12 great books for 8-year-olds
Our favourite 12 modern-day books for eight year olds.
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The 13-Storey Treehouse
Author: Andy Griffiths Illustrator: Terry Denton
Publisher: Macmillan
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 8+Griffiths and Denton create a triumph to engage even the most determined hater of books, which includes hilarious cartoon drawings.
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Good Dog McTavish
Author: Meg Rosoff Illustrator: Grace Easton
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 7-9
Reading age: 7-9When fluffy pooch McTavish moves in, he finds his new family in quite a pickle. But not to worry because he's sure he’ll have them retrained in no time at all. A charming and heartwarming short novel, full of spark, keen observations and sly humour.
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Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas
Author: Dav Pilkey
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+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.
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Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball
Author: Laura Ellen Anderson
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 7-9
Reading age: 7+The first in a series, this ghoulishly funny chapter book is full of fabulous gothic pen-and-ink illustrations and explores the importance of friendship.
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Everest
Author: Sangma Francis & Lisk Feng
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Interest age: 7-10
Reading age: 8+Children will love this beautiful and fascinating introduction to Everest, and it’s a particularly useful resource for primary schools who are looking at international features such as mountains in Key Stage 1 and 2.
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Mega Robo Bros
Author: Neill Cameron
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Interest age: 8+
Reading age: 9+Brothers always find something to fight about. Alex and Freddy are no different - even though they're also the most powerful robots in the universe.
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Level Up!
Author: Tom Nicoll Illustrator: Anjan Sarkar
Publisher: Stripes Publishing
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+A fun and mildly scary virtual romp through a computer game packed with space paraphernalia and gadgetry. Entertaining black-and-white illustrations add atmosphere and more than a few laughs.
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Cats React to Science Facts
Author: Izzi Howell
Publisher: Wayland
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 7+Izzi Howell's genius book combines genuinely astonishing scientific facts with hilarious and cute cat pictures: a perfect book for sparking conversations (and with "aww" appeal).
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Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country
Author: Atinuke Illustrator: Mouni Feddag
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 7+A perfect book for young children interested in their cultural heritage or for those with a passion for travel and geography, this would also make a gorgeous gift for anyone interested in Africa.
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The Legend of Kevin
Author: Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 7-10
Reading age: 7+Max longs for adventure in his life – then one day, a flying pony called Kevin crashes into his flat, blown in by a magical storm. Mayhem, friendship and a brilliant cast of characters combine in this fabulously funny tale.
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The Nothing to See Here Hotel
Author: Steven Butler Illustrator: Steven Lenton
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 7-10
Reading age: 8+Frankie Banister and his family run the Nothing to See Here Hotel, which is cunningly hidden from human view by magic and lots of really bad TripAdvisor reviews. The cast of characters in this laugh-out-loud book are full of sparkle, oddness and vitality.
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Sportopedia: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Sport
Author: Adam Skinner Illustrator: Mark Long
Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions
Interest age: 6-10
Reading age: 7+A luxurious compendium of all things sporty, featuring both well-known and less popular games and activities with plenty of fascinating facts.
