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
- Oi Dog! Board Book by Kes Gray, Claire Gray
- A Great Big Cuddle by Michael Rosen
- A Hebridean Alphabet by Debi Gliori
3+ readers
- No, Nancy, No! by Alice Tait
- The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield
- Forever or a Day by Sarah Jacoby
5+ readers
- King of the Sky by Nicola Davies
- The Great Big Book of Friends by Mary Hoffman
- Bug Hotel by Libby Walden
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
- Tin by Padraig Kenny
11+ readers
- The City of Secret Rivers by Jacob Sager Weinstein
- Twelve Nights by Andrew Zurcher
- The Goose Road by Rowena House
13+ readers
- Truly, Wildly, Deeply by Jenny McLachlan
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- Savage Island by Bryony Pearce
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!
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
Lovereading is just a convenient way to find new books and hear others opinions on them.
Sarah Murray – 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
It gives me a chance to read types of books that I would not normally try, and it motivates me to read every night to finish it!
Alice Horncastle, age 14
I love ‘LoveReading 4 kids’ because they let you read and learn things you’d never dreamed of learning before.
Emily Horncastle – age 11
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 all the books they recommend & put up for me to review. I also love the fact that they give new authors the chance to share their boo
Daisy Pennock – age 15
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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Touch and Feel Playbook
Eric Carle
A Touch and Feel version of this is a much-loved classic, first
published in 1969, is perfect for older babies and toddlers. It
features concepts…
The Mumsnet Book of Bedtime Stories Ten Prize-Winning Stories from Mumsnet and Gransnet
Mumsnet and Gransnet hosted a bedtime story-writing competition
among their users. Former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen
selected the ten…
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…
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.…
My Favourite Bedtime Rhymes
Illustrated by Sanja Rescek, Hannah Wood
A charming collection of all your favourite bedtime rhymes,
delightfully illustrated by best-loved illustrators Hannah Wood and
Sanja Rescek. …
Zzzzz A Book of Sleep
Il Sung Na
Wonderful illustrations coupled with a gorgeous storyline of an owl
who at night watches while others go to sleep but as dawn breaks
can you guess…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
When Grandad Was a Penguin
Morag Hood
With its strikingly simple images, this picture book will give
children lots to think and talk about and will also have them
laughing out loud.…
The Goose Road
Rowena House
April 2018 Debut of the Month | In a Nutshell: Inspiring WW1
against-the-odds adventure | It's 1916 and…
Lady Mary
Lucy Worsley
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month April 2018 Princess Mary lives
in a palace and is the daughter of Henry V111, the King of England
but, when her…
What the Ladybird Heard
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Lydia Monks
Bestselling author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Lydia Monks have
teamed up for another brilliant picture book. Right in the farmyard
among all the…
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…
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!…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One
Philip Pullman
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | November 2017 Book of the Month
More than two decades after Northern Lights the first book
of…
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…
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…
The Land of Neverendings
Kate Saunders
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | November 2017 Book of the Month
| A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month October 2017
Award-winning…
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…
A Tragic Kind of Wonderful
Eric Lindstrom
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | May 2017 Book of the Month | In
a Nutshell: Coping with bipolar disorder | Finding the courage
to…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
The Sports Timeline Wallbook
Christopher Lloyd, Patrick Skipworth
Illustrated by Andy Forshaw
Ernest Hemingway might have said there are only three real sports
– motor racing, bull-fighting and mountaineering – but
even he might…
What are Stars?
