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
- My First Elmer by David McKee
- Meltdown! by Jill Murphy
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Sound Book by Eric Carle
3+ readers
- Square by Mac Barnett
- The Wildest Cowboy by Garth Jennings
- The Match by Russell Ayto
5+ readers
- The Great Telephone Mix-Up (Little Gem) by Sally Nicholls
- The Bad Mood and the Stick by Lemony Snicket
- Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz
7+ readers
- Hoakes Island by Ian Friel
- The Uncracked Code by Tamara Macfarlane
- A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold
9+ readers
- You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed
- How to Bee by Bren MacDibble
- Spirit by Sally Christie
11+ readers
- The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson
- A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge
- Girls for the Vote by Linda Newbery
13+ readers
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge
- Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
YA readers
- Moonrise by Sarah Crossan
- Release by Patrick Ness
- Things a Bright Girl Can Do by Sally Nicholls
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 a modern and creative way of emphasising the value and importance of books in this digital age #booksforlife
Amrit Bunet – Teen
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 think Lovereading4kids is an amazing company because of the friendly staff and the fabulous chance to read great books before publication.
Adam Graham
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 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
It’s a community united by a passion for books and promoting the best there is in children’s literature.
Sam Bateman and family
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
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
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.…
Five Minutes' Peace
Jill Murphy
Celebrate thirty years of the Large family in this stunning
anniversary edition of a modern picture book classic. There can't
be a mum in the…
100 Brilliant Poems for Children
Paul Cookson
Paul Cookson's collection does not claim to be the definitive
hundred brilliant poems, but it comes close; providing a fun,
inspiring and…
Moonlight Bear
Rosie Wellesley
Beautifully illustrated, this is a magical and inspiring bedtime
story which captures a night time adventure of a little girl and
her teddy…
Bing's Bedtime Stories
Ted Dewan
Originally from books by Ted Dewan, Bing now has his own TV show on
Cbeebies and this gorgeous hardback gift collection with a padded
cover…
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 One Memory of Flora Banks
Emily Barr
Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2018 | Longlisted for the
Branford Boase Award 2018 | One of Our Books of the Year 2017
|…
Release
Patrick Ness
***Recommended for 16+ due to content. Book of the Month for May
2018 | Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2018 |In a
Nutshell: love, truth…
Fish Boy
Chloe Daykin
Illustrated by Richard Jones
Shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | Longlisted for the
UKLA 2018 Book Award March 2017 Debut of the Month In…
You Are Awesome
Matthew Syed
May 2018 Book of the Month | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month
April & May 2018 Table tennis champion Matthew Syed offers his
very best…
My Box-Shaped Heart
Rachael Lucas
In a Nutshell: Fractured families | First love | Fresh starts |
16-year-old Holly feels like an outsider, except when she's…
Dog Diaries
James Patterson
Illustrated by Richard Watson
In a nutshell: It's a (very funny, very readable) dog's life
Narrated at breathless speed by super-excited puppy Junior, this
new series…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
ABC Pop-Up
Courtney Watson McCarthy
A collectible Alphabet pop-up, for design connoisseurs of all ages.
This beautifully presented pop-up book is a refreshing take on
learning the…
Carve the Mark
Veronica Roth
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | In a Nutshell: Deadly dilemmas
amidst Star Wars-esque intergalactic enmity | First book in an
ambitiously epic…
The Loneliest Girl in the Universe
Lauren James
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | September 2017 Book of the
Month | In a Nutshell: Stellar story of survival in outer space A
uniquely…
Cream Buns and Crime
Robin Stevens
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | April 2017 Book of the Month |
In a nutshell: a tasty treat for would-be sleuths and fans
of…
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…
Old Hat!
