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Brilliant book lists for everyone

Wondering what book to pick up next? Keen to try a new author? Looking for a book to inspire a reluctant reader? We're here to help you discover your next read and to give children, families, teachers and librarians ideas of what books are suitable and brilliant for each age and stage of reading.

World Book Day's aim is for the books we present to be for all children and families, and particularly to offer a gateway into reading for those who don't currently see themselves as readers.

We use an approach to reading scales, developed by CLPE, that recognises that reading for pleasure develops at different times for all children - and that children less engaged in reading are likely to have a reading level lower than their chronological age.

We are also aware that some children develop their reading skills at a rate that exceeds their emotional development. Please be aware that most of the books listed as being suitable for Independent Readers in these lists will include content that is not emotionally suitable for a young person under the age of 11 and some will be intended for an older teen.

We suggest that these lists are shared between an adult and a child and titles chosen that match both their reading and their chronological age.

Whether you love books about animals, poetry, tales of adventure or books that make you laugh out loud, enjoy having a browse and choosing your next read.

World Book Day® is a charity sponsored by National Book Tokens.

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Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users and enhance your user experience. They also help us improve our site. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn more OK, I agree Wondering what book to pick up next?

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Have fun building a cosy place to enjoy reading together.

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Reading dens are a way to bring that feeling into other parts of the day. Reading dens are special spaces to curl up with a book. They don't need to be extravagant or permanent - in fact temporary dens, built from household objects are best.

There are loads of different ways to make one. Challenge your child to use a rug, sheet or even a pile of cushions to create a cubbyhole in an unexpected place.

You could turn a huge cardboard box into a reading castle, or drape a rug or sheet over a washing line to create a reading tent. Small children can even snuggle up under an umbrella on a rug.

To turn a den into a reading den, just add cushions, blankets... and books! Sitting down to read one or two books together is a reward at the end of the den building.

Children love the novelty of reading in unexpected places - outdoors, or in the dark with a torch. If you crawl in and share just one book with them, that's a special experience.

The den might only last a few days or hours before you pack it up - but it's the novelty that's important. No expensive teepees or tree houses needed! And it's fun to start from scratch again next time.

Reading dens will help your child to associate books with adventures - which is exactly what they are!

More from Oxford Owl

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Blog: Building reading dens | Oxford Owl

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Reading dens are a way to bring that feeling into other parts of the day. Reading dens are special spaces to curl up with a book. They don't need to be extravagant or permanent - in fact temporary dens, built from household objects are best. There are loads of different ways to make one.

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Top tips to support your child's reading at home.

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Do you remember your favourite books as a child - you know, the ones you read time and time again and knew practically every word of? Maybe you were lucky enough to regularly read stories with your family and had someone to read you a bedtime story before you drifted off to sleep? You won't have known at the time, but those experiences were building vital building blocks for your future.

Reading, being read to, and sharing books in the home helps to build a child's vocabulary and understanding of the world. Research shows children who start school with good vocabulary and communication skills make friends more easily, have fewer behavioural issues and are more likely to do well academically. A strong, early foundation in language has even been linked to better mental health as children get older.

Reading with your child, or encouraging your child to read independently for just ten minutes each day can make all the difference. Here are some tips to help children of all ages to enjoy reading and to get reading more often.

Your child doesn't have to read an entire book in one go! Any time spent sharing or talking about a book is beneficial, even if it's just a couple of minutes at a time. If they have to close the book early because it's time for tea, or they're just losing interest, that's okay. Reading can take a lot of mental energy and taking breaks gives children a chance to slowly build the mental stamina they need, so that soon they will be able to read for longer stretches of time.

National Literacy Trust research has found that, when used appropriately and with an adult, technology can provide an important route into reading for many children, including those in the early years, and boys. Feel free, at times, to use your mobile phones, tablets, computers, laptops and other devices to engage your child in reading and activities that can help them build their vocabulary. This can include a multitude of activities, such as:

* Telling a story using pictures on your phone

* Video calling friends and relatives to engage children in conversation

* Using YouTube to find the lyrics to nursery rhymes

* Using apps to read e-books or listen to audiobooks (many organisations are providing them for free during school closures)

These activities, or similar ones, can be used with children of all ages. Young children will learn best when doing these activities alongside you, and you can help your older child by showing them how to use the technology appropriately. All children benefit from seeing and hearing their parents and carers do things. This helps them understand how to do it themselves. Technology is also most effective when it is linked to other things your child is learning, and when it is balanced with other learning activities.

