New children's books we love
Every month, we review dozens of books for children and teenagers. Here are the ones we like best in August: 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.
You can also keep track of the latest titles by looking at our past reading recommendations for:
July | June | May | April | March | February
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.
A very nicely produced ABC book that also teaches little ones to name animals, which makes it doubly lovely.
What makes home so special? This is a heart-warming, rhyming picture book for parents to share with toddlers. From playing together to cuddling on the sofa, little ones will be able to relate to the tender everyday moments they share with their loved ones.
A book about a young boy’s fondness of tractors that is also a beautiful ode to libraries and the love of reading.
Tales From Acorn Wood: Cat’s Cookbook
Part of the adorable Acorn Wood series, Cat’s Cookbook extols the importance of libraries in a fun way, reminding us how nice it is to browse for a book and also find exactly the one we wanted.
A perfect accompaniment to days out in the pushchair for toddlers or repeated reads at home, this is an accessibly beautiful, well-made alphabet book with 1-2 year olds in mind and is a lovely place to start learning letters, animals and words.
A young boy wishes he was big like his older brother. Sav Akyüz has created a beautifully illustrated, mostly wordless story. Children will love using their imagination to think about what they would do if they were BIG too.
Leigh Hodgkinson’s delightful picture book about the very real perils of being a much loved and re-read book is both hilarious and adorable, and a homage to the joy of reading.
Ceri & Deri: Get Your Skates On
Dai the Duck finds skateboarding hard and is ready to stop, but then he meets skateboarder Barabara the Bear. A funny book that's ideal to share with young children, particularly those who may be quick to give up when they find things difficult.
This is the first funny tale in an entertaining series of picture books about this merry band of characters. A delightful celebration of friendship and happiness.
A perfect book to share with a little one who might be nervous about starting school or moving house, Mooncat and Me is a lovely, gentle story about not being scared to ask for help, and a reminder that changes can often turn out to be really positive.
The beautiful Sunflower Sisters pays tribute to cultural traditions and celebrations and also gently explores colourism (also known as shadeism), and how harmful unkind words and old-fashioned views can be.
Cindy Wume’s utterly delightful story about a cute little children’s bookshop and a book-loving cat is a perfect cosy read. Cat fans and keen readers will find themselves well catered to here.
If being good gets you sent to a zoo thousands of miles from home, maybe being bad will get you sent back? Anyone who’s ever been cuddled, smooshed or had their hair mussed up one too many times will empathise with Lin, who is tired of being adorable.
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 the reader in magic and a lovely brother-sister relationship.
Read more about Indigo Wilde and the Creatures at Jellybean Crescent
Interview With A Shark and Other Ocean Giants Too
Intrepid wildlife reporter Andy Seed is back with another collection of interviews for which he has risked personal safety, and gotten seriously wet, while talking to the giants of the oceans.
Read more about Interview With A Shark and Other Ocean Giants Too
After seven years of refusing to speak a word, ten-year-old Yasmin must now learn how to use her voice effectively, helped by a secret guardian: a llama called Levi. Full of mayhem and zany humour, and accompanied by hilarious black-and-white illustrations.
Merman Nen loves to explore the ocean but his heart feels empty. One night, a lonely fishman called Ernest hears his song and the pair strike up an affectionate relationship. A tender tale of love and acceptance, with lyrical text and atmospheric illustrations.
On Your Marks, Get Set, Gold! A Fact-Filled, Funny Guide to Every Olympic Sport
This amusing and interesting book is a great place to start for primary school age children interested in learning more about the great variety of Olympic and Paralympic sports, from Judo to Artistic Gymnastics and everything inbetween.
Read more about On Your Marks, Get Set, Gold! A Fact-Filled, Funny Guide to Every Olympic Sport
Spellbound Ponies: Magic and Mischief
The first in a series of magical pony adventures, this tale features Bad Bess, a highway horse. With black-and-white illustrations throughout each chapter, this magical ghost story with mixed heritage characters will delight young, independent readers.
The Culture of Clothes: A Celebration of World Dress
Perfect for young fashion enthusiasts as well as children interested in world cultures, this is a fascinating read with lots of inspiration for art and crafts, as well as school projects.
Read more about The Culture of Clothes: A Celebration of World Dress
Genius inventor Esha Verma is on the brink of winning the Brain Trophy, when she accidentally sends her sister back to the age of the dinosaurs. Funny and fast-paced STEM adventure.
Caroline’s mother has gone and left an aching hole in her life. When new girl Kalinda arrives on the island, Caroline falls in love and sets out to find her mother. A rare and special, magical-realist story, which sometimes seems more like a dream.
This compelling tale is set in Addis Prime, a dystopian city which is strictly controlled by the Authority. Combining elements of Ethiopian culture with space-age technology, this fast-paced Afrofuturistic adventure is a thrilling read.
LISTIFIED! Britannica’s 300 lists that will blow your mind
In this brilliant compendium of lists, you can find out all manner of amazing facts and rankings. The listicle format is a great one to use to engage young readers and it's the perfect book for inspiring some great “did you know?” conversations.
Read more about LISTIFIED! Britannica’s 300 lists that will blow your mind
The Cartoons That Came To Life
A zany illustrated adventure about comic characters, Arley and Tapper, who step out of Finn’s sketchbook and into his real life, demanding a final showdown with their sworn enemy, Professor Fart-Munch. A well-told story with lots of laughs.
The third book in the Unmapped Kingdoms series reads very well on its own or as part of the series, with all of Elphinstone’s trademark fantastical beasts and characters. Most of all, these are stories about friendship, love, and having faith in yourself.
Jordan is in remission from cancer but finding it difficult to make friends at his new school. One day, he gives a homeless man some soup and then, in the spirit of doing kind things, ends up secretly running a soup kitchen. Very funny and deeply moving.
Rex is not the sort of person to rob a bank... until he's sent to stay with his Uncle Derm for the summer! Expect high jinks, close calls and lots of silliness in this delightful heist adventure.
Twins Jess and Jude wake one morning to find their yacht adrift and their guardian missing. Packed with half-truths, deception, red herrings, villainous baddies and a sense of ever-present threat, this is a mystery to keep readers guessing.
Silas finds it hard to speak, especially at school, where bullies taunt him for his difficulty. One day, he meets a talking wolf, and a whole new world opens up. A remarkable children’s book which is both a pacy adventure and full of profound meaning.
Lots of teenagers are embarrassed by their parents but when yours vlog about everything in your life, including your first period, what can you do to get your life back? A funny and interesting look at social media, identity and privacy.
A concise and passionate exploration of Modern Black British history through 28 songs that changed British culture forever.
This punchy and exciting thriller explores status, friendship and potentially deadly rivalry – and shows how saving face at all costs isn’t necessarily the best strategy.
BookTrust HomeTime
Looking for something fun as a family? Enjoy storytime with our free online books and videos, play games, win prizes, test your knowledge in our book-themed quizzes, or even learn how to draw some of your favourite characters.
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