Katie Daynes
Illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens
What are Stars? is an excellent book for children who love to ask
questions. Over a series of six attractive and inviting double
pages, featuring…
Big Picture Book of General Knowledge
James Maclaine
Illustrated by Annie Carbo
Packed with interesting and useful information on a range of
important subjects areas, from geography (a section called Around
the World), to music,…
A Walk on the Wild Side
Louis Thomas
This animal guide book takes an unusual approach: it is presented
in the form of a scrapbook completed by the author Louis Thomas as
he travelled the…
Cool Astronomy 50 Fantastic Facts for Kids of All Ages
Malcolm Croft
With Cool Astronomy, you'll discover everything you need to know
about the universe, from asteroids to the zenith point ...and
almost everything in…
The Science Timeline Wallbook
Christopher Lloyd, Patrick Skipworth
Illustrated by Andy Forshaw
The story of human invention and engineering began at least 10,000
years ago in the stone age and has continued non-stop ever since
with each…
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…
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We Come Apart
Sarah Crossan, Brian Conaghan
January 2018 Book of the Month | Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book
Award In a nutshell: unputdownable story, beautifully told |
…
Encounters
Jason Wallace
April 2018 Book of the Month | Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book
Award | In a Nutshell: Alleged alien encounter inspired by true
events…
Grandad's Secret Giant
David Litchfield
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award This picture book from
David Litchfield, author of the Waterstones-Prize winning The Bear
and the Piano, is…
The Island at the End of Everything
Kiran Millwood-Hargrave
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Shortlisted for the 2018 Blue
Peter Awards - Best Story | Shortlisted for the Costa Children's
Book…
The Storm Whale in Winter
Benji Davies
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award In The Storm Whale in
Winter Benji Davies creates a story of love and courage that is
tender, touching and…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
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…
Dog Town
Luize Pastore
Illustrated by Reinis Pētersons
In a nutshell: quirky and unusual adventure with traces of myth and
magic Riga is the setting for this fairy-tale like adventure, and
the city is…
Just Call Me Spaghetti-Hoop Boy
Lara Williamson
March 2017 Book of the Month A touching and amusing story about
belonging and the search for an heroic identity. Adam has always
known that he was…
Jake Atlas and the Hunt for the Feathered God
Rob Lloyd Jones
In a nutshell: page-turning, explosive treasure-hunting adventures
Indiana Jones meets Alex Rider in this excellent series.
The…
The Tigerboy
Ted Hughes
Described as Metamorphosis for young readers, this story by Ted
Hughes is indeed filled with a sense of transformation, visceral
and almost…
The Night Gardener
Terry Fan, Eric Fan
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award February 2017 Debut of the
Month This beautiful book demands and repays careful
reading.…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
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…
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…
Journey to the River Sea
Eva Ibbotson
A special 15th anniversary edition of this award-winning classic
adventure from Eva Ibbotson in which orphaned Maia travels from
England to the…
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…
Just Plain Weird
Kaye Umansky
Illustrated by Chris Mould
A brilliantly funny odd couples comedy from one of our very
funniest authors for children. The Primms and the Weirds are
totally different:…
Rover and the Big Fat Baby
Roddy Doyle
Illustrated by Chris Judge
Rover, star of The Giggler Treatment and others, is back for a new
and equally hilarious dog-poo centred adventure. As ever, Rover
needs to collect…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
Bigger and Better
Kaye Umansky
Illustrated by Ben Whitehouse
Interest Age 8-11 Reading Age 8 Characters don't come bigger or
better than Vi, the star of this fabulously funny new story by
the…
The Ghost of Shadow Vale
Jonathon Stroud
Illustrated by Siku
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+. This thrilling Icelandic myth
published by Barrington Stoke in their RELOADED series that
introduces readers…
The Girl with the Sunshine Smile
Karen Mccombie
Illustrated by Cathy Brett
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ Best-selling Karen McCrombie
brilliantly captures the whirlwind of emotions that Meg is thrown
into when her…
How Brave is That?
Anne Fine
Illustrated by Vicki Gausden
One of our Dyslexia Friendly Books of the Year 2013 - Interest Age
8-12 Reading Age 7 Award-winning Anne Fine takes a…
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…
All I Said Was...
Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Ross Collins
One of our Dyslexia Friendly Books of the Year 2014 - A Dyslexia
Friendly Picture Book for Parent and Child The former
Children's…
