Lovereading 4 Kids Updates from the world of children’s books

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		Seriously Cute: Otto’s Trip to the Moon Katherine Lodge Join Otto and his friends on a very special birthday day out – to the moon! A delightful pull-tab book that little readers will enjoy again and again. With an originality and quirkiness that makes it stand out from the … Download free opening extract
2		Where’s Spot? Eric Hill Best-selling Spot is as irresistible as ever in this board book version. Spot is hiding. Where can he be? Opening the flaps to find where he isn’t hidden gives endless delight while finding him will always bring a smile. If you’re … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		Seaside Poems Jill Bennett A wonderful collection of poetry perfect to read together with your toddler this summer on your beach holiday. Beach holidays will never be the same once you’ve read this. … Download free opening extract
2		Barry the Fish with Fingers Sue Hendra Extremely funny and wacky too, this crazy deep-sea caper is sure to have both parent and child in absolute stitches. Lots of bright bold artwork coupled with a great story make this a perfect read. … Download free opening extract
3		The Pencil Allan Ahlberg Winner of the Younger Children category – Red House Book Award 2009. This book is an hilarious and unmissable treat! One day there is just a lonely pencil…It begins to draw – a boy, a dog, a cat and then … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Jake in Danger Annette Butterworth Lovable Jake is an ordinary dog but with some very special qualities. Exciting stories written in easy-to-read texts with highly attractive illustrations make the Jake books perfect for first time readers. In Jake in Danger, Jake has to prove his … Download free opening extract
2		A Child’s Garden: A Story of Hope Michael Foreman This is a wonderful celebration of optimism and a thoughtful and touching book about the importance of growth, green shoots and new life in a war torn world. Growing up amidst rubble a small boy tends a green shoot which … Download free opening extract
3		The BFG Roald Dahl This is a delightful, funny and exciting story about a special friendship between two people from different worlds – a giant and a child. As the story develops it shows how trust and love develops between them. It also … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		Green Fingers and Muddy Boots Ivor Santer Children benefit immensely from spending time outdoors in the fresh air, and a great way to get them outside is to encourage an interest in their garden. This book presents fun and practical activities to do in the garden every … Download free opening extract
2		Kaspar Michael Morpurgo CD Audio edition read by Paul Chequer. A wonderfully emotional but heart-warming tale from the pen of one of the foremost writers for children.  Brilliantly interwoven in historical fact at the time of the sinking of the Titanic is the story … Download free opening extract
3		Diary of a Wimpy Kid: DIY Do-It-Yourself Book Jeff Kinney A book to write yourself, this diary is filled with the prompts any reader needs to make their own Wimpy Kid Diary. Embarrassing, revealing or just plain funny, answering these questions will encourage all kinds of writing amid the jokes. … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		Moon Stewart Ross One of the greatest events of the twentieth century, the unforgettable moment of  man’s first landing on the Moon provides the perfect platform for this wide ranging introduction to many different aspects of the moon. After excellent coverage of the … Download free opening extract
2		The Mysterious Benedict Society Trenton Lee Stewart This is a No. 1 New York Times Bestseller that we’ve been raving about since it went stratospheric across the water earlier this year. Here you will meet four very unusual children each with three things in common – all orphans, all incredibly … Download free opening extract
3		Freak the Mighty Rodman Philbrick A poignant and moving story that is ultimately uplifting about friendship triumphing over adversity. Funny, touching and inspirational yet cleverly mixed with some scary and tragic moments, it is the story of Max who is considered big and stupid who … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		Come On Danny (gr8 reads) Andy Croft Full of emotion and understanding but written in such a way that a struggling or reluctant reader will devour, Come On Danny is a hard hitting story describing the difficulties of dealing with life when everything goes wrong. Danny likes … Download free opening extract
2		Airhead Meg Cabot From the creator of Allie Finkle and The Princess Diaries comes a brand new novel featuring two very different girls, one a superbrain and the other a supermodel. They have absolutely nothing in common until something extraordinary happens. Meg cabot’s trademark wit is here … Download free opening extract
3		The Medusa Project: The Set-Up Sophie Mckenzie This is not science fiction.  Within the lifetime of children now the human race will have created new improved humans through genetic manipulation.  Frightening but true. Here in the first of a thrilling roller-coaster adventure series you can join four teenagers, each … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		The Knife of Never Letting Go Patrick Ness Shortlisted for the 2009 Branford Boase Best Debut Novel Award – the winner will be announced in July Shortlisted for the Carnegie Award 2009. Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2008 and Booktrust Teenage Prize 2008. The electrifying and unflinching young … Download free opening extract
2		Bloodchild Tim Bowler If you’re on the hunt for a book that will really grab you, put shivers down your spine and ensure that at the end of every chapter you gasp for breath, then Bowler’s Bloodchild is the novel for you. Incredibly atmospheric of time … Download free opening extract
3		Creature of the Night Kate Thompson Shortlisted for the Carnegie Award 2009 and shortlisted for the Bisto Irish Children’s Book Award. From multi-award winning author Kate Thompson comes another absorbing read, blazing an enthralling path between the stark realities of modern-day society and the fantasy for which … Download free opening extract

