Our children’s books and recommended reading lists

Our core children’s and teen book lists

Welcome to the School Reading List, your go-to resource for curated and comprehensive children’s book lists and ready-made reading spines. Whether you’re a dedicated teacher, a passionate home educator, an involved parent, an inspirational librarian, or a forward-thinking school seeking quality reading recommendations, our website is designed to help you promote reading for pleasure culture and encourage young people to read.

Books for 0-11-year-olds

Recommended reading books for children aged 3-11 in UK primary schools. Our lists are curated and updated by qualified teachers and librarians.

Books for 11-18-year-olds

Books for young adults and teens aged 11-18 with reading lists for years 7-9, years 10-11 & years 12-13 in secondary school. Titles are selected by experienced teachers.

New book reviews

Children’s, teen and YA book reviews, all written by our panel of experienced teachers, home educators and librarians.

Magazines for children

Our recommended newspapers and magazines for children aged 3-6, 7-12 & 13+, and subject teachers.

Genres & nonfiction

Genre lists, themed lists, cross-curricular teaching topic book lists and nonfiction lists for children and teens.

Books of the month

Each month, we select a picture book, a chapter book and nonfiction children’s and YA books of the month.

Competitions

Browse our regularly updated month-by-month calendar lists of competitions covering reading, writing, and oracy.

Chosen by children

Browse favourite children’s books chosen by children. Find out which titles proved to be popular in each age group.

Teaching resources

Reading for pleasure, literacy, library and teaching resources, including our free-to-download summer reading challenge.

Home learning ideas

Online learning courses, activities, lessons, interactive games, and video teaching for primary and secondary-aged students.

Training for teachers

Literacy, reading and English courses, training and inset ideas for teachers, librarians and teaching assistants.

Our latest children’s and YA book lists

At the School Reading List, we understand the importance of fostering a lifelong appreciation for literature in young minds. Our carefully curated children’s book lists cater to a diverse audience, encompassing a wide range of genres, themes, and reading levels. We aim to provide an extensive collection of kids’ books that not only entertain but also augment cross-curricular teaching and inspire your students’ learning and imagination.

Best Children’s Books of 2025

Children’s books of the year 2025 – our team has picked a shortlist of great children’s and teen titles published in the last 12 months, with fiction, non-fiction and picture books for 3-18 years and a diverse range of prose, poetry and graphic novels. Vote now!

Fairy tales for children and teens

Fairy tales for children and teens with books by books by Hans Christian Andersen, The Brothers Grimm, Isabel Otter, Michael Rosen, Sophie Anderson, Sally Gardner, Konnie Huq, Richard Ayoade, Radiya Hafiza, and Trish Cooke.

Pop-up and interactive books for children

Pop-up and interactive books for children with titles by Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, Jan Pieńkowski, Robert Sabuda, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, David McKee, Moira Butterfield, Clotilde Perrin, Charlotte Guillain, and Christopher Lloyd.

Our latest children’s and YA book reviews

Read our reviews of fiction and non-fiction children’s, teen, and young adult books. Expertly analysed by experienced teachers, librarians, and children’s authors, our reviews provide valuable insights to help you buy new titles for your children, classroom or school library. Every new book opens a new chapter of discovery!

Burn the Water by Billy Ray

Burn the Water is a YA dystopian Romeo and Juliet as rival soldiers fall in love in drowned London, risking execution while strange vessels arrive and centuries of hatred threaten everything.

We Three Witches by Rosie Talbot

We Three Witches is a spellbinding supernatural mystery set in interwar York, as Viola hunts the truth behind Edie’s death while stolen bones and child ghosts expose deeper corruption.

Magpie Girl by Rowan Foxwood

Magpie Girl is a myth rich quest where Lavender, who grows feathers and speaks to birds, must help Kit find his missing father without freeing a wish granting firebird at all costs.

The Bluest Sky by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

The Bluest Sky is a refugee and migration novel that follows a boy who splits public and private selves as his family weighs departure, faces repudiation, and documents a step-by-step path from decision to crossing.

The Topsy-Turvies by Francesca Simon, illustrated by Emily Bolam

The Topsy-Turvies is a bright, joke-packed early reader that flips normal rules on their head and invites children to spot, predict, and laugh while building confidence across short, lively chapters.

Duckling: A Fairy Tale Revolution by Kamila Shamsie, illustrated by Laura Barrett

Duckling is a modern fairytale retelling that follows a duckling who rejects surface approval, claims the right to be different, and chooses trust and belonging across groups and changing places.

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

The Dot is a bright, simple invitation to make a mark. It shows how a single try can unlock confidence, spark curiosity, and turn doubt into creative momentum that grows page by page.

