Recommended new children's and YA books

Carnegies 2025 Shortlisted Books

Last updated on March 11, 2025 by Tom Tolkien

Shortlists for the Carnegie Medal 2025 and Kate Greenaway award 2025 – recommended for children and young adults in primary and secondary schools.

School Reading List Children’s Book of the Month

Last updated on February 26, 2025 by Tom Tolkien

The School Reading List compiles this list of recommended books monthly. This children’s and YA books of the month list highlights new releases and editions of fiction and non-fiction books suitable for children and young adults aged 2-16.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Spring 2025

Last updated on December 11, 2024 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Spring 2025. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Autumn 2024

Last updated on August 12, 2024 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2024. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels, poetry and non-fiction.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Summer 2024

Last updated on April 13, 2024 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2024. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Yoto Carnegie Medal 2024 Shortlisted Books

Last updated on March 13, 2024 by Tom Tolkien

Shortlists for the Yoto Carnegie Medal 2024 and Kate Greenaway award 2024 – recommended for children and young adults in primary and secondary schools.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Spring 2024

Last updated on December 9, 2023 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Spring 2024. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Autumn 2023

Last updated on August 13, 2023 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2023. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Summer 2023

Last updated on April 17, 2023 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2023. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Carnegie medals for writing and illustration 2023 shortlist of books

Yoto Carnegie Medal 2023 Shortlisted Books

Last updated on March 21, 2023 by Tom Tolkien

Shortlists for the Yoto Carnegie Medal 2023 and Kate Greenaway award 2023 – recommended for children and young adults in primary and secondary schools.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Spring 2023

Last updated on December 20, 2022 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Spring 2023. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Autumn 2022

Last updated on August 15, 2022 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2022. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

New children's and YA books for summer 2022

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in summer 2022

Last updated on May 11, 2022 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2022. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Carnegie Medal 2021 and Kate Greenaway 2022 shortlist of books

CILIP Carnegie Medal 2022 Shortlisted Books

Last updated on March 18, 2022 by Tom Tolkien

Shortlists for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2022 and Kate Greenaway award 2022 – recommended for children and young adults in primary and secondary schools.

New children's and YA books for spring 2022

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in spring 2022

Last updated on February 8, 2022 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Spring 2022. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Carnegie Medal 2021 and Kate Greenaway 2021 shortlist of books

CILIP Carnegie Medal 2021 Shortlisted Books

Last updated on January 27, 2022 by Tom Tolkien

Shortlists for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2021 and Kate Greenaway award 2021 – recommended for children and young adults in primary and secondary schools.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Autumn 2021

Last updated on August 10, 2021 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2021. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Summer 2021

Last updated on May 26, 2021 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2021. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Darren Shan writes about his new series – Archibald Lox

Last updated on March 13, 2021 by Darren Shan

‘I saw that I was going to have to leave the horror behind.’ In a special feature, bestselling author Darren Shan explains his motivation for starting a new fantasy epic, Archibald Lox.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in spring 2021

Last updated on February 12, 2021 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Spring 2021. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Autumn 2020 new children's books and YA books

Autumn 2020 – best new children’s and YA books – our picks

Last updated on February 6, 2021 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in autumn 2020. These children’s reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Spring 2020

Last updated on December 26, 2020 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Spring 2020. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

CILIP Carnegie Medal 2020 Shortlisted Books

Last updated on October 24, 2020 by Tom Tolkien

Shortlists for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2020 and Kate Greenaway award 2020 – recommended for children and young adults in primary and secondary schools.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Summer 2020

Last updated on May 30, 2020 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2020. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Autumn 2019 – best new children’s and YA books – our picks

Last updated on August 28, 2019 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in autumn 2019. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

Summer 2019 – best new children’s and YA books – our picks

Last updated on June 17, 2019 by Tom Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in summer 2019. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal shortlisted books 2019

2019 CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlisted Books

Last updated on April 17, 2019 by Tom Tolkien

The 2019 shortlist of books for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2019 – recommended for children aged 9-16 and young adults in primary and secondary schools.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Spring 2019

Last updated on March 17, 2019 by Jan Tolkien

Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Spring 2019. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.

School Reading List Book of the Month Archive

Last updated on January 12, 2019 by Tom Tolkien

Each month, the School Reading List compiles a list of recommended books and on this page, we feature an archive of recommendations for picture books, fiction, and nonfiction from previous years.

Top picks for new children's books in autumn 2018.

Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Autumn 2018

Last updated on August 24, 2018 by Tom Tolkien

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

2018 CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlisted Books

Last updated on April 5, 2018 by Tom Tolkien

The 2018 shortlist of books for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017 – recommended for children aged 9-16 and young adults in primary and secondary schools.

2017 CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlisted Books

Last updated on June 7, 2017 by Tom Tolkien

The 2017 shortlist of books for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017 – recommended for children aged 10-14+ and young adults in primary and secondary schools. A great list for secondary school class readers and summer reading material for teens.

2016 CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlisted Books

Last updated on May 23, 2016 by Tom Tolkien

The 2016 shortlist of books for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2016 – recommended for children aged 10-14+ and young adults in primary and secondary schools. A great list for secondary school class readers and summer reading material for teens.

Book of the Month – February

Last updated on February 11, 2012 by Tom Tolkien

Book of the month – Boffin Brainchild by Jill Jennings. When Tom touches a museum robot the last thing he expects is for it to decide to follow him home.

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