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		Seriously Cute: Otto’s Trip to the Moon Katherine Lodge Join Otto and his friends on a very special birthday day out – to the moon! A delightful pull-tab book that little readers will enjoy again and again. With an originality and quirkiness that makes it stand out from the … Download free opening extract
2		What Shall We Do With The Boo-hoo Baby? Cressida Cowell An entertaining story which will strike a chord with all parents! How can the animals stop the Boo Hoo baby from crying? Feeding him helps, as does bathing him and playing with him but, in the end, bedtime is the … Download free opening extract
3		Each Peach Pear Plum (Board Book) Allan Ahlberg A delightful board book with simple rhyming text and engaging interactive pictures.  Children will be able to find characters that are mentioned in the text, such as Mother Hubbard and Cinderella. Wonderful detail in the illustrations provides endless entertainment in … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		Barry the Fish with Fingers Sue Hendra Extremely funny and wacky too, this crazy deep-sea caper is sure to have both parent and child in absolute stitches. Lots of bright bold artwork coupled with a great story make this a perfect read. … Download free opening extract
2		The Pencil Allan Ahlberg Winner of the Younger Children category – Red House Book Award 2009. This book is an hilarious and unmissable treat! One day there is just a lonely pencil…It begins to draw – a boy, a dog, a cat and then … Download free opening extract
3		To The Beach Thomas Docherty Docherty’s Little Boat has recently been shortlisted for the prestigious Greenaway Medal so we thought we’d introduce to you an earlier title of his that is equally captivating. Join a delightful little boy when he decides he wants to go … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Jake in Danger Annette Butterworth Lovable Jake is an ordinary dog but with some very special qualities. Exciting stories written in easy-to-read texts with highly attractive illustrations make the Jake books perfect for first time readers. In Jake in Danger, Jake has to prove his … Download free opening extract
2		Oliver Moon and the Potion Commotion Sue Mongredien Enter the magical world of Oliver Moon – junior Wizard extraordinaire. He’s smashing at spell-craft and tip-top at toad training and with him you’ll encounter some fantastic adventures full of gruesome details, extraordinary characters, comic exploits and more than a … Download free opening extract
3		Princess Ellie to the Rescue Diana Kimpton Princess Ellie is pony-mad! And she’s fed up with being a princess! She’d much rather be riding one of her four gorgeous ponies.  Full of authentic pony facts and sparkly princessy detail this series is sure to set the mind … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		Green Fingers and Muddy Boots Ivor Santer Children benefit immensely from spending time outdoors in the fresh air, and a great way to get them outside is to encourage an interest in their garden. This book presents fun and practical activities to do in the garden every … Download free opening extract
2		Diary of a Wimpy Kid: DIY Do-It-Yourself Book Jeff Kinney A book to write yourself, this diary is filled with the prompts any reader needs to make their own Wimpy Kid Diary. Embarrassing, revealing or just plain funny, answering these questions will encourage all kinds of writing amid the jokes. … Download free opening extract
3		Bumper Book of Nature Moss, Stephen This is the book that will get you and your child out of the house (away from the computer games and the TV) and into the great outdoors seeking out all sorts of exciting things to do during Spring and … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		Moon Stewart Ross One of the greatest events of the twentieth century, the unforgettable moment of  man’s first landing on the Moon provides the perfect platform for this wide ranging introduction to many different aspects of the moon. After excellent coverage of the … Download free opening extract
2		The Mysterious Benedict Society Trenton Lee Stewart This is a No. 1 New York Times Bestseller that we’ve been raving about since it went stratospheric across the water earlier this year. Here you will meet four very unusual children each with three things in common – all orphans, all incredibly … Download free opening extract
3		The Thornthwaite Inheritance Gareth P Jones Fans of mayhem, mishap and adventure who also themselves have a flair for the mischievously macabre and an appreciation of deadly whodunits will love this darkly gothic tale.  In particular fans of Lemony Snicket, The Dragon Detective Agency, The Addams … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		The Medusa Project: The Set-Up Sophie Mckenzie This is not science fiction.  Within the lifetime of children now the human race will have created new improved humans through genetic manipulation.  Frightening but true. Here in the first of a thrilling roller-coaster adventure series you can join four teenagers, each … Download free opening extract
2		Airhead Meg Cabot From the creator of Allie Finkle and The Princess Diaries comes a brand new novel featuring two very different girls, one a superbrain and the other a supermodel. They have absolutely nothing in common until something extraordinary happens. Meg cabot’s trademark wit is here … Download free opening extract
3		Come On Danny (gr8 reads) Andy Croft Full of emotion and understanding but written in such a way that a struggling or reluctant reader will devour, Come On Danny is a hard hitting story describing the difficulties of dealing with life when everything goes wrong. Danny likes … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		Killing God Kevin Brooks A thrilling, thought-provoking novel from the critically acclaimed Kevin Brooks. Dawn Bundy is fifteen. She doesn’t fit in and she couldn’t care less. Dawn has other things on her mind. Her dad disappeared two years ago and it’s all God’s … Download free opening extract
2		The Knife of Never Letting Go Patrick Ness Shortlisted for the 2009 Branford Boase Best Debut Novel Award – the winner will be announced in July Shortlisted for the Carnegie Award 2009. Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2008 and Booktrust Teenage Prize 2008. The electrifying and unflinching young … Download free opening extract
3		Bloodchild Tim Bowler If you’re on the hunt for a book that will really grab you, put shivers down your spine and ensure that at the end of every chapter you gasp for breath, then Bowler’s Bloodchild is the novel for you. Incredibly atmospheric of time … Download free opening extract

