Best Children's Books of October 2026

Meet adorable nocturnal animals in this gorgeous lift-the-flap board book. Lift the flaps TWO ways! Ideal for developing fine motor skills and for sharing with young children. 

Let’s spend a day in Wales! Join the family as they eat traditional food, go to a castle and sing outside the capel. A delightful board book that includes a few numbers and colours in Welsh.

There is so much to do at the park! Rain or shine, wind or snow, join everyone playing in the park. A charming picture book with a rhyming text and a diverse, inclusive cast of characters.

A delightful, funny story about resilience, trying again – and accepting help and your own limitations – is a real delight. Its zany humour coupled with Jack Viant’s hilarious close-up illustration will have readers giggling, as well as rooting for Frog. 

Join Peggy and her grandad for a gentle outdoor adventure as they take an autumnal walk together. Perfect for little ones who love exploring the world around them.

In the magical town of Dragon Hill Village, Mole’s Weather Shop sells all manner of weather-based products from rain shower balloons to fog bread and snowman spray.

A young girl struggles when her mum’s new partner moves in and everything changes. 

McLaughlin and Hunt’s brilliantly anarchic and fun picture book about what would happen without gravity is an original gem which is both genuinely funny and thought-provoking. 

Ravi’s big sister Ruhi-di is getting married, and she’s having a mehndi party for her closest family and friends. Unfortunately, Ravi isn’t allowed to come to the party, until he offers to assist Madam Mehndi, the henna artist.

A little boy makes a family tree of all the uncles in his life. When he realises they aren’t actually related to him, Dad explains that they’re ​“funcles” – fun uncles that are part of the greater community around him.

Jai is looking forward to Diwali – a time of celebration. But he notices some sad people around him. How can he bring light to their lives? A heartwarming, gorgeous picture book shows the reader the values of Diwali – community, gratitude and sharing – and celebrates kindness.

A fun picture book about a child navigating inattentive ADHD at school.

Join Fraz, Pleg, Coll, Ern and Gleo, a team of very inquisitive aliens from the planet Proxima as they travel back in time on earth to observe dinosaurs in their natural habitats. 

Diplo is jealous of the new dino in school. Can he get his best friend back? A charming chapter book to explore feelings about friendship. 

Meet Ghost and Toast – one’s dead; one’s bread. They have adventures in a spooky mansion – watch out for the evil croissant! A very silly graphic novel that’s full of energy.

Henry Tudor is 8 and a half, and he’s the best at everything. But when a mysterious stranger challenges him to a series of competitions, things don’t always go Henry’s way. Outrageous! A very funny diary of one self-obsessed future king.

This lively collection of poems with a distinctively Welsh flavour is an absolute joy to read. The poems range from funny and daft to moving and thought-provoking, and are accompanied by expressive black-and-white line drawings that add extra depth.

Jess finds the perfect picture for her bedroom in a charity shop – a lovely portrait of a smiling girl called Araminta. However, when she starts to have terrifying nightmares, Jess worries that the painting is haunted. A chilling tale for junior readers, featuring fabulous black-and-white illustrations. Read it if you dare!

Can Moth, who still looks like a boy but is actually over 200 years old, save a group of innocent children from some very thirsty vampires? 

This highly illustrated, easy to read, incredibly funny book about Griff whose pet axolotl Bob has a terrifying revelation for him. 

Boo is a young ghost who doesn’t like scaring people. When she discovers that she has magical powers, she becomes Witchy Boo, the first ever ghost witch. A sweet, highly illustrated chapter book for fans of Isadora Moon.

Highly illustrated non-fiction book about 12 African Queens across 2000 years.

This non-fiction book gives an informative, accessible and concise introduction to AI.

An illustrated collection of poetry from Joseph Coelho that explores the wonders of everyday life. 

A fascinating celebration of fearless female animals – some of whom you’ve never heard of! Packed with astonishing facts and detailed illustrations, this is ideal for animal lovers.

A deliciously chilling set of interlinked horror stories, illustrated with terrifying detail. Despite the dark sense of humour throughout, these are not for the faint-hearted! 

Arlo has finally begun to settle into his new life in Cornwall, but everything unravels when he discovers his mum has lied about his dad’s mysterious disappearance. An exciting, thought-provoking story about friendship, trust and local history.

When Grace is burned in an accident at a Halloween party, her life changes in an instant. This moving story thoughtfully explores feelings of anger, anxiety, guilt and resentment, showing how trauma can affect everybody involved and helping young readers to develop empathy. 

In Lapland, an autistic girl embarks on an epic adventure to save the life of a lone wolf. 

Two brothers learn that magic has implications when they find a wishing hand that begins to tear their blended family apart. A brilliantly chilling middle grade book.

This is the true story of how Hamed and his family fled Afghanistan and Taliban rule in 2000 when Hamed was 10 years old.