Ella Jones vs the Battle Noise by Lucy Edwards

Ella Jones vs the Battle Noise is a second quest where Ella is protected from battle noise and must stop Homados, while tensions with Poppy and Finn grow and new pupil River raises questions.

The Great Glacier Hotel Heist by Meg McLaren

Watts and Whiskerton: The Great Glacier Hotel Heist (Book 03) is a whodunit where Watts and Pearl clear his parents after jewels vanish at a snowy hotel, with illustration clues for young readers

The Blitz Sisters by Judith Eagle

The Blitz Sisters is an excellent resource to use to look at a pivotal part of our history through the eyes of children. Well-written and sympathetically described, it’s ideal for children learning about WW2.

Tiny Hercules by Jon Lock, illustrated by Nich Angell

Tiny Hercules is a laugh-out-loud graphic novel where a jam jar sized hero is banished to Earth to complete twelve tasks, starting with a lion that turns out to be a cat.

My Big Fat Christmas Poo Diary by Jim Smith

My Big Fat Christmas Poo Diary is a festive novel of three linked stories, where Pedro, Olga and Ozzy – the Poopies – meet Rubbish Santa, try a reindeer poo scheme, and keep the poo jokes coming.

Trending children’s book lists

Whether it’s the latest page-turners inspired by current events, seasonally themed picks, or recommendations tied to festivals, our curated lists keep you in the know. Browse the hottest reading trends in children’s and YA literature.

Spring themed books for children

Spring themed books for children with books by Cicely Mary Barker, Eric Carle, Ruth Brown, Sam Usher, Gabby Dawnay, Moira Butterfield and Daniel Thompson and more.

Empathy, kindness and love books for children

Kindness, empathy and love children’s books for students aged 3-12+ including titles by Laura Dockrill, Malcolm Duffy, Dan Smith, Alice Oseman, Jess McGeachin, Michael Rosen, Catherine Rayner, Satoshi Kitamura, Suma Subramaniam, Benjamin Dean, R J Palacio & more.

World Book Day Costumes

Our World Book Day costume recommendations and suggestions for cracking book character outfits for your child. We’ve picked out fancy dress kits based on book characters by authors including Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter, J.K. Rowling, J.M. Barrie and Lewis Carroll.

Brand new this school term

Our curated picks for autumn, spring, and summer terms showcase the best in children’s and young adult literature. Tune into our monthly podcast episodes for insights into new releases, classics to revisit, and current educational trends. Plus, explore our handpicked book club lists, perfect for sparking discussions in primary and secondary school book clubs. Every month is an adventure in reading!

Latest season preview

Published on 

December 11, 2025

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in spring 2026

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in spring 2026. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Latest podcast episode

Published on 

December 30, 2025

Why author visits are so important for schools | Series 1, Episode 37

Season 1, Episode 37 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for January 2026 and why author visits are so important for schools.

Latest book club list

Published on 

December 30, 2025

January 2026 book club picks

January 2026’s book club includes titles by Smriti Halls, Nicola Davies, Ella McLeod, Javi De Castro, Craig Steele, Rowan Foxwood, Sufiya Ahmed, Rebecca Orwin, Emma Green, C. M. Lewis, Steve Cole, Monique Turner, Katie Bernet, Sarah Brill, and Sam Prentice-Jones.

Our latest resources

Find your child’s next favourite book in regularly updated age group reading lists! Carefully selected by experienced teachers and librarians, we hope you will discover the perfect books for every stage of your child’s development. Our free resources are designed to enhance learning and literacy and offer time-saving tips. Our latest revision resource book lists cover exams from 11+ through to GCSE. We believe in the transformative magic that happens when children connect with the right books.

Latest reading for pleasure list

Updated on 

December 22, 2025

Books for 8 year olds

Books for 8-year-olds – favourites chosen by children including titles by David Walliams, Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton, Liz Pichon, Tom Fletcher, Greg James and Chris Smith, Julian Clary, Roald Dahl, Louie Stowell, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Nadia Shireen & Enid Blyton and Jaqueline Wilson.

Latest resource

Updated on 

December 31, 2025

Authors, illustrators and poets who visit schools in the UK & Ireland

Browse our UK and Ireland directory of children’s authors, poets and illustrators for school visits, with trusted recommendations, virtual options, and step-by-step advice for teachers and writers.

Latest revision resource

Updated on 

January 30, 2025

KS2 SATs revision books

KS2 SATs revision books for children of all abilities in Year 6. Our recommendations cover Maths, English, SPaG & confidence building and include resources by Andrew Jennings, Matthew Syed, CGP, Igloo Books, Collins Education, Pearson and STP Books.