Summer is coming, school for another academic year is nearly over, so we reckoned now was the time to introduce to you our selection of Summer Reading books that will get your kids as excited about reading as they are about ice creams, outdoor swimming, and running like crazy around the park.

Download some free Opening Extracts and have fun choosing!

Get ‘Outdoors’ more with your children

With summer gathering pace we wanted to remind you not to miss our special Spring and Summer long feature on books to help your children make the most of getting ‘Out and About’ during the Summer holidays. It covers outdoorsy things to do from gardening to wildlife watching and we have 2 brilliant new titles, The Bumper Book of Nature and Green Fingers and Muddy Boots, to further inspire!

Classics Illustrated
– a new genre on Lovereading4kids

Former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo recently said that he was a reluctant reader as a child, but that the Classics Illustrated graphic novels of classics including Oliver Twist drew him in and led him on to read the original books later in life. Well now we have a special section where you can find new editions of lots of the original Classics Illustrated, from Gulliver’s Travels to Lorna Doone, which will help engage kids in the power of stories.

Get set for a Summer of Reading

Our Summer Reading selection this year has been such fun to put together. There’s something to appeal to all. You’ll find books for avid readers, for reluctant readers, dyslexic friendly books and also you might like to take a look at one or two other areas of the site where we’re sure you’ll find a nugget or two, such as Usborne’s 10 titles celebrating Five years of Fantastic Fiction, the Real Reads, which are classics retold in just 64 pages or perhaps summer is the time to get your child hooked on the wonderful adventures of Tintin and his canine friend Snowy.

A reminder of the, not to be missed, June highlights

Gripping Pre-publication Exclusives

Get ahead of the crowds and start reading the best children’s books before they are even published! This month we have a sensational and moving novel from one of the best ‘teen authors around, Killing God by Kevin Brooks, the latest in the hugely popular Hero.com / Villain.net series for 9+ year olds and a brilliant new picture book Barry the Fish with Fingers. See below for more info and click on the covers to find out more.

3+ Barry the Fish with Fingers by Sue Hendra		9+ The Thorntwaite Inheritance by Gareth P.Jones		9+ The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric
9+ Villain.net: Power Surge by Andy Briggs		9+ Crisis Point by Andy Briggs		9+ Eating things on sticks by Anne Fine
11+ The Medussa Project by Sophie McKenzie		11+ Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick		14+ Killing God by Kevin Brooks

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		Dear Zoo: board book Rod Campbell An elephant is too heavy, a giraffe is too tall, a frog is too jumpy. Hidden behind a flap, each new arrival that the zoo sends is a wonderful surprise but never quite right. Until, at last, they send the perfect pet…. This … Download free opening extract
2		Seriously Cute: Otto’s Trip to the Moon Katherine Lodge Join Otto and his friends on a very special birthday day out – to the moon! A delightful pull-tab book that little readers will enjoy again and again. With an originality and quirkiness that makes it stand out from the … Download free opening extract
3		Can You Moo Too? David Wojtowycz A big book which encourages all readers to join in with the noisy lion roaring, bouncy frogs croaking, baby bear growling, ducks quacking and cows moo-ing. Bright and lively illustrations make joining in fun! If you’re looking for other great books … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		Barry the Fish with Fingers Sue Hendra Extremely funny and wacky too, this crazy deep-sea caper is sure to have both parent and child in absolute stitches. Lots of bright bold artwork coupled with a great story make this a perfect read. … Download free opening extract
2		The Adventures of Scratch, Sniff and Mr Smith: Mr Smith Invents a Robot Shibani Mohindra Mr Smith Invents a Robot is a beautifully illustrated ‘smell and tell’ book, containing smells to encourage young and reluctant readers to enjoy the reading experience. Big, bold, colourful imagery fills every page and coupled with the great storyline and … Download free opening extract
3		To The Beach Thomas Docherty Docherty’s Little Boat has recently been shortlisted for the prestigious Greenaway Medal so we thought we’d introduce to you an earlier title of his that is equally captivating. Join a delightful little boy when he decides he wants to go … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Oliver Moon and the Potion Commotion Sue Mongredien Enter the magical world of Oliver Moon – junior Wizard extraordinaire. He’s smashing at spell-craft and tip-top at toad training and with him you’ll encounter some fantastic adventures full of gruesome details, extraordinary characters, comic exploits and more than a … Download free opening extract
