Every month, we review dozens of books for children and teenagers. Here are the ones we like best in April: guaranteed to get your child reading…
Whether they’re a teeny toddler or a very particular teen, this is where you can find your child’s next amazing book: just scroll down to find books for a range of ages.
We’ve sorted our favourite new books into rough age ranges, but this is just a guide and readers might find something they’ll love in a different category.
All these books are available to order at Bookshop.org (affiliate link) – or why not borrow them from your local library?
Fancy writing a book review yourself? Read our handy guide and have a go!
This very sweet board book will make the bedtime routine fun for all little dinosaurs! Includes surprise pop-ups and a flap to lift. Perfect for babies and toddlers.
A woman throws a ball for her dog on the beach, which becomes a long and excitable chase through town and countryside with an ever-increasing crowd of dogs.
Mead and Woodward’s adorable, poignant and heart-warming book about how older siblings feel when a new baby arrives is as warm and comforting as a blanket, understanding that while it’s lovely to be the biggest, little ones are still little and need lots of support.
When Super Uma notices that her usually vibrant city is losing its sparkle, she sets out to find out why. While she tries to solve the mystery with her Nani and unicorn sidekick, she learns the importance of empathy and accessibility.
Molly lives with all the other monkeys in the jungle, but Molly has a secret: she’s a pig. A picture book with a message about difference and inclusion.
Neil Clark’s delightful, colourful, screen-printed picture book reminds young readers that we can all have introverted and extroverted moments, and that when we want some soothing alone time, it’s perfectly okay.
Everyone’s good at something, but what am I good at? A gentle story that will echo young children’s worries, while providing reassurance. A joyous celebration of individuality.
What came first, the chicken or the egg? Find out once and for all in this fascinating book as you explore the life cycles of seven plants and animals through interactive flaps and wheel mechanisms.
Daffodil struggles to look on the bright side when Dad’s holiday surprise turns out to be a dreary caravan park in the middle of nowhere. Bursting with wry humour and witty illustrations, readers will laugh out loud at the Patterson family’s hilarious holiday exploits.
Sammy created a robot and it … went a bit rogue. Will Mum ever let him out of his room? And can the humans stop the robots? A very funny story told in letter form, great for primary-aged children.
This contemporary twist on the traditional fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel is full of silliness and humour. With short chapters and colourful illustrations, it is perfect for early readers.
by Edward Brooke-Hitching, illustrated by Jez Tuya
2026 7 to 11 years
Around the world
Non-fiction
Hugely entertaining and packed full of quirky, fascinating and sometimes revolting animal facts, this non-fiction book is sure to be a big hit with junior readers.
This deeply moving companion book to Michael Rosen’s Sad Book explores the power of memory when dealing with grief and loss with Rosen’s inimitable warmth, simplicity and directness.
Follow the everyday adventures of Jake, the middle child in a loving Black British family. This illustrated chapter book contains four interconnected stories and is ideal for children transitioning to independent reading.
All sorts of emotions are explored in this poetry collection, along with playful poetic forms, pleasing rhymes and ‘stretch vocabulary’ to entertain and even challenge your mind. Ideal to share with a class.
Tiny Hercules has been banished to the human world – can Jeff help him in his epic quest to defeat a lion? Brilliant, action-packed fun with laugh-out-loud moments.
Marinka lives in a house with chicken legs that guides the dead through the Gate to the stars. When something goes wrong with the Gate, the house runs away and Marinka must embark on an epic adventure to protect the word of the living.
If Alex hadn’t climbed the fence to get the football back, it would never have happened. He wouldn’t have died and wouldn’t have been made undead by a 250-year-old vampire.
Part cautionary tale and part punchy, coming-of-age story, Boy vs Realiy exposes the pressure an online presence can bring and how badly it can sometimes warp life in the real world.
When Yumna discovers that her friends have powers, she thinks that’s the biggest shock she’ll have. Until a friend vanishes when a new family comes to town…
by David Solomons, illustrated by Miguel Diaz Rivas
2026 9 to 14 years
Adventure
Crime
Funny
With all the excitement of a James Bond movie, this madcap adventure races along and is hard to put down. Packed with puns and outlandish gadgets this is hilarious, thrilling fun.
Brothers Ben and Max grapple with disturbing arrivals on their planet that could have devastating consequences. Set 20 years after the bestselling Chaos Walking trilogy, this is a gripping dystopian sci-fi story exploring identity, family, fear of ‘the other’ and what it means to be human.
Endgame is the culmination of three previous books exploring the potential misuse of AI and other technologies: Echostar, AdelAIDE, and The Foundation. It can be read as a stand-alone story, but will be most appreciated by those who have read at least one of the preceding books. Dyslexia-friendly.
BookTrust Northern Ireland Book of the Month
Brilliant book by a creator from NI or the Republic of Ireland
Catherine Fisher’s classic tale of magic, courage and music is set on the eerie Gwent levels, where the mists rise from the waterlogged fields, and no one is safe from the vengeance of the river.
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