Research shows that children who engage regularly in conversational turn-taking with an adult learn faster when they're older. Taking every opportunity to chat with your child will help them build the language and vocabulary skills they need for school. Let your child pick the topic they want to talk about, listen to them, ask questions and share your ideas. You can use daily activities to spark conversation with your child, such as getting dressed or making a meal. You'll learn a lot about your child's interests!

Pictures are a great support for young and struggling readers. They are enjoyable to look at, capture children's attention and help them make sense of what they are reading. If your child is unsure about reading all the words in the book, they can start by telling a story using the pictures. Ask your child to describe the pictures they see, ask questions about what the characters are doing and why they might be doing it, and see if they can guess what might happen next. By the end of the book, you may find they have created a whole new and exciting tale!

Tara Parker is Senior Programme Manager for Early Years at the National Literacy Trust, where she supports families to engage in their young child's communication and language development.

For further information check out the rest of Starting Primary School which has lots of ways to help prepare children for different aspects of school life - both practically and emotionally.

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Top tips to support your child's reading at home

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Language development expert, Tara Parker, suggests some top tips to help you make the most of your child's reading time.

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Help your child learn to read.

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Making story time part of your daily routine is a great way to make sure that books and reading are a familiar and fun experience for your child. Get them to choose a book (or two) to read with you on the sofa or in bed at the end of each day. Encourage them to tell you why they've selected the book, and what they like and dislike about it. If you can, store children's books with the covers facing outwards so that your child becomes familiar with books that they enjoy, and can choose for themselves.

A visit to the local library can be a real treat for children - with the reward of borrowing a book at the end of it. It won't cost you a penny, and they'll love the experience of having their very own library card (which you can also use to borrow story CDs and DVDs). Taking care of a special book (which will eventually be returned) also helps children gain a sense of responsibility.

There's also a bedtime story read by a familiar face on CBeebies every night at 6.50pm - if your child loves a story they've seen on screen make a note of the title and author and see if your local library or bookshop has a copy.

Be warned - small children do enjoy the repetition and familiarity of reading the same book over and over again. This is perfectly normal, and they will move on to something else eventually!

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Alphablocks - Help your child learn to read

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Making story time part of your daily routine is a great way to make sure that books and reading are a familiar and fun experience for your child. Get them to choose a book (or two) to read with you on the sofa or in bed at the end of each day.

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Top Ten Tips to help children enjoy reading

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Top Ten Tips to help children enjoy reading

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Top 10 tips to help children enjoy reading | Pearson UK

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Reading should be fun. We asked experts and authors what you can do to help turn your kids into little bookworms.

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An independent charity, working with schools and communities to give disadvantaged children the literacy skills to succeed in life

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Making a shopping list together will encourage your little one to speak about their favourite meals and foods.

Sit down with your child and start making a list of their favourite foods. Look for pictures of the things on the list, then cut out pictures and labels and stick it next to the item on the list.

Chat as you go and ask your child lots of questions like "What do you like for breakfast?" or "What's your favourite?"

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Words for Life | National Literacy Trust

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Making a shopping list together will encourage your little one to speak about their favourite meals and foods. Sit down with your child and start making a list of their favourite foods. Look for pictures of the things on the list, then cut out pictures and labels and stick it next to the item on the list.

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Join Shropshire Libraries to access e-books

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Join Shropshire Libraries to access e-books

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If you live, work or study in Shropshire, you can become a member - IT'S FREE!
You can join online and will immediately be able to use many of th e-library services, including e-books, e-audio, e-magazines and e-newspapers.

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If you live, work or study in Shropshire you can become a member - it's free. You can join online and will immediately be able to use many of the e-library services, including e-Books and e-Audio, e-Magazines and e-Newspapers. You'll be able to place requests via the online library catalogue. For instructions on how to join online, follow the link on this page. To borrow books and use the full range of services you'll need to come into a library, with a proof of address, to collect your card.

