Great Books Guide 2023: best new children's books

Here are 100 books from the last year that we think are great – and so will children.

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 all the way up to age 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. 

Check out the books by age below, or download the full Great Books Guide 2023 (PDF, 7.8 MB).

We are partnering with Peters to offer packs of the books in the Great Books Guide at 20% off the RRP. Order the full set, or mini packs for each age group. For every book pack sold, Peters will make a donation to BookTrust. Order online at peters.co.uk/booktrust

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: for 4 to 5 year olds

Here's a round-up of new children's books from the last year (2023), which we think any child aged 4 to 5 will love. 

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Great Books Guide 2023: For 6 to 7 year olds

Here's a round-up of new children's books from the last year (2023), which we think any child aged 6 to 7 years will love.

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Great Books Guide 2023: 8-9

Here's a round-up of new children's books from the last year (2023), which we think any child aged 8 to 9 will love.

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Great Books Guide 2023: For 10 to 11 year olds

Here's a round-up of new children's books from the last year (2023), which we think any child aged 10 to 11 years will love.

An illustration of a child reading surrounded by butterflies from the 2023 Great Books Guide

Welsh Great Books Guide

Over 100 of our favourite children's books from the past year, from 4 year olds all the way up to 11 year olds. The right book is what a child wants to read – and we hope this guide helps you find it. 

View the Welsh Great Books Guide

An illustration of a man and a child reading together with the words: 'Sharing stories with your children helps them... do better in all lessons, be happier, have close family bonds, with brain growth, sleep better, understand the world and others, concentrate betterSpread the word with our poster and social media cards!

This year, our Great Books Guide is being sent to primary schools along with a fun poster highlighting the amazing benefits of reading.

If you'd like to spread the word about all the incredible things books can do, you can download an additional copy of the poster plus our free social media cards! You'll find a landscape version, portrait version and square version for you to use.

Download the poster

Download the social media cards (.zip)

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Themed booklists

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Find a great book for your child

Looking for the best book for a 5-year-old? Trying to find something great to read out loud? We may well have the answer – just see for yourself.

New books we love

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Our favourite reads of the month

We review lots of new books every month, and here's where you can find the ones we liked best of all.

Search past Guides

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If your organisation is interested in supporting the Great Books Guide 2023, please get in touch by emailing [email protected].