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
- Oi Dog! Board Book by Kes Gray, Claire Gray
- A Great Big Cuddle by Michael Rosen
- Six Little Chicks by Jez Alborough
3+ readers
- No, Nancy, No! by Alice Tait
- The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield
- Forever or a Day by Sarah Jacoby
5+ readers
- The Great Big Book of Friends by Mary Hoffman
- Lots The Diversity of Life on Earth by Nicola Davies
- King of the Sky by Nicola Davies
7+ readers
- The Book Case by Dave Shelton
- Max Champion and the Great Race Car Robbery by Alexander Mccall Smith
- The Chocolate Factory Ghost by David O'Connell
9+ readers
- To the Edge of the World by Julia Green
- The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day by Christopher Edge
- Tin by Padraig Kenny
11+ readers
- The City of Secret Rivers by Jacob Sager Weinstein
- Twelve Nights by Andrew Zurcher
- The Goose Road by Rowena House
13+ readers
- Truly, Wildly, Deeply by Jenny McLachlan
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- Savage Island by Bryony Pearce
YA readers
- I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman
- Encounters by Jason Wallace
- I Stop Somewhere by T. E. Carter
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!
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
LoveReading4Kids is a modern and creative way of emphasising the value and importance of books in this digital age #booksforlife
Amrit Bunet – Teen
I love ‘LoveReading 4 kids’ because they let you read and learn things you’d never dreamed of learning before.
Emily Horncastle – age 11
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
At @HHSHaringey we love @lovereading4kids because our pupils can practice reviewing & get free upcoming books before anyone else!
Helen Swinyard – Heartlands High
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
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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
Bedtime Stories Baby's First Storybook: Follow the Finger Trails
Luana Rinaldo
Campbell Books lead the field in books for babies, and this little
hardback board book is certain to become a favourite with parents,
the perfect…
Goodnight Tiptoe
Polly Dunbar
A dreamy, goodnight story. Bedtime comes and every one is sleepy
– except Tiptoe! One after another, Tilly settles her friends
down for the…
Each Peach Pear Plum
Allan Ahlberg, Janet Ahlberg
Illustrated by 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…
I'm Big Now
Anthea Simmons
Illustrated by Georgie Birkett
This lively, cheerful picture book takes a positive look at one of
the changes the arrival of a new baby can bring. ‘There's a
new baby…
The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep A New Way of Getting Children to Sleep
Carl-Johan Forssen Ehrlin
Illustrated by Irina Maununen
When Roger can't fall asleep, Mummy Rabbit takes him to see Uncle
Yawn, who knows just what to do. In this volume, children can join
Roger on his…
Spaghetti with the Yeti
Adam Guillain, Charlotte Guillain
Illustrated by Lee Wildish
Shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2013 - September 2013
Book of the Month George is off on an adventure – to
find…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
Judy Moody: Around the World in 8 1/2 Days
Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Another day. Another mood. Meet Judy Moody at her moodiest best, in
this laugh-a-minute seventh adventure in the international
bestselling series.
Happy Hatchday
Rob Biddulph
April 2018 Book of the Month Rob Biddulph's new picture book is
another typically happy reading experience. Nine dinosaur eggs
(count them)…
Race to Kangaroo Cliff
Alexander Mccall Smith
In a nutshell: exciting children's adventure story on a tall ship
Twins Ben and Fee will be the envy of children everywhere: their
school is a…
What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Lydia Monks
Award-winning duo Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks have created a
brilliant new adventure for the clever Ladybird, star of What the
Ladybird…
Jacky Ha-Ha: My Life is a Joke
James Patterson
Spending time with the eponymous Jacky (Ha-Ha because she's both
funny and a stammerer) is always great fun and, as ever, there's
lots to…
Planet Stan
Elaine Wickson
Illustrated by Chris Judge
April 2018 Debut of the Month | In a nutshell: brotherly love under
the microscope Space, family relationships, friendships
–…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
Hilary Mckay's Fairy Tales
Hilary Mckay
Illustrated by Sarah Gibb
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | This is an absolutely stunning
book. Not only is it an absolute treat visually but it's also a
feast for…
Orbiting Jupiter
Gary D. Schmidt
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Shortlisted for the UKLA 2017
Book Award Before meeting his new foster brother, Jack understands
what he…
The Night Spinner
Abi Elphinstone
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | With this action packed third
and final instalment to the series, Abi Elphinstone has secured her
place in the…
Here We Are
Oliver Jeffers
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the
Month November 2017 Inspired by the birth of his son, award-winning
Oliver…
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 –…
Mind the Gap
Phil Earle
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Longlisted for the UKLA 2018
Book Award A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month | February 2017
Book…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
The Colours of History
Clive Gifford
Illustrated by Marc-Etienne Peintre
A fascinating information book, The Colours of History takes
readers to different places at different times to show how humans
have used colour in…
How Much Does a Ladybird Weigh?
