K | BookTrust

Kangaroo Kisses

Author: Nandana Dev Sen Illustrator: Pippa Curnick
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 5+

A perfect rhyming bedtime story, full of charm and colourful illustrations, and with lots of exciting animals and a very wide-awake little girl.

Kahani Short Stories by Pakistani Women

Author: Various Editor: Aamer Hussein
Publisher: Saqi Books
Interest age: 15+
Reading age: 15+

Jamila Hashmi, Mumtaz Shirin, Fahmida Riaz and others use intricate narrative patterns, polemicism and lyricism in their stories about Pakistan's convoluted history.

Kai and the Monkey King

Author: Joe Todd-Stanton
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 5+

Professor Brownston recounts the story of two ancestors, whose quest to observe and document mythical phenomena leads them across ancient China. A compelling picture book, sure to captivate young readers who enjoy fantasy adventure tales.

Karate Kids

Author: Holly Sterling
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 4-5

It’s Saturday morning and Maya is excited to go to her karate class at the dojo! A perfect read for little ones who might be starting a karate or other martial arts class, Karate Kids is reassuring, kind and will dispel any potential nervousness.

Kat Wolfe Investigates

Author: Lauren St John
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Interest age: 10-12
Reading age: 10+

Kat Wolfe loves her new home in idyllic Bluebell Bay, especially as it comes with a resident wildcat. But when she starts pet-sitting for pocket money, she finds that beneath the town's perfect surface lie some dark and dangerous secrets.

Katie and the British Artists

Author: James Mayhew
Publisher: Orchard Books
Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 8+

This latest in a successful series of picture books, giving youngsters an accessible and entertaining introduction to fine art, has appeal as a story in its own right.

Katie and the Spanish Princess

Author: James Mayhew
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 6+

Katie meets the Infanta Margarita from a Velázquez painting and together they and a thieving magpie from a Goya travel in and out of paintings.

Katie's Picture Show

Author: James Mayhew
Publisher: Orchard
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 6+

Beautifully illustrated and full of joy and humour, this is the perfect introduction to art for younger children.

Katinka’s Tail

Author: Judith Kerr
Publisher: HarperCollins
Interest age: 2+
Reading age: 3+

Katinka is an ordinary and lovely white pussycat – apart from her tail, which is stripy. This is a beautiful, funny, warm and tender picture book, which takes a joyous and magical twist at the end. Fans of Judith Kerr’s Mog books will love it, of course...

Katy

Author: Jacqueline Wilson
Publisher: Penguin
Interest age: 9-12
Reading age: 9+

With their widowed father having re-married, 11 year-old Katy and her sisters now share the house with his second wife Izzie, her daughter and three new young additions to the blended family. The first half of the book sets the scene - a lively, chaotic and often factious family environment. Katy herself is adventurous, enthusiastic and eager to try to…

Katy Cat and Beaky Boo

Author: Lucy Cousins
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 2+
Reading age: 4+

Help Katy Cat to lift over 40 flaps in search of her friend Beaky Boo, and reveal shapes, colours, numbers, food, clothes and even animal noises!

Katha: Short Stories by Indian Women

Author: Various Editor: Urvashi Butalia
Publisher: Telegram
Interest age: 15+
Reading age: 15+

Whether it is in the kitchen or elsewhere, Indian women's stories have been handed down from generation to generation, enriched and embroidered along the way.

Katherine Johnson: A Life Story

Author: Leila Rasheed Illustrator: Sarah Papworth
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+

An accessible, compelling and inspiring biography of Katherine Johnson: a brilliant, black, female mathematician who helped make NASA’s space programme and moon landing possible.

Kaya’s Heart Song

Author: Diwa Tharan Sanders Illustrator: Nerina Canzi
Publisher: Lantana
Interest age: 3-5

Kaya's mother says that to hear your heart song, you must quieten your mind. This picture book aims to promote mindfulness and there’s an explanation of the word at the back of the book, but it can also be read as a fantasy story.

Keeper

Author: Mal Peet
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 9-12
Reading age: 8+

In this excellent football story, set in modern-day South America, a hackneyed football reporter sits down with El Gato (the Cat), a World Cup-winning goalkeeper, to look back on his amazing life and career.

Keeper of the Realms: Crow’s Revenge

Author: Marcus Alexander
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 10+
Reading age: 10+

With its endlessly unfolding, elaborate fantasy world, a plot brimming with cliff-hangers and vivid characters this is an imaginative roller-coaster fantasy.

