thought-provoking story set in the Stone Age. In urgent, staccato
prose Robert…
Cherry Green Story Queen (4u2read)
Annie Dalton
Illustrated by Charlie Alder
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ The magical healing power of
stories lies at the heart of this touching book. Mia feels trapped
in the wrong…
Wartman 4u2read
Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Joanna Carey
Interest Age 7-12 Reading Age 7 A brand new 4u2read edition
celebrating the 20th anniversary of this touching tale by Michael
Morpurgo.…
The Story of Matthew Buzzington
Andy Stanton
Illustrated by Ross Collins
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 8+. Creator of the best-selling Mr Gum
series, Andy Stanton delights again is this story of the importance
of…
Sterling and the Canary
Andy Stanton
Illustrated by Ross Collins
One of our Dyslexia Friendly Books of the Year 2014 - Interest Age
9+ Reading Age 8+. Prize-winning Andy Stanton injects his trademark
humour…
