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
- 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
- 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
- The Goose Road by Rowena House
13+ readers
- Truly, Wildly, Deeply by Jenny McLachlan
- Rebound by Kwame Alexander
- Holes by Louis Sachar
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 lovereading4kids because I’ve read amazing books I would never have picked up, and its opened doors to new genre’s I now love.
Harriet Cunningham
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
At @HHSHaringey we love @lovereading4kids because our pupils can practice reviewing & get free upcoming books before anyone else!
Helen Swinyard – Heartlands High
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
It is fantastic, you get to read lots of books and you always find something new and amazing in them.
Erica Motoc, age 7
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
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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
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.…
Dozy Bear and the Secret of Sleep
Katie Blackburn
Illustrated by Richard Smythe
This book is dedicated to tired parents, grandparents and children
and could prove a real godsend to them all. It's designed and
written…
No More Kissing!
Emma Chichester Clark
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month February 2018 A must-have for
all who hate being kissed! Momo the little monkey hates…
Spot Loves Bedtime
Eric Hill
A favourite with children now for generations, Spot never loses his
charm. It's bedtime, but Spot can't settle down until he finds
Teddy,…
Ruby and the Naughty Cats
Jane Hissey
Ruby the cheery little mouse and her soft toy friends are back, and
they're having trouble with the Naughty Cats! The Naughty Cats eat
their picnic…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Reviewed by Children
The Goose Road
Rowena House
April 2018 Debut of the Month | In a Nutshell: Inspiring WW1
against-the-odds adventure | It's 1916 and…
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!…
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…
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…
The Chocolate Factory Ghost
David O'Connell
Illustrated by Claire Powell
In a nutshell: rags to riches ghostly mystery story Roald Dahl
would surely approve of this exciting story, which rivals Charlie
and…
You Are Awesome
Matthew Syed
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month April 2018 This positive and
empowering guide, by bestselling mindset author Matthew Syed, will
help children…
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…
Socks for Mr Wolf
Tatyana Feeney
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | October 2017 Book of the Month
Beautifully illustrated throughout, this stunning book by Tatyana
Feeney is an…
The Dollmaker of Krakow
R. M. Romero
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | October 2017 Debut of the Month
In a Nutshell: An enchantingly heartrending conjuration that
weaves…
Cream Buns and Crime
Robin Stevens
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | April 2017 Book of the Month |
In a nutshell: a tasty treat for would-be sleuths and fans
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…
The Giant Jumperee
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | April 2017 MEGA Book of the
Month | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month April 2017 | Julia
Donaldson and…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
Ella Queen of Jazz
Helen Hancocks
Stylishly illustrated this is a piece of non-fiction, the inspiring
story of a special friendship, and a bit of a mystery story too. It
introduces…
Fantastically Great Women Who Made History
Kate Pankhurst
It's impossible not to be inspired by this picture book and the
great women featured in it: their stories are told across bright
spreads, which…
Young, Gifted and Black
Jamia Wilson
Illustrated by Andrea Pippins
In a Nutshell: Inspiring celebration of black trailblazers This
inspiring, illuminating, stylishly accessible anthology invites
young readers…
Bug Hotel
Libby Walden
Illustrated by Clover Robin
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2018 Take a new look at
some of the most common insects and mini-beasts around us
in…
101 Brilliant Things for Kids to Do with Science
Dawn Isaac
Doing exactly what it says on the tin, this book is indeed packed
with things for kids to do with science and the great news is that
all 101 of them…
The Superhero Handbook
James Doyle
Illustrated by Jason Ford
There's no excuse for anyone who, having read this book from cover
to cover and followed its instructions carefully, does not emerge
a…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
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…
Odd Dog Out
Rob Biddulph
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Odd Dog Out has all the
qualities that made Blown Away and Grrrrr! so popular with critics
and readers!…
The Pest in the Nest Book 2
Julian Gough
Illustrated by Jim Field
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Gorgeously illustrated and
with a classic feel, this is a brilliantly funny story of a rabbit
and a bear who…
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…
Kid Got Shot
Simon Mason
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Meet Garvie Smith.
Reprobate, genius, waster, and sometime detective. Right in the
middle of revision hell -…
Good Dog McTavish
Meg Rosoff
Illustrated by Grace Easton
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Interest Age 8-12 Reading
Age 8 | In a nutshell: dog to the rescue in witty domestic…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
The Long Haul
Jeff Kinney
February 2016 Book of the Month The best-selling Wimpy Kid is off
on a family holiday. Mum is full of good ideas about the trip.
Especially…
Lionheart
Richard Collingridge
Longlisted for the UKLA 2017 Book Award This book comes with a
warning: it will make you ROAR! And it will – with
excitement, relief and…
The Giant Rumble Wrestling Trolls: Match Three
Jim Eldridge
Challenged to a Giant Rumble but suffering from a shortfall of
wrestlers, Jack and his friends set out to find more participants
for their great…
Spynosaur
Guy Bass
Illustrated by Lee Robinson
In a nutshell: scaled ‘n' tailed super-hero saves the world
From a land before time comes a hero for today: meet…
The Day the Crayons Came Home
Drew Daywalt
Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Longlisted for the UKLA 2017 Book Award | Shortlisted for the
Children's category of the Books are My Bag Readers Awards 2016
Those…
Monster Slayer
Brian Patten
Illustrated by Chris Riddell
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | Interest Age 7-10 Brian Patten
tells the story of the hero Beowulf in vivid, accessible prose; in
Barrington…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
Imagination According to Humphrey
Betty G. Birney
Illustrated by Jason Chapman
Children's favourite Humphrey the hamster is back for another
adventure, his twelfth no less. The good news is that he's just
as…
Llama United
Scott Allen
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
May 2017 Debut of the Month | In a nutshell: daft and thoroughly
entertaining football adventure with llamas | There aren't enough
good…
Shouldn't You be in School?
Lemony Snicket
Madcap fun and mystery in this somewhat eccentric yet addictive
series from the huge bestselling author of A Series of Unfortunate
Events. This…
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…
Walter Brown and the Magician's Hat
Karen Inglis
London-based children's author Karen Inglis is back with another
illustrated page-turner, this time for ages 7-9. Karen has made a
name for…
A Dog Called Flow
Pippa Goodhart
Illustrated by Anthony Lewis
Shortlisted for the Smarties Prize and the Kathleen Fidler Award.
Oliver is struggling at school, and the other children laugh at
him. …
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
Ninja: Death Touch
Chris Bradford
Illustrated by Sonia Leong
One of our Dyslexia Friendly Books of the Year 2013 - Interest Age
8-12 Reading Age 8 A dramatic new story in the popular Ninja series
and…
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…
A Perfectly Ordinary School
Jeremy Strong
Illustrated by Scoular Anderson
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ Bestselling Jeremy Strong wittily
dreams up the perfect way for Frankie to see off the school
bullies.…
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…
Wolfman
Michael Rosen
Illustrated by Chris Mould
A Dyslexia Friendly Picture Book for Parent and Child Best-selling
Michael Rosen teams up with the brilliant illustrator Chris Mould
in…
Honey and Me
Karen Mccombie
Illustrated by Cathy Brett
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8+ Karen McCombie writes straight to
the heart of pre-teens, and Honey and Me is a perfect McCombie
novel. Kirsten has…