Keith Among the Pigeons

Author: Katie Brosnan
Publisher: Child's Play
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 5+

Keith the cat's natural affinity with pigeons mean he's teased by the other cats. Should he really keep trying to be something he's not? A healthy reminder that we shouldn’t feel obliged to be pigeon-holed but rather accept ourselves for who we are.

Keith the Cat with the Magic Hat

Author: Sue Hendra
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+

All Keith’s cat friends laugh when an ice cream unexpectedly lands on his head. But Keith decides it's really a magic hat.

Kenny Wright: Superhero

Author: James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts Illustrator: Cory Thomas
Publisher: Young Arrow
Interest age: 9-12
Reading age: 9

This entertaining book tackles the serious issues of bullying, poverty and difficult family circumstances with a light-hearted touch. Short chapters and the use of comic strip drawings to illustrate Stainlezz Steel's imaginary escapades make this is an accessible and amusing read.

Kensuke's Kingdom

Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Michael Foreman
Publisher: Egmont
Interest age: 10+
Reading age: 10+

This is a beautifully written tale of an exceptional friendship which survives beyond the boundaries of culture and language.

Kentucky Thriller

Author: Lauren St John
Publisher: Orion Children's Books
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 10+

Laura Marlin’s third adventure begins when she discovers an abandoned horsebox containing missing Kentucky Derby winner, Gold Rush.

Kerb-Stain Boys: The Crongton Broadway Robbery

Author: Alex Wheatle
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+

Briggsy, his best friend Terror and the love of Terror’s life, Caldonia, are 14 year olds living on the wrong side of the tracks. Soon, their vague fantasy of robbing a post office descends into farce. A hilarious, thrilling and uplifting read that's a breath of fresh air.

Ketchup Clouds

Author: Annabel Pitcher
Publisher: Indigo
Interest age: 14+
Reading age: 14+

Fifteen-year-old Zoe attempts to come to terms with a dark secret by writing letters to a murderer awaiting execution on Death Row.

Kevin's Great Escape

Author: Philip Reeve Illustrator: Sarah McIntyre
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+

The second brilliant adventure featuring the exploits of Kevin the flying pony - this time, pop star Misty Twiglet wants to buy him, but will his friend Max be able to stop her?

Kick

Author: Mitch Johnson
Publisher: Usborne
Interest age: 10-12
Reading age: 10-12

Budi works in a footwear factory in Indonesia, making the football boots he longs to wear but is unlikely to ever be able to afford. The harsh divide between rich and poor is examined sensitively in this moving book about one child’s struggles.

Kick-Ass

Author: Mark Millar Illustrator: John Romita Jr
Publisher: Titan
Interest age: 14+
Reading age: 14+

Dave Lizewski is just an ordinary American teenager. He has a MySpace page, he loves comic books, and he is unable to find a girlfriend. Then an idea hits him: why not become a real life super hero?

Kid Normal

Author: Greg James and Chris Smith Illustrator: Erica Salcedo
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+

This spoof superhero epic certainly delivers: dastardly villains, capes, tights and mild-mannered heroes. Yet it also explores familiar school anxieties that everyone else is smarter, stronger, better. Here, even Kid Normal has superpowers!

Kid Sherlock

Author: Justin Phillips Illustrator: Sean Gregory Miller and Lesley Atlansky
Publisher: Action Lab
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 7+

Loosely based on the stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, this sharp and witty comic is a great introduction for youngsters into the world of Sherlock and Watson. Readers also see Sherlock navigating daily school life and the challenges of making friends.

KidGlovz

Author: Julie Hunt and Dale Newman
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Interest age: 10+
Reading age: 10-12

This stunning pencil-drawn graphic novel of talent, music and friendship will readers young and old. You'll be rooting for KidGlovz, the nine-year-old musical prodigy: a poignant story to be remembered for a long time.

Kidnap

Author: Chris Powling
Publisher: A&C Black
Interest age: 8+
Reading age: 8+

With its non-stop action, deftly drawn characters and final twist – all narrated using simple vocabulary - this story has tension enough to involve the most reluctant struggling reader

Kidnap in the Caribbean

Author: Lauren St John
Publisher: Orion Children's Books
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+

The second Laura Marling mystery has all the elements of an old fashioned adventure story, action packed with friends rallying to fight an evil enemy

Kids Fight Plastic

Author: Martin Dorey Illustrator: Tim Weeson
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 8+

By 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Kids Fight Plastic presents powerful facts about how oceans and their inhabitants are suffering from our over-reliance on plastic and features fifty bitesize missions to chomp through, from a #2minutebeachclean to how to fight plastics in lunchboxes.

