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
- What the Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson
- Oi Dog! Board Book by Kes Gray, Claire Gray
- Where Is 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
- Cogheart by Peter Bunzl
13+ readers
- Truly, Wildly, Deeply by Jenny McLachlan
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- Rebound by Kwame Alexander
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 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
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 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
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
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
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 Lovereading4kids because I get an opportunity to put my opinion forward and to try new books
Elosie Clarkson – age 11
At @HHSHaringey we love @lovereading4kids because our pupils can practice reviewing & get free upcoming books before anyone else!
Helen Swinyard – Heartlands High
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
My Favourite Nursery Rhymes Board Book: Bedtime Rhymes
Tony Ross
This lovely collection of favourite bedtime nursery rhymes with
charming, lively illustrations from Tony Ross to accompany each
rhyme is a wonderful…
Mother Goose's Bedtime Rhymes
Traditional Rhymes
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
With beautiful illustrations by the award-winning Axel Scheffler
comes this beautiful board book featuring Mother Goose and her
playful gosling.…
The Crocodile Under the Bed
Judith Kerr
From the creator of The Tiger Who Came to Tea comes a glorious
picture book full of wonder and adventure. Matty is sick, so sick
that he cant go to…
Owl Babies
Martin Waddell
Three little owl babies sit in the tree and wait…and
wait…and wait…for their Mummy to come home from
hunting. Stunning…
I'll See You in the Morning
Mike Jolley
Illustrated by Mique Moriuchi
Little ones are soothed to sleep with this lovely gentle rhyme with
calming illustrations - a perfect bedtime read for young children
who need a…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
Shapes, Colours, Numbers
Dario Zeruto
Wow, what a clever, inspired way to teach shapes, colours, numbers.
Contained in a neat, white slipcase is a sturdy board book, split
down the…
Judy Moody Declares Independence!
Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Another day. Another mood. Meet Judy Moody at her moodiest-best, in
this laugh-a-minute sixth adventure in the international
bestselling series.
The Edge of Everything
Jeff Giles
In a nutshell: girl loves boy/supernatural bounty hunter | When
star-crossed lovers Zoe and the boy she nicknames X meet
the…
To the Edge of the World
Julia Green
April 2018 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: gripping and moving
adventure story set in a wild seascape Jamie lives on an island in
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,…
The Goose Road
Rowena House
April 2018 Debut of the Month | In a Nutshell: Inspiring WW1
against-the-odds adventure | It's 1916 and…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
Alex, Approximately
Jenn Bennett
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | In a Nutshell: Rolling waves of
romance in the Californian sun Feel-good fiction at its best:
moving,…
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…
The Dollmaker of Krakow
R. M. Romero
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | October 2017 Debut of the Month
In a Nutshell: An enchantingly heartrending conjuration that
weaves…
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…
I Funny: School of Laughs
James Patterson
Illustrated by Jomike Tejido
One of our Books of the Year 2018 | June 2017 Book of the Month |
In a nutshell: more fast, funny, heavily illustrated adventures
with…
The Hate u Give
Angie Thomas
Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2018 | One of Our Books of
the Year 2017 | Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award | April
2017 Debut of the…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
Lesser Spotted Animals
Martin Brown
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a nutshell: not your
average animal book | This is no ordinary animal book, you won't
find…
Politics for Beginners
Kellan Stover
This book certainly gets my vote! Any young people who think
politics is boring or nothing to do with them will likely have
their minds changed by…
The Barefoot Book of Children
Tessa Strickland, Kate DePalma
Illustrated by David Dean
Innovative and inclusive, The Barefoot Book of Children empowers
young readers to learn about the different lives of children around
the globe. …
Destination: Space
Christoph Englert
Illustrated by Tom Clohosy Cole
Shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award 2017 - Best Books with
Facts | September 2016 Fascinating Facts Book of the Month …
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…
You Do the Maths: Launch a Rocket into Space
Hilary Koll, Steve Mills
Illustrated by Vladimir Aleksic
One of four new titles which uses maths to help solve problems in a
range of exciting activities and helps show how useful maths is in
everyday life.…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
Don't Cross the Line!
Isabel Minhos Martins
Illustrated by Bernardo P. Carvalho
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In Don't Cross the Line,
The guard always follows the general's orders without question.
This…
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…
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…
Passing for White
Tanya Landman
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Interest Age Teen Reading
Age 8 | In a nutshell: brilliantly told story inspired by
real…
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…
Saint Death
Marcus Sedgwick
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a Nutshell: Gangs dice
with death under the gaze of Mexican folk saint. A…
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…
The Best Birthday Bike
Chris Hoy
Illustrated by Clare Elsom
March 2016 Book of the Month For action-packed stories, combining
real-life adventure with a touch of magic, Chris Hoy's Flying
Fergus series…
William Bee's Wonderful World of Trucks
William Bee
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2017 Irresistible for
anyone mad about trucks! There's so much to learn about the…
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,…
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…
Harvey Drew and the Bling Bots
Cas Lester
Harvey Drew is an ordinary eleven-year-old who dreams of great
adventures in outer space. The Toxic Spew is an intergalactic waste
disposal ship. The…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
Treasure Hunters: Peril at the Top of the World
James Patterson
In 3 words : in it together The Kidd family, stars of some of James
Patterson's liveliest and most boisterous…
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…
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…
Middle School: Escape to Australia
James Patterson
February 2018 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: Rafe Khatchadorian
heads down under In this special episode of the hugely popular
Middle…
Follow That Car
Lucy Feather
Illustrated by Stephan Lomp
Hey you, Mouse needs help! He has to catch the gorilla in the
bright yellow car, let's go! On Mouse's instructions, readers
follow the…
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':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
Wartman 4u2read
Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Joanna Carey
Interest Age 7-12 Reading Age 7 A brand new 4u2read edition
celebrating the 20th anniversary of this touching tale by Michael
Morpurgo.…
Rugby Academy: Combat Zone
Tom Palmer
Illustrated by Dave Shephard
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ Tom Palmer is brilliant at
capturing the passion of sport and the drama it creates. Woody is
an…
The Beast
Michaela Morgan
Illustrated by Chris Mould
Interest Age 7-12 Reading Age 7 Clever telling keeps this story
spooky and surprising. Chapter one and Robbie and Gareth are
local…
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…
Robot Girl
Malorie Blackman
Illustrated by Matthew Griffin
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ When it comes to writing
involving, thought-provoking page-turners, Malorie Blackman is
unbeatable. In this…
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…
