We're here to help you find the right books for the children in your life, to get them started on a lifelong love of reading. These are books that will encourage your children to be happy, curious and learning — often without realising that they are learning.
If you're looking for the latest books for kids, our children's editor keeps a running list of both the best kids' books of 2023 and the best books for teenagers/young adults of 2023, and will be adding to those lists throughout the year.
You can explore our interviews by reading age — from books for babies and toddlers, to 3-5 year olds, 6-8 year olds, 9-12 year olds, all the way through to books for teens and young adults. If you don’t have much time to browse, our list of prizewinning books for kids and teens is a quick way to get ideas for quality reading material.
If you are looking for a book to interest a teenager in a particular subject, you can check out our recommendations from high school teachers. And in our by kids for kids section we have interviews with the real experts on children’s books: kids themselves.
Audiobooks are another great way for kids to access stories, whether to listen to as a family or for children who are reluctant to read books.
If the idea of discovering a new book series appeals, or you are looking for a gift for a child who is already into a series, we help you stay up to date with the latest instalments in popular book series for kids and teens.
- Read1The Skull Jon Klassen, Fairuza Balk (narrator)
- Read2Stuntboy, In-Between Time Jason Reynolds, Raúl the Third (illustrator), Guy Lockard (narrator)
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The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2023, recommended by Emily Connelly
From the USA to Germany to China, audiobooks are growing in popularity, especially with young people. AudioFile's Emily Connelly talks us through her selection of the five best audiobooks for children and teens in 2023.
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2023, recommended by Emily Connelly
From the USA to Germany to China, audiobooks are growing in popularity, especially with young people. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talks us through her selection of the five best audiobooks for children and teens in 2023.
The Best Audiobooks for Kids of 2023, recommended by Emily Connelly- Read1I Am the Subway Kim Hyo-eun, translated by Deborah Smith
- Read2Little Echo by Al Rodin
- Read3Up Down Inside Out by JooHee Yoon
- Read4Haunted House by Jan Pienkowski
- Read5A Lion in Paris by Beatrice Alemagna
The Most Beautifully Illustrated Children’s Books, recommended by Ella Beech
What makes an illustrated book stand out? Ella Beech, the artist who has just completed a beautiful new edition of The Night Before Christmas for the Folio Society, talks us through some of her favourites.
The Most Beautifully Illustrated Children’s Books, recommended by Ella Beech
What makes an illustrated book stand out? Ella Beech, the artist who has just completed a beautiful new edition of The Night Before Christmas for the Folio Society, talks us through some of her favourites.
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- Read2Live Like a Hunter Gatherer Naomi Walmsley, Mia Underwood (illustrator)
- Read3Am I Made of Stardust? Dr Maggie Aderin-Poco*ck, Chelen Écija (illustrator)
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- Read5Ben Rothery's Deadly and Dangerous Animals by Ben Rothery
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The Best Science Books for Children: the 2023 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Usha Goswami
The judges of the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize look for books that explain high quality science in an engaging and accessible way. Neuroscientist Usha Goswami, chair of the 2023 judging panel, explains why it is important to get children excited about science via books, and introduces us to the fabulous titles that made this year’s shortlist.
The Best Science Books for Children: the 2023 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Usha Goswami
The judges of the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize look for books that explain high quality science in an engaging and accessible way. Neuroscientist Usha Goswami, chair of the 2023 judging panel, explains why it is important to get children excited about science via books, and introduces us to the fabulous titles that made this year’s shortlist.
The Best Science Books for Children: the 2023 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize, recommended by Usha Goswami- Read1One Chance Dance by Efua Traoré
- Read2Vita and the Gladiator by Ally Sherrick
- Read3Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan
- Read4The Red Fruit by Lee Gee Eun
- Read5The Way of Dog Zana Fraillon, Sean Buckingham (illustrator)
The Best Kids’ Books of 2023, recommended by Our Children's Editor
Every year Tuva Kahrs, our children's editor, keeps an eye out for the best kids' books as they're published, picking out books that are good enough to meet her rigorous standards. Here are the books, a mixture of novels and nonfiction, that have made her 2023 list (so far).
The Best Kids’ Books of 2023, recommended by Our Children's Editor
Every year Tuva Kahrs, our children’s editor, keeps an eye out for the best kids’ books as they’re published, picking out books that are good enough to meet her rigorous standards. Here are the books, a mixture of novels and nonfiction, that have made her 2023 list (so far).
The Best Kids’ Books of 2023, recommended by Our Children's Editor- Read1Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
- Read2The Legend of Sally Jones Jakob Wegelius, translated by Peter Graves
- Read3Mysteries of the Quantum Universe Thibault Damour, Mathieu Burniat, translated by Sarah-Louise Raillard
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- Read5Northern Lights - The Graphic Novel: Volume One Philip Pullman, adapted by Stéphane Melchior, illustrated by Clément Oubrerie, translated by Annie Eaton
The Best Graphic Novels for 10-12 Year Olds, recommended by Harald
Even as kids become old enough to read books without pictures, reading a graphic novel is a great way to relax or get a grasp of a complex subject (like quantum physics). 11 year old Harald, an avid reader, recommends some of the best ones he's read that other kids his age might also enjoy.