2		Jake in Danger Annette Butterworth Lovable Jake is an ordinary dog but with some very special qualities. Exciting stories written in easy-to-read texts with highly attractive illustrations make the Jake books perfect for first time readers. In Jake in Danger, Jake has to prove his … Download free opening extract
3		Princess Ellie to the Rescue Diana Kimpton Princess Ellie is pony-mad! And she’s fed up with being a princess! She’d much rather be riding one of her four gorgeous ponies.  Full of authentic pony facts and sparkly princessy detail this series is sure to set the mind … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		Diary of a Wimpy Kid: DIY Do-It-Yourself Book Jeff Kinney A book to write yourself, this diary is filled with the prompts any reader needs to make their own Wimpy Kid Diary. Embarrassing, revealing or just plain funny, answering these questions will encourage all kinds of writing amid the jokes. … Download free opening extract
2		One Small Step Jerry Stone For all space enthusiasts, this scrapbook created by 14 year old Mike is an inspiring collection of the best moon-landing memorabilia and mind-boggling photos, as well as being packed with the latest amazing space science and indeed the future of … Download free opening extract
3		Pig City Louis Sachar Bestselling author Louis Sachar is back with a stunning new novel, which all begins with a hat…The hat Laura Sibbie buys from an old man in the street that says Pig City on the front and so Pig City is … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		Moon Stewart Ross One of the greatest events of the twentieth century, the unforgettable moment of  man’s first landing on the Moon provides the perfect platform for this wide ranging introduction to many different aspects of the moon. After excellent coverage of the … Download free opening extract
2		The Mysterious Benedict Society Trenton Lee Stewart This is a No. 1 New York Times Bestseller that we’ve been raving about since it went stratospheric across the water earlier this year. Here you will meet four very unusual children each with three things in common – all orphans, all incredibly … Download free opening extract
3		Toby Alone Timothee De Fombelle Winner of the 2009 Marsh Award for Children’s Literature in Translation. We think it’s an exciting, gripping fantasy story of a miniature world under threat and a boy hunted by his own people. In a sentence, The Borrowers for the 21st Century. Be prepared … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		Airhead Meg Cabot From the creator of Allie Finkle and The Princess Diaries comes a brand new novel featuring two very different girls, one a superbrain and the other a supermodel. They have absolutely nothing in common until something extraordinary happens. Meg cabot’s trademark wit is here … Download free opening extract
2		Come On Danny (gr8 reads) Andy Croft Full of emotion and understanding but written in such a way that a struggling or reluctant reader will devour, Come On Danny is a hard hitting story describing the difficulties of dealing with life when everything goes wrong. Danny likes … Download free opening extract
3		Journey to the Centre of the Earth (Classics Illustrated) Jules Verne One of a range of marvellous comic books created in the ’50s and ’60s now with artwork re-coloured and covers digitally enhanced for a new generation. Perfect Bound at a terrifically good value price. A message from the publisher: Classics Illustrated – … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		Bloodchild Tim Bowler If you’re on the hunt for a book that will really grab you, put shivers down your spine and ensure that at the end of every chapter you gasp for breath, then Bowler’s Bloodchild is the novel for you. Incredibly atmospheric of time … Download free opening extract
2		Nicholas Dane Melvin Burgess Carnegie-prize winning author, Melvin Burgess, has written a long-awaited new novel.  This compelling story of a teenager caught in a corrupt 1980s care home is a powerful study of a particularly highly charged and distressing subject and one that is … Download free opening extract
3		Creature of the Night Kate Thompson Shortlisted for the Carnegie Award 2009 and shortlisted for the Bisto Irish Children’s Book Award. From multi-award winning author Kate Thompson comes another absorbing read, blazing an enthralling path between the stark realities of modern-day society and the fantasy for which … Download free opening extract

