Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Louie Stowell is a British author and illustrator of children’s books. She studied English at Exeter College, University of Oxford.
Stowell has written non-fiction for children, including The Usborne Official Astronaut’s Handbook, illustrated by Roger Simó (Usborne). The book was shortlisted for the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize in 2016.
She writes middle grade fiction including The Dragon in the Library, illustrated by Davide Ortu (Nosy Crow, 6 June 2019; ISBN 9781788000260).
Stowell wrote and illustrated Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good (Walker Books). It won the overall prize in the Federation of Children’s Book Groups Children’s Book Award 2023.
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.
Myths for children, featuring books by Michael Morpurgo, Roger Lancelyn Green, John Agard, Joe Todd-Stanton, Chitra Soundar, Liz Kessler, Efua Traoré, Wendy Shearer, Louie Stowell, and Pamela Butchart.
Books for bedtime to read to children – a selection of books by Jill Murphy, Allan Ahlberg, Maurice Sendak, Michael Rosen, Martin Waddell, Fiona Watt, Claire Freedman, and more; which are ideal for reading to children at bedtime.
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.
Politics books for children and teens including titles by Michael Rosen, Alastair Campbell, Kamala Harris, Amanda Li, Tim Marshall, Malala Yousafzai, George Orwell, Axie Oh and many more.
Playscripts for children including titles by Julia Donaldson, Roald Dahl, Louie Stowell, Alan Ayckbourn, Sarah Walden, Ted Hughes, Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Morpurgo, David Grant, Malorie Blackman, Zizou Corder, Piers Torday and Evan Placey.
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.
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.
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.
Season 1, Episode 11 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for June 2023, adventure book picks and transitioning from picture books to short chapter books.
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.
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.
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