The Great Books Guide logoGreat Books Guide for families

Get top tips on sharing stories with your family and discover our Great Books Guide, packed with 100 recommendations of brilliant reads for children aged 4-11.

On this page you can:

  • Watch our video about sharing books together once your child starts primary school
  • Download our Great Books Guide, full of carefully selected reading recommendations
  • Find fun competitions to enter to win books for your family
  • Sign up for our newsletter for more tips, updates and reviews
An illustration of a child reading with a cat from the 2023 Great Books Guide

Great Books Guide

Get 100 expert reading recommendations for children aged 4-11 — there's something for everyone in the Great Books Guide!

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Why reading is so brilliant

Children who read are more likely to overcome disadvantage caused by inequalities, are more likely to be happier, healthier and experience better mental wellbeing and self-esteem, are more likely to do better at school and make more progress across the curriculum and are more likely to develop empathy and creativity

Research shows that reading has some incredible benefits for children! Children who read are more likely to:

  • Overcome disadvantage caused by inequalities
  • Be healthier and happier children with better mental wellbeing and self-esteem
  • Do better at school and make more progress across the curriculum
  • Develop creativity and empathy

Find out more about the research here

More reading fun

Illustration of an older child reading by a tree

Competitions

Enter our fun giveaways and you could get your hands on some super book prizes.

Illustration of an older child eating breakfast with their mother

Find more reading tips

Get great ideas for sharing books as a family - and how to support your child if they don't like reading.

Illustration by Erika Meza of an older child riding a dragon

BookTrust HomeTime

Find free activity sheets, drawalongs, story time videos, quizzes, recipes and more fun based on books to keep you all entertained.