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 Tickle Test by Kathryn White
3+ readers
- The Wildest Cowboy by Garth Jennings
- Square by Mac Barnett
- Wonder Goal! by Michael Foreman
5+ readers
- The Great Telephone Mix-Up (Little Gem) by Sally Nicholls
- The Bad Mood and the Stick by Lemony Snicket
- Plantopedia by Adrienne Barman
7+ readers
- Hoakes Island by Ian Friel
- The Uncracked Code by Tamara Macfarlane
- A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold
9+ readers
- How to Bee by Bren MacDibble
- You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed
- Spirit by Sally Christie
11+ readers
- The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson
- A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge
- The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood-Hargrave
13+ readers
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge
- Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
YA readers
- White Rabbit, Red Wolf by Tom Pollock
- Moonrise by Sarah Crossan
- 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!
I love Lovereading4kids because I get an opportunity to put my opinion forward and to try new books
Elosie Clarkson – age 11
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
I think Lovereading4kids is an amazing company because of the friendly staff and the fabulous chance to read great books before publication.
Adam Graham
It is fantastic, you get to read lots of books and you always find something new and amazing in them.
Erica Motoc, age 7
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
I love Lovereading because I often never know what to read and this helps you find a good book. I have recommended this to many people.
Shannon-Louise Masters – 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
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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
Under the Love Umbrella
Davina Bell
Illustrated by Allison Colpoys
This brightly illustrated picture book is a celebration of the
enduring love that surrounds your children, wherever they are in
the world. The…
Secrets of the Mountain
Libby Walden
Illustrated by Richard Jones
In a nutshell: Dahl-esque story in defence of Unusualness Children
who like their stories filled with larger-than-life characters,
crazy comedy and…
Whatever Next!
Jill Murphy
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month January 2018 Celebrating
thirty-five best-selling years, Whatever Next! is a classic story
of a child's…
Snow Penguin
Tony Mitton
Illustrated by Alison Brown
A wonderful adventure for a bold little penguin is beautifully told
in Tony Mitton's elegant and witty rhyming text. Determined to
explore the…
A Perfect Day
Lane Smith
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month May 2018 | Longlisted for the
UKLA 2018 Book Award Award winning Lane Smith celebrates the simple
delights of…
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 Faceless Ones
Derek Landy
Prize winning Skulduggery Pleasant is back for a third thrilling
adventure. Along with his side-kick Stephanie, Skulduggery, the
skeleton detective,…
The Twitches Bake a Cake
Hayley Scott
Illustrated by Pippa Curnick
More delightful small-scale fun and big adventure in this new story
starring toy rabbit family the Twitches and their owner, Stevie.
Two stories run…
The Magical Mix-Up
Zach King
Illustrated by Beverly Arce
May 2018 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: fast-moving mix of
magic, first crushes and knockabout humour | Zach King's family
have…
Football School Season 2: Where Football Explains the World
Spike Gerrell, Alex Bellos
Illustrated by Ben Lyttleton
This clever, hugely entertaining book is further proof, if it were
needed, that football is the best game in the world, and that there
is nothing,…
After the Fire
Will Hill
Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2018 | Shortlisted for the CILIP
Carnegie Medal 2018 | In a nutshell: tense, super-suspenseful novel
based on…
Skylarks
Karen Gregory
In a Nutshell: Falling in love, taking a stand, and standing tall
Exploring an unforgettable relationship between two young women
and…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
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…
Who Let the Gods Out?
