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Find out moreNot all great books come through big publishers. Check out some of our favourite indie books on the market.
A delightful story with many hidden messages to teach children about love, friendship, forgiveness and faithfulness. The illustrations are stunning and serve to enhance the story. It is a book that children will come back to again and again and is written in such a way as to help new readers develop their own reading skills. Jill Barton, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
‘Clash of the Totems and the Lost Magaecians’ by Yonnie Garber is a coming of age story for teenagers that focuses on Ellery Brown. The 13 year-old knows very little about her past and her family, growing up with her mother in a remote village with no recollection of her father or extended family. When her school is closed down by a fire, she finds herself in the Earth Science School for Magaecians, and her family history leads her on an adventure of spells and totems against the villainous Saxon Nash. I liked the strong ecological theme throughout, with the Magaecians focused on a life with nature at its heart, knowing that Humanity’s time is limited if they continue to destroy the earth as they do. I also liked the twist on the usual battle between good and evil tropes, with the Magaecians finding power and strength in words, and negativity and physical violence discouraged. I found some similarities in this book with Harry Potter and even the Power Rangers at one point, as the children are encouraged to meditate to “become” their animal totems and “unite” together. This is an action packed adventure and coming-of-age story with an inventive and unique twist, ‘Clash of the Totems and the Lost Magaecians’ is set up to be the start of an interesting new series. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
Leonard’s Lunch by Debbie Quinn is a lovely children’s book written in rhyming verse. Each of the 40 pages has a bright and colourful illustration and a maximum of 12 lines of verse. Leonard the lion is hungry and wondering what to eat for his lunch. He meets up with Bear, Monkey, Crocodile, Parrot, and Mouse. Leonard’s repetitive words and questions to his friends will help to engage young learners in the story and aid their learning. They offer him some of their healthy food, but he decides he doesn’t need the health benefits offered by their meals. He opts for some unhealthy snacks instead like pizza, chips, cakes, and sweets. Leonard decides to eat junk food every day. Over time, he begins to suffer some unpleasant side effects. He feels unhealthy and has several health complaints. His friends send him to see Doctor Giraffe. She explains that his unhealthy choices are making him sick. She gives him a list of healthy food to eat so that he will start to feel better. She also suggests that he exercise, drink water, and brush his teeth twice a day. When Leonard feels better, he throws a party for his friends with healthy food on the menu. The book has illustrations of unhealthy and healthy foods and different types of exercise, which will encourage children to talk about each food and activity. There are some amusing references to bodily functions which will make children laugh. The expressions on the animals’ faces are also very endearing. Children will learn the importance of a healthy and balanced lifestyle through Quinn’s humorous and entertaining book. The book’s message is brought across in a gentle, non-lecturing way. Children aged about 4 to 5 will enjoy having the story read to them and older children up to about 8 years old will enjoy reading the book for themselves. Susan Gibbs, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
A colourful middle-grade adventure. Twelve-year-old Bertie Allbright has a unique gift that allows him to see people’s auras. His mum falls ill, opening Bertie up to a world of healing crystals, dangerous, aura-sucking Ampires, the Inspectrum and Jett Black, who has plans to rule a world filled with darkness. With the help of Stu, his best friend and Jasper, Stu’s energetic and lovable dog, Bertie set’s out to find a crystal that will hopefully help to heal his mum, and perhaps even his sister. I thought that ‘True Colours’ by T. J. Healy was a brief and entertaining adventure story. There’s lots going on to keep the reader turning the page, with mystery, action and adventure as Bertie and his friends try to find Solas and evade the Hertzers and Ampires (a great name and play on words). I liked Stu’s character, his naïve comments as he cannot see auras but unwavering support of Bertie. Like his sunny yellow aura, Stu brings a lightness and levity to the storyline even when injured. ‘True Colours’ is just the start of this adventure, with mysteries surrounding the whereabouts of Bertie’s dad, what Bertie’s special, rainbow aura means and of course what will happen to Jett Black and the Inspectrum. An entertaining and easy to read beginning to an adventure series. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