Also in this section

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If you live, work or study in Shropshire you can become a member - it's free. You can join online and will immediately be able to use many of the e-library services, including e-Books and e-Audio, e-Magazines and e-Newspapers. You'll be able to place requests via the online library catalogue.

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Lots of top tips and free resources to help with reading.

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With a library of activities and resources for every stage of the learning journey, curated by the team at Oxford University Press, we are here with inspiration to help your little ones learn, grow and flourish at home, in the classroom and beyond.

Just click on the sections in the menu to explore by subject, or use the options below to uncover content by age group.

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Oxford Owl for Home: help your child learn at home - Oxford Owl

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Oxford Owl is packed with expert advice, tips and activities to help parents support their child's education. Help your child with reading, phonics and maths.

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The UK's largest children's reading charity.

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BookTrust transforms lives by getting children and families reading. We are the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. Each year we reach 3.4 million children across the UK with books, resources and support.

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Inspiring more people to read more.

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We inspire more people to read more, encourage them to share their enjoyment of reading and celebrate the benefits of reading to our lives. Because ev…

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Get quick access to all your Bug Club online books here.

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A digital learning space for your pupils and a toolkit for you, so that you can search, plan, allocate and assess all in one place.

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Get quick access to all your Bug Club online books here.

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A digital learning space for your pupils and a toolkit for you, so that you can search, plan, allocate and assess all in one place.

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Just type in your age and favourite genre for a book recommendation.

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All of the books in the Book Sorter have been added by children just like you!
You can choose the sort of book you're after and get recommendations from children your age.
Just click on the coloured boxes and drag your choices into the middle of the Book Sorter.
All of the books in the Book Sorter have been added by children just like you!

Now you can find out what other children have recommended.

Click on parts of the machine and drag your options into the book sorter!

Top Tips

Once you've got your results, click the Surprise Me! button to shake up the order of your list.

Click on book cover to find out more about it and to read reviews.

To add your own recommendations to the Book Sorter, you'll need to log in or sign up and create a profile.

Visit our Find a Read page for a handy guide on accessing books while you're at home.

Great reads to try this summer

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All of the books in the Book Sorter have been added by children just like you! You can choose the sort of book you're after and get recommendations from children your age. Just click on the coloured boxes and drag your choices into the middle of the Book Sorter.

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A hugely popular series - listen to the first book here.

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Skulduggery Bites is finished now but you can still listen to extracts from each of the books via the Books page…

Simply click on the book you’d like to try and scroll down for the audiobook sample.

Looking for more fun stuff? Check out the character quiz.

Want to be schooled by Skulduggery? Try the teaching resources.

She’s twelve. He’s dead. But together they’re going to save the world. Hopefully.
The iconic first book in the bestselling series.

Learn More

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Skulduggery Bites - UK Skulduggery Pleasant

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Listen to the first book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series and be surrounded by people talking to each other! For free! With a new episode every weekday!

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Free audiobook downloads of classics.

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Free Audio Books! Books Should be Free. Best Online Audiobook Downloads for Android, iPhone & mp3. Listen to Audible & Talking Books on Tape. eBooks in English, French, Spanish, Tamil, Portuguese, German & more.

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Information about our use of cookies

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users and enhance your user experience. They also help us improve our site. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

World of Stories audiobooks

Welcome to World Book Day's World of Stories where you can enjoy our brand new, FREE audiobooks for 2021!

Whether you're reading together with the family, or listening in your own time, find your next audiobook to tune into here. We've just added new titles like the brilliant Dragon Mountain and Pizazz, so you can discover new favourites on this page. To stay updated, why not sign up for our newsletter here.

Please note that all audiobooks will be taken down after 6 months. We will add new audiobooks to replace these, so keep checking back!

World Book Day is a charity funded by publishers and booksellers in the UK and Ireland.

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Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users and enhance your user experience. They also help us improve our site. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Welcome to World Book Day's World of Stories where you can enjoy our brand new, FREE audiobooks for 2021!

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No subscriptions - just click and stream

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Watch as the letters of the alphabet tell stories and make words using phonics

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Watch as the letters of the alphabet tell stories and make words using phonics. Play the learning game, watch clips and print colouring pages.

