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

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		Matilda’s Cat Emily Gravett Award-winning Emily Gravett has come up with another witty gem. Specialising in simplicity and relying on readers taking their cues from her characters, here Matilda’s cat makes it plain that she does NOT like all the things Matilda wants her … Download free opening extract
2		Pip and Posy: The Snowy Day Axel Scheffler Best-selling Axel Scheffler’s delightful characters Pip and Posy are back for a new adventure. The two friends love playing in the snow together until a difference of opinion causes them to start to quarrel. How will they get back to … Download free opening extract
3		Oh No, George! Chris Haughton Shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2012.  Chris Haughton’s distinctive artwork perfectly accompanies the innocent charm of affable George, a dog trying to be good – with hilarious results! This is the second picture book from rapidly rising star … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		Arlo Needs Glasses Barney Saltzberg This inventive, interactive picture book will charm young readers and their parents with a perfect light touch and joyful spirit as the reader gets to do just what Arlo does to solve his problem of not being able to see … Download free opening extract
2		The Jolly Christmas Postman Allan Ahlberg, Janet Ahlberg First groundbreaking and now classic, this Twentieth Birthday celebratory edition of the Ahlbergs’ second interactive book about The Jolly Postman will be a treat for a new generation of families. With Christmas coming, the Jolly Postman is off on his … Download free opening extract
3		The Velveteen Rabbit Margery Williams One of the best-loved stories about what makes a child’s toy ‘real’ and how becoming real is the dearest wish of all toys in the nursery. When the handsome Velveteen Rabbit, with his spotted brown and white coat and ears … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		The Snake Who Came To Stay Julia Donaldson Interest Age 5-8 Reading Age 6+. When Polly sets up an animal home for pets, she doesn’t anticipate quite how many problems she may face! But then, she doesn’t know she is going to be asked to look after a … Download free opening extract
2		Look at Me Francesca Simon Honey needs to gather all her courage to try skating on the slippery, slidy ice. All the other animals in Buffin Street get the hang of it. Can Honey? A perfect beginning read for all those who like to test … Download free opening extract
3		Wonderful Earth! Nick Butterworth Wonderful Earth is the story of the creation of this wonderful world in which we live. Terrifically interactive with pop-ups, split pages and peep holes it will give the reader aged 5 and above hours of entertainment on their own … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		The Monster Snowman Gillian Cross Jack and his friends build the greatest, scariest snowman in the whole world – until it comes alive! An entertaining and clever story by an award- winning author and illustator, Ross Collins. Also suitable for reluctant, struggling and dyslexic readers. … Download free opening extract
2		Fox Friend Michael Morpurgo From the multi award-winning and bestselling author, a beautifully re-packaged, 4u2read version, of this moving story of a girl and an injured fox cub. … Download free opening extract
3		Bob and the Moon Tree Mystery Simon Bartram A must-have for all fans of Bob, the very much loved man in the moon, who is back for a brilliantly entertaining new adventure. Bob knows every inch of the moon which he looks after so carefully. Imagine his surprise … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		Who Could That be at This Hour? Lemony Snicket Bestselling Lemony Snicket’s fast-talking writing is brilliantly on display in this wise cracking detective story which is full of references to the great detective writers of the past. Thirteen year Snicket is apprenticed to S. Theodora Markson, a second rate … Download free opening extract
2		Alien Schoolboy’s Z-A Guide to Earthlings Ros Asquith Shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, this hilarious series goes from strength to strength. In this forth title, The Aliens exploration of earthlings’ speech reveals the foibles of the English language – capturing the ridiculous things that are said…and revealing … Download free opening extract
3		Ghost Knight Cornelia Funke A thrilling ghost story set in a boarding school situated right in the heart of Salisbury Cathedral. Eleven year old Jon Whitcroft doesn’t want to be packed off to boarding school and is sure that he won’t like it because … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		The Great Unexpected Sharon Creech Prize-winning Sharon Creech tells a heart warming and delicate story of unexpected connections that lead to great happiness when they are unravelled. Friends Lizzie and Naomi, both of whom are orphans, meet Finn, a mysterious boy who seems to come … Download free opening extract
2		Socks Are Not Enough Mark Lowery Shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2012. A piece of Passion from the Publisher: We at Scholastic Children’s Books are very proud to be publishing Socks Are Not Enough by Mark Lowery.  It genuinely takes a lot to make me … Download free opening extract
3		Hero on a Bicycle Shirley Hughes Best-selling illustrator Shirley Hughes writes beautifully in this gripping story set during World War Two. Living in Italy during the occupation by the Germans, Paolo and his sister Constanza long to do something for the fight to keep Italy free. … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		The Cloud Hunters Alex Shearer In this thrilling and thought provoking adventure fantasy set in a world without water, the Cloud Hunters are vital for the community’s survival. Setting out on their missions, they track down the clouds and bring the water home. It’s a … Download free opening extract
2		Ketchup Clouds Annabel Pitcher Award-winning author Annabel Pitcher’s new teen novel is a taut and dramatic adventure with a deep yearning at its heart. Ketchup Clouds vividly captures the terrifying roller coaster of emotion that envelopes Zoe when she gets caught in a tragic … Download free opening extract
3		My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece Annabel Pitcher Winner of the 2012 Branford Boase Award for an outstanding debut novel. The Branford Boase judges said: A very accomplished piece of writing by an author with a clear talent. The descriptions of the way the father handled his daughter’s death … Download free opening extract

