Lovereading4kids most popular children's books, by age range, 13 - 20 October 2015

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		The Nonsense Show Eric Carle Julia Eccleshare's October 2015 Book of the Month The much-loved Eric Carle’s The Nonsense Show more than lives up to its title! Using his trade-mark collage illustrations he has created spread after spread of surprising and unusual events. Humans and animals ... Download free opening extract
2		A Great Big Cuddle Michael Rosen Julia Eccleshare's Book of the Month, September 2015  Children’s Laureates Chris Riddell and Michael Rosen combine here to create a beautiful collection of ebullient poems for the very young.  Michael Rosen’s close and affectionate observation of small children and the ... Download free opening extract
3		Wolves Emily Gravett Celebrating 10th Anniversary of Wolves!  Rabbit borrows a book about wolves from the library. He can't put it down! But soon a sinister figure with sharp claws and a bushy tail starts to creep right off the pages. You won't ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for Young Adults

1		Monster C.J. Skuse October 2015 Book of the Month  In an isolated boarding school, a group of girls settle in for the holidays.  Everyone else has gone home and there are rivalries and animosity between them – this definitely isn’t going to be ... Download free opening extract
2		Zeroes Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti October 2015 Book of the Month A group of Californian teenagers with superpowers should be having the time of their lives, right? Wrong… This action-packed page-turner about the self-proclaimed Zeroes shows that superpowers come at a cost. In fact, Ethan’s ... Download free opening extract
3		All Sorts of Possible Rupert Wallis Rupert Wallis is not afraid to tackle big issues in his novels for teens, including mysteries of good and evil and, in this book, whether there’s a destiny that shapes our ends. Daniel is travelling with his father when their ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		Aliens Love Dinopants Claire Freedman October 2015 Book of the Month  Those pants-mad aliens are back for another bonkers and utterly irresistible episode of knicker-nicking! Lightning sends the aliens’ spaceship crash-landing into the deepest jungle where to their great surprise they discover a stash of ... Download free opening extract
2		Happy! Pharrell Williams October 2015 Debut of the Month  ‘Happy! Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth!’ Pharrell William’s song is irresistible, guaranteed to cheer you up and fill you with optimism whatever your mood. Now he’s taken the words ... Download free opening extract
3		Fairytales for Mr Barker Jessica Ahlberg A familiarity with fairy tales is useful to enjoy this charming little book to the full.  Lucy is reading to her dog Mr Barker but he’s not paying attention, in fact he’s soon off out through the window into – ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Imaginary Fred Eoin Colfer October 2015 MEGA Picture Book of the Month  There are so many adjectives you could use to describe this book - extraordinary, dazzling, original, funny, irresistible, quirky, imaginative, clever, stunning - but none go far enough.  A truly unique work ... Download free opening extract
2		Vikings in the Supermarket Nick Sharratt Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month, October 2015  Six bouncy poems each of which is richly illustrated by award-winning illustrator Nick Sharratt. Burt, Cora, Charlie, Selwin, Ida and Quentin are the six Vikings let loose on a delightful shopping spree ... Download free opening extract
3		Take Away the A Michael Escoffier What a difference a letter makes! Without the G the glove falls in love; remove the K and the monkey makes money; without the A, the beast is best! It’s such a clever idea, one reading and you’ll be working ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella Cerrie Burnell October 2015 Book of the Month  'Once there was a girl called Harper who had a rare musical gift. She heard songs on the wind, rhythms on the rain and hope in the beat of a butterfly’s wing.’ So begins ... Download free opening extract
2		Pinocchio Michael Morpurgo Michael Morpurgo has created a fresh version of the classic story of Pinocchio, the wooden puppet with a terrible habit of telling lies who comes alive and has some incredible adventures. Here, Pinocchio tells his own story which, in his ... Download free opening extract
3		School Ship Tobermory Alexander Mccall Smith Alexander McCall Smith has taken the ever-popular set up for a proper children’s story – group of plucky kids, no parents – and added to the scope for adventure tenfold by setting it on a tall ship. Twins Ben and ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair Lara Williamson October 2015 Book of the Month  Lara Williamson writes books that are poignant and heart-warming, books unequivocally and unashamedly about love. Eleven year old Becket Rumsey is struggling to find the answers to some important questions: how to properly say ... Download free opening extract
2		Grandpa's Great Escape David Walliams October 2015 Book of the Month  There’s no doubt that this will be at the top of the bestseller lists, at least until Christmas and probably well beyond. In a relatively short time David Walliams has built up a huge ... Download free opening extract
3		An Eagle in the Snow Michael Morpurgo M.B.E. October 2015 Book of the Month   A ‘what if’ story based on a true life events, full of descriptions of heroism and selflessness: for any good writer this would make excellent material for a book, but in Michael Morpurgo’s hands, ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		Lockwood & Co: the Hollow Boy Jonathan Stroud October 2015 Book of the Month  Publication of a new Lockwood and Co adventure must qualify as one of the literary events of the year. Jonathan Stroud not only writes like a dream, he creates some of the most inventive, ... Download free opening extract
2		Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer Rick Riordan October 2015 Book of the Month  Rick Riordan’s unerring ability to reach readers - including those generally described as reluctant - is evident in his new series. Once again he takes ancient myths as inspiration and with its flawed gods, ... Download free opening extract
3		The Boy at the Top of the Mountain John Boyne Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month, October 2015  Bestselling John Boyne returns to the Second World War for The Boy at the Top of the Mountain, the story of the transformation of Pierrot. Pierrot lives in France. His mother is ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 13+ readers

1		One Sarah Crossan September 2015 Julia Eccleshare's Mega Book of the Month Award-winning Sarah Crossan tells an astonishing and difficult story with the surest of touches in this tender, funny and life affirming book. Grace and Tippi are twins. Not just twins but ... Download free opening extract
2		The Devil's Angel Kevin Brooks February 2015 Book of the Month - Interest Age Teen  Reading Age 8   Award-winning Kevin Brooks tells a gripping and thoughtful story about the irresistible appeal of a dangerous friendship. Jack is cruising along in year 10; not part of ... Download free opening extract
3		Railhead Philip Reeve October 2015 Book of the Month  Set in a shining future world, where trains rumble not just through towns and countryside but across whole galaxies, Philip Reeve’s new novel drenches its readers with extraordinary scenes, images and ideas. Zen Starling ... Download free opening extract