So how will you sleep? by Annabel Gardiner and illustrated by Samantha Thorley is a delightful children's picture book. It is the ideal book to read to children at bedtime. Each page has a beautiful illustration. Young children will love the charming depictions of the different animals. The drawings are very detailed and have restful colours. Children will learn about the sleeping habits of several animals. The drawings will encourage further discussion about the animals and their habitats, so there is the potential for children to learn a great deal from this book. There also is a hidden caterpillar to search for on some of the pages. My favourite feature of this book is that the author skillfully presents the story in the form of a poem. The second and fourth lines of each verse rhyme, which makes the narrative flow at a good pace. Children will enjoy the gentle repetition and descriptive words. The text is quite entertaining. We see how and where a bat, a koala, an otter, a fox, a bee, a whale, and a polar bear sleep. The author asks if the reader will go to sleep like one of these animals. Will they be comfortable? The book ends with a good suggestion as to where a child should sleep! I highly recommend this lovely book for young children up to the age of about 5 years old. Susan Gibbs, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
A vibrant, illustrated introduction to Ghana. ‘Ghana’ by Anna Makanda & Sharmane Barrett, this picture book is filled with fascinating facts about a wonderful country and is perfect for curious children who love geography and discovering new places. This is a fully illustrated book that tells you everything from where Ghana is on the Map to when the rainy seasons are and landmarks to look out for. Although, as it states, English is the official language, there are over 80 different languages spoken in the country and throughout the book there are words and phrases that have been translated into two of the most widely spoken languages, Asante Twi and Fanti which I thought was a really nice touch. Through Kobe, Adowa and Kwame Young readers get to know more about the day to day life of those who live in Ghana, as well as places to visit and information about the country’s history. The illustrations throughout are eye catching and lovely, I’m sure many young readers will enjoy exploring the pictures as they learn more about Ghana. This is a really well-executed, engaging book that would be brilliant to explore other cultures in schools, or for children who have Ghanaian heritage to learn more about the country. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
Daft adventures and evil siblings abound in this zany story. ‘The Very Dangerous Sisters of Indigo McCloud’ by John Hearne follows the acrobatic Indigo as he tries to put a stop to his sisters' dastardly deeds and horrid acts of intimidation. This is a whacky narrative, with Indigo and his friend Polly working together to prevent Peaches from threatening their new neighbours the Tripes, over a girl scout contest to sell the most calendars. In classic children’s fiction fashion, all the adults are easily manipulated by the evil Peaches, oblivious to the goings on or, in the case of Peaches hired henchmen, a little bit useless. It’s up to Indigo to continuously put himself in harm's way to foil Peaches’ plans. There’s plenty packed into this middle grade story, with lots of action and jeopardy. Indigo and Polly are very well-equipped to try and take on Peaches, with Indigo’s urban gymnastics and Polly’s seemingly endless supply of spy-style earpieces. The town of Blunt is unusual, with places like the Big Hairy Spider Emporium and events like the Ingratitude Parade which I’m sure will entertain readers. Descriptive and quirky, this is a jam-packed chapter book that fans of David Walliams’ books would enjoy. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
I enjoy historical/period stories and have always been fascinated by hedgehogs. Elizabeth Morley’s book combines these two unexpected subjects and caught my interest. “The Smugglers of Hog’s Head Bay” does not disappoint. It is a delightful book with 187 pages and charming illustrations. Hedgehogs are the stars of this story, which is set in the 1770s on the Isle of Needles. The main character, Hoglinda, goes to stay with her cousin, Quiller, while her father, Admiral Hoglander sails to the colonies to help quell a rebellion. While she is there, she discovers that Quiller is a smuggler. At first, she was shocked. However, looking for a bit of excitement and adventure in her life, she is drawn into the world of smuggling and assists him where she can. Hoglinda becomes suspicious that he might also be involved in more serious activities and she is worried. She and Quiller’s rival in the smuggling business, Mr. Snipwicke, investigate. They discover that Quiller is assisting in a Furzish plot to invade the island. Quiller does not know that the Furzish plan to ban the islanders from their own island. Hoglinda and Snipwicke inform Quiller of this part of the plot and they all form a plan to prevent this from happening. This is a suspenseful, enjoyable story. Morley’s words flow easily and readers will immerse themselves in this likeable story. She has captured the essence of the different characters right down to the way they speak. The story realistically captures the way life and society was in that era. The author also provides an extensive glossary of very interesting information. It is enlightening to learn how many of our figures of speech today have their origins in the nautical or smuggling world. Examples are, “tying up loose ends”, “learning the ropes” and “the coast is clear”. I highly recommend this book for older children and adults. Susan Gibbs, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