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		How to Catch a Star Oliver Jeffers A prize winning illustrator with a reputation for spare illustrations which pack a huge emotional punch. A little boy so loves the stars that he decides to set off and try to catch one. But catching a star is not as easy as … Download free opening extract
2		Playtime (Slip and Slide Book) Maureen Roffey This is a lovely book for little hands.  Slip and slide the tab to make the pages come alive in this robust and playful book for toddlers. Painting, drumming, skipping and reading are just some of the activities in Playtime … Download free opening extract
3		I Like Fruit (Petit Collage) Lorena Siminovich This is one of the most beautiful and touchy feely books I’ve seen for babies and toddlers for a while.  Each spread depicts a colour and a fruit; for example, a strawberry and alongside it, the words and pictures of … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		The Heart and the Bottle Oliver Jeffers Award winning Oliver Jeffers’s latest book is wholly compelling for the importance of its message and the brilliance of how that is conveyed in words and pictures. To overcome her sadness when her grandfather dies a little girl decides to … Download free opening extract
2		Don’t Want to Go! Shirley Hughes In her warm and readily recognisable illustrations, award winning illustrator Shirley Hughes always captures the small but important details of how young children feel. When Mum is ill one day, Dad says Lily has to go to Melanie’s house, but Lily … Download free opening extract
3		Caterpillar Dreams Jeanne Willis This is a magical picture book from what you could call the dream team of Jeanne Willis (who writes the words) and Tony Ross (who creates the illustrations). Caterpillar Dreams celebrates the life of two curly caterpillars who dream of … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Flossie Crums: The Fairies Cupcake Ball Nathan, Helen This is not just a wonderful story of Flossie Crums the Fairy, this is also a wonderful baking adventure too.  Simple mouth-watering recipes are woven into the story so that parents and children together can have fun baking alongside the … Download free opening extract
2		The Pain and the Great One: Going Going Gone Judy Blume The Pain (aka Jake Porter) is six years old. His sister, The Great One (aka Abigail Porter), is eight. Like any siblings, they drive each other mad but they have fun adventures. In funny, warm and characterful episodes, the Porter family comes to … Download free opening extract
3		Bob and Barry’s Lunar Adventures 2: A Right Royal Disaster Simon Bartram Bob, the much loved Man on the Moon, is back in a new adventure for beginner readers. As ever, he doesn’t believe in aliens! But when it looks as if he might lose his head after he tinkers with a … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		The Great Hamster Massacre Katie Davies Winner of the Waterstone’s Book Award 2010 An entertaining behind-the-scenes look at family life in all its intricacies as it revolves around pet ownership and the drama that surrounds it. Nine year old Anna tells how she and her younger brother … Download free opening extract
2		Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder Jo Nesbo Fuelled by farts, this is fast-paced and a delightfully ridiculous adventure. Newly moved into the neighbourhood, Nilly meets a strange old man who turns out to be Doctor Proctor, an almost famous inventor who is about to come up with … Download free opening extract
3		Raven Mysteries 3: Lunatics and Luck Marcus Sedgwick As told by a raven, this Gothic horror richly laced in humour is a delicious read – especially when the moon is full! Castle Otherhand is beset by problems. There are the usual ones of money troubles but this time … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		The Boy Who Fell Down Exit 43 Harriet Goodwin Shortlisted for the 2010 Blue Peter ‘Book I Couldn’t Put Down’ Award. Adventurous, charming and poignant by turns, The Boy Who Fell Down Exit 43 is a quirky debut novel laced with humour and a dollop of magic. … Download free opening extract
2		Little Darlings Jacqueline Wilson Bestselling Jacqueline Wilson tells a fairy tale story of the unlikely intertwining of two very different families against a strong and realistic background. Destiny is growing up poor with her mum who does three jobs and struggles to pay the … Download free opening extract
3		The Queen Must Die: Chronicles of the Tempus K.A.S. Quinn Completely gripping, this rollercoaster time travel adventure takes Katie, a contemporary New York teenager, back right into the heart of Queen Victoria’s reign. Landing unexpectedly in the Buckingham Palace bedroom of Alice, Queen Victoria’s younger daughter, Katie is swiftly caught … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		I Was Jane Austen’s Best Friend Cora Harrison Rich in period detail and full of romance and fantasy, this is a delightful imaginary diary of Jenny Cooper which gives entertaining insights into what Jane Austen might have been like as a teenager.  Jenny is the pretty, clever but … Download free opening extract
2		Time Riders Alex Scarrow This is a thrilling action adventure which hurtles across time and place at breakneck speed. Three children are on the bring of death: Liam is about to drown as the Titanic sinks in 1912, Maddy is on an aeroplane fitted … Download free opening extract
3		This Book is Not Good for You Pseudonymous Bosch Mysterious, marvellous, witty, exciting and dangerous.  Here, in this the author’s 3rd book that you really shouldn’t be reading but few have taken heed, you’ll meet a cursed aztec artefact, an evil and deranged chef, a secret jungle lair inahibited … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		Drawing with Light Julia Green A touching and tender teenage novel of love and exploration this tells how sixteen-year-old Emily finds first love and also begins an important search to find her mother. Emily was only two when her artist mother left home and she … Download free opening extract
2		The Facts of Life Joanna Nadin In this, another brilliant installment of Rachel Riley’s hilarious diaries, join her in her no-nonsense, fact-based approach to life.  Just when she thought she had finally found her knight in shining skinny jeans i.e. the ONE, an accidental snog with … Download free opening extract
3		No and Me Delphine de Vigan Deeply moving, this is the touching story of two teenagers from very different backgrounds whose friendship raises huge questions about what concepts of home and family really mean. Lou is bright and successful at school but her home is unhappy … Download free opening extract