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		Can You Moo Too? David Wojtowycz A big book which encourages all readers to join in with the noisy lion roaring, bouncy frogs croaking, baby bear growling, ducks quacking and cows moo-ing. Bright and lively illustrations make joining in fun! If you’re looking for other great books … Download free opening extract
2		Seriously Cute: Otto’s Trip to the Moon Katherine Lodge Join Otto and his friends on a very special birthday day out – to the moon! A delightful pull-tab book that little readers will enjoy again and again. With an originality and quirkiness that makes it stand out from the … Download free opening extract
3		Dear Zoo: board book Rod Campbell An elephant is too heavy, a giraffe is too tall, a frog is too jumpy. Hidden behind a flap, each new arrival that the zoo sends is a wonderful surprise but never quite right. Until, at last, they send the perfect pet…. This … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		The Adventures of Scratch, Sniff and Mr Smith: Mr Smith Invents a Robot Shibani Mohindra Mr Smith Invents a Robot is a beautifully illustrated ‘smell and tell’ book, containing smells to encourage young and reluctant readers to enjoy the reading experience. Big, bold, colourful imagery fills every page and coupled with the great storyline and … Download free opening extract
2		Elmer’s Special Day David Mckee This book is a wonderful celebration not just of the fun that can be had when everyone “all joins in” but also of Elmer’s 20th birthday. It’s Elmer Day. In their excitement about getting ready for it, the elephants forget … Download free opening extract
3		On Our Way Home Sebastien Braun A tender story about coming home at the end of a wonderful day out, for fathers and their toddlers to share together. The shared delight of a baby bear and its father is celebrated in each of the bold pictures, … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Dinosaur Cove: Finding The Deceptive Dinosaur Rex Stone Exciting adventures in this easy to read series about two boys and the dangerous dinosaurs they encounter – especially the deadly Tyrannosaurus Rex. Jamie’s dad is opening a dinosaur museum in Dinosaur Cove. Jamie expects to find some fossils but … Download free opening extract
2		Oliver Moon and the Potion Commotion Sue Mongredien Enter the magical world of Oliver Moon – junior Wizard extraordinaire. He’s smashing at spell-craft and tip-top at toad training and with him you’ll encounter some fantastic adventures full of gruesome details, extraordinary characters, comic exploits and more than a … Download free opening extract
3		Jake in Danger Annette Butterworth Lovable Jake is an ordinary dog but with some very special qualities. Exciting stories written in easy-to-read texts with highly attractive illustrations make the Jake books perfect for first time readers. In Jake in Danger, Jake has to prove his … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		Diary of a Wimpy Kid: DIY Do-It-Yourself Book Jeff Kinney A book to write yourself, this diary is filled with the prompts any reader needs to make their own Wimpy Kid Diary. Embarrassing, revealing or just plain funny, answering these questions will encourage all kinds of writing amid the jokes. … Download free opening extract