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Watch as the letters of the alphabet tell stories and make words using phonics.

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Watch as the letters of the alphabet tell stories and make words using phonics. Play the learning game, watch clips and print colouring pages.

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Best Books for Reception | Ages 4-5 Recommended Reads | BooksForTopics

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50 recommended books for children in preschool or nursery. Find the best 50 story books and non-fiction for EYFS children aged 3-4 and top up your classroom library.

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50 must-read books for your year 1 class. Find the best 50 story books for Y1 and top up your classroom library.

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50 must-read books for your year 2 class. Find the best 50 story books for Y2 and top up your classroom library.

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Best Books for Year 3: Recommended Booklist for Ages 7-8

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Browse our list of 50 recommended books that Year 3 children love reading. All were reviewed by teachers and matched to the age and stage of 7 and 8-year-olds.

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Best Books for Year 4: Recommended Booklist for Ages 8-9

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Browse our list of 50 recommended books that Year 4 children love reading. All were reviewed by teachers and matched to the age and stage of 8 and 9-year-olds.

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Year 5: 50 Recommended Reads | The Best Children's Books on BooksForTopics

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Lists of recommended books and quality texts for primary ages and topics: Year 5: 50 Recommended Reads

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Best Books for Year 6: Recommended Booklist for Ages 10-11

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Browse our list of 50 recommended books that Year 6 children love reading. All were reviewed by teachers and are matched to the age and stage of 10 and 11-year-olds.

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This Bookfinder will help you discover the very best books: magical mysteries, astonishing adventures and fantastic non-fiction. Simply choose an age range, pick as many themes as you want to search through thousands of book reviews, and get reading.

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Be inspired and discover your child’s next favourite book with the BookTrust Bookfinder: search by theme and age, from babies and toddlers all the way up to teenagers.

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Some ideas for your next book..

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BooksForTopics: Best Books by Year Group

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Find the best book recommendations for reception, year 1, year 2, year 3, year 4, year 5, year 6. Top reading spine books for your class.

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If you've been hooked by a particular author, have a look at this site for other suggested authors you may like...

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Looking for book recommendations for children who have been hooked in by a particular series or author and are ready to branch out? From Harry Potter and Tom Gates to Rainbow Magic and The Worst Witch, we've got you covered with our Branching Out booklists and free, printable display posters.

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If you need advice about anything 'booky', contact Booka and support our local bookshops.

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We are an independent bookshop and cafe in the border market town of Oswestry in Shropshire with a great selection of books, signed copies, distinctive cards and gifts, and a cafe selling coffee, teas and delicious homemade cakes. We host a regular programme of author events.

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Download the comic for free!

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Beanotown | Home of the Beano Comic on Beano.com

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Beano comic strips, games, quizzes, characters and more. Everything you're after from Dennis and pals!

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Words and pictures to comfort, inspire and entertain.

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Edited by Katherine Rundell, with contributions from more than 100 children's writers and illustrators

This extraordinary collection of short stories, poems, essays and pictures has contributions from more than 110 children's writers and illustrators, including Lauren Child, Anthony Horowitz, Greg James and Chris Smith, Michael Morpurgo, Liz Pichon, Axel Scheffler, Francesca Simon and Jacqueline Wilson.

The collection, published by Bloomsbury, is dedicated to the doctors, nurses, carers, porters, cleaners and everyone working in hospitals.

Read the book

When schools were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in both 2020 and 2021 Bloomsbury generously permitted us to share The Book of Hopes as an ebook freely accessible to schools and families.

As part of our Education Recovery support for schools and children we worked with partners to develop a range of supporting resources, that you can find linked below.

The Book of Hopes is now available as a beautiful hardback gift edition, with 23 never-seen-before stories, poems and illustrations, providing an ongoing wealth of discovery, comfort and inspiration for children.

The Book of Hopes is available to buy from all good book retailers. A donation from the sale of each book will go to NHS Charities Together, in gratitude for the incredible efforts of all those who worked in hospitals over the quarantine period. Learn more and purchase your own copy.

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The Book of Hopes | National Literacy Trust

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Read The Book of Hopes: Words and Pictures to Comfort, Inspire and Entertain Children