Lucy and the Secret Room is a unique book aimed at 9+ ages. The glossary at the end encourages independent reading, it brings STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) to the foreground in a fun way, potentially making the subjects much less intimidating. Darren John Charlton writes with a mixture of humour, mystery and excitement and is highly relatable to young readers. It touches on dealing with the death of a parent and friendships, and how to be a good friend. The illustrations add authenticity to the story and bring the imagination of the author to life. Really excited to read more from the author and I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. Lydia Roshanzamir, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
‘Evil Reborn’ by Javi Padilla is the second in the Mara Turing book series which follows a young girl and her friends as they find themselves immersed in a world of hackers and search for Mara's disappeared Uncle. We start the second book in this series a few weeks after the dramatic events in Times Square in book one, Rise of the Hackers. The events of the first book are referenced and briefly summarised, but I think to fully immerse yourself in the narrative, beginning with book one is advised. Mara, Noa and Danny are singled out by the school bullies, three children whocall themselves The Salamander Squad terrorise their fellow students and post videos of their antics online. Returning to ‘Evil Reborn’ to capitalise on the Salamander Squad, hunt down Mara and her friends and hopefully lure Mara’s Uncle, Arnold Turing, out of hiding is the evil artificial intelligence Hermes and its genius hacker creator, Falko McKinnon. This is another exciting mystery and adventure that explores coding and cyber security in an informative and yet entertaining way. The plotline of these books is one that I think seeks to entertain first and foremost, with plenty of action throughout, and provides education about digital safety as a beneficial byproduct. There’s more full page illustrations between the chapters in this book, highlighting the key moments and characters and they seem to be in a different style to the first book, although I loved the detail and the drama and tension created by the monochrome colour palette. In all, this is another action-packed tech adventure with another dramatic conclusion that will leave you wondering what will happen in the next book. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
Political manoeuvring and cross party cooperation explored in this middle grade mystery. Theo is an ordinary teenage boy. Except he happens to live in Downing Street and his father is the Prime Minister. Theo is struggling to navigate his school life with the weight of his family’s expectations when, during a school trip to the Houses of Parliament, the parliamentary mace is stolen. Forming a new friendship with Sammy, a classmate with a different background and ideals seemingly from across the political divide, can the pair of students beat the Police to discover who the thief is before the government crumbles and Theo’s life is turned upside down again? ‘Mystery in the Palace of Westminster’ by Sarah Lustig is an interesting and adventurous mystery which will entertain young readers while also introducing new information about the different roles within the government and the Houses of Parliament. On top of the mystery of the missing mace we see the personable story of the impact of constant media scrutiny and political upheaval on a family. In a way that allows the reader to sympathise with Theo, we see his struggles to find his footing at school and live up to his father’s expectations while understanding his privileges in comparison to Sammy and her more ordinary life. I think that this book would be a great introduction to politics while also offering a twisting mystery to entertain readers. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
A charming book about asking for help and finding friendship in unexpected places. With humorous, charming and cute illustrations, the reader is taken on a journey learning about different sea creatures along the way. It is a wonderful book about the importance of being helpful and friendly to others and is a witness to how kindness has a ripple effect across people we come across day-to-day. A wonderful book that I would be proud to read to my children time and time again. Lydia Roshanzamir, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
When Cherry Lost Terry by Penny Phillips and illustrated by Clare Mallison is a captivating children’s storybook written in limericks, with elaborate illustrations. The story opens with Anne the Antelope looking out to sea through her binoculars. This creates expectancy. What does she see? She and Billy Badger set off to investigate in his boat. Cherry the Cat jumps onto their boat from a passing ferry. She is searching for her friend, Terry, who fell overboard. We are kept guessing as to Terry's identity. We get a few clues along the way as we meet more and more animals who help in the search. The animal’s names charmingly all begin with the same letter as their animal species. They work together to help Cherry, which teaches children about helping others. The illustrations are gentle with restful colours and expressive animal faces. By the end of the book, it is night-time, Terry has been found and all the animals go to sleep. They are promised another adventure with Wayne the Whale the following day. Children, and those reading to them, will love the way the clever rhymes flow. The beautiful animal illustrations are also praise-worthy and will encourage discussion about animals. Susan Gibbs, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
