Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Forest Xiao is a children’s author and illustrator described as an “image maker, storyteller, treasure finder,” and parent.
She earned a BA in Graphic Design at Camberwell College of Art, then completed an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art, graduating in 2023.
Xiao has lived in China, Germany, the United States, the UK, and Malaysia—experiences she cites as shaping her creative outlook.
She was runner-up for the Sebastian Walker Prize 2023; highly commended in the 2022 Macmillan Prize for Children’s Picture Book Illustration; shortlisted for the Batsford Prize 2023; and named one of the 2023 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition winners.
Xiao’s debut picture book, Seven Babies, is published by Candlewick Books.
In August 2024, Hachette Children’s Group announced a three-book deal with her as part of their talent acquisition.
100 picture books for EYFS to read before you are 5 years old. A selection of picture books which are ideal for children who are learning to read in Nursery, Early Years, infants and Pre-Prep schools.
Children’s book news for May 2026: Reading Rights, the Children’s Booker, Michael Rosen at 80, the Klaus Flugge and Branford Boase shortlists, BookTrust winners, LitUp results and shared reading data.
Children’s book news for April 2026: Michael Rosen wins the Hans Christian Andersen Award, CLiPPA and UKLA shortlists arrive, and Puffin launches its new picture book list, Puffin Studio.
Children’s book news for March 2026: Carnegies shortlists, London Book Fair inclusion work, new school library awards, big festival changes, plus prize winners and World Book Day reading events.
Season 1, Episode 34 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for September 2025 and Books vs social media and screens.
Children’s book news for August 2025: classroom reading picks, prize winners, nature writing, humour awards, YA headlines, festivals, and policy moves shaping libraries and school resources.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2025. These reading recommendations include picture books, poetry, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
August 2025’s book club includes titles by Forest Xiao, Ted Hughes, Joaquin Camp, Enomwoyi Damali, Ruthine Burton, Julie Sykes, Rebecca Lewis-Oakes, Anastasiya Kanavaliuk, Gary Panton, Radhika Sanghani, Anna Ciddor, Brían Dungan, Sally Gales, and E. V. Woods.
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