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
- Where Is Little Fish? by Lucy Cousins
- Count with 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
- What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday by Julia Donaldson
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!
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
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
Writing reviews help the children with their literacy skills and we always read the books together which gives us good quality family time!
Cat Bisland (on behalf of the Bi
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
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
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 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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
Maisy Goes to Bed
Lucy Cousins
Celebrate twenty-five years of Maisy with this classic novelty book
reissue that remains as popular today as it was 25 years ago! Lift
the flaps and…
How the Elephant Got His Trunk
Anna Milbourne
Illustrated by John Joven
This retelling of Kipling's Just So story is thoroughly appealing
and effective. It's bright and attractive to look at –
John…
Spaghetti with the Yeti
Adam Guillain, Charlotte Guillain
Illustrated by Lee Wildish
Shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2013 - September 2013
Book of the Month George is off on an adventure – to
find…
The Mumsnet Book of Animal Stories
Various Authors
A beautifully illustrated treasury of captivating animal stories
for families to share together. This is the second year of the
Mumsnet/Walker Books…
Old Bear
Jane Hissey
Old Bear was first published in 1986 and became one of the
bestselling picture books ever with spin off merchandise that
ensured he became a…
Lily and Bear
Lisa Stubbs
One of our Books of the Year 2015 -April 2015 Debut of the Month
Lily and Bear – two wonderful new characters who love to
play…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
What the Ladybird Heard Next
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Lydia Monks
Best-selling duo Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks have gone back to
the farmyard for a second adventure featuring the clever and
resourceful ladybird!…
Laugh Out Loud
James Patterson
In a nutshell: lively, comic story celebrating kids' reading and
determination James Patterson creates books kids love, and his
latest book is…
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…
Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island
Liz Kessler
In a nutshell: exciting new adventure for the deservedly popular
Emily Windsnap An idyllic holiday in the sun with her…
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.
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
Letters from the Lighthouse
Emma Carroll
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | July 2017 Book of the Month
Lovereading4kids are big fans of Emma's books. Her stories…
Illegal
Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin
Illustrated by Giovanni Rigano
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the
Month October 2017 Twelve-year-old Ebo's terrifying story
of…
Running on the Roof of the World
Jess Butterworth
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | June 2017 Debut of the Month In
a Nutshell: Spirit of survival abounds on an epic Himalayan…
Matt Millz
Harry Hill
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | In a nutshell: dreams-come-true
adventure plus comedy advice from the master Harry Hill's
new…
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 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
A World of Information
Richard Platt
Illustrated by James Brown
Longlisted for the 2017 Klaus Flugge Prize | December 2016
Fascintating Facts Book of the Month A visually stunning collection
of…
Scientist Academy
Steve Martin
Illustrated by Essi Kimpimaki
This cleverly designed, attractive book will catch the imagination
of all children, even those who wrongly believe that they don't
have what it…
The Street Beneath My Feet
Charlotte Gullian
Illustrated by Yuval Zommer
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Detailed, ingenious and
graphically beautiful this information book opens, as the best do,
with an…
The Spot the Mistake: Lands of Long Ago
Mike Jolley, A. J. Wood
Illustrated by Frances Castle
For an information book, Lands of Long Ago takes a highly unusual
approach, filling its pages with errors. Young readers are
challenged to find…
Animal Journeys
Patricia Hegarty
Illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle
Starting with the Arctic tern, which makes the longest migration of
any creature, an astonishing 91,600km (57,000 mi) this
journal-sized book is full…
Lots The Diversity of Life on Earth
Nicola Davies
Illustrated by Emily Sutton
February 2018 Book of the Month | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the
Month February 2018 | A stunning book that is also an
invaluable…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
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 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…
Oi Dog! Board Book
Kes Gray, Claire Gray
Illustrated by Jim Field
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award | Winner of the Children's
Book Award 2017 - Books for Younger Children Category All fans of
rhymes will…
A Child of Books
Oliver Jeffers, Sam Winston
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Julia Eccleshare's Book of
the Month September 2016 Award-winning storyteller and artist
Oliver…
Aubrey and the Terrible Ladybirds
Horatio Clare
Illustrated by Jane Matthews
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award June 2017 Book of the Month
| A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month June 2017 A sequel
to…
Peter in Peril Courage and Hope in World War Two
Helen Bate
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Peter is just an ordinary
boy, who loves playing football with his friends and eating cake -
until war comes…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
Hector and the Big Bad Knight
Alex T. Smith
March 2014 Debut of the Month A fun-filled new picture book about
the power of good with quirky illustrations from award-winning Alex
T. Smith.…
Football Forgery
Barbara Mitchelhill
Illustrated by Tony Ross
In a nutshell: comic triumphs and mishaps of a schoolboy detective
Schoolboy super-sleuth Damian Drooth is back with a new case:
someone is selling…
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…
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…
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…
Collection of Curiosities: Bugs
Vicky Egan
This handsome information/activity book is packed with bug facts,
figures and features. There are lots of beautiful close up images
of insects, some…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
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…
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
–…
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…
Basil the Bear Cub
Janey Louise Jones
Illustrated by Jennie Poh
Superfairies is a sweet new series about four little fairies, in
which the emphasis is very much on kindness and helping others. In
this springtime…
Mind Writer
Steve Cole
Illustrated by Nelson Evergreen
One of our Super Readable Books of the Year 2016 | Interest Age
8-12 Reading Age 8 | In a Nutshell : accessible | edgy |…
Hank Zipzer: The Curtain Went Up, My Trousers Fell Down
Henry Winkler, Lin Oliver
Love the new CBBC series? Read the original books! TV tie-in
edition of the New York Times bestselling series about the
hilarious adventures of a…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
Sniper
Chris Bradford
Illustrated by Nelson Evergreen
Fictional superheroes don't come much more appealing than Troy, one
of a group of teenagers with awesome super powers recruited by
secret…
Stars Shall be Bright
Catherine MacPhail
Illustrated by Ollie Cuthbertson
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ There are all sorts of stories
being told about World War One, this one, based on the true story
of the…
The Great Telephone Mix-Up (Little Gem)
Sally Nicholls
Illustrated by Sheena Dempsey
A charming tale of community, making new connections and lending a
helping hand, from a successful author and illustrator pairing.
Lovereading…
Pitt Street Pirates
Terry Deary
Illustrated by Stefano Tambellini
Interest Age 7+ Reading Age 7+. The Pitt Street Pirates want to
find the treasure and they want to find it quickly. Led by Captain
Roger Redbeard…
The Girl with No Nose
Georgia Byng
Illustrated by Gary Blythe
Interest Age 8-12 | In a nutshell: true hearts and heroines in
Victorian London | Inspired by an artefact at the…
Ninja: Assassin
Chris Bradford
Illustrated by Sonia Leong
Interest Age 8-11 Reading Age 8+ Action-packed and with no holds
barred, this is a taut adventure story capturing the themes of
revenge and…