‘Frances Finkel and the Passenger Pigeon’ by D.M. Mahoney is a valiant tale of achieving your dreams and overcoming the odds to do so. A historical fiction tale based on WWII, we follow the eighteen year old Fran, a competent pilot eager to play her part as a pilot in WWII. With a tale of friendship and family intertwined as Frances seeks adventure as part of the air force. Although set well within 1940s America, I feel that this storyline will feel relatable to modern teen readers. The coming of age themes throughout seem universal, as are the themes of loss, new friendships, determination and positivity. It’s brilliant to have books that shine a light on strong female lead characters and even better when these books are based in part on the female history and participation in the war, something not always taught in schools. I think that this book would appeal to historical fiction fans but it also has a wider audience as the main narrative follows a young girl dealing with grief and loss but determined to achieve her dreams, find where she belongs and do what she can to make a difference. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
Written and illustrated by Lisa Wee, ‘Li Na is My Name’ is a bright and colourful picture book with a message that encourages children to be who they are and encourages everyone reading to stop and think before “light-heartedly” teasing children for their hobbies and passions. Li Na likes to rollerblade and play football with her friends, but she is labelled as a tomboy by everyone around her for her ‘not-so-girly' hobbies and clothes. I loved the illustrations throughout, there’s so much colour which will capture any young reader's attention and lots to see as Li Na, her family and friends play and get ready for the school concert and talent show. I really loved the message that there’s no such thing as a ‘girly’ or ‘boy’ hobby and that everyone should be able to have fun doing what they love. I think that this message would come across in a way that’s more memorable to younger readers if there was a rhyme or rhythm to the writing but as it is ‘Li Na is My Name’ is a positive and eye-catching children’s book with an important message. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
Sunny the Sideloader by Anne and Louise Jordan is a remarkable children’s picture book, printed with vegetable ink on recycled paper. The colourful 3-D illustrations were created by building sets with real toy trucks, photographing them, and digitally altering them. There is plenty to promote discussion with young children as each background scene is very detailed. Caring for the environment, following instructions and teamwork are the themes of this entertaining, educational book. Sunny the Sideloader truck is excited to start working at the Sanitation Station in Workerville. He joins 7 other electric trucks called Forest, Electra, Gruff, Starletta, Mighty, Digit, and Sprout. They collect electronics, garbage, compost, and yard waste. Sunny is told by Manager Mike to follow Electra. He is so excited that he races off without her. He starts lifting bins at such a fast pace that piles of recycling fall out and litter the streets. Sunny is sad that he has made such a mess and worried about what his workmates will say. What will happen next? Can Sunny fix the mess he created and succeed in making Workerville a clean city? This engaging unique book will appeal to children up to age 5 or 6, especially truck lovers and environmentally aware readers. Susan Gibbs, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
The Tiger Who Visited Great Ormond Street Hospital by Martin D Hill and illustrated by Iole Eulalia Rosa is a delightful children’s book. This enjoyable book is 24 pages long and tells the story of a Bengal tiger cub, called Indy, who visits sick children in a London Hospital to cheer them up. This book is based on real events. The author hopes to create awareness about the endangered Bengal tiger by telling this remarkable story. The colourful illustrations are my favourite part of the book. The expressions on the tiger cub’s face are so endearing. The illustrations create a happy mood, which is exactly the effect that Indy’s visits had. The text is easy to read and explains everything in a language that children will easily understand. Each page has a few well-spaced sentences. There are enough words to explain the story, without losing the children’s attention by giving too many details. There is a good balance between telling the story about Indy and educating children about why we need to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. Children who are learning to read will benefit from practicing on this story. Younger children will enjoy having this book read to them. Susan Gibbs, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
In this cheerful, bright and colourful counting story, Eliza explores the natural world around her closely, using her magnifying glass. On each page she discovers a new set of small creatures, all commonly found in gardens and parks, and all instantly recognisable. The creatures, minibeasts and even the acorns are given human features and funny phrases, which make them relatable, but they are also very carefully and realistically drawn. This is a book full of visual knowledge and the delightful collage-like textures add to the realism. There is so much to see and talk about within these pages, it would be a great pick for a young child interested in the natural world or a class starting out on a science topic. The reader will certainly feel like taking the author’s advice to follow their curiosity out of the door to explore! Rachel Elvidge, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
