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
- Clare and her Captain by Michael Morpurgo
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 Wrong Train by Jeremy De Quidt
- The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon
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!
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
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
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
It is fantastic, you get to read lots of books and you always find something new and amazing in them.
Erica Motoc, age 7
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
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
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
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…
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,…
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…
The Crocodile Under the Bed
Judith Kerr
From the creator of The Tiger Who Came to Tea comes a glorious
picture book full of wonder and adventure. Matty is sick, so sick
that he cant go to…
Mother Goose's Bedtime Rhymes
Traditional Rhymes
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
With beautiful illustrations by the award-winning Axel Scheffler
comes this beautiful board book featuring Mother Goose and her
playful gosling.…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Carnegie Greenaway
The Journey
Francesca Sanna
Winner for the 2017 Klaus Flugge Prize | Winner of the UKLA 2017
Book Award | Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017
and awarded the…
The Wolves of Currumpaw
William Grill
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 | Longlisted
for the UKLA 2017 Book Award | A beautiful and moving re-telling of
the first…
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…
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). …
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…
Salt to the Sea
Ruta Sepetys
Winner of the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017 | Longlisted for the UKLA
2017 Book Award It's early 1945 and a group of people trek across
Germany,…
This month's 'featured books':
Books Reviewed by Children
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 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…
Goodnight Everyone
Chris Haughton
Perfect for the end of every day, award-winning Chris Haughton
captures the soothing time as the sun goes down and all the animals
begin to fall into…
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…
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…
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
The Amazing Adventures of Curd The Lion and Us! in the Land at the Back of Beyond
Alan Gilliland
Reminiscent of the writing of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear, this
brilliant debut children's novel is completely unputdownable as
well as being…
Bears In The Night
Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain
One of our 'Must Reads'. Lively pictures, charming characters and
the fact that the story only uses 24 words, but to beautiful
effect, make this a…
Lizzie Dripping
Helen Cresswell
Lizzie is an archetypal twelve-year-old dreamer who wanders around
with her head in the clouds. Despite her family's failure to
believe her,…
Flambards
K. M. Peyton
Christina is sent to stay with her terrifying uncle and her cousins
at Flambards, a rambling house in the country where riding and
hunting are the…
Jumping Mouse
Brian Patten
Illustrated by Mary Moore
Brian Patten is one of Britain's best-loved poets. This is his
retelling of the touching story of Jumping Mouse, a remarkable
Native American fol…
The Wolf Princess
Cathryn Constable
Exciting, atmospheric, romantic and stylish, The Wolf Princess
marks a welcome return to the comfort of traditional storytelling.
Steeped in…
This month's 'featured books':
Classics
Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There
Lewis Carroll, Chris Riddell
Illustrated by Sir John Tenniel
A favourite book chosen by Philip Pullman, along with Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland: "Indispensable. The great classic
beginning of English…
Carrie's War
Nina Bawden
When bombs start falling on London, Carrie and her younger brother
Nick are evacuated to Wales. Living with Mr Evans, who has little
interest in…
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…
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…
Tales of the Greek Heroes
Roger Lancelyn Green
Chosen by April 2012 Guest Editor, Charlie Higson: "I've always
loved myths and legends. Greek, Roman, Norse (not so interested in
the…
Black Beauty (with an Introduction by Meg Rosoff)
Anna Sewell
What a ride. No child can fail to laugh and cry in equal measure as
they jump on for the ride of a lifetime with Black Beauty. His
unbreakable…
