From island adventures to stories about twin detectives, here’s our list of favourite children’s books to read this summer.
Summer reading for kids: recommended books
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Blog posts for: Book lists
Oxford Levels: How to support your 7–11-year-old’s reading development
Find out how Oxford Levels and levelled readers can support and develop your child’s reading skills even after they’ve learned how to read.
Not your typical books for boys
An alternative list of recommended books for boys. Perfect for boys who are looking to read about something other than football or jokes about bottoms!
Learning to read in Reception
Find out what sort of books to expect to come home in your child’s book bag, and get top tips on how best to support your child.
Great books to get boys reading
John Dougherty shares his top picks for books to encourage and inspire your son to read.
Carry on reading aloud: the benefits of sharing books with older children
Few things are more important than reading aloud to our children. James Clements gives his advice on how to keep your child reading aloud, even after they are reading independently.
Developing your child’s confidence with martial arts
Mary Stevens discusses how martial arts can help children develop their confidence, their resilience and their self-control, and tells us what inspired her new Warrior Monkeys series.
Four top tips for getting the most out of non-fiction
There are lots of great reasons to share factual books with your child. Here are our top four tips for getting the most out of reading non-fiction.
Brilliant picture books: 22 beautiful books for children under 5
Wendy Cooling MBE has selected her favourite illustrated books to help you introduce your child to the wonders of stories and storytelling.
A case for non-fiction:
five reasons to read non-fiction with your child
Education expert James Clements outlines five benefits of reading non-fiction, and gives us his top non-fiction reads for ages 5–11.
Why does your child need a dictionary?
Dictionaries are great for developing your child’s vocabulary, but not just any will do. Publisher Sam Armstrong explains how Oxford Children’s Dictionaries can support your child.
Stories from the road less travelled – children’s books that celebrate diversity
Every child deserves to see lives like their own represented in powerful stories. Cerrie Burnell shares her favourite children’s books that celebrate diversity.
How to choose a book for ages 7–11
Literacy adviser and ex-librarian Beverley Humphrey offers her expert advice on how you can help choose the right book for your 7–11 year old.
Spooky reads for 9+ year olds
Embrace Halloween with our recommended spooky reads for 9–11 year olds, including Flood and Fang, The Dark is Rising and Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror.
Books to inspire young scientists
Science and engineering provide fantastic career opportunities, but science is not just for scientists – it’s a huge part of everyday life. A good grounding in science will help every child to navigate their world and make good decisions. Isabel Thomas recommends books for ages 3–11 to inspire your young scientist.
Picture books for older readers
Who says we have to leave picture books behind in KS1? These wonderful books use spellbinding illustrations to introduce children to big ideas. Includes FArTHER and The Man Who Walked Between Towers.
Harriet Muncaster’s top 10 magical books
Harriet Muncaster, creator of Isadora Moon, picks her top 10 favourite magical children’s books, from old classics to graphic novels.
Tom McLaughlin’s top 10 hilarious books
Children’s author Tom McLaughlin picks his 10 favourite funny books for children and teenagers, from classic stories to non-fiction to comic books.
Ben Davis’ top 10 funny books
Children’s author Ben Davis chooses his top 10 favourite funny books for children and teenagers, from old classics to brand new series.
Matty Long’s top 10 fantasy books for under 5s
Matty Long, author of Super Magic Happy Forest, chooses his favourite fantasy picture books for children under five years old.
Magical tales for 5–7 year olds
Halloween doesn’t have to be scary. Treat younger children to these magical tales of fairies, witches and some rather pesky cats!
Children’s dictionaries – how to find the right dictionary for your child
Find the right dictionary for your child with these four useful tips.
How to build a girl – books to inspire, encourage, or just reassure your daughter
Books to inspire, encourage, or just reassure your daughter, selected by the award-winning children’s author Joanna Nadin.
Your local library – a forgotten treasure trove
Guest blogger and primary school librarian Clare Turner gives her top five reasons why you should visit the library with your child.
Why is animal fiction important?
Tom Moorhouse talks about the importance of animal fiction: in building empathy, introducing children to difficult topics, and much more.
World Book Day – Read the world!
Children’s author Ali Sparkes gives her top 8 suggestions on how to encourage reluctant or struggling readers this World Book Day.
Developing empathy through reading
Children’s author Anne Booth, creator of the Lucy series, discusses how reading builds up emotional literacy, empathy, and relationship skills.
Supernatural tales for 7–9 year olds
Watch your children’s imaginations spirit them away with our selection of supernatural tales for ages 7–9. Unputdownable books about extraordinary children!
Using storytelling to develop reading and writing skills
Early reading specialist Emily Guille-Marrett talks about how oral storytelling can lay the foundations for literacy skills – as well as being great fun.
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