A summer reading list: life-changing children's books

Griffiths and Denton create a triumph to engage even the most determined hater of books, which includes hilarious cartoon drawings.

Dog Man is a comic masterclass, perfect for the surreal sense of humour of the average six- to nine-year-old. It’s a full-colour comic throughout with five to six simple panels per page and split into eight chapters, so kids can feel like they’re reading a lot quickly.

Tom discovers lots of family secrets when he embarks on a school project. Another hilarious illustrated book for older readers from multi-award-winning illustrator and author Liz Pichon.

Percy and his friends are charged to deliver two new demigods safely to school, but discover a plot to destroy Olympus.

Written like a comic book, this is a very funny story, full of action and crazy characters. It’s lots of fun and will probably make you laugh out loud.

In this, the eighth book in the bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Greg Heffley’s on a losing streak.

The second in the fully illustrated Harry Potter series, the artwork in Chamber of Secrets is perhaps even more impressive and detailed than in the first book. A treat for Harry Potter fans and a new generation of readers.

After playing one trick too many, Loki, Norse god of mischief, is sent by Odin to live on earth as an 11-year-old boy for one month to mend his ways. Furious that he must suffer indignities such as attending school and doing chores, Loki struggles to be good.

Evil wizard Malvel has stolen a powerful item that he plans to use to destroy the kingdom of Avantia, but will Tom and Elenna be able to stop him? You’ll be the one to decide in this entertaining choose-your-own-path story.

Planet Omar has all of the everyday life family drama and silly humour of Tom Gates and Sam Wu, and it’s wonderful to read a funny book for kids featuring a Muslim family.

In the eighth and final volume in the saga of Artemis Fowl the power-crazed pixie Opal Koboi is plotting to exterminate mankind and become fairy queen

When 11 year old Addie, who is autistic, learns about the 16th century women who were persecuted for witchcraft, she starts to lobby for a local memorial in her small Scottish village. With the help of a new girl at school, she fights valiantly against injustice and oppression.

Having saved the city cats from a fate worse than death, Varjak Paw finds himself the elected and popular leader of a new gang

Lance and his friends aren’t looking forward to the school trip to Crater Lake – for one thing, school bully Trent hasn’t forgiven Lance for the incident at the start of Year Six. For another, they’ve just seen a man covered in blood at the side of the road warning them to run. And there’s definitely something weird about their teachers… Spooky, thrilling and full of twists and turns, this is a fantastically fun story with themes of friendship and acceptance at its heart.

The Bad Beginning is the first of 13 volumes in the appropriately named collection, A Series of Unfortunate Events.

A quirky fantasy adventure in which a human boy and a Greek goddess accidentally release an immortal supervillain who is determined to take over the world – and maybe even the universe.

This compelling fantasy adventure, the first in an epic series, is a gripping read. With imaginative characters and an exhilarating plot, readers are transported to a convincing world of fortified forests, spectacular treehouses and ferocious unicorns. Friendship, loyalty and teamwork are at the heart of this novel, which also sensitively explores topics of grief, bereavement and depression.

Dynamically-illustrated graphic novel version of a bestselling, award-winning story of twin basketball players and their coming-of-age. 

Will’s older brother Shawn is shot dead in front of him, leading Will to the conclusion that revenge is his only option. This hard-hitting tale, based on an award-winning novel in verse by the same author, is extremely accessible in graphic novel format.

Callum is a Nought but his best friend Sephy is a Cross – the daughter of one of the most influential politicians in the country.