King Baby

Author: Kate Beaton
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+

King Baby bestows 'smiles and laughs and kisses' on everyone, for King Baby is generous. But he also has many demands: he must be fed. And changed! And burped! King Baby will have you in stitches. Buy it for every new parent you know.

King Coo

Author: Adam Stower
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Interest age: 7-9
Reading age: 7+

In an attempt to escape the school bully Monty Grabbe, Ben hides under the school bins, unwittingly entering a tunnel into a fantasy realm.

King Flashypants and the Evil Emperor

Author: Andy Riley
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 7+

When nine-year-old King Edwin runs out of pocket money, he can no longer buy his subjects Friday chocolate. The peasants revolt and elect a new leader, Evil Emperor Nurbison. This slapstick tale will appeal to those who love something a bit silly.

King Jack and the Dragon

Author: Peter Bently Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
Publisher: Puffin Books
Interest age: 2+
Reading age: 5+

The wonderful rhyming text and charming illustrations create a beautifully paced and reassuring picture book

King of Shadows

Author: Susan Cooper
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+

Nat Field, an orphaned American actor, is taken ill during a performance and slips back in time to the Tudor era.

King of the Classroom

Author: Derrick Barnes Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Publisher: Scallywag Press
Interest age: 3-5

This wonderfully empowering picture book for little ones not only assuages their possible fears about starting school or nursery but models a celebratory approach to the big day with an upbeat story about being confident.

King of the Sky

Author: Nicola Davies Illustrator: Laura Carlin
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 6-9
Reading age: 6+

A boy has come to start his life in a new country where nothing is familiar, apart from the racing pigeons kept by his neighbour. Soon, he has a pigeon of his own called King of the Sky: will he win the competition? A touching, quiet tale of community.

Kiki and Bobo’s Sunny Day

Author: Yasmeen Ismail
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3-5

Kiki and Bobo have decided to go to the seaside for the day. A lovely book with bright, welcoming illustrations and clever lift-the-flaps. The perfect read for holidays.

Kiki and Bobo’s Super Surprise

Author: Yasmeen Ismail
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 3-6

This is a delightful book bursting with bright and engaging illustrations, and with its interactive lift-the-flaps on every page, little hands can join in and have fun with this delightful duo.

Kill All Enemies

Author: Melvin Burgess
Publisher: Penguin
Interest age: 13+
Reading age: 10+

There are always two sides to every story – who is making the rules, the young people or the adults?

Killer Animals: The Wimp’s Guide

Author: Tracey Turner
Publisher: Franklin Watts
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+

Have you ever wrestled a crocodile? Or put your head in the mouth of a hippopotamus? Or let a tarantula walk on your hands? If you answered no, to all of the above, then this could be the book for you!

Killer Game

Author: Kirsty McKay
Publisher: Chicken House
Interest age: 13+
Reading age: 13+

A school initiation game gets out of hand when one of the players ends up in hospital, and heroine Cate is told that 'she's next'.

Killer Gorilla

Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 2+
Reading age: 3+

Mouse begins a perilous search for her lost baby, and just when things look utterly bleak: out jumps a ‘Killer Gorilla’.

Killing Honour

Author: Bali Rai
Publisher: Corgi Children's
Interest age: 13+
Reading age: 13+

A blood-curdling murder story set in Leicester’s Asian community where family honour seems sometimes to count for more than family love

Killing Sound

Author: Paul Southern
Publisher: Chicken House
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 9+

A chilling YA novel in which ancient, evil, supernatural forces are unwittingly unleashed.

Kind

Author: Alison Green Illustrator: Axel Scheffler & with pictures by 38 artists
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 5+

A delicious book by Alison Green with illustrations and a foreword by Axel Scheffler, plus pictures by 38 international illustrators, to celebrate kindness and humankind. A profound book that is quite simply a treasure trove of wisdom and beauty.

Kindness Rules!

Author: Eunice and Sabrina Moyle
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Interest age: 2-4

Magic Manners, a large blue elephant with a superhero costume and cape, is here to remind us that kindness rules! This bright, cheery, rhyming board book is great for toddlers and preschoolers who are learning to share and treat others with gentleness.

