With 2025 on the horizon we bring you a selection of the most promising debuts, the highly anticipated next instalments, and the books that we just can't wait to read. We have books written by LoveReading4Kids favourites including Mariajo Ilustrajo, Katya Balen, Jacqueline Wilson, Anthony McGowan, Kwame Alexander and Rob Biddulph. And we have books by debut talent that might be your next favourite author.

Scroll down and you'll find the full list of our top 2025 books taken from a range of publishers, from global publishing houses to small independents. 

Coming to a bookshop near you - new exciting reads from these LR4K favourite authors!

Back in 2023 a promising newcomer scooped both the Klaus Flugge Prize and the UKLA Book Award with her stunning debut Flooded. Since then Mariajo Ilustrajo has consistently wowed us with her picture books, and her next, Oh, Carrots, carries all the magic of her previous titles. This is a lovely springtime story about friendship, a rather grumpy rabbit and a talking carrot, illustrated in Mariajo's perfect palette.

Liz Pichon's Tom Gates is responsible for igniting the reading bug in thousands of children, especially boys. The series has won multiple accolades including the Blue Peter Book Awards; the books are highly illustrated, packed with jokes, and there are at least 20 books in the collection to satisfy the voracious appetites of his young fans. As hilarious and fun as you'd expect, this March sees the exciting release of the first in a brand new full colour graphic novel series as Liz Pichon invites us to Meet the Mumbles.

After the success of his debut verse novel, The Final Year, Matt Goodfellow has us counting down the days to the publication of The First Year. We asked him what to expect... "Aha, well, I don’t want to give too much away, but what I will say is that The First Year is a very different book than The Final Year. I’ve absolutely no interest in writing the same book twice and therefore readers should find a different feel to this story – as Nate navigates his first year in high school and all that life brings him." Our Reader Review Panel is patiently waiting for their proof copies....check back in April to see what they thought.

Following the hugely popular series Dread Wood, Jennifer Killick brings us the first in a new series aimed at a slightly older reader, 10-13 with even more scares, greater suspense, but full of her signature comic horror style. Even the title The Witch in the Woods is a bit terrifying!

The Beck, from specialist publisher Barrington Stoke, is the much anticipated new novella from Carnegie Medal winning author Anthony McGowan. He writes movingly and honestly about poverty, and the highs and lows of adolescence. His stories have a bleak side but they are also filled with hope, and the restorative effects of nature. The Beck and McGowan's outstanding series, The Truth of Things, are written for young people of 12+ with a reading age of 9.

Pamela Butchart, well known for her fabulously popular and entertaining Wigglesbottom Primary and Baby Aliens stories, brings us the first in a new funny series for 7+ readers, Diary of a Future Billionaire. We can't wait to read it - all we can tell you for sure is that, given PB is behind it, it will be hilariously good fun.

Dame Jacqueline Wilson writes about real life. Her writing career has been prolific and extraordinarily successful, with over 100 books including the iconic series' Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather, and numerous novels that explore social issues and family life. Sleepovers, one of Wilson's bestsellers, was originally published back in 2001 and centred on Daisy and her school friends, and the typical issues that trouble friendship groups, and how protective Daisy felt about her disabled older sister Lily. This year JW revisited the friends with a long-awaited sequel that continues with The Seaside Sleepover in Spring 25. 

Exciting debut talent

My Dog is a beautifully written debut novel by Olivia Wakeford that tells the moving story of a friendship between a boy and his dog, exploring difficult family issues, grief, and love. A heartwarming story, for Olivia "this is a hugely personal story, so to know it's going to be out in the world is both exciting and terrifying, but I believe books - especially children's books - are such a powerful tool in helping explore feelings and developing empathy."

We haven't too long to wait for the lead debut middle grade title from independent publisher Knights Of, a champion of inclusive children's books. School of Fireflies by Erica Gomez is published in February, and is an exciting mystery featuring two Black girl detectives who discover they are part of a secret magical community. Also from Knights Of, The Lucky House Detective Agency, published in June, is a warm and witty celebration of community, friendship and family, that centres the British-Chinese immigrant experience alongside a diverse cast of supporting characters. Scarlett Li will be our Debut Author of the Month and we are looking forward to finding out about the first in her cosy crime series.