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		I Like Bugs Lorena Siminovich A delightful touchy-feely counting book that depicts numbers and bugs through collage.  Whilst looking at some wonderfully vibrant insects as your toddler progresses through the book he/she can also begin to learn to count the number of insects on each … Download free opening extract
2		I Like Fruit Lorena Siminovich This is one of the most beautiful and touchy feely books I’ve seen for babies and toddlers for a while.  Each spread depicts a colour and a fruit; for example, a strawberry and alongside it, the words and pictures of … Download free opening extract
3		I Love You, Little Bear Claire Freedman, Gavin Scott Little Bear loves to go exploring with his mummy and as they do so they discover new places and meet new friends. This is a wonderful story about love and the importance of friendships. … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		Sylvia and Bird Catherine Rayner Shortlisted for the Pre-school Award, Early Year Awards 2009 Sylvia is the only dragon in the whole world, and she is very lonely… until one day, she meets Bird. Tiny and chirpy, so different from the huge dragon, Bird somehow changes Sylvia’s life … Download free opening extract
2		Blue Chameleon Emily Gravett Prize winning illustrator Emily Gravett triumphs again in her witty story of how a lonely chameleon does what he does best in a desperate attempt to make a new friend. Changing colour comes naturally to the blue chameleon so he … Download free opening extract
3		For Just One Day Laura Leuck, Marc Boutavant Everyone’s dreams are brought to life in this wonderful world of make believe as a child thinks of all the things she’d like to be  – just for one day. A buzzing bee, a creeping crocodile, a bunny rabbit, a … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Spells Emily Gravett Shortlisted for the 2010 Blue Peter ‘Most Fun with Pictures’ Award. The winner will be announced to coincide with World Book Day in March. A stunning new picture book from Emily Gravett, full of witchcraft, wizardry and magic. We meet a … Download free opening extract
2		Bob and Barry’s Lunar Adventures 2: A Right Royal Disaster Simon Bartram Bob, the much loved Man on the Moon, is back in a new adventure for beginner readers. As ever, he doesn’t believe in aliens! But when it looks as if he might lose his head after he tinkers with a … Download free opening extract
3		The General Michael Foreman As relevant as when it was first published, Michael Foreman’s very first book is beautifully reissued in this 50th anniversary edition. General Jodpur loves to train his soldiers making them the best fighting force in the world. But, one day, … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		The Great Hamster Massacre Katie Davies Shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Book Award 2010 An entertaining behind-the-scenes look at family life in all its intricacies as it revolves around pet ownership and the drama that surrounds it. Nine year old Anna tells how she and her younger brother … Download free opening extract
2		Peter the Penguin Pioneer Daren King Shortlisted for the 2010 Blue Peter ‘Most Fun with Pictures’ Award. The winner will be announced to coincide with World Book Day in early March. Hugely inventive and charmingly funny with laugh out loud zany humour and wonderful illustrations throughout that … Download free opening extract
3		The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events 1) Lemony Snicket This bestselling series (in fact in the top five of bestsellers of the last decade), now at long last available in paperback, launches with the suitably named title that charts the unlucky reason why the whole woeful story of the … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		The Boy Who Fell Down Exit 43 Harriet Goodwin Shortlisted for the 2010 Blue Peter ‘Book I Couldn’t Put Down’ Award. The winner will be announced to coincide with World Book Day in March. Adventurous, charming and poignant by turns, The Boy Who Fell Down Exit 43 is a quirky … Download free opening extract
2		Frozen In Time Ali Sparkes Shortlisted for the 2010 Blue Peter ‘Book I Couldn’t Put Down’ Award. The winner will be announced to coincide with World Book Day in March. A page-turning mystery-adventure with a pleasingly old-fashioned feel as two children, frozen by cryonic suspension by … Download free opening extract
3		Flyaway Lucy Christopher Shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Book Award 2010 Tender and touching, this is a delicate story about facing up to difficulties and finding a way through. When Isla’s father develops a serious heart condition he can no longer take her to see … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		Time Riders Alex Scarrow This is a thrilling action adventure which hurtles across time and place at breakneck speed. Three children are on the bring of death: Liam is about to drown as the Titanic sinks in 1912, Maddy is on an aeroplane fitted … Download free opening extract
2		The Returners Gemma Malley The Returners is a gripping and thought-provoking thriller from the author of the equally provocative futuristic novels, The Declaration and The Resistance. What happens when your past catches up with you and you don’t like what you see?  This powerful … Download free opening extract
3		My So-Called Afterlife Tamsyn Murray A wonderful debut novel which, as well as being laugh-out-loud funny, is full of insights, compassion, and love.  Fifteen-year-old Lucy has been stuck in the men’s loo ever since she was murdered there six months ago. No one has been … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		Beautiful Creatures Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl A teen romance with a twist of danger and the supernatural told with a sure touch that makes it a headlong read from start to finish. Typical teenager Ethan is bored by his life growing up in a small town … Download free opening extract
2		Magic Under Glass Jaclyn Dolamore A hair-raising story full of suspense and intrigue. Nimira is picked out of her poor life as a music hall performer by the wealthy and mysterious Hollin Parry who asks her to sing for his automaton piano player. Parry is … Download free opening extract
3		Savannah Grey: A Horror Story Cliff Mcnish If you’re looking for a real page-turner that will have you gasping for breath then this is it. It’s a horror story and a love story intertwined and 15 year old Savannah Grey is possibly the only person who can … Download free opening extract

