Books for reluctant readers (younger children)
There's a book out there for every child, even the most reluctant of readers. Try a few of the books below to see if they click with your child and help them love reading.
There's fiction, non-fiction, rhyme and laugh-out-loud moments! Let us know which one works for your 5-8 year old.
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Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Ghosts
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Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Ghosts
Sam Wu is scared of many things but is determined not to let anyone find out. However, after an unfortunate incident in a space si…
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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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Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls
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Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls
A collection of three short stories starring the fabulous Tola, who lives with her siblings and Grandmummy in Lagos. A funny, comp…
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Will Jakeman’s Marvellous Mechanimals
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Will Jakeman’s Marvellous Mechanimals
Nick Ward’s utterly brilliant, highly illustrated story about a boy inventor is in an absolute class of its own. Highly recom…
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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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Max and the Midknights
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Max and the Midknights
Max is a troubadour-in-training - but she'd much rather be a knight. When her uncle is hired as court jester for King Gastley, Max…
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Freddy vs School
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Freddy vs School
Freddy is proud to be a robot boy - but he keeps getting into trouble at school! This funny, light-hearted chapter book examines w…
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Sindhu and Jeet’s Detective Agency
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Sindhu and Jeet’s Detective Agency
A funny and exciting compilation of three stories following junior detectives Sindhu and Jeet from Chennai airport to Tower Bridge…
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Space Detectives
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Space Detectives
A summer holiday job selling ice cream aboard the exotic space station of Starville turns into a race against time to avoid a cata…
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The Wolves in the Walls
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The Wolves in the Walls
When Lucy hears noises in the walls of her home, she tries to warn her family that the wolves are coming. However, they do not hee…
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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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Grandpa Bert and the Ghost Snatchers
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Grandpa Bert and the Ghost Snatchers
When Grandma Gertie visits Anna and Kasper from Barbados, they discover that the ghost of Grandpa Bert is in her handbag! Meanwhil…
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Evil Emperor Penguin: Book 1
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Evil Emperor Penguin: Book 1
Far away in the icy wastes of Antarctica lives a warm and cuddly, kind-hearted penguin who only wants to do good in the world...NO…
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Kitty Quest
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Kitty Quest
Kittens Woolfrik and Perigold set up a monster-hunting stall, although business is slow, as there appear to be no monsters on the …
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Kitchen Disco
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Kitchen Disco
Did you know when you go to sleep all the fruit in the bowl comes to life and has a fun-filled, night long party?
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Super Happy Magic Forest
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Super Happy Magic Forest
This anarchic and amusing picture book deserves much praise for taking commonplace story elements - pixies, goblins, unicorns and …
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Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea!
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Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea!
Narwhal is a happy-go-lucky sea creature whose amazing horn-like tooth on his forehead earns him the nickname "unicorn of the sea"…
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Pigsticks and Harold: Lost in Time!
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Pigsticks and Harold: Lost in Time!
Fast-paced and funny, this chapter book with full-page graphic-novel style artwork is a hilarious romp through history. This is th…
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Bunny Vs Monkey
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Bunny Vs Monkey
Packed full of hilarious short stories, this bumper collection of cartoons covers an entire year of adventures for Bunny and Monke…
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The Goozillas!: Trapped in the Bog of Beasts
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The Goozillas!: Trapped in the Bog of Beasts
While Max is playing on his favourite game on his tablet, he manages the impossible. With just one sneeze, Max manages to transpor…
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Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kittens
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Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kittens
Fans of this series will be delighted to see the return of the fast-paced high jinx in this graphic novel. Readers will be outrage…
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Louie Lets Loose!
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Louie Lets Loose!
Louie the unicorn lives a quiet life with his parents in Story Land, until his invite to the New York School of Performing Arts ar…
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Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue
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Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue
Kitty’s mum is a superhero with cat powers, and Kitty wants to be just like her. Kitty's night-time adventures feature a cast of l…
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