2		Pig City Louis Sachar Bestselling author Louis Sachar is back with a stunning new novel, which all begins with a hat…The hat Laura Sibbie buys from an old man in the street that says Pig City on the front and so Pig City is … Download free opening extract
3		One Small Step Jerry Stone For all space enthusiasts, this scrapbook created by 14 year old Mike is an inspiring collection of the best moon-landing memorabilia and mind-boggling photos, as well as being packed with the latest amazing space science and indeed the future of … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		Moon Stewart Ross One of the greatest events of the twentieth century, the unforgettable moment of  man’s first landing on the Moon provides the perfect platform for this wide ranging introduction to many different aspects of the moon. After excellent coverage of the … Download free opening extract
2		Why Eating Bogeys Is Good For You Mitchell Symons Why can’t you tickle yourself? What is the best way to cure hiccups? Why do buses travel in threes?  Loads of questions with some highly entertaining answers fill this information book with a difference. Fun to read it is also … Download free opening extract
3		Shark Island David Miller A thrilling adventure story set on a tropical island… When Hanna and Ned’s parents are kidnapped, they find themselves stuck on an island and in the greatest danger. Surrounded by jungle and sea have they any hope of escape? Using … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		The Name of this Book is Secret Pseudonymous Bosch Quirky, original and hugely entertaining, this is a debut novel of fantastical proportions. The first in a secretive series, The Name of this Book is SECRET is accompanied by a website, part of which is in code so important information … Download free opening extract
2		The Reformed Vampire Support Group Catherine Jinks A murder-mystery comedy of errors about a vampire ‘support group’.  It’s the perfect introduction to the paranormal for young readers. … Download free opening extract
3		Airhead Meg Cabot From the creator of Allie Finkle and The Princess Diaries comes a brand new novel featuring two very different girls, one a superbrain and the other a supermodel. They have absolutely nothing in common until something extraordinary happens. Meg cabot’s trademark wit is here … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		Creature of the Night Kate Thompson Shortlisted for the Carnegie Award 2009 and shortlisted for the Bisto Irish Children’s Book Award.   From multi-award winning author Kate Thompson comes another absorbing read, blazing an enthralling path between the stark realities of modern-day society and the fantasy for which … Download free opening extract
2		Bloodchild Tim Bowler If you’re on the hunt for a book that will really grab you, put shivers down your spine and ensure that at the end of every chapter you gasp for breath, then Bowler’s Bloodchild is the novel for you. Incredibly atmospheric of time … Download free opening extract
3		Skim Mariko Tamaki Stunningly drawn, this graphic novel brilliantly charts the deep and sometimes desperate conflicts and moods that prevail in teen years. Teenage witch Skim keeps a diary in which she records all her thoughts, hopes and fears. There’s the grief and … Download free opening extract

