Best children's books of September 2026

This cosy and expertly designed board book includes four short stories about baby animals and their caregivers. A reassuring and engaging introduction to reading for babies.

The Gruffalo and child want to prepare mouse stew for Gruffalo Granny – but the clever mouse has other ideas! A brilliant addition to the Gruffalo canon, with fun references to previous books to spot, and Donaldson and Scheffler’s trademark rhyming text and gorgeous illustrations. 

It’s bedtime on the farm and the animals need a place to sleep. Can they all fit into the little red barn? Find out in this fun counting board book for young readers. 

With a heart you’ve never apart. A beautiful book with a gently uplifting and reassuring message that love can reach across time, distance and all sorts of changes. 

Join one little dog as he discovers what being a dog really means. A funny picture book about the joys of doggie life!

A small child goes to a new park with their two dads. Yet, when they get there, Dad and Daddy are very cautious about them doing anything, until they all enter a world of imaginary play. 

A deaf girl takes readers on a journey into her sensory experience as she listens to the secret song of the world in this magical and celebratory picture book.

Martha’s mummy is expecting a baby, so Martha decides to map out her family tree, then starts to consider all the other families she is a part of. A beautiful, quirky book about connectedness. 

Simon loves books so much he decides to build a house with them. Yet when people start coming to borrow books, Simon’s house falls down! Fortunately, his friends are there to help to rebuild the house better than ever. 

Who will Indie be today? She loves imaginative play. Four charming stories in one volume, with sweet colour illustrations. 

A young girl discovers how her Nana’s story quilt stitches together family, memory, migration and hope across generations.

Isobel loves going to school and loves knowing exactly what to expect. But when her school routine is disrupted by a substitute teacher, she struggles to cope with all the changes. A reassuring picture book for young children who find comfort in routine. 

A fantastic collection of over 60 poems from brilliant, prize-winning poet Valerie Bloom. Wonderful to read aloud, or to share with a class, and full of rhythm and rhyme.

The class pets of St Bernard’s Academy are excited to meet a new arrival, until they discover he’s a fearsome snake with an insatiable appetite! Packed full of lively illustrations, this hilarious graphic novel will elicit plenty of laughter, as well as the occasional gasp of horror. 

When Mum becomes ill, Jasmine struggles to manage her emotions until an art project to make a magnificent wolf puppet gives her a positive focus. A tender story about anxiety, friendship and creativity. 

Asher is convinced that his soon-to-be stepbrother Luca is a werewolf, so he gathers evidence to prove it. This illustrated chapter book explores complex family dynamics and friendship with warmth, sensitivity, and humour.

When two rival bakers suspect one another of sabotage during The Great Cake Carnival, they both surreptitiously recruit Cinnamon Crumb to spy on their opponent. Packed with humour and intrigue, not to mention a profusion of mouthwatering treats, this scrumptious detective story is hugely entertaining. 

A collection of real-life stories about 30 inspiring people from all over the world who spent time as children either in foster care, living with relatives, or who were adopted. 

The tenth book in Owen Davey’s fantastic non-fiction series, with beautiful graphic-style artwork as well as accessible information presented in a readable style and font. 

The horrible, spoiled Henrik Jekyll drinks a potion – and is now even worse! Will the horrendous Hyde version of him win control? A brilliant comic horror. 

When 13-year-old Zeke Zero steals a map from a cosmic treasure hunter, he embarks on a dangerous race across the galaxy in search of a powerful, ancient relic. This funny, fast-paced graphic novel is a thrilling read, with superb, colourful artwork bursting from every page. 

Pres has moved to Birmingham to live with her aunt. Can she and Hero the pony help each other heal from a difficult past? A great read that’s not just for horse lovers. 

Atlas and his Mum are moving in with Grandpa because he has become so forgetful. This dual narrative prose/​verse story explores love, loss, family, friendship, memory and learning to cope with an uncertain future.

When Will, Scarlet and Robyn first meet in detention, they quickly establish that something is very wrong with the way their school is being run. But what can the three of them possibly do about it?

Before they know it, Tom, Felix and Daisy are sprinkled with fairy dust, sucked into a giant trumpet and flung into the sky on their way to Neverland. Because, apparently, Neverland needs them, and they need Neverland. Thrilling adventure.

In this brilliant and thought-provoking book, Dr Joan Lennon presents 12 revolutionary movements, events, and technologies that have changed the world. 

Fray Mantel struggles to clear his family name and master his powers in the magical town of Hexton. A gripping fantasy adventure filled with magic and intrigue. 

A young princess Cleopatra is thrown into an immersive Ancient Egyptian mystery when her father is kidnapped. A fantastic adventure filled with magic, myth, danger and intrigue.

Explore ten huge scientific ideas, from black holes to the Big Bang, in this beautifully illustrated guide to the universe and the people who helped us understand it.

A joyful, gripping book for young teens about a girl finding her true identity as a Caribbean Princess.