Chapter books with colour illustrations
As a bridge between picture books and longer fiction (or non-fiction), chapter books are crucial for nurturing a love of reading.
Whether the child can read them themselves or prefer to share them with an adult, chapter books, or 'young fiction', are often funny, exciting and full of action. They usually have short chapters or several mini stories in one volume, so that the child can see their progression.
Here is a selection of chapter books with brilliant colour illustrations. (This does not include comic books or graphic novels - see here for young graphic novels.)
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Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories
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Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories
Bear and Bird are best friends, and, like many friends, sometimes one or the other of them makes a mistake or gets cross or jealou…
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Princess Minna: The Enchanted Forest
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Princess Minna: The Enchanted Forest
When Princess Minna learns that her neighbour, Prince Welling-Tunboot, has fallen under a sleeping spell cast by a bad fairy, she …
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Croaky: Search for the Sasquatch
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Croaky: Search for the Sasquatch
Croaky Hopper is a frog who’s keen for adventure. So he’s thrilled to go on a Woggle Scouts camping trip. But will they find …
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Huxley and Flapjack Race to the Rescue
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Huxley and Flapjack Race to the Rescue
Meet Huxley the irrepressible koala and Flapjack the cautious penguin. Together, they have lots of adventures, but can they catch …
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Claude in the City
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Claude in the City
Claude is no ordinary dog - he leads an extraordinary life! When Mr and Mrs Shinyshoes set off for work, Claude heads for the city…
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Tiny Dogs: Bea’s Secret Friends
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Tiny Dogs: Bea’s Secret Friends
Shy Bea meets four cute miniature dogs! Can she protect their garden and keep them secret? A delightful young chapter book for new…
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Midnight Magic
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Midnight Magic
A fabulous and fully illustrated rhyming story about a magical kitten and the family who adopt her. Ideal for newly independent re…
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Squishy McFluff: the Invisible Cat!
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Squishy McFluff: the Invisible Cat!
Squishy McFluff is Ava's best friend. He may be invisible, but that doesn't stop them having all kinds of fun together - and you w…
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Dixie O'Day: In the Fast Lane
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Dixie O'Day: In the Fast Lane
Mother and daughter Shirley Hughes and Clara Vulliamy have teamed up for the first time for this sweet story, the first in a serie…
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Mango & Bambang – Tiny Tapir Trouble
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Mango & Bambang – Tiny Tapir Trouble
Four funny adventures featuring Mango and her brave, loyal pet tapir, Bambang.
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The Hat Full of Secrets
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The Hat Full of Secrets
Henry has a secret and doesn’t want to tell anyone about it. Luckily, Grandad can relate, and gives Henry a special hat where he h…
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Carnival of the Clocks
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Carnival of the Clocks
Class One have all made paper lanterns shaped like clocks to celebrate the shortest day of the year, and the days becoming longer.…
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AdventureMice: Otter Chaos!
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AdventureMice: Otter Chaos!
When Pedro the mouse meets the Adventuremice, he has a chance to prove his bravery. Can they stop an otter from terrorising the Mo…
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Isadora Moon Puts on a Show
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Isadora Moon Puts on a Show
Isadora Moon is unique: she has a vampire father and a fairy mother. So what kind of show will she put on at the annual vampire ba…
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Carrie and the Roller Boots
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Carrie and the Roller Boots
Carrie devises an elaborate roller-skating routine to perform at her school assembly, but she’s never roller-skated before and it’…
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Rabbit's Bad Habits
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Rabbit's Bad Habits
Gentle Bear wakes up early from hibernation one day and decides to build a snowman. Grumpy, know-it-all Rabbit comes along, and th…
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Indigo Wilde and the Creatures at Jellybean Crescent
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Indigo Wilde and the Creatures at Jellybean Crescent
This hilarious gem from Pippa Curnick is her debut as both author and illustrator, and it’s completely brilliant, immersing t…
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Wigglesbottom Primary: Break-Time Bunnies
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Wigglesbottom Primary: Break-Time Bunnies
There's always something going on at Wigglesbottom Primary! Children looking for silly chapter books with lots of pictures will lo…
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Marv and the Mega Robot
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Marv and the Mega Robot
This illustrated early reader is fast paced with an inspiring Black superhero and plenty of adventure for young readers just makin…
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The Worries: Sohal Finds A Friend
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The Worries: Sohal Finds A Friend
Sohal's worries dominate his life - so much so that he has to carry them around in his school bag to avoid them being seen! A ligh…
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Dream Defenders: Erika and the Angermare
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Dream Defenders: Erika and the Angermare
After storming off to bed upset and in a terrible mood, Erika wakes up in the most incredible place ever: there are rainbow-colour…
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Mike Falls Up
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Mike Falls Up
This quirky, imaginative tale is full of unexpected twists and turns, and is sure to engage young children. Distinctive, full-colo…
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