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 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
Lovereading is just a convenient way to find new books and hear others opinions on them.
Sarah Murray – age 15
At @HHSHaringey we love @lovereading4kids because our pupils can practice reviewing & get free upcoming books before anyone else!
Helen Swinyard – Heartlands High
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
It is fantastic, you get to read lots of books and you always find something new and amazing in them.
Erica Motoc, age 7
We love Lovereading4kids because it promotes reading choices, new authors and a sense of community for children of all ages!
Rachel Bridgeman
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 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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
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…
Richard Scarry's Best Treasury Ever
Richard Scarry
A stunning hardback treasury of five of Richard Scarry's best-loved
stories - the perfect gift for Scarry fans, young and old!
Richard…
Here Comes the Sun
Karl Newson
Illustrated by Migy Blanco
With a gentle rhyming text that makes it a particular pleasure to
read this picture book, though it's perfect bedtime reading, ends
as dawn…
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…
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…
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Michael Rosen
Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
This is the 25th anniversary board book edition of this bestselling
title which well-deserves its classic status. It has become the
staple of…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
Artie Conan Doyle and the Vanishing Dragon
Robert J. Harris
In a nutshell: enthralling new mysteries for a young Holmes Artie
Doyle can't resist the temptation offered by a mysterious
invitation to an…
Renegades
Marissa Meyer
In a Nutshell: Anarchy, Justice, Heroes versus Villains Hot on the
heels of Wonder Woman, and timely with Black Panther's rapturous
big screen…
Beyond the Odyssey
Maz Evans
April 2018 Book of the Month The penultimate in the series, Beyond
The Odyssey continues with poor Elliot's life becoming more
difficult by…
You Are Awesome
Matthew Syed
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month April 2018 This positive and
empowering guide, by bestselling mindset author Matthew Syed, will
help children…
The City of Secret Rivers
Jacob Sager Weinstein
April 2018 Debut of the Month | Longlisted for the Branford Boase
Award 2018 | In a nutshell: breath-taking magical adventure on
the…
Iguana Boy Saves the World With a Triple Cheese Pizza
James Bishop
In a nutshell: can one boy and four iguanas save the world? You
betcha There might be a lot of superhero books around at the
moment,…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
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…
Running on the Roof of the World
Jess Butterworth
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | June 2017 Debut of the Month In
a Nutshell: Spirit of survival abounds on an epic Himalayan…
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…
Flip Flap Dogs
Nikki Dyson
Illustrated by Nikki Dyson
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | February 2017 Book of the Month
Open the book and turn its divided pages carefully, top and bottom
half together,…
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…
Playtime with Ted
Sophy Henn
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Playtime with Ted is one of a
new series of interactive board books from the super-talented Sophy
Henn and like…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
The Sports Timeline Wallbook
Christopher Lloyd, Patrick Skipworth
Illustrated by Andy Forshaw
Ernest Hemingway might have said there are only three real sports
– motor racing, bull-fighting and mountaineering – but
even he might…
Life on Earth: Farm
Heather Alexander
Illustrated by Andres M. Lozano
March 2017 Book of the Month Unless they are regular visitors to
the countryside it can be hard for children to connect the milk in
the…
Women in Science
Rachel Ignotofsky
March 2017 Non Fiction Book of the Month | In a nutshell: an
inspiring introduction to 50 pioneering women scientists | …
Survivors
David Long
Illustrated by Kerry Hyndman
Winner of the Blue Peter Book Award 2017 - Best Books with Facts In
a nutshell: jaw-dropping true stories; survival against the odds
…
The Science Timeline Wallbook
Christopher Lloyd, Patrick Skipworth
Illustrated by Andy Forshaw
The story of human invention and engineering began at least 10,000
years ago in the stone age and has continued non-stop ever since
with each…
The Amazing Dinosaur Detectives
Maggie Li
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | May 2016 Book of the Month
Attractive, friendly illustrations and an interactive approach make
this a fun…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
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…
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:…
Kid Got Shot
Simon Mason
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Meet Garvie Smith.