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		Flip Flap Flop Mary Cartwright Perfect for ‘reading’ in the bath; penguins slip and slide, swim and glide and  flip and flap agreeably through the pages. If you’re looking for other great books for this age range then go to our Babies and Toddlers category. … Download free opening extract
2		That’s not my frog Fiona Watt Shortlisted for Baby Book Award, Early Year Awards 2009 Irresistible to inquisitive fingers, the strokeable features within each book in the ‘That’s not my…’ series help an owner to know more about an animal.  In That’s Not My Frog, the frog’s … Download free opening extract
3		Row, Row, Row Your Boat A brilliant take on the classic nursery rhyme Row row row your boat gently down the stream that’s perfect for even the youngest toddler because of its board book format.  Here two toddlers row, rock, scream and roar their way … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		Tom’s Tree Gillian Shields A truly uplifting story about love, hope and the importance of patience.  Tom plants a seed and imagines what it will be like as it grows – the trunk is a tall mast of a ship with dragons hiding in … Download free opening extract
2		The Tail of the Whale Ellie Patterson, Christine Pym Shortlisted for the Pre-School Award, Early Year Awards 2009 An absolutely delightful debut from a brilliant new talent in the form of Christine Pym.  Dive into this exquisitely decorative picture book of a bright underwater world, rich with colour and full … Download free opening extract
3		Tabby McTat Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler Best-selling author and illustrator Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have teamed up again to create a heart-warming story about loyalty and friendship. When Tabby McTat the busker’s cat gets separated from the busker he begins a new life on his … 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		Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom Nelson Mandela, Chris Van Wyk Nelson Mandela’s inspirational life story has been adapted into a wonderfully child-friendly version. It tells of his childhood as an ordinary boy in a village and how his belief in democracy was already strongly developed while a student. Mandela’s fight … Download free opening extract
3		Bob’s Best Ever Friend Simon Bartram Simon Bartram’s Man on the Moon was one of the most memorable, witty, and intriguing picture books of recent times. Now at last, Bob, the man on the moon is back and he’s looking for a best ever best friend … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		The Best of Times Michael Morpurgo Lovereading comment to follow soon… The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award rewards the best in contemporary children’s and young adult literature from all over the world. Michael Morpurgo has been shortlisted for the award, the winner of which will be announced in March 2010. … Download free opening extract
2		Boom! Mark Haddon Everything about this deliciously improbable adventure is almost completely daft – and that’s the fun of it all. When Charlie sets up his walkie-talkie in the staff room he doesn’t hear gossip about the pupils as he had expected. Instead, … Download free opening extract
3		Tollins: Explosive Tales for Children Conn Iggulden It’s Peter Pan with attitude as Conn Iggulden, creator of the phenomenal bestseller The Dangerous Book for Boys, introduces an explosive and magical new fictional world of the Tollins – flying creatures that aren’t fairies! – all beautifully illustrated in … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		I Spy: The Constantinople Caper Graham Marks An absolutely gripping adventure packed full of mystery, intrigue and high paced drama. Trey is off on the Orient Express to take a tour of Europe with his father. Even before the train has left the Gare de Lyon, Trey … Download free opening extract
2		StoryWorld: The Storytelling Book (slipcase edition) John Matthews, Caitlin Matthews A brilliant and completely unique book package appeared recently here at Lovereading4kids and we think it’s absolutely marvellous.  It will enable young and old, reluctant readers and those who love books, to unlock their imaginations.  The world of storytelling has … Download free opening extract
3		The Robbers Josh Lacey Peter is minding his own business depositing his savings in a bank when there’s a ‘hold-up’.  Can Peter’s quick thinking surprise and overcome the robbers in order to save his and other people’s money.  Edge of your seat writing for … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		The Enemy Charlie Higson A thrilling story of survival against the odds in a world in which adults have been killed or brain-crazed leaving only children under fourteen and with no one to look after them.  How a bunch of children survive as they … Download free opening extract
2		The Pain Merchants (The Healing Wars) Janice Hardy Part one of a powerful historical fantasy full of politics, magic and enchantment. The Healing Wars tells of the unusual powers of fifteen year old orphan, Naya. In a world where many have special power, Naya stands out from the … Download free opening extract
3		The Return of Johnny Kemp Keith Gray A really gripping thriller for teenage boys.  Short and fast-paced, it’s the story of Johnny Kemp, a boy that no one is prepared to mess with, until that is, Dan manages to get him excluded from school.  But now he’s … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Suzanne Collins Hot on the heals of the adrenaline rush that was Hunger Games comes the equally excellent and relentles sequel Catching Fire. Katniss’s hopes of an easy life after she was top dog in the leathal game show are short-lived after … Download free opening extract
2		The Traitor Game B R Collins Winner of for the 2009 Branford Boase Best Debut Novel Award An extraordinary fantasy novel from a supremely talented debut novelist. Set partly in a boys’ school and also in another world that is both fierce and dangerous, it has themes … Download free opening extract
3		Pastworld Ian Beck Take a thrilling journey into the past in this clever time slip mystery which, written in different voices from different times, takes its readers from a dystopian future to a Dickensian past. Caleb is on a tourist trip to the … Download free opening extract

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		Say Hello to the Baby Animals Ian Whybrow Stroke all the baby animals in the jungle in this attractive board book in which baby lion sets out to meet all the other baby animals around him. There’s a baby giraffe stretching up tall to eat the leaves at … Download free opening extract
2		Row, Row, Row Your Boat A brilliant take on the classic nursery rhyme Row row row your boat gently down the stream that’s perfect for even the youngest toddler because of its board book format.  Here two toddlers row, rock, scream and roar their way … Download free opening extract
3		Amazing Baby: Look at Me! Emily Hawkins look at me! has chunky pages cut into three sections, so you can have hands-on fun flipping back and forth to create a variety of funny baby faces. Includes a mirror at the back to reflect your own amazing baby’s … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		Tabby McTat Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler Best-selling author and illustrator Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have teamed up again to create a heart-warming story about loyalty and friendship. When Tabby McTat the busker’s cat gets separated from the busker he begins a new life on his … Download free opening extract
2		Tom’s Tree Gillian Shields A truly uplifting story about love, hope and the importance of patience.  Tom plants a seed and imagines what it will be like as it grows – the trunk is a tall mast of a ship with dragons hiding in … Download free opening extract
3		The Rabbit Problem Emily Gravett An outstandingly original and entertaining book packed full of rabbitty details and a feast of novelty features that makes it all the more fun to read again and again and again. The Rabbit Problem shows what happens after Lonely sends … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom Nelson Mandela, Chris Van Wyk Nelson Mandela’s inspirational life story has been adapted into a wonderfully child-friendly version. It tells of his childhood as an ordinary boy in a village and how his belief in democracy was already strongly developed while a student. Mandela’s fight … Download free opening extract
2		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
3		The Icky, Sticky Snot and Blood Book Steve Alton Disgustingly informative, this is a touchy, feely guide to some of the most disgusting things in life. Open the flap and find out about blood and bones, travel on a roller coaster ride around the fast flowing systems that control … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		Bob and Barry’s Lunar Adventures: The Disappearing Moon Simon Bartram Bob, the Man on the Moon, has already had several prize-winning adventures. Now he and his extra special dog Barry are back in a new format for more surprises about a very special place. Bob and Barry have to use … Download free opening extract
2		Boom! Mark Haddon Everything about this deliciously improbable adventure is almost completely daft – and that’s the fun of it all. When Charlie sets up his walkie-talkie in the staff room he doesn’t hear gossip about the pupils as he had expected. Instead, … Download free opening extract
3		Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl A book that requires no introduction as it is probably Dahl’s best-known and most read creation and deservedly so. The secretive and magical world of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory is revealed to five ‘lucky’ children, each of who has won … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		StoryWorld: The Storytelling Book (slipcase edition) John Matthews, Caitlin Matthews A brilliant and completely unique book package appeared recently here at Lovereading4kids and we think it’s absolutely marvellous.  It will enable young and old, reluctant readers and those who love books, to unlock their imaginations.  The world of storytelling has … Download free opening extract
2		Hide and Seek Cathy Macphail Chilling from start to finish this is a brilliant, fast moving and spooky story. When new girl Destiny arrives at school she asks if it is really haunted… Everyone knows it isn’t but tricking Destiny seems like a bit of … Download free opening extract
3		Wishing for Tomorrow Hilary Mckay A new chapter to the story of Sara Crew has been cleverly crafted by Hilary McKay who picks up the threads at Miss Minchin’s after Sara has left and, in particular, the loneliness of Sara’s friend Ermengarde who is teased … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		Threads Sophia Bennett Fresh, witty and wholly contemporary, prize winning Threads won The Times/Chicken House writing competition in 2009. How three teenage friends with completely different interests – one’s into fashion, one plans to save the world and one is a budding young … Download free opening extract
2		Ghost Hunter: Book 6 Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Michelle Paver Dazzling entertainment, seamless storytelling, this is the stunning 6th and final episode, bringing the bestselling ‘The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness’, which began so dramatically with Wolf Brother, to a close. Now it is Torak’s last adventure; he must travel up into … Download free opening extract
3		Timewalker Justin Stanchfield Full of intrigue, this is a terrific time-twist adventure with a dramatic plot that keeps its tension to the end. When sleepwalking along a lonely road near the quiet town of Antler, Sean meets a strange girl who is being … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		Back to Life Joanna Nadin More hilarious exploits from the angst ridden teen diarist Rachel Riley.  Fans of Louise Rennison’s character Georgia Nicolson will love this as will all those who have enjoyed the ups and down and ups again of Rachel’s life to date. … Download free opening extract
2		Airhead: Being Nikki Meg Cabot Step right into the celebrity life of teenage supermodel Nikki. Apparently the golden girl of the catwalk Nikki looks like an absolute airhead but that’s just the surface. Underneath there’s nerdy Emmerson Watts who somehow got trapped in the wrong … Download free opening extract
3		The Traitor Game B R Collins Winner of for the 2009 Branford Boase Best Debut Novel Award An extraordinary fantasy novel from a supremely talented debut novelist. Set partly in a boys’ school and also in another world that is both fierce and dangerous, it has themes … Download free opening extract

