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
- An Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers
- Roald Dahl's Opposites by Roald Dahl
3+ readers
- Mr Pegg's Post by Elena Topouzoglou
- Baby's First Bank Heist by Jim (De Montfort University, UK) Whalley
- Wonder Goal! by Michael Foreman
5+ readers
- The Day War Came by Nicola Davies
- Norman the Norman and the Very Small Duchess by Philip Ardagh
- Mariella, Queen of the Skies by Eoin Colfer
7+ readers
- The Twitches Bake a Cake by Hayley Scott
- Tyrannosaurus Rex Prehistoric Beasts Uncovered - King of the Dinosaurs by Dougal Dixon
- Dog Diaries by Steven Butler & James Patterson
9+ readers
- Boy Underwater by Adam Baron
- Kat Wolfe Investigates by Lauren St.John
- The Wild Folk by Sylvia V. Linsteadt
11+ readers
- The Adventures of John Blake Mystery of the Ghost Ship by Philip Pullman
- Cogheart by Peter Bunzl
- Kick by Mitch Johnson
13+ readers
- The Family Tree by Mal Peet
- The Tiger on His Back by Bernard Ashley
- The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge
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!
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
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
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
At @HHSHaringey we love @lovereading4kids because our pupils can practice reviewing & get free upcoming books before anyone else!
Helen Swinyard – Heartlands High
I love ‘LoveReading 4 kids’ because they let you read and learn things you’d never dreamed of learning before.
Emily Horncastle – age 11
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 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 Lovereading4kids because I get an opportunity to put my opinion forward and to try new books
Elosie Clarkson – age 11
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
Under the Love Umbrella
Davina Bell
Illustrated by Allison Colpoys
This brightly illustrated picture book is a celebration of the
enduring love that surrounds your children, wherever they are in
the world. The…
Elmer and the Lost Teddy Board Book
David McKee
The Elmer books are stunning to look at, with their jewel-like
colours and fabulous jungle scenes, but they teach children about
kindness, acceptance…
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 Wardrobe Monster
Bryony Thomson
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month April 2018 A charming story of
bedtime fears with a neat twist to it. Dora and all her toys wake
up grouchy and…
Richard Scarry's Best Treasury Ever
Richard Scarry
A stunning hardback treasury of five of Richard Scarry's best-loved
stories - the perfect gift for Scarry fans, young and old!
Richard…
Let's Join in
Shirley Hughes
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month July 2017 Four simple bedtime
stories capture the precious yet everyday moments in pre-school
and…
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 Adventures of John Blake Mystery of the Ghost Ship
Philip Pullman
Illustrated by Fred Fordham
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month June 2018 | Master
story-teller Philip Pullman is as brilliantly creative in this
gripping,…
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…
The Hippo at the End of the Hall
Helen Cooper
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month June 2018 Award-winning
illustrator Helen Cooper's debut novel is a richly imagined
and…
5 Wild Numbers
Bella Gomez
Wow! Bright pages depicting animals in gorgeous jungle
illustrations house die-cut numbers from one to five. Each number
has a sliding disc…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Books of the Year
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 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…
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…
Moonrise
Sarah Crossan
Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2018 | Shortlisted for the Centre
for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award 2018 | One of Our Books
of…
The Ravenmaster's Boy
Mary Hoffman
One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | In a nutshell: intrigue and
treachery at the Tower of London, and a bird's eye view of the end
of Anne…
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…
This month's 'featured books':
Fascinating Facts
The Colours of History
Clive Gifford
Illustrated by Marc-Etienne Peintre
A fascinating information book, The Colours of History takes
readers to different places at different times to show how humans
have used colour in…
Cool Mythology
Malcolm Croft
Illustrated by Damien Weighill
Stories, gods, heroes and villains from the world's great
