New children's books we love
Every month, we review dozens of books for children and teenagers. Here are the ones we liked best in July: 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:
June | May | April | March | February | January
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.
Firefighter Bear's fire truck zooms down the street; the truck goes nee-naw, nee-naw! and its lights flash - there's a busy day ahead! Toddlers just learning about trucks and cars and the ever- popular emergency services will adore this bright book which is perfect for repeated reading.
Roxy the rat shows us around her neighbourhood to find out what jobs different animals do - from Dasher the dog detective to Michelle the monkey mechanic. This board book with 8 peek-through flaps is a lovely introduction to different jobs, aimed at slightly older toddlers.
Ceri and Deri: Young Whippersnapper
This entertaining tale in a vibrant series of picture books for young readers features best friends Ceri the cat and Deri the dog. While out for a stroll with their pal Dai the duck, they meet elderly Davey Dog, who is laden down with heavy shopping bags. The three friends offer to help Davey carry his bags home and Ceri comes up with the clever idea of whee…
This lyrical picture book introduces children to the concept the lunar cycle through the eyes of Emile the polar bear, helping them to understand the different phases of the moon. Stunning illustrations create a meditative atmosphere, making this magical tale of kindness, hope and faith ideal for bedtime reading.
Ultimate Earth: Oceans and Seas
Full of stunning high-colour illustrations and thrilling facts, this is an excellent introduction to the oceans and the life they contain for young readers.
A beautiful picture book following the life of Little Turtle, as she watches her beloved ocean become home to more and more plastic waste. There's also lots of helpful information on conservation and how we can help save marine wildlife.
Mabel might be small (in fact, she’s a fly), but she has some big plans, one of which is to climb a mountain. Her friends tell her that it's impossible, but Mabel is determined and sets off immediately. A lovely book about the power of believing in yourself, expressed simply and with impact.
Sparkle and Arthur have decided to put on a magic show. How exciting! Yet when their friend Scout asks if they can join in, Sparkle says no. A bright and colourful story about being a good friend (and saying sorry), perfectly pitched for older toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Bear and Squirrel are best friends - but Squirrel feels like she needs a bit of space of her own. This adorable rhyming book about the ups and downs of friendship is pitched perfectly for 3-5 year olds who may be negotiating new friendships.
A stunning book about nature, the seasons and the cycle of life and death, My Nana’s Garden is a beautiful picture book and a perfect choice to use to talk to children about bereavement and the loss of a grandparent in particular.
Bo is an adventurous, strong and smart girl, yet when her rather horrid brothers Ivar and Erik go monster hunting, they won’t let her come with them. So, Bo decides to go monster hunting on her own, but soon finds that the monsters she comes across – a Griffin and the Kraken – are actually quite friendly...
The Questioneers: Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion
A thrilling mystery about a group of quirky characters who must solve the mystery of an ancient house before it's too late.
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A Super Weird! Mystery: Danger at Donut Diner
Melvin's desperate to befriend Hector, the cool kid at his new school on Donut Island, but finds himself stuck with the two class oddballs. When an eerie smell takes over the town and children start acting weirdly, it's up to Melvin and his friends to solve the mystery...
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Ancient Games: A History of Sports and Gaming
A stunning book exploring the history of sport across the world, from the sword fighter the Lady of Yue to boat-jousting on the Nile in Ancient Egypt. As ever with Flying Eye titles, the illustration and lovely book production means that this is a special treasure of a book that kids will adore.
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Invisible Nature: A Secret World Beyond Our Senses
This fascinating non-fiction picture book about the invisible wonders of our world is engaging, informative and attractively presented. An accessible, educational and fun picture book for junior readers.
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Half-fairy, half-witch Mirabelle Starspell is under strict instructions from her dad to leave her witchy potions at home for the fairy's Midsummer Dance - but surely just one or two little potions can't hurt?
Flyntlock Bones: the Sceptre of the Pharaohs
Flynn's the cabin boy aboard the Black Hound ship, full of pirates specialising in detective work - but when the ancient sceptre of the pharaohs goes missing from a museum, it's up to Flynn and his friend Red to solve the mystery.
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Midge doesn’t want to go to a new school. He wants things to stay the same. His buddy, Mo, does her best to help him settle in.
Albert Talbot, Master of Disguise
Albert doesn't want to get out of bed today - and maybe if he pretends to be somebody else, he won't have to! An original and hilarious book about imagination and adventure with some truly outlandish made-up names to enjoy.
A beautiful bedtime book about a little girl and her grandfather, who both love the stars, and a lovely theme around the importance of memory - which in turn gently introduces a message about urban light pollution.
Amazing Islands: 100+ Places That Will Boggle Your Mind
Spanning prison islands, river islands, barrier islands, mystery islands, island cultures and many, many other fascinating topics, Weiss and Hyndman’s colourful, stylish book is full to the brim with fascinating facts.
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A Robot Girl Ruined My Sleepover
A funny and touching sequel to the futuristic A Moon Girl Stole My Friend in which Lyla’s shiny, new cyborg friend Clara 2.2 turns out to be more trouble than she’s worth.
Milton needs a holiday - but his trip to Hawaii isn't as relaxing as he thought it would be, thanks to an unscrupulous billionaire, an endangered spider species, and an active volcano! This lovely sequel to Milton the Mighty is a well-paced and thoughtful story with themes of friendship, understanding, and conservation at its heart.
Superhero-obsessed Nadia dreams of becoming a brilliant reporter like her hero Lois Lane. This summer she needs to uncover a great story for the Junior Journalists competition - so finding a real superhero in her neighbourhood is just ace.
When a mysterious boy arrives in The City, everyone except Ellie is convinced he's the Vessel - the host for the dreaded Enemy. Will Ellie be able to keep him safe and protect her own secrets? A thrilling, brilliantly realised adventure full of twists and peril.
A Girl Called Justice: The Smugglers' Secret
A gripping tale of midnight feasts and murder set in 1937 as Justice Jones, junior super-sleuth, returns to her boarding school for a new term.
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Rick goes along with his friend Jeff's lewd comments about girls in the playground - but the fact is, Rick doesn't really fancy anyone. And he's starting to worry about it. But when he discovers the Rainbow Spectrum club, he discovers that he might not be alone.
The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates
Do miracles really happen? Freddie Yates isn’t convinced. Until the summer he goes on an unexpected journey with his two best friends.
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Three friends slip through a time portal and find themselves thrown 400 years into the future, trapped in a complex virtual reality video game world called Wonderscape... but how will they find their way out?
Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Golden Seahorse
This magical underwater adventure is the third in the Mr Tiger and Betsy series, but can easily be read on its own. Filled with stunning illustrations and printed using the dyslexie font, this romping quest is fun and accessible for children turning to books for a fantastical escape.
The Time Traveller and the Tiger
Elsie time travels back to India, where only she can stop her grandfather from killing a tiger.
After convincing their parents that a change of scene will help them to focus on exam revision, teenagers Agnes, Hattie and Jacques embark on a week’s study break together. However, they each have a personal reason for wanting to get away. This touching novel is sensitively written and explores a number of issues, such as loneliness, bullying, illness a…
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