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
- Where Is Little Fish? by Lucy Cousins
- Count with Little Fish by Lucy Cousins
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
- King of the Sky by Nicola Davies
- The Great Big Book of Feelings by Mary Hoffman
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
- The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day by Christopher Edge
- To the Edge of the World by Julia Green
- You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed
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
- Rebound by Kwame Alexander
- Holes by Louis Sachar
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!
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
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 they put books in front of us we wouldn’t otherwise have read. They make us more adventurous readers!
Emily Jacques
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 as it provides an honest opinion and showcases a range of fiction. Suited to both parents & kids alike, it’s a must-use.
Georgie Rowe – age 16
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
The Everywhere Bear
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Rebecca Cobb
Best-selling duo Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb reunite in a
lovely story that begins in a Year One classroom before taking us
on an exciting,…
Beep Beep Beep Time for Sleep!
Claire Freedman
Illustrated by Richard Smythe
This book will be heaven for digger devotees, and a dream come true
for their parents too. A busy day on the motorway is drawing to a
close: the…
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…
The Almost Fearless Hamilton Squidlegger
Timothy Basil Ering
This is a page-turning story about a normally boisterous youngster
with a fear of being alone in the dark...until a magical quest
results in a good…
We Are Family
Patricia Hegarty
Illustrated by Ryan Wheatcroft
‘Money doesn't matter, nor colour, creed, nor name - /In each
and every family, the love we feel's the same': these are
the…
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
Judith Kerr
This classic story of Sophie and her extraordinary tea-time guest
is now brought to life in an exciting luxury pop-up edition to
celebrate its 40th…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
Judy Moody Predicts the Future
Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Another day. Another mood. Meet Judy Moody at her moodiest-best, in
this laugh-a-minute fourth adventure in the international
bestselling series.
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…
Truly, Wildly, Deeply
Jenny McLachlan
The brilliant, irresistible and gorgeously romantic new novel from
Jenny McLachlan, the breakout star of young, laugh-out-loud teen
fiction. Annie…
Savage Island
Bryony Pearce
In a Nutshell: When a £1 million prize game becomes more than
a game…. Extreme pressure, perils and outright horrors
fester when five…
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…
Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island
Liz Kessler
In a nutshell: exciting new adventure for the deservedly popular
Emily Windsnap An idyllic holiday in the sun with her…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
A Tragic Kind of Wonderful
Eric Lindstrom
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | May 2017 Book of the Month | In
a Nutshell: Coping with bipolar disorder | Finding the courage
to…
Sunk!
Rob Biddulph
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | No child's bookshelf is
complete without one, and preferably more than one of Rob
Biddulph's joyful,…
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…
Looking for Yesterday
Alison Jay
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | October 2017 Book of the Month
Beautiful illustrations full of interest and wonder accompany
Alison Jay's…
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…
Moonrise
Sarah Crossan
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Shortlisted for the Costa
Children's Book Award 2017 In a Nutshell: Death row injustice |
Undying…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
My RSPB Nature Clipboard
Eryl Nash
Illustrated by Hannah Tolson
A trip to the country, local park or even into the back garden will
be lots of fun with this special pack, which has everything
children need to…
A Walk on the Wild Side
Louis Thomas
This animal guide book takes an unusual approach: it is presented
in the form of a scrapbook completed by the author Louis Thomas as
he travelled the…
Cool Mythology
Malcolm Croft
Illustrated by Damien Weighill
Stories, gods, heroes and villains from the world's great
mythologies are all featured in this compact and appealing
information book. It is…
The Big Bird Spot
Matt Sewell
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month May 2017 Described as
‘the Bansky of the bird world', Matt Sewell has…
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…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
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…
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…
The Goldfish Boy
Lisa Thompson
Longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | Longlisted for the
UKLA 2018 Book Award A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month
January…
Where the World Ends
Geraldine McCaughrean
One of our Books of the Year 2017 | Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018
Book Award May 2017 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: beautifully
written,…
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…
A Child of Books
Oliver Jeffers, Sam Winston
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Julia Eccleshare's Book of
the Month September 2016 Award-winning storyteller and artist
Oliver…
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…
They Didn't Teach This in Worm School!
Simone Lia
August 2016 Debut of the Month This story of an unusual friendship
is exactly the sort of barmy, surreal comedy adventure that…
Scenes from the Epic Life of a Total Genius
Stacey Matson
Illustrated by Simon Kwan
In a nutshell: the agony and the ecstasy of the pre-teen The return
of Arthur Bean, self-proclaimed creative genius and star of one
already highly…
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…
Spangles McNasty and the Fish of Gold
Steve Webb
Illustrated by Chris Mould
To the canon of disgusting, disreputable villains loved by children
– the Twits, Mr Gum, Armitage Shanks – can now be added
Spangles…
There's a Dragon in My Dinner
Tom Nicoll
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
February 2016 Debut of the Month Dragons come in all shapes and
sizes in children's stories, but the one that Eric finds in a
box…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog: Master of Disguise
Jeremy Strong
In a Nutshell: silliness – disguises - dogs Jeremy Strong
continues to set the standard in comic writing for children and
his…
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…
50 Football Skills
A handy pocket-sized paperback book packed with skills and tricks
to improve technique on the pitch. Covers all areas of playing the
'beautiful…
Timmy Failure We Meet Again
Stephan Pastis
Loveable world-class detective Timmy Failure is back for a new
adventure. And his business partner and side-kick Total, a.k.a. the
polar bear is with…
Attack of the Alien Dung!
Gareth P. Jones
Illustrated by Steve May
In a nutshell: pets protect the world from alien attack | Planet
Earth Is under constant threat from aliens, and who is there to
protect…
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! …
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
The Hat Trick
Terry Deary
Illustrated by Stefano Tambellini
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 Can Jud rise to the challenge in
this new edition of the popular football-tale-with-a-twist from
award-winning…
Boing Boing
Alexander Mccall Smith
Illustrated by Zoe Persico
A Dyslexia Friendly Picture Book for Parent and Child The story of
a little girl who literally has a spring in her step (in her knees
to…
Young Werewolf
Cornelia Funke
Illustrated by David Roberts
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 Matt was your average boy until a
dangerous encounter awakens a wolf inside of him! This is a fun
supernatural…
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.…
The Black Knight of Gressingham 4u2read
Philip Ardagh
Illustrated by Mike Phillips
Interest Age 7-12 Reading Age 7 Philip Ardagh is one of the
funniest - and cleverest - authors around and his stories of the
Green Men of…
Mad Iris
Jeremy Strong
Illustrated by Scoular Anderson
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 8+. Jeremy Strong, creator of Streaker,
the fastest and most out of control dog in the world, now brings
readers Mad…
