Great Books Guide 2024-25: For 8 to 9 year olds
Here's a round-up of new children's books from the last year, which we think any child aged 8 to 9 will love.
Shop the Great Books Guide titles from our partners and money from your purchase will be donated to BookTrust.
-
Taking Shelter (A Hugh Dunnit Mystery)
Author: Guy Bass Illustrator: Lee Cosgrove
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+Hugh is determined to clear his dog's name when she's accused of eating his homework. This hilarious chapter book is full of witty one-liners, daft puns and dynamic black-and-white illustrations.
-
Animal All-Stars: Incredible Facts, Stats and Stories from the Greatest Record-Breakers in the Animal World
Author: Clare Balding Illustrator: The Boy Fitz Hammond
Publisher: Wren & Rook
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+Sports expert Clare Balding is here to commentate on a stupendous set of eight edge-of-your-seat sporting events featuring all manner of brilliantly fast, strong and agile animals.
-
Dungeon Runners: Hero Trial
Author: Kieran Larwood Illustrator: Joe Todd-Stanton
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+Presented in large, clear font and with black and white illustrations throughout, this funny, exciting, imaginative adventure story is a great introduction to fantasy fiction for newly independent readers.
-
The Beasts of Knobbly Bottom: Attack of the Vampire Sheep
Author: Emily-Jane Clark Illustrator: Jeff Crowther
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+After reluctantly moving to the tiny village of Knobbly Bottom, Maggie is astonished when she encounters a flock of vampire sheep who are determined to take over the world. This hilarious chapter book, with a fast-paced plot and dynamic black-and-white illustrations, is the first in a fabulously funny series that is perfect for junior readers.
-
The Breakfast Club Adventures: The Phantom Thief
Author: Marcus Rashford with Alex Falase-Koya Illustrator: Marta Kissi
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 8+Can the Breakfast Club Investigators find the Phantom Thief and save Asim from being blamed? A gentle mystery with short chapters and lots of energetic illustrations.
-
Yomi and the Fury of Ninki Nanka
Author: Davina Tijani Illustrator: Adam Douglas-Bagley
Publisher: Little Tiger
Interest age: 8-10
Reading age: 8+Yomi, aged around 10 and her younger brother Kay are spending the summer with their Uncle Olu who is a Nkara (dragon) researcher travelling the world lecturing on African studies. They are in The Gambia’s capital city Banjul when Yomi sees Ninki Nanka, the famous and ferocious water dragon and realises it is in trouble.
-
Tangled Tales: Movies, Magic, Mayhem!
Author: Jenny Moore Illustrator: Sarah Horne
Publisher: Maverick Publishing
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+Two interlinked stories in one – flip the book to read the second one. Will Derek the vampire and Ruby the unusual fairy become film stars?
-
Astrid and the Space Cadets: Attack of the Snailiens!
Author: Alex T Smith
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Interest age: 5-8
Reading age: 7+Every night, six-year-old Astrid transforms into a Space Cadet, an intergalactic helper who zooms across the universe to solve problems and assist those in need. This fast-paced, funny chapter book is accompanied by magnificent black-and-white illustrations.
-
Time Travellers: Adventure Calling
Author: Sufiya Ahmed Illustrator: Alessia Trunfio
Publisher: Little Tiger
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+A fascinating time-travel adventure exploring the politics and history of suffragettes.
-
Keisha Jones Takes on the World
Author: Natalie Denny Illustrator: Chanté Timothy
Publisher: Little Tiger
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 6+Keisha wants to be like her inspiring Great Aunt Bee and stand up for what’s right. Her first cause is the price of bunnies in the pet shop. Funny and packed with brilliant illustrations, this will have young readers coming back for more in the series.
-
The Council of Good Friends
Author: Nikesh Shukla Illustrator: Rochelle Falconer
Publisher: Knights Of
Interest age: 6-9
Reading age: 7+Vinay and his “Council of Friends” are disrupted by the arrival of his cousin. Together, they learn to set aside their differences and empathise with each other’s feelings.
