Great Books Guide
Here are 100 books from 2025–26 that we think are great – and so will children
Illustration © Sandhya Prabhat
Our priority is to get children excited about books, stories and rhymes because if reading is fun, children will want to do it. That’s why we’ve put together this guide full of books we think are absolutely brilliant, carefully chosen to engage and excite children from 4 to 11. We believe that the ‘right’ book is always the book a child wants to read – and we hope this guide inspires you to find that book.
Order books online
Browns are donating to us with every sale from the Great Books Guide page of their website and also offer a discount for schools.
Alternatively, order books from Bookshop.org. They are also donating to BookTrust with every sale from customers who enter via this page.
For books from Welsh publishers please go to
Search great children’s books by age
We’ve grouped together the books by interest age. Click on the list to see the books and read our reviews.
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Great Books Guide 2025–26: for 4 to 5‑year-olds
Here’s a round-up of new children’s books from the last year, which we think any child aged 4 to 5 will love
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Great Books Guide 2025–26: 6 to 7‑year-olds
Here’s a round-up of new children’s books from the last year, which we think any child aged 6 to 7 will love
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Great Books Guide 2025–26: 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
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Great Books Guide 2025–26: for 10 to 11-year-olds
Here’s a round-up of new children’s books from the last year, which we think any child aged 10 to 11 will love
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Great Books Guide 2025–26: for 11+
Here’s a round-up of new children’s books from the last year, which we think any child aged 11+ will love
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Great Books Guide 2025–26: Books from Wales
Some of our favourite books from Wales published this year.
Why book choice matters
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Research evidence highlights the importance of children’s choice around books. Find out more, including some top tips for promoting more choice and agency in the classroom.
Decorate the staff room with our poster!
This year, our Great Books Guide is being sent to primary schools along with a fun poster highlighting how important it is for children to choose books they feel drawn to.
You can download an additional copy of the poster below.
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Education consultant Rachel Clarke describes how to use BookTrust’s Great Books Guide to audit the book corners in your school.
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