mythologies are all featured in this compact and appealing
information book. It is…
Peep Inside The Sea
Anna Milbourne
Illustrated by Simona Dimitri
There's so much for very young children to discover when they peep
inside the sea in the pages of this excellent board book. Each
page…
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…
The Teenage Guide to Friends
Nicola Morgan
In a Nutshell: Warm-hearted handbook for happy, healthy friendships
With comforting clarity, this thorough guide provides vital insight
into all…
Mr Shaha's Recipes for Wonder
Alom Shaha
Illustrated by Emily Robertson
Mr Shaha's Recipes for Wonder: Adventures in Science round the
kitchen table will help families appreciate the wonders of
science…
This month's 'featured books':
UKLA 2018
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…
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,…
The Bone Sparrow
Zana Fraillon
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award | Shortlisted for the CILIP
Carnegie Medal 2017 and awarded the Amnesty CILIP Honour |…
Passing for White
Tanya Landman
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Interest Age Teen Reading
Age 8 | In a nutshell: brilliantly told story inspired by
real…
The Road To Ever After
Moira Young
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Moira Young puts her own
spin on the Christmas film classic It's a Wonderful Life in this
delightful…
A First Book of Animals
Nicola Davies
Illustrated by Petr Horacek
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2018 | Longlisted
for the UKLA 2018 Book Award What a wonderful book to give to a
child. It's…
This month's 'featured books':
Books for Boys
Danny Dingle's Fantastic Finds: The Metal-Mobile
Angie Lake
Illustrated by Suruchi Sati & Shanith MM
In a nutshell: fart-powered non-stop adventure, part book part
comic-strip | Danny Dingle and his best friend Percy Mcduff are
just…
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…
The Gold Thief
Justin Fisher
In a nutshell: thrilling adventure in a magical other world | After
his adventures in the thrilling Circus of Marvels, all its
young…
The Prince and the Pee
Greg Gormley
Illustrated by Chris Mould
The title says it all! Set in a gloriously depicted fairy-tale
landscape this clever picture book has lots of fun with a situation
that all parents…
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…
Zoo Boy
Sophie Thompson
Illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | Julia Eccleshare's Debut of the
Month, February 2016 When Vince turns eight years old he discovers
he has…
This month's 'featured books':
Reluctant Readers
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…
Fortunately, the Milk ...
Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by Chris Riddell
One of our Books of the Year 2014 Award-winning Neil Gaiman
brilliantly weaves a spell-binding story taking readers up and away
on a wild…
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…
Little Red Reading Hood
Lucy Rowland
Illustrated by Ben Mantle
The story of Little Red Riding Hood gets an inventive, original
reworking in this lively picture book. Little Red Reading Hood is
never happier than…
The Beautiful Game
Alan Gibbons
Illustrated by Chris Chalik
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 | In a nutshell: the highs and lows
of our national obsession | Football has the power to…
The Misadventures of Max Crumbly 2 Middle School Mayhem
Rachel Renee Russell
In a nutshell: wacky humour, thrilling action, nail-biting suspense
and cool raps From the creator of the hugely…
This month's 'featured books':
Super-readable Dyslexia-friendly
Ghost for Sale
Terry Deary
Illustrated by Stefano Tambellini
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 7 A hilarious, riddling tale from the
international bestselling author of Horrible Histories, Terry
Deary. Without…
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…
Jason Banks and the Pumpkin of Doom
Gillian Cross
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
Interest Age 8+ Reading Age 8 | In a nutshell: thought-provoking
story about bullying | Everybody knows what they think
about…
Boing Boing
Alexander Mccall Smith
Illustrated by Zoe Persico
A Dyslexia Friendly Picture Book for Parent and Child The story of
a little girl who literally has a spring in her step (in her knees
to…
Free Lance and the Dragon's Hoard
Paul Stewart, Chris Riddell
Illustrated by Chris Riddell
Interest Age 8-12 Reading Age 8 | In a nutshell: cleverly written,
brilliantly illustrated, thoroughly accessible…
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.…
