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
- Meltdown! by Jill Murphy
- Over the Hills and Far Away A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes from Around the World by Elizabeth Hammill
- 5 Wild Numbers by Bella Gomez
3+ readers
- Square by Mac Barnett
- Wonder Goal! by Michael Foreman
- The Match by Russell Ayto
5+ readers
- The Great Telephone Mix-Up (Little Gem) by Sally Nicholls
- The Bad Mood and the Stick by Lemony Snicket
- Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz
7+ readers
- Hoakes Island by Ian Friel
- The Uncracked Code by Tamara Macfarlane
- A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold
9+ readers
- You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed
- How to Bee by Bren MacDibble
- Spirit by Sally Christie
11+ readers
- The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson
- A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge
- Girls for the Vote by Linda Newbery
13+ readers
- Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge
YA readers
- Release by Patrick Ness
- Moonrise by Sarah Crossan
- The Girl in the Broken Mirror by Savita Kalhan
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!
Lovereading4kids is great, we get books really early never late. We love to read and review, and think you would like it too. The excitement
Jasmine Harris-Hart, age 12
It is fantastic, you get to read lots of books and you always find something new and amazing in them.
Erica Motoc, age 7
We love Lovereading as my 5 year old loves to read new books before anyone else has a chance, she says it makes reading exciting!
Tracey Chorley
It’s really exciting to read and review new books, thrilling to see my reviews online and I love finding the final published copies on sale.
Sam Harper – age 10
I have told all my friends, family & teachers to see for themselves just how great the site is. Without fail, they are hugely impressed.
Alexander Boxall – age 11
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
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
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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
Baby's Bedtime Story Box
Sam Taplin
Six enchanting hardcover books in a sturdy slipcase box, with
gentle stories to read aloud and magical illustrations to help
toddlers and young…
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…
The Gruffalo
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
“A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw
the mouse and the mouse looked good.”So begins the story of
how a clever…
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…
I Want a Bedtime Story!
Tony Ross
After all these years the Little Princess still rules the palace
and its inhabitants – including the queen, the admiral and
the prime minister.…
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,…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
I Stop Somewhere
T. E. Carter
May 2018 Debut of the Month | In a Nutshell: Intense exposé
of extreme misogyny and male privilege An unflinching novel
about…
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…
The Company of Eight
Harriet Whitehorn
All her life Cass has dreamt of joining the circus to become an
acrobat and travel the islands on the Circus Boat. Once a year the
boat visits…
You Are Awesome
Matthew Syed
May 2018 Book of the Month | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month
April & May 2018 Table tennis champion Matthew Syed offers his
very best…
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…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
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…
Katinka's Tail
Judith Kerr
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the
Month November 2017 Fans of the adventures of Judith Kerr's Mog
will…
I am Bat
Morag Hood
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | This must be one of the
brightest and best picture books of the year. With minimalist
illustrations –…
Hats of Faith
Medeia Cohan-Petrolino
Illustrated by Sarah Walsh
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | There should be more books like
this: in bright, appealing illustrations it tells children how
people of…
The One Memory of Flora Banks
Emily Barr
Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2018 | Longlisted for the
Branford Boase Award 2018 | One of Our Books of the Year 2017
|…
Indigo Donut
Patrice Lawrence
Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2018 | One of Our Books of the
Year 2017 | In a Nutshell: Soaring soundtrack to resilience
and…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
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…
A World of Cities
Lily Murray
Illustrated by James Brown
In this large format picture book 30 famous cities around the globe
are brought to life through beautiful illustrations and a vast
miscellany of…
On a Scale of 1 to 10
Ceylan Scott
A uniquely powerful, devastating novel of friendship, fragility and
guilt.
Eat Your Greens, Reds, Yellows and Purples
A guide to delicious and nutritious vegetarian food for kids. This
book includes 25 vegetarian recipes for kids including soup, salad
and stir-fry as…
Animals Behaving Badly
Nicola Davies
Illustrated by Adam Stower
In a lively, highly readable book Nicola Davies examines ways that
man and animals interact, highlighting species whose intelligence
and adaptability…
Cool Kids Cook
Jenny Chandler
The hot (cool) new cook book for 7 - 14 year old children who love
food and want to understand more about where it comes from and how
to create…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
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…
You Must Bring a Hat
Simon Philip
Illustrated by Kate Hindley
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award A party invitation is at
the centre of this highly entertaining and amusing story. It states
that guests…
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…
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…
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…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
The Amazing Dinosaur Detectives
Maggie Li
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | May 2016 Book of the Month
Attractive, friendly illustrations and an interactive approach make
this a fun…
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…
If Only We Had a Helicopter
Roger Mcgough
Illustrated by Michael Broad
Interest Age 7-12 Reading Age 7 Here's a slice of Roger McGough's
childhood to entertain young readers, stories of some of
the…
The Boy and the Globe
Tony Bradman
Illustrated by Tom Morgan-Jones
Young readers wondering what's so special about Shakespeare as
celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of his death get
underway would do…
Borgon the Axeboy and the Prince's Shadow
Kjartan Poskitt
Illustrated by Philip Reeve
Hilarious new adventures for Borgon the young barbarian who is
determined to make his mark on the world. Borgon is off to watch
the Shadow Trials…
Jamal's Journey
Michael Foreman
Michael Foreman was inspired to create his new picture book on a
visit to the Dubai Book Fair, and Jamal the little camel's journey
ends in the…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
Jinks and O'Hare Funfair Repair
Philip Reeve
Illustrated by Sarah McIntyre
Bestselling Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre have created a fabulous
feisty new heroine in Emily who is determined to be as helpful as
she possibly…
Aztec Attack
Chris Blake
Join Tom on an incredible treasure hunt through time and battle
history's mightiest warriors. The twelfth book in an action-packed,
time-travelling…
The New Friend
Jenny Colgan
Illustrated by Thomas Docherty
In a nutshell: reassuring funny story about overcoming shyness and
making friends | Polly is starting big school but not looking
forward to…
Dave Pigeon (Nuggets)
Swapna Haddow
Illustrated by Sheena Dempsey
In a nutshell: pigeontastic comedy capers with Dave and Skipper |
Things are not looking good for pigeons Dave and Skipper. The
Human…
Jacky Ha-Ha: My Life is a Joke
James Patterson
Spending time with the eponymous Jacky (Ha-Ha because she's both
funny and a stammerer) is always great fun and, as ever, there's
lots to…
The Jewelled Jaguar
Sharon Tregenza
In a nutshell: myth, mystery and adventure Sharon Tregenza's
exciting mystery story opens in very dramatic fashion when a huge
sinkhole…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
The First Hunter
Robert Swindells
Illustrated by Si Clark
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 8 In a nutshell: action-filled,
thought-provoking story set in the Stone Age. In urgent, staccato
prose Robert…
Sterling and the Canary
Andy Stanton
Illustrated by Ross Collins
One of our Dyslexia Friendly Books of the Year 2014 - Interest Age
9+ Reading Age 8+. Prize-winning Andy Stanton injects his trademark
humour…
The Mystery of the Man with the Black Beard
Gillian Cross
Illustrated by Peter Cottrill
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ The best-selling author of The
Demon Headmaster tackles mystery and sleuthing in this
exciting…
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…
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…
Contact
Malorie Blackman
Illustrated by Paul Fisher
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 7+ Malorie Blackman is adept at
writing thought-provoking books as full of ideas as they are of
action and…