Alison Limentani
Alison Limentani's extraordinary picture book introduces children
to a fascinating world of wildlife, weight, numbers, and
comparisons in the most…
The Superhero Handbook
James Doyle
Illustrated by Jason Ford
There's no excuse for anyone who, having read this book from cover
to cover and followed its instructions carefully, does not emerge
a…
The British History Timeline Wallbook
Christopher Lloyd
Illustrated by Andy Forshaw
The British History Timeline showcases milestones in the
extraordinary history of the British Isles from the age of the
Dinosaurs 100 million years…
Migration
Mike Unwin
Illustrated by Jenni Desmond
Imagine: you're flying high over the Himalayan mountains, on a
journey filled with danger. The temperature is far below freezing,
the air is thin,…
Stuff You Should Know About the Human Body
John Farndon
Illustrated by Tim Hutchinson
Take a tour round the inside of the human body in this unusual and
quite excellent information book. It examines our component parts,
from cells to…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
The Bone Sparrow
Zana Fraillon
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award | Shortlisted for the CILIP
Carnegie Medal 2017 and awarded the Amnesty CILIP Honour |…
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We Come Apart
Sarah Crossan, Brian Conaghan
January 2018 Book of the Month | Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book
Award In a nutshell: unputdownable story, beautifully told |
…
Peter in Peril Courage and Hope in World War Two
Helen Bate
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Peter is just an ordinary
boy, who loves playing football with his friends and eating cake -
until war comes…
Welcome to Nowhere
Elizabeth Laird
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a nutshell: the lives
of a Syrian family brought vividly and sympathetically to life for
young readers…
The Darkest Dark
Chris Hadfield
Illustrated by The Fan Brothers
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Astronaut Chris Hadfield
describes the special moment in his childhood that sparked his
fascination with…
Good Dog McTavish
Meg Rosoff
Illustrated by Grace Easton
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Interest Age 8-12 Reading
Age 8 | In a nutshell: dog to the rescue in witty domestic…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
Jack's Mega Machines: Mighty Monster Truck
Alison Ritchie
Illustrated by Mike Byrne
An exciting new title in the popular series about Jack, a boy with
a gift for repairingbig machines. Jack's just fixed up a monster
truck and…
Compton Valance Super F.A.R.T.s versus the Master of Time
Matt Brown
Illustrated by Lizzie Finlay
Compton Valance and his best friend Bryan Nylon are unlikely
heroes, but they managed to create a time machine out of a mouldy
cheese sandwich and…
Monster Slayer
Brian Patten
Illustrated by Chris Riddell
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | Interest Age 7-10 Brian Patten
tells the story of the hero Beowulf in vivid, accessible prose; in
Barrington…
Hamish and the Neverpeople
Danny Wallace
Illustrated by Jamie Littler
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | February 2016 Book of the Month
Hamish and the Worldstoppers was one of my favourite kids' books of
2015,…
Timmy Failure Sanitized for Your Protection
Stephan Pastis
‘To the best of my knowledge', announces Timmy Failure at the
start of this book, in a chapter called Let's Do the Timmy
Warp…
Jake Atlas and the Tomb of the Emerald Snake
Rob Lloyd Jones
Illustrated by Petur Antonsson
In a nutshell: two kids on a death-defying treasure hunt through
Egypt's ancient monuments. Adventure stories don't come
more…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
The Jewelled Jaguar
Sharon Tregenza
In a nutshell: myth, mystery and adventure Sharon Tregenza's
exciting mystery story opens in very dramatic fashion when a huge
sinkhole…
Rover and the Big Fat Baby
Roddy Doyle
Illustrated by Chris Judge
Rover, star of The Giggler Treatment and others, is back for a new
and equally hilarious dog-poo centred adventure. As ever, Rover
needs to collect…
Blue Moon Day
Anne Fine
A collection of short stories set in a range of different schools.
Diary of a Trainee Rock God
Jonathan Meres
Illustrated by Jake McDonald
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 9 | In a nutshell: it's only a
rock'n'roll story but we like it! …
Squishy McFluff: The Big Country Fair
Pip Jones
Illustrated by Ella Okstad
In a nutshell: Fluffy invisible friend conquers all at country fair
There's tension at the heart of this new Squishy McFluff story: Ava
and…
The Leaky Battery Sets Sail
Gareth P. Jones
The crew of the Leaky Battery are a rum bunch alright:
steam-powered metal robots of different shapes and sizes.
Originally designed to be servants,…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
The Wickedest Witch in the World
Kaye Umansky
Illustrated by Gerald Kelley
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ This wonderfully witchy story from
best-selling author Kaye Umansky gives a new gloss to the story of
Hansel…
All Sorts to Make a World
John Agard
Illustrated by Michael Broad
Interest Age 7-12 Reading Age 7+ A magical story about bringing
people together. Shona has met a lot of apparently very
different…
Ghost for Sale
Terry Deary
Illustrated by Stefano Tambellini
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 7 A hilarious, riddling tale from the
international bestselling author of Horrible Histories, Terry
Deary. Without…
Scrum!
Tom Palmer
Illustrated by Dylan Gibson
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 8+. A passion for rugby and a dilemma
about it too lies at the heart of this touching story of a boy with
a big…
The Number 7 Shirt
Alan Gibbons
Interest Age 9 -14 Reading Age 8+. Perfect for reluctant or
struggling readers. This is an action-packed story involving a boy
who dreams of being a…
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…
