The summer holidays are bound to be busy, but 10–15 minutes of reading with your child every day is one of the best ways you can help them with their learning. Aside from the educational benefits, regular story time can also be ten minutes of respite from hectic family life to curl up, read and talk together.
Our Summer Reading books for kids are accompanied by a variety of fun activities to keep even the most reluctant of readers entertained. Please note that all links will connect you to Amazon.co.uk.
Stella and the Seagull
Georgina Stevens/Izzy Burton
Spurred into action when her seagull friend gets poorly from eating plastic, young Stella is soon on a campaign for change. A beach clean up and plastic straw ban sparks her whole community into action and soon Stella is making a big impact. And it’s not long before the little seagull and all its animal friends can live in a better environment.
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Winnie and Wilbur: The Bug Safari
Valerie Thomas / Korky Paul
Winnie and Wilbur are fascinated by the creepy-crawlies in the garden and decide it could be fun to shrink right down to their size. But when you’re knee-high to a caterpillar, there can be some very hairy moments. And when a humongous wand is too big to handle, will things ever get back to normal?
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The Pirate Mums
Jodie Lancet-Grant/Lydia Corry
Billy’s family is not what you’d call ordinary. His mums won’t listen to NORMAL music. They love to sing sea shanties and dance jigs in the lounge. Their clothes are highly unusual, they have a rude parrot for a pet, and their taste in house design is, well . . . FISHY. Billy wishes his family could be more like everyone else’s. Until a swashbuckling adventure changes everything!
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Everybody Has Feelings
Jon Burgerman
We all have feelings and that’s okay! How are YOU feeling today?
With fun characters and eye-popping artwork, Jon Burgerman’s entertaining book introduces over twenty feelings, putting each one in relatable context and providing young children with the vocabulary they need to talk about feelings.
All Aboard the Words Train
Oxford Children’s Books
Hop on board our amazing train for a fun-filled learning journey! We’re at the station and ready to go. We’re off to have fun with words at the seaside. All aboard everyone!
Explore a world of words as you splash around on the beach, explore a coral reef, and visit a tropical island! Each page focuses on nouns, adjectives, or verbs, as a gentle introduction to word classes.
I’m the Digger Driver
Oxford Children’s Books
Today you’re the digger driver! Your job is to help your team to build a house. Let’s go!
Enter a world of imaginative play with this fun and immersive insight into construction vehicles. Children will love using their imagination to take the driver’s seat and pretend to use the digger’s controls to dig, move, and scoop!
This book puts the reader in charge, to build self-confidence and encourage following instructions, problem solving, and teamwork.
Noah’s Seal
Layn Marlow
Noah waits all day for Nana’s boat to be ready so that they can go seal spotting. He waits and waits, and eventually takes matters into his own hands, building his very own seal out of sand-it’s almost as good as the real thing. But it isn’t long before a storm whips up, his seal is washed away, and Nana packs up ready to leave. Noah loses all hope that he’ll ever spot a real-life seal, until something special happens.
Turbo Bunnies
Matty Long
THE SKILL! THE SPEED! THE DRAMA!
Nothing can beat the thrill of Whizz Kart Racing-and Team Turbo is the best team around! But when their drivers, the Turbo Bunnies, become rivals, things quickly spin out of control. CRASH!
Have the wheels come off Team Turbo forever? Or can they get back on track?
A hilarious story about teamwork and friendship, from prize-winning author and illustrator Matty Long.
Kitty and the Kidnap Trap
Paula Harrison
Kitty is looking after her friend’s pet hamster, Marvin, for the weekend when disaster strikes and he is kidnapped!
It’s time for Superhero Kitty to leap into action to rescue Marvin and bring him home before the night is out.
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Freddie’s Amazing Bakery: The Sticky Cake Race
Harriet Whitehorn
Freddie Bonbon is sweet by name and sweet by nature! He also runs the most amazing bakery in town.
In this story, Freddie and his friends race around town in the annual Belville Rally.
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Isadora Moon Goes to a Wedding
Harriet Muncaster
Isadora is going to be a bridesmaid at her aunt’s wedding, and she’s SO excited! The dress. The flowers. The cake!
But, oh no, where has Baby Honeyblossom gone?
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Mirabelle has a Bad Day
Harriet Muncaster
Mirabelle’s mum is a witch, her dad is a fairy, and she is a bit of both!
Mirabelle is having a BAD DAY! Her best friend, Carlotta, can usually make Mirabelle see the funny side but she’s away from school and Mirabelle can’t help feeling a BAD MOOD coming on.
When Mirabelle gets home to find her brother has eaten the last chocolate biscuit and is playing with her beloved pet dragon, Mirabelle finally loses her temper, with dramatic consequences for all the family!
Will Mirabelle be able to put things right and turn her bad day around before bedtime…?
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The Children of Noisy Village
Astrid Lindgren / Mini Grey
Lisa lives in a tiny place called Noisy Village with all her friends and with so many children living there, its’ a very noisy place indeed! Join the children on their adventures as they explore the great outdoors and get up to plenty of mischief.
These classic beloved stories are written by Astrid Lindgren and illustrated by CILIP Kate Greenaway medal-winning Mini Grey.