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		This is my Duck Felicity Brooks Quack! Quack! goes the duck every time you press the button and the very youngest readers will press the button many, many times over. And they can also stroke duck’s fluffy feathers and feel his shiny beak and slippery webbed … Download free opening extract
2		Say Hello to the Baby Animals Ian Whybrow Stroke all the baby animals in the jungle in this attractive board book in which baby lion sets out to meet all the other baby animals around him. There’s a baby giraffe stretching up tall to eat the leaves at … Download free opening extract
3		Where’s Spot? (Board Book) Eric Hill This chunky board book edition of Eric Hill’s classic first lift-the-flap book receives a new brightly coloured cover. The simple text and colourful pictures will engage pre-readers as they lift the picture flaps in search of Spot. A No.1 bestseller … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		The Rabbit Problem Emily Gravett An outstandingly original and entertaining book packed full of rabbitty details and a feast of novelty features that makes it all the more fun to read again and again and again. The Rabbit Problem shows what happens after Lonely sends … Download free opening extract
2		Gruff the Grump Steve Smallman Kindness works like a magic charm on the grumpy old Gruff, a growly, grizzly grump of a bear. When Gruff the Grump unexpectedly does something kind and rescues a rabbit stuck in a tree, the rabbit repays him by bringing … Download free opening extract
3		Call Me Gorgeous Giles Milton Stunning illustrations show the most arresting features of all sorts of animals – the pointy teeth of a crocodile and the long curving neck of a flamingo – all of which are fitted together to create a wonderful invented creature.  … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom Nelson Mandela, Chris Van Wyk Nelson Mandela’s inspirational life story has been adapted into a wonderfully child-friendly version. It tells of his childhood as an ordinary boy in a village and how his belief in democracy was already strongly developed while a student. Mandela’s fight … Download free opening extract
2		The Icky, Sticky Snot and Blood Book Steve Alton Disgustingly informative, this is a touchy, feely guide to some of the most disgusting things in life. Open the flap and find out about blood and bones, travel on a roller coaster ride around the fast flowing systems that control … Download free opening extract
3		Henry’s House: Egyptians Philip Ardagh and Mike Gordon Go back in time with Henry, his dog Mothball and his friend Jaggers. Together the three of them find out all they can about how the Egyptians lived.  They meet the Pharaoh, learn about the Egyptian gods and goddesses and … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		Boom! Mark Haddon Everything about this deliciously improbable adventure is almost completely daft – and that’s the fun of it all. When Charlie sets up his walkie-talkie in the staff room he doesn’t hear gossip about the pupils as he had expected. Instead, … Download free opening extract
2		Bob and Barry’s Lunar Adventures: The Disappearing Moon Simon Bartram Exciting moon adventures for Bob, the man on the moon, and his dog Barry. Bob’s job is to look after the moon but it isn’t always easy especially when the magician Alacazamo suddenly makes it disappear! Can Bob and Barry … Download free opening extract
3		The Rainbow Orchid: The Adventures of Julius Chancer – Vol One Garen Ewing The Rainbow Orchid is an ambitious blend of classic storytelling and cinematic artwork in which adventure, historical drama and legend are seamlessly intertwined.  If you like your comics full of mystery and adventure and you love the worlds of … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		Ghost Hunter: Book 6 Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Michelle Paver Dazzling entertainment, seamless storytelling, this is the stunning 6th and final episode, bringing the bestselling ‘The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness’, which began so dramatically with Wolf Brother, to a close. Now it is Torak’s last adventure; he must travel up into … Download free opening extract
2		Angel Cake Cathy Cassidy Friends and relationships are the hallmarks of Cathy’s novels as she portrays her characters and their friendships particularly well.  The plot lines are easy to get into, there’s always a subliminal message too and in Angel Cake it’s don’t judge … Download free opening extract
3		Wolven Di Toft A howlingly hairy summer adventure – Picture a boy, his eccentric grandparents and a pet dog that is a kind of special werewolf in reverse, all living on the edge of a strange and eerie wood. Now imagine that this … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		Timewalker Justin Stanchfield Full of intrigue, this is a terrific time-twist adventure with a dramatic plot that keeps its tension to the end. When sleepwalking along a lonely road near the quiet town of Antler, Sean meets a strange girl who is being … Download free opening extract
2		Threads Sophia Bennett Fresh, witty and wholly contemporary, prize winning Threads won The Times/Chicken House writing competition in 2009. How three teenage friends with completely different interests – one’s into fashion, one plans to save the world and one is a budding young … Download free opening extract
3		Missing, Believed Crazy Terence Blacker Fun to read, this is a cleverly constructed narrative of different voices all telling their version of the same story. Students at Cathcart College, an exclusive boarding school, plan a novel way of raising money for charity. The kidnapping is … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		Grass Cathy Macphail A thrilling, fast-paced, high octane story that is brilliantly spun out by the queen of teen thrillers Cathy Macphail as she captures how Leo gets caught up in the terrifying gang warfare that rules his town in Scotland. Leo and … Download free opening extract
2		Back to Life Joanna Nadin More hilarious exploits from the angst ridden teen diarist Rachel Riley.  Fans of Louise Rennison’s character Georgia Nicolson will love this as will all those who have enjoyed the ups and down and ups again of Rachel’s life to date. … Download free opening extract
3		What I Saw and How I Lied Judy Blundell Winner of the prestigious National Book Award. Utterly gripping and beautifully told, this is a stunning rite of passage novel full of powerful and conflicting emotions, which captures Evie’s dramatic shift from child to adult in pinpoint sharp, painful detail. Excited … Download free opening extract

