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
- Goodnight Everyone by Chris Haughton
- Play by Jez Alborough
- The Lion Book of Fairy Tales by Julia Stone
3+ readers
- Mr Pegg's Post by Elena Topouzoglou
- Wonder Goal! by Michael Foreman
- Baby's First Bank Heist by Jim Whalley
5+ readers
- Norman the Norman and the Very Small Duchess by Philip Ardagh
- The Day War Came by Nicola Davies
- Mariella, Queen of the Skies by Eoin Colfer
7+ readers
- Tyrannosaurus Rex Prehistoric Beasts Uncovered - King of the Dinosaurs by Dougal Dixon
- Junkyard Jack and the Horse That Talked by Adrian Edmondson
- The Twitches Bake a Cake by Hayley Scott
9+ readers
- Boy Underwater by Adam Baron
- Kat Wolfe Investigates by Lauren St.John
- Dog by Andy Mulligan
11+ readers
- Cogheart by Peter Bunzl
- Where the World Ends by Geraldine McCaughrean
- Kick by Mitch Johnson
13+ readers
- My Messed-Up Life by Susin Nielsen
- The Family Tree by Mal Peet
- We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
YA readers
- The Weight of a Thousand Feathers by Brian Conaghan
- After the Fire by Will Hill
- All of This Is True by Lygia Day Penaflor
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!
Lovereading is just a convenient way to find new books and hear others opinions on them.
Sarah Murray – age 15
At @HHSHaringey we love @lovereading4kids because our pupils can practice reviewing & get free upcoming books before anyone else!
Helen Swinyard – Heartlands High
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
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
LoveReading4Kids is a modern and creative way of emphasising the value and importance of books in this digital age #booksforlife
Amrit Bunet – Teen
Love “Lovereading4kids” as my son gets to hear about & read new books before his mates which keeps him interested in reading=a very happy Mum
Liz Evans
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 4 kids’ because they let you read and learn things you’d never dreamed of learning before.
Emily Horncastle – age 11
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
Here Comes the Sun
Karl Newson
Illustrated by Migy Blanco
With a gentle rhyming text that makes it a particular pleasure to
read this picture book, though it's perfect bedtime reading, ends
as dawn…
There's a Walrus in My Bed!
Ciara Flood
Children and adults will take very different things from this
clever picture book but both will enjoy it enormously. Flynn is
excited, he's got…
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…
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,…
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…
Goodnight Everyone
Chris Haughton
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Perfect for the end of
every day, award-winning Chris Haughton captures the soothing time
as the sun goes…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
My Messed-Up Life
Susin Nielsen
June 2018 Book of the Month | In a Nutshell: Problem parents |
Dealing with change | Loads of LOLs | Hilarious and
heartfelt…
The Wild Folk
Sylvia V. Linsteadt
In a nutshell: magical quest adventure story with a strong sense of
the natural world | Perfect for readers who enjoy magical
adventures…
The Weight of a Thousand Feathers
Brian Conaghan
Heart wrenching, honest, funny and bold, this exceptional novel
about the life, loves and agonies of a young carer, and the love
between a mum and…
The Knights and the Best Quest
Kaye Umansky
Illustrated by Ben Whitehouse
Interest Age 8+ Reading Age 8 A masterly and hilarious retelling of
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round…
The Funny Life of Pets
James Campbell
Illustrated by Rob Jones
You'd expect a book by top comic-for-kids James Campbell to make
them laugh a lot, and this certainly will. Over 240 illustrated
pages he…
Midnight
Derek Landy
In a Nutshell: Can a coldblooded killer be curtailed as time ticks
down? Following hot on the heels of Resurrection, this eleventh
instalment of…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
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…
Triangle
Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | April 2017 Book of the Month |
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2017 Brilliant
and…
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…
Nanette's Baguette
Mo Willems
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | There's a surprise twist at the
end of this tale of little Nanette, entrusted by her mother to get
the…
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…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
The Usborne Official Astronaut's Handbook
Louie Stowell
Illustrated by Roger Simo
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - This book, with a Foreword by
Tim Peake who in December 2015 became the first British astronaut
to go to the…
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…
Hidden World Forest
Libby Walden
Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman
With large flaps on every page, short accompanying explanatory
sentences and attractive illustrations, this is a great book to
introduce children to…
Lift-the-flap Questions and Answers about Long Ago
Katie Daynes
Illustrated by Peter Donnelly
Facts and flaps are an irresistible combination in this
illuminating information book. Divided into sections Where, Who,
Why, What, How, When…
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…
Survivors
David Long
Illustrated by Kerry Hyndman
Winner of the Blue Peter Book Award 2017 - Best Books with Facts In
a nutshell: jaw-dropping true stories; survival against the odds
…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
What Not to Do If You Turn Invisible
Ross Welford
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award January 2017 Book of the
Month | In a nutshell: invisible girl finds herself in the
spotlight…
Alpha Abidjan to Gare du Nord
Bessora
Illustrated by Barroux
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award One of our Books of the
Year 2016 | Alpha hopes that his wife and little son are in Paris
and…
Saint Death
Marcus Sedgwick
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In a Nutshell: Gangs dice
with death under the gaze of Mexican folk saint. A…
The Tale of Angelino Brown
David Almond
Illustrated by Alex T. Smith
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award May 2017 Book of the Month
| A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month May 2017 Award-winning
David…
The White Fox
Jackie Morris
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Interest Age 8-12 | In a
nutshell: a wild creature leads a boy home | Full…
Bottle of Happiness, A
Pippa Goodhart
Illustrated by Ehsan Abdollahi
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award A new fable that goes full
circle as it explores the value of possessions against values of
friendship and…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
How Pirates Really Work
Alan Snow
Do pirates really like singing rollicking songs, burying their
treasure and parrots? Do they really eat Ship's biscuits with worms
and…
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…
The Most Powerful Boy in the Universe
Matt Brown
One of our Books of the Year 2014 - June 2014 Debut of the Month
Told at a speed to match the time-travel theme of the story, this
is a…
George Pearce and His Huge Massive Ears
Felix Massie
George Pearce has unusually large ears – in fact they're
massive! It's not the size of his ears that causes him problems
though,…
The Adventures of Alfie Onion
Vivian French
Illustrated by Marta Kissi
If you love fairytales – and who couldn't? – you'll
love this brand new adventure written by one of our most inventive
and…
Fenn Halflin and the Fearzero
Francesca Armour-Chelu
Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month, June 2016 Debut author
Francesca Armour-Chelu has created a desperate flooded dystopian
world in this…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
Space Ace 4u2read
Eric Brown
Illustrated by Tony Ross
Interest Age 7+ Reading Age 7 | Fact and fiction are cleverly
combined in this space travel adventure story. It's 2075 and
young…
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…
Triceratops Prehistoric Beasts Uncovered - The Dinosaur Built to Do Battle
Dougal Dixon
This new book, part of the Prehistoric Beasts Uncovered series,
brings us hot off the press scientific information on Triceratops,
one of the most…
Point Blanc Graphic Novel
Anthony Horowitz, Antony Johnston
Brilliantly visualised, these graphic novel versions of the
best-selling stories of boy spy Alex Rider add a fantastic new
dimension to the original…
Hamish and the Gravity Burp
Danny Wallace
Illustrated by Jamie Littler
March 2017 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: original, clever,
fast-paced and very, very funny | With no messing about at all,
Danny…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
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…
Itch Scritch Scratch
Eleanor Updale
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
One of our Dyslexia Friendly Books of the Year 2014 - A Dyslexia
Friendly Picture Book for Parent and Child With wit and brio
this…
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…
Billy Button, Telegram Boy
Sally Nicholls
Illustrated by Sheena Dempsey
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | July 2016 Book of the Month
Meet the Buttons. Mrs Button runs a shop – the nicest thing
about it, she…
My Dog Daisy
Jean Ure
Illustrated by Charlie Alder
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ This new story from Jean Ure,
though seemingly simple and straightforward, is typically full of
insight into…
Mozart's Banana
Gillian Cross
Illustrated by Richard Morgan
Interest Age 7-12 Reading Age 7+ The best-selling author of The
Demon Headmaster tells a thrilling and funny story about the taming
of a…