Maz Evans
Longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | One of Our Books of
the Year 2017 | February 2017 Debut of the Month Oh my goodness,
this…
The Land of Neverendings
Kate Saunders
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | November 2017 Book of the Month
| A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month October 2017
Award-winning…
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…
Orbiting Jupiter
Gary D. Schmidt
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Shortlisted for the UKLA 2017
Book Award Before meeting his new foster brother, Jack understands
what he…
The Lost Words
Robert Macfarlane, Jackie Morris
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 A book to make you think and
feel, this is an important, beautiful, spellbinding treasure. Words
from…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
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,…
Coding for Beginners: Using Python
Louie Stowell
This extremely user-friendly and accessible guide book will teach
children the basics of Python, enabling them to create their own
games and simple…
Magnificent Birds
Narisa Togo
It isn't often that a non-fiction picture book has been so admired
here in the Lovereading office. The stunning, stylish lino-cut
prints capture the…
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. …
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…
Mr Shaha's Recipes for Wonder
Alom Shaha
Illustrated by Emily Robertson
Mr Shaha's Recipes for Wonder: Adventures in Science round the
kitchen table will help families appreciate the wonders of
science…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
My Name is Not Refugee
Kate Milner
Shortlisted for the 2018 Klaus Flugge Prize | Longlisted for the
UKLA 2018 Book Award June 2017 Book of the Month Simple enough for
the youngest…
Black Light Express
Philip Reeve
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a nutshell: dazzling
journeys into other worlds | Philip Reeve continues to turn
us…
Grumpy Frog
Ed Vere
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Join Grumpy Frog as he
learns about compromise and tolerance, friendship and the power of
saying sorry. A…
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…
Me and Mister P
Maria Farrer
Illustrated by Dave Gray, Daniel Rieley
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a nutshell: an unusual
friend makes things better | Arthur is understandably surprised
when…
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
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…
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…
Sir Ned and the Nasties
Brett McKee
Illustrated by David McKee
Written by father and son team Brett and David ‘Elmer' McKee
there's the feel of a fable to this picturebook. The Nasties
are…
Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth
Judd Winick
January 2017 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: irresistible
adventure story told in words and pictures | Prepare yourselves:
children…
Life Stinks!
Peter Bently
Illustrated by Fred Blunt
Packed with comical characters, battles, puns and poo, this
hilarious new series from Peter Bently, a Roald Dahl Funny Prize
winner, will be…
Only You Can Save Mankind
Terry Pratchett
Illustrated by Mark Beech
This is an absolutely cracking whiz-bang of a story. Set in an
unreality, that is actually scarily real, it plays with your mind
and really, really…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
Hard Luck
Jeff Kinney
Hard Luck, book 8 of the hilarious, globally-bestselling and
award-winning Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, is now out in paperback.
Francesca Dow, m.d.…
Top of the Class (Nearly)
Liz Pichon
From the winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, the Best Book for
Younger Readers - Red House Children's Book Award, the Waterstones
Children's Book…
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…
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…
Danny Dingle's Fantastic Finds: The Super-Sonic Submarine
Angie Lake
Illustrated by Shanith MM
In a nutshell: fart-powered non-stop adventure, part book part
comic-strip | Fresh from their triumph in the Science Club Soap Box
Derby…
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':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
Street Corner Dad
Alan Gibbons
Illustrated by Ismael Pinteno
Interest Age 7-12 Reading Age 7 Set in Liverpool during World War
II, Alan Gibbon's novel is a compelling drama. It packs a
real…
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…
Tales from Weird Street
Anne Fine
Illustrated by Vicki Gausden
Interest Age 8+ Reading Age 8 Three young friends pass a sunny day
telling each other stories of some of the strange things that
have…
ANZAC Boys
Tony Bradman
Illustrated by Ollie Cuthbertson
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 8+ Children are hyper-sensitive to
unfairness, and the lives described in this Barrington Stoke
World…
Noah Scape Can't Stop Repeating Himself
Guy Bass
Illustrated by Steve May
Interest Age 8-11 Reading Age 8 Guy Bass's hilarious story is a
lesson to be careful what you wish for and why making everything
all…
A Perfectly Ordinary School
Jeremy Strong
Illustrated by Scoular Anderson
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ Bestselling Jeremy Strong wittily
dreams up the perfect way for Frankie to see off the school
bullies.…