Books for babies and toddlers

1		Say Hello to the Baby Animals Ian Whybrow Stroke all the baby animals in the jungle in this attractive board book in which baby lion sets out to meet all the other baby animals around him. There’s a baby giraffe stretching up tall to eat the leaves at … Download free opening extract
2		Baby And Toddler Treasury A rich resource of stories, poems, action rhymes and more for all new babies and their parents, this Treasury is an excellent ‘first book’. The addition of a scrap book for recording all the babies own milestones is fun too. If … Download free opening extract
3		Little Bear’s Little Boat Eve Bunting Tender and true, this is a beautiful story about Little Bear’s loss as he grows too big for the little boat he loves. Since he can no longer fish from the boat or dream in it, he searches for another … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		The Rabbit Problem Emily Gravett An outstandingly original and entertaining book packed full of rabbitty details and a feast of novelty features that makes it all the more fun to read again and again and again. The Rabbit Problem shows what happens after Lonely sends … Download free opening extract
2		Call Me Gorgeous Giles Milton Stunning illustrations show the most arresting features of all sorts of animals – the pointy teeth of a crocodile and the long curving neck of a flamingo – all of which are fitted together to create a wonderful invented creature.  … Download free opening extract
3		Gruff the Grump Steve Smallman Kindness works like a magic charm on the grumpy old Gruff, a growly, grizzly grump of a bear. When Gruff the Grump unexpectedly does something kind and rescues a rabbit stuck in a tree, the rabbit repays him by bringing … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom Nelson Mandela, Chris Van Wyk Nelson Mandela’s inspirational life story has been adapted into a wonderfully child-friendly version. It tells of his childhood as an ordinary boy in a village and how his belief in democracy was already strongly developed while a student. Mandela’s fight … Download free opening extract
2		The Icky, Sticky Snot and Blood Book Steve Alton Disgustingly informative, this is a touchy, feely guide to some of the most disgusting things in life. Open the flap and find out about blood and bones, travel on a roller coaster ride around the fast flowing systems that control … 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		Boom! Mark Haddon Everything about this deliciously improbable adventure is almost completely daft – and that’s the fun of it all. When Charlie sets up his walkie-talkie in the staff room he doesn’t hear gossip about the pupils as he had expected. Instead, … Download free opening extract
2		Tollins: Explosive Tales for Children Conn Iggulden It’s Peter Pan with attitude as Conn Iggulden, creator of the phenomenal bestseller The Dangerous Book for Boys, introduces an explosive and magical new fictional world of the Tollins – flying creatures that aren’t fairies! – all beautifully illustrated in … Download free opening extract
3		Bob and Barry’s Lunar Adventures: The Disappearing Moon Simon Bartram Exciting moon adventures for Bob, the man on the moon, and his dog Barry. Bob’s job is to look after the moon but it isn’t always easy especially when the magician Alacazamo suddenly makes it disappear! Can Bob and Barry … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		Ghost Hunter: Book 6 Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Michelle Paver Dazzling entertainment, seamless storytelling, this is the stunning 6th and final episode, bringing the bestselling ‘The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness’, which began so dramatically with Wolf Brother, to a close. Now it is Torak’s last adventure; he must travel up into … Download free opening extract
2		The Boy in the Dress David Walliams Touching, funny and full of insight, this tender story tells how Dennis decides that everyone does not have to be the same. Bravely, he decides to do something completely different. Taking a risk he reinvents himself and begins to see … Download free opening extract
3		Wolven Di Toft A howlingly hairy summer adventure – Picture a boy, his eccentric grandparents and a pet dog that is a kind of special werewolf in reverse, all living on the edge of a strange and eerie wood. Now imagine that this … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		Timewalker Justin Stanchfield Full of intrigue, this is a terrific time-twist adventure with a dramatic plot that keeps its tension to the end. When sleepwalking along a lonely road near the quiet town of Antler, Sean meets a strange girl who is being … Download free opening extract
2		Threads Sophia Bennett Fresh, witty and wholly contemporary, prize winning Threads won The Times/Chicken House writing competition in 2009. How three teenage friends with completely different interests – one’s into fashion, one plans to save the world and one is a budding young … Download free opening extract
3		Double Cross Malorie Blackman This thrilling new title in award winning Malorie Blackman’s cleverly observed series, which began with Noughts and Crosses, captures the drama and potential violence of growing up – especially in a world where the Noughts are willing to use violence … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		Darke Academy 1: Secret Lives Gabriella Poole This is the first story in a series of three featuring supernatural spirits, with each one set in a different exotic city.  Secret Lives has a gripping unputdownable plot, a sophisticated Parisian setting and paranormal romance that will set the … Download free opening extract
2		Back to Life Joanna Nadin More hilarious exploits from the angst ridden teen diarist Rachel Riley.  Fans of Louise Rennison’s character Georgia Nicolson will love this as will all those who have enjoyed the ups and down and ups again of Rachel’s life to date. … Download free opening extract
3		Grass Cathy Macphail A thrilling, fast-paced, high octane story that is brilliantly spun out by the queen of teen thrillers Cathy Macphail as she captures how Leo gets caught up in the terrifying gang warfare that rules his town in Scotland. Leo and … Download free opening extract