Reprobate, genius, waster, and sometime detective. Right in the
middle of revision hell -…
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…
Oi Dog! Board Book
Kes Gray, Claire Gray
Illustrated by Jim Field
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award | Winner of the Children's
Book Award 2017 - Books for Younger Children Category All fans of
rhymes will…
Bottle of Happiness, A
Pippa Goodhart
Illustrated by Ehsan Abdollahi
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award A new fable that goes full
circle as it explores the value of possessions against values of
friendship and…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
Rory Branagan (Detective)
Andrew Clover
Illustrated by Ralph Lazar
April 2018 Debut of the Month | In a nutshell: in his own words,
quirky, super-readable saga of a ten-year-old…
Stormbreaker The Graphic Novel
Anthony Horowitz, Antony Johnston
Illustrated by Kanako Damerum, Yuzuru Takasaki
A bold and stylish reissue of the groundbreaking and hugely popular
graphic adaptation of Alex Rider's very first mission. Brilliantly
visualised,…
How Pirates Really Work
Alan Snow
Do pirates really like singing rollicking songs, burying their
treasure and parrots? Do they really eat Ship's biscuits with worms
and…
The Adventures of Alfie Onion
Vivian French
Illustrated by Marta Kissi
If you love fairytales – and who couldn't? – you'll
love this brand new adventure written by one of our most inventive
and…
The Secret Dog
Joe Friedman
Good dog stories are irresistible and this one has everything that
young readers want. Josh is living on a Scottish island with his
crofter uncle…
Bruno and Titch
Sheena Dempsey
Perfect for pet-lovers (and especially guinea pig lovers)
everywhere, this funny story of finding a home and a person to care
for him is told from…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
Scorpia The Graphic Novel
Anthony Horowitz, Antony Johnston
Illustrated by Kanako Damerum, Yuzuru Takasaki
Eyebrow-raisingly, heart-stoppingly pacey adventures starring the
boy every would-be teen superhero wants to be, the Alex Rider books
are now…
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…
Imagination According to Humphrey
Betty G. Birney
Illustrated by Jason Chapman
Children's favourite Humphrey the hamster is back for another
adventure, his twelfth no less. The good news is that he's just
as…
Aliens Love Dinopants
Claire Freedman
Illustrated by Ben Cort
Those pants-mad aliens are back for another bonkers and utterly
irresistible episode of knicker-nicking! Lightning sends the
aliens' spaceship…
Moone Boy: the Blunder Years
Chris O'Dowd, Nick Vincent Murphy
One of our Books of the Year 2014 Martin Moone- one boy and a load
of sisters! That means Martin is always in trouble of one kind or
another.…
Llama United
Scott Allen
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
May 2017 Debut of the Month | In a nutshell: daft and thoroughly
entertaining football adventure with llamas | There aren't enough
good…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
Meet the Weirds
Kaye Umansky
Illustrated by Chris Mould
Interest Age 9-12 Reading Age 8+ The Weirds are a most unusual
family in every way; mum is a stunt woman, dad is a scientist with
a habit of blowing…
The Haunting of Uncle Ron
Anne Fine
Illustrated by Vicki Gausden
Interest Age 7-12 Reading Age 7+ Award-winning Anne Fine always
writes brilliantly about annoying family members. Ian's Uncle Ron
has a…
The Mystery of the Man with the Black Beard
Gillian Cross
Illustrated by Peter Cottrill
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ The best-selling author of The
Demon Headmaster tackles mystery and sleuthing in this
exciting…
Gunpoint
Jim Eldridge
Illustrated by Dan Chernett
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 6+ “Put your hands up! If anyone
moves we shoot!” The action starts on page one of this
heart-stopping…
Prince Frog Face
Kaye Umansky
Illustrated by Ben Whitehouse
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ Andy Stanton describes Kaye
Umansky as ‘wickedly funny' and that's very true of her
version of The…
Mum Never Did Learn to Knock
Cathy Hopkins
Illustrated by Louise Wright
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ Cathy Hopkins is a truly gifted
author for tweens, with an ability to connect with her readers that
she makes…