Emily Gravett
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Longlisted for the UKLA 2018
Book Award June 2017 Book of the Month | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of
the…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
100 Most: Unexplained Mysteries on the Planet
Anna Claybourne
Think 21st century humans have explained pretty much everything
there is to explain? Think again! As this book demonstrates,
there's still a…
Cool Coding
Rob Hansen, Damien Weighill
A fun, accessible guide to computers and coding for older children
and curious adults. This fun and quirky book provides a fascinating
introduction…
Hidden World Forest
Libby Walden
Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman
With large flaps on every page, short accompanying explanatory
sentences and attractive illustrations, this is a great book to
introduce children to…
Big Picture Book of General Knowledge
James Maclaine
Illustrated by Annie Carbo
Packed with interesting and useful information on a range of
important subjects areas, from geography (a section called Around
the World), to music,…
Chronologica The Incredible Years That Defined History
Whitaker's Almanack
Written and compiled by the team behind Whitaker's Almanack,
Chronologica provides a eye-opening tour through over 2500 years of
world history,…
88 and 1/2 Science Experiments
Nick Arnold
Doing exactly what it says on the tin, Nick Arnold's book presents
children with 88 different scientific challenges spread across
brightly…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
The Island at the End of Everything
Kiran Millwood-Hargrave
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Shortlisted for the 2018 Blue
Peter Awards - Best Story | Shortlisted for the Costa Children's
Book…
A Story Like the Wind
Gill Lewis
Illustrated by Jo Weaver
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Longlisted for the UKLA 2018
Book Award A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month May 2017
Gill…
Colin and Lee, Carrot and Pea
Morag Hood
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award One of our Books of the
Year 2016 | July 2016 Debut of the Month Simplicity is the charm of
this…
Goodbye Days
Jeff Zentner
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a Nutshell: Loss,
friendship and the light of re-finding your way | An…
My Pictures After the Storm
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award A gust of wind, an
elephant, a dive bomb, a spell: this funky “before and
after” book will have…
The Road To Ever After
Moira Young
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Moira Young puts her own
spin on the Christmas film classic It's a Wonderful Life in this
delightful…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
Harry and the Monster
Sue Mongredien
Illustrated by Nick East
How can Harry tame the monster who comes to scare him in the night?
Luckily first Mum and then dad come up with a clever plan.
Suddenly, the monster…
Middle School: Just My Rotten Luck
James Patterson
James Patterson continues to do sterling work turning reluctant
readers onto books, and this latest instalment in the ongoing
trials of Rafe…
Timmy Failure: The Cat Stole My Pants
Stephan Pastis
In a nutshell: Hilarious sleuthing with boy detective and his
sidekick polar bear… | A new Timmy Failure book is
always…
Thimble Monkey Superstar
Jon Blake
Illustrated by Martin Chatterton
Jams Cogan's life changes when his next door neighbours arrive at
his family bungalow – or Castle as his dad, a not-terribly
successful…
Dog Town
Luize Pastore
Illustrated by Reinis Pētersons
In a nutshell: quirky and unusual adventure with traces of myth and
magic Riga is the setting for this fairy-tale like adventure, and
the city is…
Lionheart
Richard Collingridge
Longlisted for the UKLA 2017 Book Award This book comes with a
warning: it will make you ROAR! And it will – with
excitement, relief and…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
Jellicle Cats
T. S. Eliot
Illustrated by Arthur Robins
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2017 T.S Eliot's
best-loved verses, originally published in an anthology, work
brilliantly…
Peace Maker
Malorie Blackman
Illustrated by Matthew Griffin
In a short book of less than 80 pages Malorie Blackman delivers an
exciting, incisive story with a credible, interesting central
character and…
Dave Pigeon (Nuggets)
Swapna Haddow
Illustrated by Sheena Dempsey
In a nutshell: pigeontastic comedy capers with Dave and Skipper |
Things are not looking good for pigeons Dave and Skipper. The
Human…
Dream Team
Alan Gibbons
Illustrated by Chris Chalik
With the World Cup coming up, football stories are even more
appealing than usual, and Alan Gibbons knows just how to win and
hold young…
The Fox and the Ghost King
Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Michael Foreman
Award-winning Michael Morpurgo weaves a charming and witty story
around sport and history as they have come together in the recent
twin triumphs of…
Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie Escape from Camp
Jeff Norton
Life's not easy for Adam Meltzer, or rather death isn't. You see,
he's a zombie – bad enough for anyone let alone someone
who…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
We are Not Frogs
Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Sam Usher
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | March 2016 Book of the Month -
A Dyslexia Friendly Picture Book for Parent and Child New
on…
Bright Star
Jenny Oldfield
Illustrated by Gary Blythe
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ A touching story about the healing
friendship between an unhappy girl and a beautiful and wild
horse.…
School Spelling Dictionary
Christine Maxwell, Julia Rowlandson
Interest Age 7+ Reading Age 8+ Based on a phonic approach to
finding spellings, this schools edition of the best-selling
Dictionary of Perfect…
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…
A Twist of Tales
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Peter Bailey
Interest Age 5-8 No-one knows better than Julia Donaldson how to
tell a story for young readers. There are three fairy tales in this
appealing…
The Two Jacks
Tony Bradman
Illustrated by Ross Collins
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 A case of mistaken identity means
everything changes in this sweet story…