Charming in style, quirky in concept, and shot-through with a message of teamwork, this madcap picture book boasts engaging text that’s great to read aloud, and elegantly chuckle-some illustrations. MacFogarty has abandoned his clothes all over the place – his shoes have been flung at the side of the old cart track, and his socks are caught in some nettles. With MacFogarty nowhere to be seen, the socks and shoes decide to take their chance to make a run for it. Along the way, they join forces with MacFogarty’s abandoned trousers, shirt and hat, all of them uncared for, which is why they’re so keen to escape. Then, when MacFogarty’s spies them, Hat speaks up and rouses the runaway clothes to stand up for themselves. Filled with a sense of adventure (especially during the wild chase scene), Soham De’s evocative watercolour illustrations add detail and more than a dash of humour. The clothes quiver with movement and life, the countryside landscapes are beautiful, and the sight of MacFogarty in his birthday suit is sure to induce lots of laughs. This is a perfect pairing of words and pictures. Joanne Owen, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
Another lovely story from Once Upon a Dance encouraging movement and creative expression. Dayana is delighted when she finds out her new brother is here and can’t wait to play and do her favourite thing with him: dance! But babies aren’t the best dance partners and Dayana gets to learn new ways of moving with him. Then something magical happens. The focus of this book is moving, dancing and performing. This is the second story that I’ve come across from Once Upon a Dance and again I really enjoyed the concept of a storyline with accompanying movements and actions. ‘Dayana, Dax, and the Dancing Dragon’ is a lovely and simple story about the excitement of a new sibling as well as a magical mini-adventure. The story is well written and I think it could be enjoyed without the actions. I liked the illustrations, throughout, they are bright and colourful and I think that young readers will enjoy looking at the illustrations in between having a go at the actions. I also like the ribbon detail present to separate the story and the actions, it’s a little detail that adds a really nice finishing touch. I found that the actions and photographs were clear but also encouraging for any reader that wanted to try out their own move or adapt it to fit them. I liked the positivity throughout that suggests that the actions can be performed for another or done in your own space, and the brief safety reminders to be careful of what’s around you when performing the actions. I think that this book will be well-loved by any budding young performer. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
Five siblings set out on a fantastical quest. Five, strong and smart orphan siblings are trusted to help Lucky, a strange, diamond being escape their miserable city of Lowdar and embark on a magical, fantasy quest. ‘The Lucky Diamond’ by Valinora Troy plunges the reader into a strange world, with great world-building, and transports us across foreign lands as the siblings and Lucky set out on their quest. The inhabitants of Lowdar know that to go beyond the town walls is certain death, but when the siblings must work together and do just that to help Lucky get home, sparkling adventures begin. The beginning of a new series this book reminded me of The Chronicles of Narnia. Each sibling is unique, has a strong character and their own ability, helped by the strange gifts left to them by their mother, to allow them to help in any given situation. I can see young middle grade readers picking their favourite characters out as they read. The story flows well, with lots of things to discover with every turn of the page, new characters (and monsters) to encounter, and evils to overcome. I think that this would be a hit for any middle grade readers who like magical quests and fantasy. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
A lovely story of courage. Dennis has moved house and is scared of going to sleep in his strange new room. Thankfully Mum is on hand to deliver a positive and soothing message about the strength that everyone has within themselves to face the things that worry them, the Lion in their heart. Through beautiful and bright illustrations by Anil Yap and simple but flowing text from R.C. Chizhov, ‘The Lion in your Heart’ touches not only on having the courage to face your fears but also to reach for the stars, sometimes literally, and follow your dreams. This is a lovely picture book, the text and the illustrations work brilliantly together. Dennis’ questions about all the times that his Lion might be with him offer an additional positive and motivational aspect to the novel as I’ve already mentioned, about having courage to achieve anything, as well as facing more immediate challenges, like spiders or sleeping in a strange new room. This would be a great picture book to read with young children, who will no doubt love the story and illustrations and may also want to talk about all the different times that their Lion is with them. A wholesome, and charming picture book. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
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