Kipper

Author: Mick Inkpen
Publisher: Hodder
Interest age: 2-4
Reading age: 5-6

The first in Mick Inkpen’s immensely popular series about an adorable little pup introduces us to Kipper, a puppy whose safe and gentle adventures in the everyday world are completely relatable for toddlers.

Kipper and Roly

Author: Mick Inkpen
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 6+

Kipper buys his friend Pig a hamster, names him Roly and enjoys playing with him so much he becomes very fond of him.

Kipper's Balloon

Author: Mick Inkpen
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 0+
Reading age: 5+

The latest in a range of good books about the popular Kipper and his friends, this is a stunning pop-up and lift-the-flap book with sounds, which tells of a great adventure and a fantastic balloon ride.

Kipper's Birthday

Author: Mick Inkpen
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Interest age: 2+
Reading age: 6+

Kipper is working hard preparing for his birthday. He bakes a very interesting cake to share with his friends and makes beautiful invitations but is too tired to deliver them.

Kiss

Author: Jacqueline Wilson Illustrator: Nick Sharratt
Publisher: Corgi Children's
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 9+

Wilson skilfully combines an approachable and involving teenage story with a debate about true friendship, sexual identity and growing up.

Kiss Date Love Hate

Author: Luisa Plaja
Publisher: Corgi
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 10+

When Lex discovers that by manipulating the avatars in a relationship-based computer game she appears to be able to re-write the script for real life, she is tempted to use this exciting new power to get what she wants.

Kiss Goodnight

Author: Jane Cabrera
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Interest age: 0-3

Say goodnight to lots of animals as the moon comes up. A beautifully illustrated, simple and soothing read that is perfect for bedtime.

Kiss it Better

Author: Smriti Prasadam-Halls Illustrator: Sarah Massini
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 6+

Mummy bear shares plenty of kisses with her cubs, each one carrying a special message of love, in this heart-warming tale with delightful illustrations.

Kitchen Disco

Author: Clare Foges Illustrator: Al Murphy
Publisher: Faber
Interest age: 3+

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?

Kite Spirit

Author: Sita Brahmachari
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Interest age: 13+
Reading age: 12+

When her best friend Dawn commits suicide, Kite's world falls apart. Struggling to deal with her hearbreaking grief, she leaves London to spend the summer in the Lake District.

Kites

Author: Simon Mole Illustrator: Oamul Lu
Publisher: Frances Lincoln First Editions
Interest age: 4-6
Reading age: 5+

A gentle story and very pretty book that would make a perfect present for anyone moving house, school, or even job! The text from poet and theatre-maker Simon Mole should be read aloud to fully appreciate the lovely rhythms and phrases.

Kit's Wilderness

Author: David Almond
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+

When Kit moves to a village with his parents to care for his grandfather, he becomes involved with a dangerous boy who organises the Game of Death.

Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue

Author: Paula Harrison Illustrator: Jenny Lovlie
Publisher: Oxford
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 6+

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 lovely cat characters and there's a gentle theme of friendship, bravery and being yourself.

Kitty and the Sky Garden Adventure

Author: Paula Harrison Illustrator: Jenny Løvlie
Publisher: Oxford
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 6+

A densely illustrated superhero adventure for young readers. Can Kitty, a superhero-in-training, control a gang of naughty cats and protect the magical sky garden high above the city?

Klaus Vogel and the Bad Lads

Author: David Almond
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Interest age: 11-16
Reading age: 7+

Thought-provoking, dyslexia-friendly morality tale with black and white illustrations.

Knick Knack Paddy Whack

Author: Steve Songs Illustrator: Christiane Engel
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Interest age: 2+
Reading age: 4+

This is an energetic new version of the well-loved counting song.

This is great fun for joining in.

Colourful illustrations and a jazzy style makes this book a musical winner!

Knife

Author: R J Anderson
Publisher: Orchard Books
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 9+

‘No ordinary fairy tale' says the cover, very accurately. Knife is a faery, inhabiting an increasingly isolated world inside an oak tree on the edge of a garden.

Knight in Training: spots, stripes and zigzags

Author: Vivian French Illustrator: David Melling
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+

Sam longs to become a Truly Noble Knight, but must first complete a series of tasks, which are revealed to him on a magical scroll. This is the fourth amusing tale in the exciting Knight in Training series, which is ideal for young confident readers.

Books beginning with: K