-
Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Monster and the Maze
Author: Maple Lam
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 7+Sun Wukong, legendary monkey king and warrior, faces an ancient evil which threatens the world. Join him on a wild and comical adventure as he battles the monsters of ancient Greece.
-
Monster in the Woods
Author: Dave Shelton
Publisher: David Fickling
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+A brilliantly funny, and gloriously rambling, historical hunt for a monster with a great twist at the end and a subtle message about not judging by appearances.
-
Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery
Author: Laura Ellen Anderson
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 7+When young moth Marnie Midnight enrols at Minibeast Academy, she and her new friends, Floyd the bee and Star the ant, embark on a perilous lunar adventure. The first in an exciting new series, this imaginative, bug-sized tale is richly illustrated and full of humour.
-
Meet the Maliks, Twin Detectives: The Cookie Culprit
Author: Zanib Mian Illustrator: Kyan Cheng
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Interest age: 6-7
Reading age: 7+Can Maysa and Musa solve the mystery of who destroyed the competition cookies? Relatable and funny, this is a story about everyday family life, with a gentle mystery and a BIG lie at the heart of it.
-
The Egg Incident
Author: Ziggy Hanaor Illustrator: Daisy Wynter
Publisher: Cicada Books
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+Humphrey the egg isn’t allowed to do anything energetic – especially not climb walls. But when he and his new friend are locked in the park, he has to escape somehow! A very funny graphic novel that will have children giggling out loud.
-
Poetry Comics
Author: Grant Snider
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 7+Beautifully simple poems are paired with comic-book style panel illustrations. Two characters across the course of the year as they express themselves through poetry.
-
Size Wise
Author: Camilla de la Bedoyere Illustrator: Vasilisa Romanenko
Publisher: Buster Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 7+From the big to the small, size is important and can tell us a lot about the animals and plants that live on planet Earth. This fascinating book zooms in on size to reveal all kinds of interesting facts about why things are the size that they are, and to give young readers a sense of scale.
-
The World’s First Rollercoaster and Other Amazing Inventions
Author: Mike Barfield Illustrator: Franziska Höllbacher
Publisher: Templar Books
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 8+Find out the stories behind some of the world’s most important inventions in this funny, comic style, illustrated non-fiction book.
-
Nora and the Map of Mayhem
Author: Joseph Elliott Illustrator: Nici Gregory
Publisher: Piccadilly Press
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+Can Nora and her great grandchildren find the treasure before her dastardly foe? A hoot of an adventure starring an energetic old lady, a determined toddler and a wonky goose. Great fun.
-
Who Let the Words Out?
Author: Joshua Seigal Illustrator: Chris Piascik
Publisher: Bloomsbury Education
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 7+A funny and engaging poetry collection, perfect for reading aloud and for sharing.
-
The Last Zookeeper
Author: Aaron Becker
Publisher: Walker
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 4+A wordless picture book featuring a robot protagonist and a flooded landscape. It is a beautifully illustrated modern retelling of the Noah’s ark story.
-
Bobby Bains Plays a Blinder
Author: Bali Rai Illustrator: Daniel Duncan
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+Bobby wants his nana-ji and Trevor to be friends because they both love football. A heart-warming story of community and kindness – and football! Dyslexia friendly, and appealing to all readers.
-
Calling the Whales
Author: Jasbinder Bilan Illustrator: Skylar White
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+A powerful and quick to read adventure story on saving a humpback whale in Scotland.
-
Hercules: The Diary of a (Sort Of) Hero
Author: Tom Vaughan Illustrator: David O'Connell
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+Hercules' plan to play it cool when he starts secondary school goes awry when he becomes a target for the school bully. With the arrival of his estranged Greek father, Hercules' popularity surges, but at what cost? With a generous smattering of Greek mythology, this laugh-out-loud tale explores the nature of friendship, love and loyalty with a perfect mix of…