Sometimes children’s books sound so fun and imaginative, it’s hard for adults not to get jealous. But don’t worry, you can get involved in the adventures too – just download some free Opening Extracts and help your kids get passionate about reading!

Elephant of the Month

Our Author of the Month is David McKee, whose colourful creation, Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, is celebrating his 20th anniversary this year. David is the children’s book genius who was also behind classic kids’ TV shows like Mr. Benn and King Rollo!

Perfect Dozen – our Books of the Month

We have some brilliant Books of the Month – they’re organised by age range below, so just click on a cover to discover a magical story perfectly suited to your child’s reading ability.

For 3 + readers		For 9+ readers
For 7 + readers	For 11 + readers		For 14 + readers

Brand new and brilliant – Debut of the Month

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

An absolute gem, meet four unusually gifted orphans who answer a small-ad in a paper and are plungedhead-first into a world of mind-bending puzzles.

Five fantastic years of Usborne Fiction

It’s been 5 years since Usborne launched their range of fiction for kids, and we’re featuring 10 of their top titles for you to download Opening Extracts of and enjoy. As part of the celebrations, Usborne is also launching to Young Writers’ Award: your children can win a whole host of prizes by helping a top writer finish a story! Find out more in our special section.

Billions of blue blistering barnacles!

Give your kids a real treat by introducing them to Tintin, Snowy Captain Hadock and all the characters and all the adventures you grew up with when you were a child. Visit the special section on our site to see the beautiful new 3 in 1 editions for much more comic book fun.

One small step for Mankind….

Few people can fail to have missed the fact that 2009 is the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing. So we feel it is particularly appropriate to celebrate by enthusing some youngsters about Space right here at Lovereading4kids. If you think about it children aged around 9+ are going to be the generation that are likely to be the first to walk on Mars! So if you think you have a budding astronaut then take a look at our small but perfectly formed selection of titles. One Small Step is our personal favourite in the Lovereading4kids office.

Finally, with Father’s Day just around the corner, we’ve selected one truly gorgeous book that stood out from the crowd to such a degree that it’s the only title we’ve selected for you in celebration of father’s Day. Do look at the delightful On our Way Home by Sebastien Braun as it would make a lovely gift and a beautiful book to read out loud.

So there we go – a whole host of marvellous adventures and misadventures to keep your kids reading well into summer and beyond. Visit Lovereading4kids to find out more 

