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
- Samson the Mighty Flea by Angela Mcallister
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
- Clare and her Captain by Michael Morpurgo
- Grandad's Secret Giant by David Litchfield
7+ readers
- My Mum's Going To Explode! by Jeremy Strong
- Mango & Bambang: Tiny Tapir Trouble by Polly Faber
- The Snow Leopard by Jackie Morris
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
- ...And a Happy New Year? by Holly Bourne
- A Monster Calls: Special Collector's Edition by Patrick Ness
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!
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
Lovereading is just a convenient way to find new books and hear others opinions on them.
Sarah Murray – age 15
It’s a community united by a passion for books and promoting the best there is in children’s literature.
Sam Bateman and family
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
At @HHSHaringey we love @lovereading4kids because our pupils can practice reviewing & get free upcoming books before anyone else!
Helen Swinyard – Heartlands High
LoveReading4Kids is a modern and creative way of emphasising the value and importance of books in this digital age #booksforlife
Amrit Bunet – Teen
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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
The Mumsnet Book of Animal Stories
Various Authors
A beautifully illustrated treasury of captivating animal stories
for families to share together. This is the second year of the
Mumsnet/Walker Books…
The Last Book Before Bedtime
Nicola O'Byrne
It might be the most important story of the day, but in Nicola
O'Byrne's witty book the telling of the last book before bedtime
is…
My Favourite Bedtime Rhymes
Illustrated by Sanja Rescek, Hannah Wood
A charming collection of all your favourite bedtime rhymes,
delightfully illustrated by best-loved illustrators Hannah Wood and
Sanja Rescek. …
Talulla Bear's Bedtime Book
Heather Roan Robbins
A delightful, gentle story to share with your little ones which
will leave you both feeling restful, warm and cosy. This beautiful
picture book has…
The Lion Book of Nursery Rhymes
Julia Stone
Illustrated by Cally Johnson-Isaacs
November 2014 Book of the Month Every child needs a collection of
nursery rhymes and this collection of favourites with their clear
and unfussy…
Where the Wild Things are
Maurice Sendak
Jacqueline Wilson, February 2012 Guest Editor: "The text is very
minimal but perfect - and the illustrations are glorious. This
isn't a scary…
This month's 'featured books':
Carnegie Greenaway
The Smell of Other People's Houses
Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017 | Shortlisted for the
UKLA 2017 Book Award | Longlisted for the Guardian Children's
Fiction Prize 2016…
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…
Buffalo Soldier
Tanya Landman
Winner of the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal The Judges comment
“We were particularly impressed with how Buffalo Soldier
explored what it means to…
This is Not My Hat
Jon Klassen
Winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal 2014 - Winner of the UKLA Book
Awards 3-6yrs 2014 - Winner of the 2013 Caldecott Medal. One of
Julia…
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…
There is a Tribe of Kids
Lane Smith
Winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 | Award-winning Lane
Smith's stunning illustrations create a delight of a story
which…
This month's 'featured books':
Books Reviewed by Children
Isadora Moon Goes on a School Trip
Harriet Muncaster
In a nutshell: half-vampire, half-fairy, Isadora makes a new friend
Lively, told in short chapters and filled with illustrations
this…
The Wrong Train
Jeremy De Quidt
In a Nutshell: Sinister short stories Sublimely spine-tingling,
this evokes all the dread of an ominous tap-tap-tapping on your
door in the dead of…
William Bee's Wonderful World of Trains, Boats and Planes
William Bee
If you love vehicles, then this is the book for you! William Bee
shows off a multitude of amazing vehicles, starting with the steam
engine, then…
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…
Raymie Nightingale
Kate DiCamillo
Some momentous things happen in the course of this book: a father
leaves, buildings are burgled, a cat is lost and found, hearts are
broken, good…
This month's 'featured books':
Bookshelf Essentials
Amazing Grace
Mary Hoffman
Illustrated by Caroline Binch
Selected by a distinguished independent panel of experts including
our editorial expert, Julia Eccleshare, for Diverse Voices - 50 of
the best…
Aliens in Underpants Save the World
Claire Freedman
Illustrated by Ben Cort
The bestselling Aliens decked out in the finest underpants, are
back for a new set of adventures. This time it's nothing less than
saving the…
Stick Man
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Creators of The Gruffalo, best selling author/ illustrator Julia
Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are back with another bestseller on
their hands.…
The Cat In The Hat
Dr. Seuss
Classic and best-selling, the rhyming verse story of The Cat in the
Hat remains as fresh as when it was first published. Arriving
announced and…
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Sir John Tenniel
A lovely hardback edition to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of
this world famous children's classic. A book that's chock full of
great…
Mio's Kingdom
Astrid Lindgren
From the world famous creator of Pippi Longstocking comes this
touching magical adventure about an unhappy little boy who meets a
genie and is…
This month's 'featured books':
Classics
Gulliver
Jonathan Swift
Illustrated by Lauren O'Neill
‘My name is Gulliver, and I have a tale to tell that will
make your hair stand up and your mouth hang open.' So starts Mary
Webb's…
Tales from Grimm
Antonia Barber
Illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain
Nine of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm's best-known stories are retold
with great fluency in this beautifully produced edition which is
perfectly…
The Iliad
Rosemary Sutcliff
Illustrated by Alan Lee
A stunningly illustrated edition of Homer's classic adventure story
which has been vibrantly retold by the late Rosemary Sutcliff who
adds her…
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Mildred D. Taylor
Illustrated by David Kearney
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is the classic story of a girl growing
up in the deep South. _____________ Puffin Fact! After
graduating…
Postcards from No Man's Land
Aidan Chambers
In a nutshell: Iconic | Outspoken | Big Issues | Difficult Truths
This winner of the 2003 Michael Printz Award and the Carnegie
Medal, told in dual…
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (with an Introduction by Richard Peck)
Mark Twain
Tom Sawyer seems to be unable to avoid trouble. Wherever he is, he
seems to be doing something adults don't approve of. But Tom is
smart: he knows…
