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!
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
At @HHSHaringey we love @lovereading4kids because our pupils can practice reviewing & get free upcoming books before anyone else!
Helen Swinyard – Heartlands High
It’s so easy to find the right book for your child. Such an easy-to-use, yet in-depth website. 100% reliable.
Pippa, Jack, Liam & Matthew Wils
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 Lovereading4kids because I get an opportunity to put my opinion forward and to try new books
Elosie Clarkson – age 11
A great way to introduce kids to great books, authors & genres. Parents can find age-appropriate books to share with their children.
Judi Davies – Aberdare Girls Sch
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 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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
Old Bear's Bedtime Stories
Jane Hissey
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - December 2015 Book of the Month
Jane Hissey's Old Bear stories make perfect bedtime reading:
warm-hearted…
I See the Moon
Rosalind Beardshaw
This collection contains a bundle of favourite nursery rhymes and
lullabies, together with one or two classic nightime-themed poems
and is a…
Tufty
Michael Foreman
Tufty the little duck grows up in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
(his parents are very fond of the Royal Duck and Duckess (sic) who
give the ducks…
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…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
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…
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…
Firecrackers
Zaro Weil
Illustrated by Jo Riddell
April 2018 Book of the Month Beautifully illustrated by Jo Riddell,
this collection of poems and stories is a perfect gift…
Beyond the Odyssey
Maz Evans
April 2018 Book of the Month The penultimate in the series, Beyond
The Odyssey continues with poor Elliot's life becoming more
difficult by…
Baby Bird
Andrew Gibbs
Illustrated by Zosienka
April 2018 Debut of the Month Beautifully illustrated by talented
newcomer Zosienka, this is an uplifting story about a little bird
who finds a way…
Renegades
Marissa Meyer
In a Nutshell: Anarchy, Justice, Heroes versus Villains Hot on the
heels of Wonder Woman, and timely with Black Panther's rapturous
big screen…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
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 –…
The Wizards of Once
Cressida Cowell
Winner of the 2018 Blue Peter Awards - Best Story | One of Our
Books of the Year 2017 | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month
October…
Countless
Karen Gregory
Longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | One of Our Books of
the Year 2017 | In a Nutshell: Compelling and compassionate account
of…
Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep
Eleanor Farjeon
Illustrated by Charlotte Voake
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Elsie Piddock Skips in Her
Sleep is one of the great Eleanor Farjeon's loveliest stories,
and…
Flip Flap Dogs
Nikki Dyson
Illustrated by Nikki Dyson
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | February 2017 Book of the Month
Open the book and turn its divided pages carefully, top and bottom
half together,…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
Cool Coding
Rob Hansen, Damien Weighill
A fun, accessible guide to computers and coding for older children
and curious adults. This fun and quirky book provides a fascinating
introduction…
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…
100 Most Awesome Things on the Planet
Anna Claybourne
The world we live in is truly amazing, and across its continents,
oceans and skies are all kinds of fabulous places and astounding
sights. Almost 100…
50 Ways to Feel Happy
Vanessa King, Val Payne & Peter Harper
Illustrated by Celeste Aires
We all want our children to be happy and resilient, but may not
realise that they can be taught skills to make them happier people.
Written by a…
Coder Academy
Sean McManus
Illustrated by Rosan Magar
October 2017 Non-Fiction Book of the Month This well-designed,
interactive workbook provides a really good introduction to coding
for children. It…
Above and Below
Patricia Hegarty
Illustrated by Hanako Clulow
Children are invited to explore eight different habitats in this
appealing and very attractive information book, clever split page
design allows them…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
The Goldfish Boy
Lisa Thompson
Longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2018 | Longlisted for the
UKLA 2018 Book Award A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month
January…
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…
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…
Orangeboy
Patrice Lawrence
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award | Winner of the YA Book
Prize 2017 | Winner of Waterstones Children's Book Prize
2017,…
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…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
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…
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 Secret Dog
Joe Friedman
Good dog stories are irresistible and this one has everything that
young readers want. Josh is living on a Scottish island with his
crofter uncle…
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…
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…
Spangles McNasty and the Tunnel of Doom
Steve Webb
Illustrated by Chris Mould
In a nutshell: a roller-coaster ride of zany anarchic fun |
Spangles McNasty is an absolute rotter, the sort of menace
happiest…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
There's a Dragon in My Backpack!
Tom Nicoll
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
From the Psammead to the Cat in the Hat, there's a long tradition
in children's books of young protagonists befriending a
magical…
Born to Dance
Jean Ure
In a nutshell: the perfect story for keen young ballerinas | Jean
Ure understands exactly what makes ballet such an…
King Flashypants and the Evil Emperor
Andy Riley
In a nutshell : noble kings – evil laughs – chocolate
Good versus evil is given a very funny workout in this the first
book in what…
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…
Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie Escape from Camp
Jeff Norton
Life's not easy for Adam Meltzer, or rather death isn't. You see,
he's a zombie – bad enough for anyone let alone someone
who…
Black Light Express
Philip Reeve
November 2016 Book of the Month In a nutshell: dazzling journeys
into other worlds | Philip Reeve continues to turn us all
into…
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…
Mad Iris and the Bad School Report
Jeremy Strong
Illustrated by Scoular Anderson
One of our Dyslexia Friendly Books of the Year 2015 - Interest Age
8-12 Reading Age 8Firm favourite Mad Iris returns for a third
madcap…
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…
Who's a Big Bully Then?
Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Joanna Carey
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+. How do you see off the school
bully? Sick of being picked on and called ‘chicken' the
narrator of this…
Fame Thing
Jonathan Meres
Illustrated by Jake McDonald
One of our Super Readable Books of the Year 2016 | Interest Age
8-12 Reading Age 8 | In a nutshell: funny story of football,
fandom…
War Games
Terry Deary
Illustrated by Stefano Tambellini
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 Best-known for his Horrible
Histories, Terry Deary has an exceptional ability to bring the past
to…
