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 April: 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:
March | February | January | December | November | October
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.
Add new elements to a game of peekaboo with this exciting board book that has 9 sliders and a mirror for hours of interactive enjoyment.
A little girl and a little boy plant seeds in the earth and water them. Over time, the plants grow and start to produce flowers, and then fruit and vegetables! This excellent board book for toddlers is full of lovely, thick cardboard pull-outs and wheels to turn.
It's time for this adorable googly-eyed panda to get ready for bed - that means having a bath, brushing her teeth and reading a story! A delightfully cuddly and sweet board book for little ones.
This lovely rhyming board book for toddlers tells a little story about a girl experiencing the dream of many toddlers – getting to drive a big yellow digger!
Mini Monsters: Can I Be The Best?
The second in Hart and Neal’s Mini Monsters series is a perfect read for toddlers and pre-schoolers, with, a simple but effective storyline and sympathetic characters - as well as a strong message that thoughtfulness, kindness and being a good friend are things we can all try to do better.
Sam is NOT impressed with his new baby brother. All he's done is stop Simon playing with his blocks and ruin his fun - but when Simon thinks he hears wolves at the window, he leaps into action to protect him. An excellent picture book which understands the trials and tribulations of a new sibling from a child's point of view.
No matter whether it's time for breakfast, time to get dressed, or a lovely day to go and play - Rabbit's answer is NO! Ideal for toddlers and preschoolers, as well as parents of little ones who have just discovered “no” and like to use it at every opportunity.
A young girl must save her Granny from a runaway brontosaurus in this hilarious rhyming picture book.
Before she became Queen Elizabeth I, Bess was just a little girl who struggled to get out of bed in the morning - just like everyone else! This charming, gently humorous picture book makes an important historical figure relatable to young people.
When Asta the cat spots three alley cat racers speed past in their soapbox cars, she decides to give them a run for their money. When the racer is finished, can it drive Asta to glory in the Kibble Hill Rally?
Princess Bess loves playing football and climbing trees with her brothers, but she's always told 'Not in that dress!' Frustrated at this inequality, she decides to show everyone all the amazing things you CAN do whilst wearing a dress.
In this delightful book about books, readers go on an imaginative journey through the amazing worlds of adventure that a good book can inspire - and learn that a book can sometimes be a perfect pet or best friend.
Joe just wants to play pirates, but the other children notice that he only has one leg and start asking him a barrage of questions. A stunningly clever book with a clear message that someone who happens to be disabled is not a teaching tool, with practical advice for parents on handling questions about this.
All aboard the Book Express! Young people are encouraged to develop a love of reading in this inspirational picture book, which celebrates books as sources of knowledge, entertainment and adventure. All you need is a sprinkle of imagination...
Professor Wooford McPaw’s History of Cars
Professor Wooford McPaw is a cartoon dog who knows a LOT about cars. This marvellous exploration of the history, design, engineering, technology and innovation of car-making is essential reading for any child with an interest in cars.
This lovely non-fiction book is filled with incredible facts about the Great Barrier Reef, from the weird and wonderful creatures that live there to the sheer scale of it - the size of 70 million football fields - and is stunningly illustrated by Lisk Feng.
Poppy loves listening to her grandpa's stories of the wildlife that used to make his farm their home - but modern farming techniques and pesticides have made it impossible for them to survive there. Poppy learns all about rewilding and decides to bring nature back to the farm.
Lizzie and Lucky: The Mystery of the Missing Puppies
When Lizzie spots a suspicious man stealing a puppy from a garden, she's determined to investigate! An engaging illustrated early reader book, this is the first in the series to feature Lizzie (who is deaf) and Lucky the dog.
Read more about Lizzie and Lucky: The Mystery of the Missing Puppies
Milo and his big sister are on their way to visit their mum in prison. On the way, Milo imagines all the different lives of the people on the subway - discovering that you can't always judge somebody by their appearance.
Hack and Whack are two terrible Viking twins who love stealing, raiding islands, and being generally horrible! Early readers will love this hysterical trio of stories from the creator of Horrid Henry.
The Day The Screens Went Blank
When all the screens in the world stop working overnight, Stella and her family embark on a hilarious rescue mission to save Grandma.
A summer holiday job selling ice cream aboard the exotic space station of Starville turns into a race against time to avoid a catastrophic collision with the moon. Bring on the Space Detectives!
Engineer Railey and her bio-robotic gecko Atti dream of winning the big drone races - but when a bounty hunter comes looking for them, they're forced to flee into Earth's trash-filled atmosphere, finding themselves in a race against time to save the world...
Fall into a prehistoric world of myth, mage craft, demons and the fight for survival in this spectacular fantasy adventure set in the deep winter of ancient Scandinavia.
This beautifully-designed, mixed media non-fiction book introduces young people to a selection of exceptional scientists, all of whom have been awarded the Nobel Prize in physics, chemistry or medicine.
Adventures on Trains: Murder on the Safari Star
When a passenger on the Safari Star is found dead in his locked compartment in strange circumstances, it's up to Harrison Beck to crack the case! Another fantastically fun, gripping mystery in the Adventures on Trains series.
Read more about Adventures on Trains: Murder on the Safari Star
Scoop McLaren: Waves of Mystery
When a surfing competition comes to town, Scoop McLaren is eager to cover the story - but what will happen when she uncovers some foul play? A page-turning mystery with a fantastic case for children to crack.
Shy, cool-headed Amber has just been chosen to be a spy by a mysterious agency - and before long she's sent to foil an evil cybercrime plot! Can she juggle friendship, family, and going undercover?
Genna is a First Ascendant - a reincarnating soul from the dawn of humankind - being relentlessly pursued by Soul Hunters intent on destroying humanity. With a thrilling plot, exciting characters and moderate violence, this fast-paced fantasy adventure is the first instalment of a riveting trilogy.
Truth really is more exciting than fiction in this dramatic, real-life adventure showcasing the bravery, compassion and military prowess of a young Rani during the Indian uprising of 1857.
When 12 year old Cora meets Adrien, they become inseparable. But when Cora starts to visit Adrien's dad's company - which creates realistic holograms of people - she begins to realise that nothing about Adrien's life is quite what it seems.
The sequel to Front Desk - Mia's best friend is from an undocumented migrant family, and it means she may be thrown out of school. Mia and the Calivista family band together to help her.
When 16 year old Piper, who is deaf, falls in love with Marley, she becomes captivated by the beauty and freedom of expression of sign language - she herself has used lip-reading and hearing aids all her life. However, this new world brings with it some challenging questions about identity.
The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks
Lottie Brooks is just starting secondary school and she's just about ready to die of embarrassment - she hasn't got a bra, her hair is totally wrong, and the whole class has started calling her Cucumber Girl. Just how cringe can one year be? A hilarious tween diary from Katie Kirby.
Read more about The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks
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.
You might also like...
Themed booklists
Looking for a great book on a theme? Our booklists cover a large range of subjects, from everyday issues to genre, disability, diversity, sporty books, funny books and more.
Great Books Guide
Looking for new books to get kids hooked? The Great Books Guide gives you the lowdown on the ONE HUNDRED best children's books published in 2020.
100 best books over 100 years
This is our list of the 100 best books for children from the last 100 years. It is the ultimate booklist to read before you're 14, with books for children across a wide range of ages.