Looking for motivation or to track your reading progress this summer? 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.
Follow our top 5 tips to become a reading superhero! Download our handy poster and track your progress each week of the holidays.
Please note that all links to books will connect you to Amazon.co.uk.
Some of our suggestions are also part of the Summer Reading Challenge 2022. Looking for more book recommendations? Take a look at our free eBook library for more holiday reading inspiration!
Big Words for Little People: Our World
Helen Mortimer / Cristina Trapanese
This little hardback book creates a moment to focus on our world. It encourages gentle conversations between grown ups and children about the planet, and how we look after it. The engaging art style, fun characters and picture book feel make it perfect to share and help children develop and grow.
This book is part of the Summer Reading Challenge!
One More Try
Naomi Jones / James Jones
Circle wants to build a tower, just like the squares and hexagons have.
But the circles, triangles and diamonds can’t build anything together without it tumbling down!
This book is part of the Summer Reading Challenge!
How to Catch a Rainbow
Naomi Jones/Ana Gomez
Freya loves rainbows. She loves their bright colours and their curvy shape. More than anything, she wishes she has one of her very own. She tried to hunt one down, but nothing goes quite to plan. Finally she must use her imagination and creativity to make her wish come true.
Maya’s Walk
Moira Butterfield/Kim Geyer
Maya loves walking. Whether she’s spotting bugs in the woods or listening out for noises in the street, every walk is an adventure!
This beautifully illustrated story reminds us that being outdoors is great for our mental wellbeing. It’s full of ideas to inspire children to discover how much joy a walk can bring.
Martha Maps it Out
Leigh Hodgkinson
Martha’s maps will take you on an enchanting journey through her world, starting from outer space and zooming in, map by map, to our planet, Martha’s neighbourhood, and beyond.
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.
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.
Marv and the Dino Attack
Alex Falase-Koya
Marvin is on a school trip at the Natural History Museum when a chilling roar resonates through the exhibition . . . the dinosaurs have come back to life and are wreaking havoc!
Marvin will need to assume his secret super-identity and try to save the Museum.
This book is part of the Summer Reading Challenge!
Marv and the Pool of Peril
Alex Falase-Koya
Marvin’s life is perfectly ordinary until one day he discovers a superhero suit with infinite powers . . .
In this story, supervillain Shadow takes over the water park with her army of robot sharks.
Armed with his super-suit and robot sidekick, Pixel, Marvin dives into action to become the invincible, unstoppable MARV!
Mirabelle and the Naughty Bat Kittens
Harriet Muncaster
Mirabelle’s mum is a witch, her dad is a fairy, and she is a bit of both!
Mirabelle is on a school trip to a magical-creature animal sanctuary when she accidentally lets the bat kittens out of their enclosure. Can she find them before they cause complete chaos?
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Isadora Moon and the Shooting Star
Harriet Muncaster
Planets, comets, stars! Isadora’s class is learning all about space. So when she spots a shooting star, she decides to follow it and discovers a new glimmering friend.
Her name is Nova, she is not supposed to be on Earth and, even worse, her moon kitten Pluto is lost!
Can Isadora help Nova find the lost kitten before she has to fly back home?
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.
Kitty and the Star Stone Robber
Paula Harrison
There’s been a break-in at the museum and superhero-in-training, Kitty, is first at the scene.
Rare dinosaur bones missing, glittering jewels, and a precious meteorite are missing. All the clues point to Dodger the robber cat, but is Kitty wrong to jump to conclusions?
Pippi Longstocking
Astrid Lindgren / Lauren Child
Pippi lives in Villa Villekulla with a horse, a monkey, and a big suitcase full of gold coins.
The grown-ups in her village try to make Pippi behave in ways that they think a little girl should, but Pippi has other ideas.
Pippi thinks nothing of wrestling a circus strongman, dancing a polka with burglars, or tugging a bull’s tail and her wildly unconventional lifestyle is matched by Lauren’s free-spirited illustrations.
Bee Boy: Clash of the Killer Queens
Tony De Saulles
As a bee, Mel is ready to defend his hive against all enemies taking on killer wasps, terrifying hawkmoths, and battling queen bees.
But as a boy, has he got what it takes to protect his bees (and himself) against the greatest menace of all Nasty Norman Crudwell?
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 Animal Spies
Anne Miller / Becka Moor
Welcome to the extraordinary world of undercover animals!
When Mickey cracks a mysterious code she enters an extraordinary world of animal espionage!
This book contains real coded messages, can you crack the codes before Mickey does?
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Kevin vs the Unicorns: Roly Poly Flying Pony
Philip Reeve / Sarah McIntyre
Max and his roly-poly flying pony Kevin enter the exclusive Magical Pony Club Steeplechase, where they will have to compete against a group of snooty unicorns and their super-snooty owners.
During the race, they uncover a secret plan to steal the precious Periwinkle Cup and have to step in to stop this from happening.
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Willow Wildthing and the Magic Spell
Gill Lewis / Rebecca Bagley
When Willow meets the Wild Things and crosses into the Wilderness, she knows her life is never going to be the same again.
n this story, the Wild Things must protect the Wilderness from destruction.
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 . . .
This book is part of the Summer Reading Challenge!
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.
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!
What’s that in Dog Years?
Ben Davis
George knows that Gizmo is getting old – after all, he’s been around since before George was born and what’s that in dog years? – so he writes Gizmo a bucket list.
As the pair work their way down the list they have lots of adventures and lots of laughs.
The Maker of Monsters
Lorraine Gregory
Brat has always lived in the isolated castle on the island, unwillingly taking care of the vicious creatures that his master creates.
But then the unthinkable happens. The monsters get out.
Now Brat must overcome his fears, and venture into the world he has hidden from his whole life. For the fate of everyone rests on his shoulders alone. . .
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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