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		Mr Bear Says: I Love You Debi Gliori Warm and loving, Mr Bear introduces all the things he likes and ends with what he loves best of all – his own little baby. Lovely bright illustrations in a slimline, easy to hold board book. If you’re looking for other … Download free opening extract
2		Marvin Wanted More Joseph Theobold This board book comes complete with a wonderfully warm and woolly Marvin on the cover that’s wonderfully touchy-feely. The story inside though delivers a wonderful lesson in ‘wanting more’! Marvin the sheep takes drastic action to resolve the problem of … Download free opening extract
3		Orange Pear Apple Bear Emily Gravett With just 4 words this exceptionally talented author and illustrator has created a deliciously simple, yet wonderfully fun juxtaposition of animal and fruit as well as an all-important introduction to the ‘comma’. It’s not just a breathtakingly beautiful book but … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		The Great Paper Caper Oliver Jeffers Shortlisted for the Bisto Irish Children’s Book Award. Touching and funny, this is also a visually sophisticated picture book which lightly carries an important message about the use – and misuse – of resources. All is not well in the … Download free opening extract
2		Big Brave Brian M P Robertson An exuberantly illustrated book perfect to help children see that even the ‘seemingly’ bravest people in the world have things they are afraid of. … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		The BFG Roald Dahl This is a delightful, funny and exciting story about a special friendship between two people from different worlds – a giant and a child. As the story develops it shows how trust and love develops between them. It also … Download free opening extract
2		Daisy and the Trouble with Kittens Kes Gray Holiday excitement nearly gets too much in this latest story about Daisy to whom too much is almost always happening! Daisy is going on holiday to Spain. She gets to go in a plane, to see a palm tree and … Download free opening extract
3		Dinosaur Cove: Finding The Deceptive Dinosaur Rex Stone Exciting adventures in this easy to read series about two boys and the dangerous dinosaurs they encounter – especially the deadly Tyrannosaurus Rex. Jamie’s dad is opening a dinosaur museum in Dinosaur Cove. Jamie expects to find some fossils but … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		Pig City Louis Sachar Bestselling author Louis Sachar is back with a stunning new novel, which all begins with a hat…The hat Laura Sibbie buys from an old man in the street that says Pig City on the front and so Pig City is … Download free opening extract
2		The Dragonology Chronicles (Vol II): The Dragon’s Diary Dugald Steer The dragonological adventure continues in this eagerly-awaited second instalment of The Dragonology Chronicles.  An illness has spread among the dragons and Daniel and Beatrice must deliver a strange book to Dr. Drake so that the cure that lies therein can … Download free opening extract
3		Kaspar Michael Morpurgo CD Audio. A wonderfully emotional but heart-warming tale from the pen of one of the foremost writers for children.  Brilliantly interwoven in historical fact at the time of the sinking of the Titanic is the story of Kaspar the Savoy cat, who we also … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		Shark Island David Miller A thrilling adventure story set on a tropical island…When Hanna and Ned’s parents are kidnapped, they find themselves stuck on an island and in the greatest danger. Surrounded by jungle and sea have they any hope of escape? Using all … Download free opening extract
2		Kensuke’s Kingdom Michael Morpurgo Age 9+.  Suffice to say the reading of this book will take you the reader through every emotion you can think of, from great joy and laughter to utter sadness and loss.  At its heart is a story of friendship … Download free opening extract
3		The Museum’s Secret: The Remarkable Adventures Of Tom Scatterhorn Henry Chancellor An irresistible adventure through a world full of dust, insects, magic potions, missing jewels and stuffed animals and an incredible secret that takes Tom back 100 years into a breathtaking adventure to far flung places of the world and back … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		Coraline (film tie-in edition) Neil Gaiman Film-tie-in edition to the weird and wonderful Coraline, which has just released as an animated film in the UK.   When Coraline’s family move into a new home, she steps through a door into another house which seems strangely familiar.  It has … Download free opening extract
2		The Pickle King Rebecca Promitzer A hugely entertaining adventure story tinged with enough horror to delight but not really to terrify. Bored during a wet holiday, Bea and her friend Sam go exploring and come across the body of a dead man. What’s the story? Bea … Download free opening extract
3		The Reformed Vampire Support Group Catherine Jinks A murder-mystery comedy of errors about a vampire ‘support group’.  It’s the perfect introduction to the paranormal for young readers. … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		Skim Mariko Tamaki Stunningly drawn, this graphic novel brilliantly charts the deep and sometimes desperate conflicts and moods that prevail in teen years. Teenage witch Skim keeps a diary in which she records all her thoughts, hopes and fears. There’s the grief and … Download free opening extract
2		Stolen Lucy Christopher This controversial debut is a moving drama about kidnapping, isolation and survival and an extraordinary psychological thriller that will steal the minds of those who read it. Sensitive, intelligent and gripping, Stolen is a contemporary story which will force the … Download free opening extract
3		Magic Flutes Eva Ibbotson Romance and intrigue make this lyrical historical adventure an unputdownable read! When a British millionaire sets out to buy a secluded fairy tale castle set high up on a rock above a beautiful lake he finds that its heiress is … Download free opening extract