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
- Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
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!
At @HHSHaringey we love @lovereading4kids because our pupils can practice reviewing & get free upcoming books before anyone else!
Helen Swinyard – Heartlands High
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
This company is amazing; not only is it is a great opportunity to get books and review them but everyone is so friendly and supportive!
Jemma Rubens, age 10
I am so pleased to have signed my kids up as they are reading a much wider range of books and even choosing books out of their comfort zone.
Angela East
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 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 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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
Peace at Last
Jill Murphy
A new board book edition of the picture book classic, in a size
that's perfect for little paws! A timeless storybook classic full
of bright…
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…
Silver
Walter de la Mare
Illustrated by Carolina Rabei
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month April 2017 | “Slowly,
silently now the moon/ Walks the night/ in her silver…
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…
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
Lynley Dodd
First published in 1983 and still as good today. Written by Lynley
Dodd, who is a New Zealander, this is the first in a series of
books about the…
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
Kat Wolfe Investigates
Lauren St.John
In a nutshell: animals, adventure and an irresistible cast of
characters This new series has everything that marks out the best,
most satisfying and…
Alan's Big, Scary Teeth
Jarvis
Glorious illustrations tell this story that is both nicely scary
and neatly resolved. Everyone knows that alligators are scary!
Right? Alan comes…
William Wenton and the Secret Portal
Bobbie Peers
In a nutshell: code-breaking child genius versus villainous robots
| William Wenton is something of a bionic boy; half of his body is
a…
How to Bee
Bren MacDibble
May 2018 Book of the Month How To Bee is unlike any story I have
ever read. The narrative voice is heartfelt and the author uses a
mild form…
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…
The Lie Tree
Frances Hardinge
Award-winning Frances Hardinge is spellbinding is this hugely
entertaining and dramatic Victorian thriller. When Faith's father
dies suddenly…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
Hilary Mckay's Fairy Tales
Hilary Mckay
Illustrated by Sarah Gibb
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | This is an absolutely stunning
book. Not only is it an absolute treat visually but it's also a
feast for…
The Loneliest Girl in the Universe
Lauren James
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | September 2017 Book of the
Month | In a Nutshell: Stellar story of survival in outer space A
uniquely…
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…
William Bee's Wonderful World of Trains, Boats and Planes
William Bee
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | If you love vehicles, then this
is the book for you! William Bee shows off a multitude of amazing
vehicles,…
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…
A Song for Will and The Lost Gardeners of Heligan
Hilary Robinson
Illustrated by Martin Impey
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | May 2017 Book of the Month |
This deeply moving story perfectly conveys the devastating impact
of the First…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
100 Most: Unexplained Mysteries on the Planet
Anna Claybourne
Think 21st century humans have explained pretty much everything
there is to explain? Think again! As this book demonstrates,
there's still a…
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. …
Three Cheers for Women!
Marcia Williams
Three Cheers for Women is a hugely inspirational book for children.
It is full of facts, quotes and jokes brought together in a really
fun way…
Peep Inside The Sea
Anna Milbourne
Illustrated by Simona Dimitri
There's so much for very young children to discover when they peep
inside the sea in the pages of this excellent board book. Each
page…
The Colours of History
Clive Gifford
Illustrated by Marc-Etienne Peintre
A fascinating information book, The Colours of History takes
readers to different places at different times to show how humans
have used colour in…
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
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…
A First Book of Animals
Nicola Davies
Illustrated by Petr Horacek
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2018 | Longlisted
for the UKLA 2018 Book Award What a wonderful book to give to a
child. It's…
Old Hat!
Emily Gravett
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Longlisted for the UKLA 2018
Book Award June 2017 Book of the Month | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of
the…
The Hypnotist
Laurence Anholt
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award | Winner of the Historical
Association's Young Quills Award 2017 Jack has left his native
Ireland…
Goodbye Days
Jeff Zentner
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a Nutshell: Loss,
friendship and the light of re-finding your way | An…
Fish Boy
Chloe Daykin
Illustrated by Richard Jones
Shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | Longlisted for the
UKLA 2018 Book Award March 2017 Debut of the Month In…
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…
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…
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…
Storyworlds: Nature
Thomas Hegbrook
Opening with an exhortation to readers to ‘discover, inquire
and wonder', this is another example of the exciting trend in
non-fiction…
The Beautiful Game
Alan Gibbons
Illustrated by Chris Chalik
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 | In a nutshell: the highs and lows
of our national obsession | Football has the power to…
Spies in Disguise: Boy in a Tutu
Kate Scott
A funny, wise-cracking spy story with World Cup memorabilia at its
centre - James Bond never had to dress up as a girl!! - packed full
of gadgets and…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
House of Robots: Robot Revolution
James Patterson
In a nutshell: super-readable story | robot rumpus at high school |
Uh-oh, things are not running smoothly in the…
Fortunately, the Milk ...
Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by Chris Riddell
One of our Books of the Year 2014 Award-winning Neil Gaiman
brilliantly weaves a spell-binding story taking readers up and away
on a wild…
The Mega Quiz
Barbara Mitchelhill
Illustrated by Tony Ross
In a nutshell: comic mishaps and triumphs of a schoolboy detective
A sign in his local library catches the eye of schoolboy detective
Damian Drooth:…
A Different Dog
Paul Jennings
Illustrated by Geoff Kelly
In a nutshell: exciting, unusual rescue story set in Australia's
dense forest A Different Dog is the story of the special
relationship that…
Help! I'm a Genius
Jo Franklin
Illustrated by Aaron Blecha
In a Nutshell: Guffaws, giggles and gags aplenty By a curious twist
of fate Daniel Kendal - the self-confessed NOT-brainiac - has been
chosen to…
Danny the Champion of the World
Roald Dahl
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
A classic Roald Dahl title, a most touching story of a boy and his
very special father. Danny and his father live in a caravan parked
right next to…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
Football Crazy
Tony Bradman
Illustrated by Michael Broad
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ Light-hearted, fun football story.
Danny, Jamil and Lewis are delighted when a football legend agrees
to coach…
The Two Jacks
Tony Bradman
Illustrated by Ross Collins
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 A case of mistaken identity means
everything changes in this sweet story…
The Genius Aged 8 1/4
Jeremy Strong
Illustrated by Jamie Smith
Jeremy Strong knows exactly what will make young readers laugh:
eccentric characters; zany plots; plenty of slapstick. Alfie
Poppleton is a very…
Secret of the Stones
Tony Bradman
In a nutshell: vivid, thrilling Bronze Age adventure This gripping
historical adventure opens in dramatic fashion at Stone Henge:
young Maglos…
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…
The Wickford Doom
Chris Priestley
Illustrated by Vladimir Stankovic
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 Chris Priestley has a gift for
writing frightening stories, and this short wartime-set novel
for…
