Recommended reading books for primary and secondary aged children in the UK
Ross Montgomery is a British author known for his children’s and young adult fiction. He began his writing career after working as a primary school teacher. His debut novel, Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door, was published by Faber & Faber in 2013. The book was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award and the Branford Boase Award, and longlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal.
Montgomery’s subsequent works include The Tornado Chasers (2014), Perijee & Me (2016), and Max and the Millions (2018). He has also written picture books such as The Building Boy (2016), illustrated by David Litchfield, which was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal.
His 2021 novel, The Midnight Guardians, was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. In 2022, Montgomery published The Chime Seekers, which won the 2022 Costa Children’s Book Award.
Montgomery’s books have been translated into multiple languages. He continues to write for children and young readers, with his work recognised by several major UK literary awards.
Books for 10-year-olds – favourites chosen by children including titles by Rachel Renée Russell, Marcus Rashford, Adam Kay, Jacqueline Wilson, R.J. Palacio, Michael Morpurgo, Matthew Syed, Nick Arnold, Jason Reynolds & B.B. Alston.
Funny books for children and teens with titles by Michael Rosen, Cressida Cowell, Lauren Child, Nick Sharratt, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Nadia Shireen, Nathanael Lessore, Sonora Reyes, John Patrick Green, and Lex Croucher.
Horror for children and teens with titles by Julia Donaldson, Jon Klassen, Oliver Jeffers, Tom Fletcher, Shirley Jackson, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Stephen Graham Jones, Tananarive Due, Kalynn Bayron, and Helen Oyeyemi.
School stories including titles by Allan Ahlberg, Mo Willems, Lisa Thompson, Pamela Butchart, Matt Goodfellow, Onjali Rauf, Elle McNicoll, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Alice Oseman, and Holly Bourne.
Deafness and hearing loss books for children and teens with titles by Ann M. Martin, Frances Hardinge, Cece Bell, Raymond Antrobus, Erin Entrada Kelly, Ross Montgomery, Yoshitoki Oima, Kacen Callender, Adib Khorram, and Sara Barnard.
First chapter books for children aged 5-8 with titles by Michael Rosen, Ross Montgomery, Alex Milway, Katie Jennings, Phil Earle, Francesca Simon, Cornelia Funke, Julie Sykes, Alex T. Smith, and Harriet Muncaster.
Books to help teach diversity to children in KS1 and KS2 in primary schools – with characters and settings to introduce age-appropriate discussions of the diversity of culture, race, ethnicity, gender, education, disability, identity, nationality, religion, sexuality, neurodiversity, social background, and beliefs.
A 100 question quiz with a festive Christmas round for children aged 7-11 in KS2. Genres include fantasy, historical, mystery, adventure and picture books. This literacy quiz is ideal for end of term school activities, family fun in the holiday, or something for your children to do at your local library.
Children’s book news for January 2026: festivals, awards, school publishing, comics events, national reading policy, literacy campaigns and major competitions shaping children’s and YA books across the UK.
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.
Children’s book news for July 2025: winners from Carnegie and UKLA awards, shortlisted titles, summer literacy initiatives, poetry competitions, and reading schemes for schools across the UK.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2025. These reading recommendations include picture books, poetry, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Architecture, buildings and home books for children with titles by Charlotte Guillain, Britta Teckentrup, Moira Butterfield, Roman Belyaev, Andrea Beaty, Mick Manning, Brita Granström, Jenny Jacoby, Paul Farrell and more.
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