The Best Graphic Novels for 10-12 Year Olds, recommended by Harald
Even as kids become old enough to read books without pictures, reading a graphic novel is a great way to relax or get a grasp of a complex subject (like quantum physics). 11 year old Harald, an avid reader, recommends some of the best ones he’s read that other kids his age might also enjoy.
The Best Graphic Novels for 10-12 Year Olds, recommended by Harald- Read1The Apprentices by Leon Garfield
- Read2Carrie's War Nina Bawden, Alan Marks (illustrator)
- Read3Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin
- Read4The Elemental Detectives Patrice Lawrence, Amanda Quartey, Luke Ashforth, Paul Kellam (illustrators)
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The Best Historical Fiction for 8-12 Year Olds, recommended by Catherine Johnson
There is some fabulous historical fiction out there for 8-12 year olds, some of it old, some of it new. British novelist Catherine Johnson, author of a number of historical novels for kids and young adults, recommends some of the best—from short stories to epics and from straight historical novels to those with a strong dose of fantasy and magic.
The Best Historical Fiction for 8-12 Year Olds, recommended by Catherine Johnson
There is some fabulous historical fiction out there for 8-12 year olds, some of it old, some of it new. British novelist Catherine Johnson, author of a number of historical novels for kids and young adults, recommends some of the best—from short stories to epics and from straight historical novels to those with a strong dose of fantasy and magic.
The Best Historical Fiction for 8-12 Year Olds, recommended by Catherine Johnson- Read
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- Read3Bright in the Night by Lena Sjöberg
- Read4The Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer
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Beautiful Science Books for 4-8 Year Olds, recommended by Our Children's Editor
Scientific picture books provide an enjoyable way for kids to explore different fields of science without realising how much they are learning. Our Children’s Editor picks science books for kids age 4-8 that are informative but also a pleasure to look at, both for children and for the adults that are reading with them.
Beautiful Science Books for 4-8 Year Olds, recommended by Our Children's Editor
Scientific picture books provide an enjoyable way for kids to explore different fields of science without realising how much they are learning. Our Children’s Editor picks science books for kids age 4-8 that are informative but also a pleasure to look at, both for children and for the adults that are reading with them.
Beautiful Science Books for 4-8 Year Olds, recommended by Our Children's Editor- Read1The Shooting Star by Hergé
- Read2Tripods: The White Mountains by John Christopher
- Read3Crater Lake by Jennifer Killick
- Read4Skywake Invasion by Jamie Russell
- Read5Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: A Retelling by Tanya Landman
The Best Science Fiction Books for 8-12 Year Olds, recommended by Dan Smith
There needs to be a lot more sci-fi for kids, especially if it's got a good dose of horror, argues Dan Smith, author of the sci-fi mystery series Crooked Oak. He recommends five works of science fiction for 8 to 12 year olds, from books written more than half a century ago to more recent jewels.
The Best Science Fiction Books for 8-12 Year Olds, recommended by Dan Smith
There needs to be a lot more sci-fi for kids, especially if it’s got a good dose of horror, argues Dan Smith, author of the sci-fi mystery series Crooked Oak. He recommends five works of science fiction for 8 to 12 year olds, from books written more than half a century ago to more recent jewels.
The Best Science Fiction Books for 8-12 Year Olds, recommended by Dan Smith- Read1The Arrival by Shaun Tan
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- Read4Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
- Read5Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh
The best books on Third Culture Kids, recommended by Elizabeth Wein
At its core, every young adult book is about figuring out who you are and what your place in the world is, argues Elizabeth Wein, author of numerous books for children and young adults. She introduces the concept of 'third culture kids'—children who are at home both everywhere and nowhere.
The best books on Third Culture Kids, recommended by Elizabeth Wein
At its core, every young adult book is about figuring out who you are and what your place in the world is, argues Elizabeth Wein, author of numerous books for children and young adults. She introduces the concept of ‘third culture kids’—children who are at home both everywhere and nowhere.
The best books on Third Culture Kids, recommended by Elizabeth Wein- Read1Winning Chess Strategy (for Kids) Jeff Coakley, Antoine Duff (illustrator)
- Read2Steps Method chess workbooks by Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden
- Read3Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess Bobby Fischer, Stuart Margulies, Donn Mosenfelder
- Read4Chess for Tigers Simon Webb, Edward McLachlan (illustrator)
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Best Chess Books for Beginners, recommended by Andrew Green
Chess is one of the most enduringly popular games in the world, transcending language barriers and teaching valuable life skills. Chess teacher and master Andrew Green recommends books (plus a few websites) to help beginners of all ages learn the game.
Best Chess Books for Beginners, recommended by Andrew Green
Chess is one of the most enduringly popular games in the world, transcending language barriers and teaching valuable life skills. Chess teacher and master Andrew Green recommends books (plus a few websites) to help beginners of all ages learn the game.