Ballet Bunnies: The Big Audition
Swapna Reddy
In Millie’s latest adventure, her favourite TV show, Ballet Beat, is coming to town! One lucky person will get the chance to appear on the show, but is Millie brave enough to audition? All she needs is a little encouragement from her friends, the Ballet Bunnies.
With a Ballet Bunny on your side, fun and laughter are never far away.
Beautifully-illustrated stories with heart; perfect for newly emerging readers who love ballet and bunnies!
Leo’s Map of Monsters: The Spitfang Lizard
Kris Humphrey / Pete Williamson
Suitable for ages 7–9
Join Leo as he battles the Spitfang Lizard!
It’s Leo’s job as the Guardian’s apprentice to protect the village from the monsters that lurk in the surrounding forest. Whenever a monster gets too close to the village walls Leo must venture out, using his magical map to first find the monster and then do battle with it. In this book, Leo must track down a deadly Spitfang Lizard before it reaches the village. He is given one piece of advice – first they spit, then they bite. If a Spitfang’s throat swells up . . . run!
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The Island that Didn’t Exist
Joe Wilson
When twelve-year-old Rixon’s great-uncle leaves him a mysterious island in his will, he sets off to see it for himself. What Rixon finds there might hold the key to the future of the planet: four children brought up with a different set of values.
Can Rixon save the island when he is beset by dangers and soon fighting for his own life?
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Max Takes a Stand
Tim Allman / Nick Shepherd
In this brand new series Max is on a quest to make the world a better place. From hiding his parents’ car keys to preparing vegan dinners, Max is determined to help save the planet through positive direct action!
But with hilarious and often disastrous results can Max’s enthusiasm pay off in the end?
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Mickey and the Trouble with Moles
Anne Miller / Becka Moor
Mickey has been recruited to a top secret band of animal spies. Disaster strikes when someone (or some mole…) robs a bank! While investigating the crime, Mickey’s colleague (a rat called Rupert) disappears under very suspicious circumstances. This definitely sounds like a job for Mickey and the Animal Spies!
This book contains real coded messages, can you crack the codes before Mickey does?
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Kevin and the Biscuit Bandit
Philip Reeve / Sarah McIntyre
Welcome to another brilliantly quirky adventure story from creative powerhouse Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre.
Bumbleford has been hit by a series of biscuit thefts. All the clues lead straight to the only roly-poly flying pony in town, and Max’s best friend, KEVIN! Max and Kevin are forced to go on the run. Will they find the real culprit before Kevin ends up in pony prison?
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Willow Wildthing and the Shooting Star
Gill Lewis / Rebecca Bagley
When Willow meets the Wild Things she knows her life is never going to be the same again. Strange things happen in The Wilderness. It holds more than you could possibly imagine: secrets, shadows, a witch. Even a monster.
Are you brave enough to come? Because the moment you step across the boundary, you’ll be changed forever.
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Amber Undercover
Em Norry
I’m Amber Roberts. Just your average teenager. Life revolves around school and my best mate, Vi. Nothing too dramatic, and certainly nothing dangerous.
Well. That’s how things used to be. But now, my life is way more complicated: Mum and Dad have a massive secret and Vi’s being all moody. But, bigger than that, I’ve just been recruited as a secret agent! That’s right. Me. An actual spy.
Exciting? It would be, if I had a clue what I was doing . . .
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Emmy Levels Up
Helen Harvey
Online, Emmy is a star gamer with fans who love to watch her videos. At school, Emmy is friendless and bullied. Vanessa, AKA the Queen of Mean, has decided that Emmy is a weirdo with bad handwriting, horrible fashion sense, and no dad. Can Emmy level up, join forces with some new friends, and beat the bullies?
Suitable for age 8–12.
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A Double Detectives Medical Mystery: Diagnosis Danger
Roopa Farooki
When a mysterious figure hurts one of their friends and then disappears, Ali and Tulip are straight on the case. Get ready for a fast-talking, quick-thinking, risk-taking, outrageous medical mystery adventure!
Dark Peak
Marcus Sedgwick
One long, hot summer, two children disappear on a school trip. One child is eventually found, but Porter is worried that no one is even looking for the other, Stephen, anymore. Why can no one remember who Stephen is? And why does Porter get the feeling that supernatural forces from deep in the past are at play?
A Super-readable Rollercoaster.
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The Children of Swallow Fell
Julia Green
A compelling story of resilience, resourcefulness, and hope. Driven from her home by war, Isabella must make the daunting journey from Italy to England.
In Swallow Fell, Isabella meets other children like her – surviving in an uncertain world. But can Isabella and her new found friends learn to not simply survive but to thrive?
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Lighning Strike
Tanya Landman
I was too angry, Mother said. But she was wrong. If you weren’t fuming, you just weren’t paying attention. When every day is a struggle to survive…
When the rich and powerful hold all the cards… Do you accept the way things are? Or do you fight to change them? Eliza is angry. Angry that her family never seems to have enough. Angry that conditions at the factory where she and her sister work are so harsh. Angry that no one seems to care. When Eliza speaks out, her words spark fury among the rest of the workers and the flame of rebellion is lit. But what next? Can one girl really inspire an uprising that will change her world? Written by Carnegie Medal winner Tanya Landman, this story brings to life the match girls’ strike of 1888 and is perfect for less confident readers.
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