Featured Books Age 0 – 5 Years

1		My First Nursery Stories Tony Ross   Best loved, classic nursery stories are vividly brought to life in Tony Ross’s humorous and vigorous illustrations. Follow the charmingly agile goats as they trip-trott over the bridge having dispatched the hairy troll SPLASH into the river with a well-aimed … Download free opening extract
2		The Pencil Allan Ahlberg 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 a house and streets for them to play in. But everyone wants … Download free opening extract
3		The Gruffalo Pop-up Theatre Book Julia Donaldson Not only can you read and reread the much loved story of the Gruffalo in this complete work of art but you can open the pop-up stage to act out the adventures of the little brown mouse, or even create … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Basil Wiley Miller A wonderful debut from an incredibly talented wordsmith and illustrator. Fans of The Wizard of Oz and James and the Giant Peach will love Basil and his erstwhile adventures. Basil is an ordinary boy living a very ordinary life in a lighthouse, … Download free opening extract
2		Alice In Wonderland (slipcase edition) Lewis Carroll, Rodney Matthews The story is timeless and can be read at so many different levels, but this lavish slipcased edition is quite simply stunning and will bring to the reader a very different Wonderland – even more fantastical and a little darker … Download free opening extract
3		Bob’s Best Ever Friend Simon Bartram Simon Bartram’s Man in the Moon was one of the most memorable, witty, and intriguing picture books of recent times and now at last, Bob, the man in the moon is back but looking for a best ever best friend … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		The Birthday Book Michael Morpurgo This is a sumptuous collection of stories and verse compiled by Michael Morpurgo, beautifully illustrated by Quentin Blake and published in aid of The Prince’s Foundation for Children and Arts and to celebrate the Prince of Wales’s 60th birthday. It’s … Download free opening extract
2		Kaspar Michael Morpurgo 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 … Download free opening extract
3		A Christmas Carol: The Graphic Novel (Original Text) Charles Dickens The original Christmas tale is brought to life in this colourful graphic novel adaptation. It is the second Charles Dickens title from Classical Comics and probably his best-loved story. Set in Victorian England and highlighting the social injustice of the … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		Midnight for Charlie Bone Jenny Nimmo Since his father died, Charlie Bone has lived with his mother and her mother, in the house of his other grandmother, Grandma Bone. Looking at a picture of a couple with a baby and a cat, he suddenly discovers he … Download free opening extract
2		The Magic Thief Sarah Prineas This is an absolutely captivating debut fantasy adventure. Full of magic and trickery, this is the story of a wizard and his new apprentice trying to discover why the magic in their city is fading and how they must … Download free opening extract
3		The Number 7 Shirt Alan Gibbons This is an action-packed story involving a boy who dreams of being a football pro. Because fiction and non-fiction are interwoven together, it’s likely to attract less keen readers but readers who may have a passion for football. His heroes … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		The Knife of Never Letting Go Patrick Ness Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2008 and Booktrust Teenage Prize 2008. The electrifying and unflinching young adult debut novel about the impossible choices of growing up by award-winning fiction writer Patrick Ness. This title is part of Walker Books’ … 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. … Download free opening extract
3		The Carbon Diaries 2015 Saci Lloyd Shortlisted for the 2008 Costa Children’s Book Award. This is a novel written in diary form as Laura, a teenager chronicles her life and that of her family as it is in 2015.  It’s edgy, it’s appealing and it’s contemporary and … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		The Meaning Of Life Joanna Nadin Laugh out loud funny from the first page, The Meaning of Life, will be devoured by teenagers and adults in equal measure just as the Diaries of Adrian Mole hit the spot for a different generation. A spot-on teenage voice … Download free opening extract
2		Before I Die Jenny Downham Winner of the Branford Boase Award 2008. This is a haunting yet truly amazing read but don’t read it too young. Definitely not for someone less than 14 years old. If you knew you were going to die what would … Download free opening extract
3		Young, Loaded And Fabulous Katherine Kingsley Addictive, scandalous and glamorous fiction from a brand new author writing for sophisticated teens!  As its title implies this is not for the faint-hearted.  If you’re up for a wild read where clubbing or holidaying in St Tropez is the … Download free opening extract

