Books we loved in October 2025

This fun, interactive board book features robust push, pull or slide mechanisms and vibrant illustrations of friendly-looking dinosaurs on every page. Colourful and engaging, this non-fiction book is sure to delight babies and toddlers as they embark on their reading journey. 

It’s bedtime, but the toddler in this delightful little board book is not tired and has lots to do before she’s ready to sleep. With plenty of familiar scenes which will resonate with children and their parents, this lovely tale is sure to become a firm favourite, especially at bedtime. 

A book of fun, short poems on all kinds of themes, with accompanying actions. A useful resource for adults to help little ones develop their fine motor skills while supporting their social and emotional development. 

A funny picture book about a very fluffy dog and a very fluffy cat highlights the temperamental differences between cats and dogs in a delightfully cute story, but it’s also a message about finding common ground and making friends. 

Are your thoughts kind, or are they sometimes confusing? This practical, comforting book offers ways for children to deal with negative self-talk. 

Learn all about the function of mucus in this informative and utterly hilarious picture book. Follow the adventures of Simon the piece of snot as he protects his human from harmful irritants. 

A young boy and his grandmother prepare for the best Diwali ever while the rest of their family are asleep. A beautiful depiction of Diwali traditions with rhyming text and a yummy recipe to try. 

A lost dinosaur is looked after by two kind children in a back garden shed. A funny story about the importance of kindness, with a positive message about letting go.

A beautiful picture book that highlights the beauty and cooperative nature of insects and celebrates all of the brilliant jobs bugs do for us. 

An adorable book about looking beyond the physical and being grateful for what we have, Frank is a Butterfly is a lovely picture book that blends gentle humour, butterfly facts, and a lovable hero into a delightful read. 

A lovely rhyming picture book with super cute illustrations, perfect for little ones with food allergies and their parents. 

This is the origin story of humankind, when we questioned and created, learned and explored. As we do now. A stunning celebration of our shared ancestry. 

Chloe Savage’s stunning picture book about the possibility of life on other planets pays homage to the brilliant scientists that are studying space, but is also a story about hope and teamwork. 

A brilliant anthology of stories, poems, illustrations and activities about climate change and the actions we can each take to protect the planet. Free to download as an ebook – find the link in the full review. 

Koala actor Archie Snuggletum knocks himself out while filming popular drama series Squeaky Minders and when he wakes up, he thinks he’s a real gangster. A funny, illustrated chapter book for junior readers, featuring an amusing assortment of animal characters. 

Every aspect of Ancient Egyptian life is covered in this funny non-fiction comic book. Great fun. 

A stunning collection of poems that are warm, funny, thought-provoking and dazzling in their evocation of what it is to be Black. Accessible to all, with beautiful illustrations, this is an absolute delight. 

Kes Gray, author of Oi Frog!, brings us a collection of imaginative short stories that are as gripping as they are unexpected! Each quirky tale is complemented by playful illustrations from Ruby Wright.

Read about 50 of the most unexpected scientific discoveries in this funny and totally fascinating illustrated non-fiction book. 

In this smart, slick, fairytale-inspired whodunnit, Ruby Red has been framed for the murder of Alarick, the infamous Big Bad Wolf. 

Dilly discovers she’s a Cloud Witch! But can she and her friends stop the suppression of magic on the island? A glorious magical adventure.

Did you know that there’s cork in spacecraft? And that the American dollar bill is 75% cotton? A fascinating look at 30 plants that humans have used in ingenious ways. 

Can Conn defeat an ancient zombie from Irish legend? Funny, scary, and pacy, this short book is perfect for readers with short attention spans. 

Princess Anya must avenge her grandfather and save her world from her evil uncle in this fabulous fantasy sequel. Truly wonderful. 

A short, heartfelt novel about learning to embrace who you are.

With witness accounts being supplemented by interviewer notes and illustrations, this first instalment in a middle-grade horror series is based on the Darkive: a secret database filled with recovered testimony from survivors of terrifying and/​or inexplicable phenomena. 

This funny yet thought-provoking exploration of the nature of friendship and learning to live in the present is a great coming-of-age story, with a cast of diverse characters and an interesting mother-daughter relationship.

Can three girls find a vampire and save her victim’s life? Spooky, thrilling, and immensely readable. 

This accessible narrative non-fiction book tells the true story of dancer, actress and war hero Josephine Baker. She was born into a life of poverty and segregation in America in 1906 before eventually becoming one of the biggest Black stars of the time.

When Joe’s beloved gran dies, he discovers she was an agent for Fright Club, the human branch of an underworld alliance which investigates supernatural crimes. Fast-paced and funny, this revoltingly gory adventure is perfect for the Halloween season. 

Plucky young Tisky sets out on an adventure to find the local Nott (a bringer of the night sky) so she can halt the plans of a scheming salesman. A light-hearted, illustrated fantasy tale filled with imagination and magic.