Romantasy is one of the fastest growing genres in YA fiction, with a legion of fans on TikTok racking up over 350 million views to date. One of the highlights of the year will be Capitana from debut author Cassandra James, published in February. With a heady mix of pirates, a dangerous quest and a determination to uphold family honour, this is a swashbuckling fantasy thriller on the high seas. 

ADHD Love has a huge and loyal following on social media as they bring understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity with reels, posts and videos by Roxanne Emery and Richard Pink. Both are creatives, Rox a musician with ADHD and Rich a neurotypical author. Through their own personal experience of living with neurodivergence they have written a picture book Ady and Me to support young readers as they learn to manage and celebrate their differences.

What will happen next? Upcoming books in popular series

A world of wonder awaits in Abi Elphinstone's magical fantasy series Ember Spark. Abi told us her inspirational heroine is based on her "daughter who, like Ember, has a passion for three things: animals, swimming in the North Sea and getting her own way. I hope that kids who read Ember Spark will accidentally find themselves on more adventures. And I hope these adventures unlock their sense of curiosity, bolster their bravery, lead them towards unexpected friendships and knock them sideways with wonder." Look out for the third in this series, Ember Spark and the Unicorn's Secret which will be published in April. 

L.D. Lapinski artfully weaves inclusive characters including an LGBTQ+ family into their latest series, Artezans. The first in the series was reviewed by LR4K expert Andrea Reece who described "an action-packed, atmospheric adventure, full of real thrills and scares, the story also explores issues that affect every one of us – family relationships, working out what’s important to you, and how to be yourself on your own terms, without constant comparison to others. The next episode can’t come soon enough". Well here it is - The Whispering World is published in March, fans of magical fantasy will be enchanted.

Building to an extraordinary finale, the last in Neill Cameron's fantastic graphic novel series Mega Robo Bros comes to an end in February. This comic strip adventure about two robot brothers is super exciting, really properly funny and brilliantly drawn. Any sadness on the impending end of this awesome series is allayed by the news that this uber talented artist has a new series of his Phoenix comic characters Donut Squad coming in May. This is part of an epic new comic book imprint from David Fickling Books called The Phoenix Comic Books. Expect great things.

Ella, Brigit and Jason return to the global magic school Arcanum Training Institute, in the third book in The Marvellers series from US bestselling author, Dhonielle Clayton. Previously known for her YA fantasies Dhonielle is a teacher and COO of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books. This series rocks a thrilling cast of diverse characters and her foray into middle-grade fiction deserves all the praise she's received. Listen to Dhonielle talk about her motivation for writing The Marvellers series and the importance of kids reading about heroes who look like them.

The Door of No Return was the first of Kwame Alexander's powerfully poetic trilogy that shared the stirring story of a family who lived in Upper Kwanta in the Asante Kingdom that is present-day Ghana. Exploring "hidden history and brutal truths" this Star Book was reviewed for LR4K by Joanne Owen who wrote "alongside such cultural oppression, an annual festival honouring a peace treaty sees Kofi’s older brother face Lower Kwanta’s heir to the throne when he’s selected to fight for Upper Kwanta. The result of the contest unleashes a tsunami of trouble, and Kofi faces a “door of no return”. This story resumes in Black Star set in the 1920s. Now a grandfather in America, Kofi tells rousing and inspirational stories of their ancestors to his granddaughter who has dreams of greatness despite the cruelties segregation brings.

Add these recommendations to your wish lists and, nearer to publication, we will review and add an extract to help guide you on the very best books for 2025.

And if you're wanting to get your hands on some brilliant fiction and factual books for Christmas, browse through the Christmas Gift Books and Stocking Fillers, plus the Books of the Year 2024 collection is treasure trove of must-reads!