Featured Books Age 0 – 5 Years

1		The Story Blanket Ferida Wolff, Harriet May Savitz A beautifully heart-warming story about generosity rewarded with stunning illustrations by the award-winning illustrator Elena Odriozola. … Download free opening extract
2		Pink! Lynne Rickards This is a delightful tale of learning that it’s ok and quite fun to be different.  When Patrick turns pink overnight he worries about what his friends might think and travels the world to find out.  A really heart-warming story … Download free opening extract
3		Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark – Book & CD Jill Tomlinson Plop is a baby owl. Perfect in every way – except for one. He’s afraid of the dark! But he soon discovers, through a variety of new friends, that dark can be fun and exciting and magical! This is a story for … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Bob’s Best Ever Friend Simon Bartram Simon Bartram’s Man in the Moon as one of the most memorable, witty, and intriguing picture books of recent times and now at last, Bob, the man in the moon is back but looking for a best ever best friend … Download free opening extract
2		The Iron Man Ted Hughes One of the greatest modern fairy stories, this tells of the strange giant Iron Man who appears from no where and begins a reign of terror throughout the countryside as he smashes up the farmers’ tractors and diggers. How the … Download free opening extract
3		Derek The Sheep Gary Northfield One of the Beano’s most popular cartoon strip characters, Derek the Sheep, makes his long-awaited entry into a bumper collection. Existing fans of Derek as well as children who enjoy a more graphic approach to reading will love this … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl A book that requires no introduction as it is probably Dahl’s best-known and most read creation and deservedly so. The secretive and magical world of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory is revealed to five ‘lucky’ children, each of who has won … Download free opening extract
2		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
3		Waggit’s Tale Peter Howe This is an absolutely delightful and heart-warming animal tale about a puppy that gets dumped in the park by its owner. As he learns to fend for himself with the help of other strays, his life becomes both exciting and … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		Inkheart 3: Inkdeath Cornelia Funke Cornelia Funke’s acclaimed Inkheart trilogy, whilst rooted in the real world, sweeps beyond words to the Inkworld, a richly imagined parallel place that is the stuff of classic fairy tales that rivals Tolkien in its mastery. Inkdeath is … Download free opening extract
2		Magic Thief Sarah Prineas This is an absolutely captivating debut fantasy adventure. Full of magic and trickery, this is the story of a wizard and his new apprentice trying to discover why the magic in their city is fading and how they must … Download free opening extract
3		The Red Necklace Sally Gardner Set against the turbulent and drastically violent time of the French Revolution, this story is about a boy who is destined to become a hero. The plot takes you from Paris to London and back to Paris again to confront … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		Brisingr Christopher Paolini Oaths are sworn, loyalties tested and forces collide in a fantasy epic that promises to be one of the key publishing sensations of 2008. This, the third in Paolini’s Inheritance cycle is eagerly awaited on Saturday 20th September when it … Download free opening extract
2		Boy In The Striped Pyjamas John Boyne Film due for release 12 Sep 2008. To see a trailer click here or scroll down. When Bruno’s father is promoted to a new job, the family have to move from their comfortable home in Berlin to a strange new house in … Download free opening extract
3		The Knife of Never Letting Go Patrick Ness Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2008. The electrifying and unflinching young adult debut novel about the impossible choices of growing up by award-winning fiction writer Patrick Ness. This title is part of Walker Books’ ‘New Voices’ campaign which throughout … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		Before I Die Jenny Downham Winner of the Branford Boase Award 2008. This is a haunting yet truly amazing read but don’t read it too young. Definitely not for someone less than 14 years old. If you knew you were going to die what would … Download free opening extract
2		Tales Of Terror From The Black Ship Chris Priestley This is serious spine-tingling stuff and not for the faint-hearted, it’s a novel packed with chills, thrills, nail-biting suspense and heart-stopping revelations. Join Ethan and Cathy and steel yourself against the blood-curdling terror that lies ahead as you realise … Download free opening extract
3		The Knife That Killed Me Anthony Mcgowan No holds are barred in this gripping story about knife crime. And there’s no way to put it down…Tautly written, it captures how diffident Paul tries to chart his way through rival classroom gangs. Being an outsider is dangerous and … Download free opening extract

Featured Books Age 0 – 5 Years

1		The Story Blanket Ferida Wolff, Harriet May Savitz A beautifully heart-warming story about generosity rewarded with stunning illustrations by the award-winning illustrator Elena Odriozola. … Download free opening extract
2		Aliens Love Underpants! Claire Freedman   Joint winner of the Richard and Judy “Early” 5+ Category. Terrific illustrations capture the flood of jokes about pants that underlie this rhyming story now brilliantly brought to even greater life by the addition of a CD to accompany the story. There are … Download free opening extract
3		Pink! Lynne Rickards This is a delightful tale of learning that it’s ok and quite fun to be different.  When Patrick turns pink overnight he worries about what his friends might think and travels the world to find out.  A really heart-warming story … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Bob’s Best Ever Friend Simon Bartram Simon Bartram’s Man in the Moon as one of the most memorable, witty, and intriguing picture books of recent times and now at last, Bob, the man in the moon is back but looking for a best ever best friend … Download free opening extract
2		Tumtum and Nutmeg: The Great Escape Emily Bearn An absolutely delightful tale of secret friends and a cosy world in miniature told very simply with some charming detail. It’s very much Brambly Hedge meets The Borrowers. The life of the mice, Tumtum and Nutmeg who live at Nutmouse … Download free opening extract
3		Derek The Sheep Gary Northfield One of the Beano’s most popular cartoon strip characters, Derek the Sheep, makes his long-awaited entry into a bumper collection. Existing fans of Derek as well as children who enjoy a more graphic approach to reading will love this … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		Waggit’s Tale Peter Howe This is an absolutely delightful and heart-warming animal tale about a puppy that gets dumped in the park by its owner. As he learns to fend for himself with the help of other strays, his life becomes both exciting and … Download free opening extract
2		Kaspar Michael Morpurgo A miraculous story of survival. Kaspar is a feline fairy tale which tells how, after a pampered life as Countess Kandinsky’s beloved pet which includes a spell staying in the Savoy, the eponymous cat survives the dramatic sinking of the … 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 9+ readers

1		Inkheart 3: Inkdeath Cornelia Funke Cornelia Funke’s acclaimed Inkheart trilogy, whilst rooted in the real world, sweeps beyond words to the Inkworld, a richly imagined parallel place that is the stuff of classic fairy tales that rivals Tolkien in its mastery. Inkdeath is … Download free opening extract
2		The Red Necklace Sally Gardner Set against the turbulent and drastically violent time of the French Revolution, this story is about a boy who is destined to become a hero. The plot takes you from Paris to London and back to Paris again to confront … Download free opening extract
3		Magic Thief Sarah Prineas This is an absolutely captivating debut fantasy adventure. Full of magic and trickery, this is the story of a wizard and his new apprentice trying to discover why the magic in their city is fading and how they must … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		Boy In The Striped Pyjamas John Boyne Film due for release 12 Sep 2008. To see a trailer click here or scroll down. When Bruno’s father is promoted to a new job, the family have to move from their comfortable home in Berlin to a strange new house in … Download free opening extract
2		Brisingr Christopher Paolini Oaths are sworn, loyalties tested and forces collide in a fantasy epic that promises to be one of the key publishing sensations of 2008. This, the third in Paolini’s Inheritance cycle is eagerly awaited on Saturday 20th September when it … 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. … Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 14+ readers

1		Before I Die Jenny Downham Shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2008. The winner will be annouced 24th September. Winner of the Branford Boase Award 2008. This is a haunting yet truly amazing read but don’t read it too young. Definitely not for someone less … Download free opening extract
2		Tales Of Terror From The Black Ship Chris Priestley This is serious spine-tingling stuff and not for the faint-hearted, it’s a novel packed with chills, thrills, nail-biting suspense and heart-stopping revelations. Join Ethan and Cathy and steel yourself against the blood-curdling terror that lies ahead as you realise … Download free opening extract
3		The Knife That Killed Me Anthony Mcgowan No holds are barred in this gripping story about knife crime. And there’s no way to put it down…Tautly written, it captures how diffident Paul tries to chart his way through rival classroom gangs. Being an outsider is dangerous and … Download free opening extract