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
- Tabby McTat Picturebook and CD by Julia Donaldson
- Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
- A Busy Day for Birds by Lucy Cousins
3+ readers
- The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
- Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson
- Goodnight Everyone by Chris Haughton
5+ readers
- The Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine
- Grandad's Secret Giant by David Litchfield
- What's My Name? by Wendy Finney
7+ readers
- My Mum's Going To Explode! by Jeremy Strong
- Mango & Bambang: Tiny Tapir Trouble by Polly Faber
- Danny Dingle's Fantastic Finds The Jet of Justice by Angie Lake
9+ readers
- Eye of the Wolf by Daniel Pennac
- Dragon's Green Worldquake Book One by Scarlett Thomas
- Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
11+ readers
- Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
- The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood-Hargrave
- Cogheart by Peter Bunzl
13+ readers
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon
- Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. by Anne Frank
YA readers
- A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
- A Monster Calls: Special Collector's Edition by Patrick Ness
- ...And a Happy New Year? by Holly Bourne
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 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
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
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
It’s really exciting to read and review new books, thrilling to see my reviews online and I love finding the final published copies on sale.
Sam Harper – age 10
It’s a community united by a passion for books and promoting the best there is in children’s literature.
Sam Bateman and family
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 it promotes reading choices, new authors and a sense of community for children of all ages!
Rachel Bridgeman
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
This month's 'featured books':
Bedtime Reading
Before I Wake Up...
Britta Teckentrup
April 2016 Book of the Month A little girl's dreams take her and a
friendly lion on a magical journey. Together they fly over meadows,
swim…
Peepo! 30th Anniversary Edition
Allan Ahlberg
Fabulous illustrations, wonderful rhyming text with not a word out
of place; this is a book that no nursery bookshelf can be without.
This book…
Tufty
Michael Foreman
Tufty the little duck grows up in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
(his parents are very fond of the Royal Duck and Duckess (sic) who
give the ducks…
Baby's Bedtime Story Box
Sam Taplin
Six enchanting hardcover books in a sturdy slipcase box, with
gentle stories to read aloud and magical illustrations to help
toddlers and young…
Mr Underbed
Chris Riddell
Award-winning Chris Riddell tells a witty and inventive story that
is perfect for bedtime. When Mr Underbed pops up from under Jim's
bed asking…
Old Bear's Bedtime Stories
Jane Hissey
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - December 2015 Book of the Month
Jane Hissey's Old Bear stories make perfect bedtime reading:
warm-hearted…
This month's 'featured books':
Carnegie Greenaway
Wolf Hollow
Lauren Wolk
Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017 | A young girl's
kindness, compassion, and honesty overcome bullying. Powerful,
poignant and…
The Marvels
Brian Selznick
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 | Shortlisted
for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2016 | Shortlisted
for…
This is Not My Hat
Jon Klassen
Winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal 2014 - Winner of the UKLA Book
Awards 3-6yrs 2014 - Winner of the 2013 Caldecott Medal. One of
Julia…
One
Sarah Crossan
Winner for the Children's Book Award 2017 - Books for Older Readers
Category | One of our Books of the Year 2016 | Winner of the CILIP
Carnegie Medal…
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
J. K. Rowling
Illustrated by Jim Kay
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 | Exciting news
for all Harry Potter fans, Bloomsbury has published the first fully
illustrated…
Shackleton's Journey
William Grill
Winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal 2015 Debut author and
illustrator, William Grill, 25, has become the youngest winner of
the Kate…
This month's 'featured books':
Books Reviewed by Children
Isadora Moon Goes on a School Trip
Harriet Muncaster
In a nutshell: half-vampire, half-fairy, Isadora makes a new friend
Lively, told in short chapters and filled with illustrations
this…
The Wrong Train
Jeremy De Quidt
In a Nutshell: Sinister short stories Sublimely spine-tingling,
this evokes all the dread of an ominous tap-tap-tapping on your
door in the dead of…
Goodnight Everyone
Chris Haughton
Perfect for the end of every day, award-winning Chris Haughton
captures the soothing time as the sun goes down and all the animals
begin to fall into…
The Detective Dog
Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Sarah Ogilvie
A celebration of dogs and books alike, Julia Donaldson employs
typically sparkling rhyme to tell the story of Peter – a very
nice child though…
Bathroom Boogie
Clare Foges
Illustrated by Al Murphy
How do you follow a roaring success like Kitchen Disco? Why, with a
Bathroom Boogie of course. Who knew that when we're out our
bathrooms…
The Five Realms: The Gift of Dark Hollow
Kieran Larwood
Illustrated by David Wyatt
In a nutshell: brave rabbits continue their fight against a
terrifying enemy The story of rabbit hero Podkin One-Ear continues
in this…
This month's 'featured books':
Bookshelf Essentials
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Judith Kerr
This unforgettable story of a Jewish family fleeing Germany before
the Second World War, is now available in a special hardback
edition to celebrate…
The Saga of Erik the Viking
Terry Jones
Illustrated by Michael Foreman
The fantastically brilliant and amazingly adventurous Saga of Erik
the Viking by Terry Jones returns in this new edition with an
exclusive foreword…
Greyfriars Bobby
Ruth Brown
This classic true story is retold and illustrated in sumptuous
style by the renowned Ruth Brown.
Good Night, Gorilla
Peggy Rathmann
All young readers will delight at knowing the trick the animals
play on the unsuspecting zoo keeper! It's bedtime and the zoo
keeper sets off…
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Michael Rosen
Fantastic, cumulative adventure as a family cheerfully sets out on
a brave hunt to find the bear. It could be frightening but they're
not…
Muddle Earth
Chris Riddell, Paul Stewart
Prize-winning author and illustrator duo Paul Stewart and Chris
Riddell are masters of creativity. Muddle Earth is a cracking
adventure set in a…
This month's 'featured books':
Classics
Gulliver
Jonathan Swift
Illustrated by Lauren O'Neill
‘My name is Gulliver, and I have a tale to tell that will
make your hair stand up and your mouth hang open.' So starts Mary
Webb's…
Treasure Island (with an Introduction by Eoin Colfer)
Robert Louis Stevenson
This is a much-loved favourite classic - and here are the thoughts
of no less than four of our favourite authors, who all selected it
! …
The Iron Man
Ted Hughes
One of the most dramatic and exciting stories of all time, this
classic modern fairy story by the former Poet Laureate takes on the
biggest theme of…
The Jungle Book (with an Introduction by Christopher Paolini)
Rudyard Kipling
A magical adventure right in the heart of the jungle, The Jungle
Book tells how a little boy child grows up in the care of some of
the mightiest…
Aesop's Fables
Beverley Naidoo
Illustrated by Piet Grobler
Witty and wise, Aesop's fables are perfect short stories with a
powerful message for readers of all ages. In this beautifully
illustrated…
The Faber Book of Nursery Stories
Illustrated by Shirley Hughes
A welcome return for a collection of all kinds of stories which
will make perfect bedtime reading. Originally published in the
1960s, the collection…
