Most popular children's books, by age range, 8 - 15 November 2015

Books for Babies and Toddlers

1		Blue Penguin Petr Horacek November 2015 Book of the Month   There are some breathtakingly beautiful illustrations in Petr Horacek’s new picture book, and a story to bring a lump to the throat. Blue Penguin does the same things that the other penguins do but, ... Download free opening extract
2		A Great Big Cuddle Michael Rosen Julia Eccleshare's Book of the Month, September 2015  Children’s Laureates Chris Riddell and Michael Rosen combine here to create a beautiful collection of ebullient poems for the very young.  Michael Rosen’s close and affectionate observation of small children and the ... Download free opening extract
3		Good Night Like This Mary Murphy As every parent knows, a good ‘night night, snuggle down’ book is invaluable, and Good Night Like This is a particularly lovely take on the theme.  It’s night-time and the baby animals are being tucked into bed, half page flaps ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for Young Adults

1		Monster C.J. Skuse October 2015 Book of the Month  In an isolated boarding school, a group of girls settle in for the holidays.  Everyone else has gone home and there are rivalries and animosity between them – this definitely isn’t going to be ... Download free opening extract
2		Zeroes Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti October 2015 Book of the Month A group of Californian teenagers with superpowers should be having the time of their lives, right? Wrong… This action-packed page-turner about the self-proclaimed Zeroes shows that superpowers come at a cost. In fact, Ethan’s ... Download free opening extract
3		All Sorts of Possible Rupert Wallis Rupert Wallis is not afraid to tackle big issues in his novels for teens, including mysteries of good and evil and, in this book, whether there’s a destiny that shapes our ends. Daniel is travelling with his father when their ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 3+ readers

1		Robin's Winter Song Suzanne Barton November 2015 Julia Eccleshare's Book of the Month Beautifully illustrated, this buoyant and cheerful story captures Robin’s delight as the new season arrives! There’s a chill in the air and all of Robin’s friends are flying away to somewhere warmer. ... Download free opening extract
2		The Emperor of Absurdia Chris Riddell Put on your jingle-jangle socks, and prepare for adventure! Sumptuous illustrations tempt readers into the delightfully absurd world in which dinner is served before lunch and skyfish settle on umbrella trees. The young Emperor is a charming child with a ... Download free opening extract
3		Is There a Dog in This Book? Viviane Schwarz Shortlisted for Children’s Book Award 2016, Books for Younger Children category  With an irresistible story that directly involves the reader, this book's clever design and bright, gestural illustrations make for a LOT of fun for cat (and dog) lovers! It ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 5+ readers

1		Too Many Toys! Heidi Deedman How many toys is too many? It’s a question that’s bothers Lulu. She has had her teddy Jupiter since she was a baby and loves him very much, but as she grows up, she’s given more, and more, and more ... Download free opening extract
2		Tom's Sunflower Hilary Robinson Written and illustrated with warmth, humour and sensitivity, this excellent book, part of the Copper Tree Class series, tackles the subject of family break-up. Hana is confused and upset because her parents are going to live separately, and all the ... Download free opening extract
3		Wendel and the Robots Chris Riddell Crazy inventions, mad robots and a stupendous battle! Wendel and the Robots is a very funny adventure full of crazy inventions and magnificent robots from award-winning author and illustrator Chris Riddell - with a subtle environmental message. Available in mini ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 7+ readers

1		Old School (Diary of a Wimpy Kid book 10) Jeff KinneyNovember 2015 Book of the Month Old School is number ten in the multi-million-selling Wimpy Kid series and author Jeff Kinney is on very good form. The generation gap is something of a theme in this episode: Greg doesn’t understand ... Download free opening extract
2		If Only We Had a Helicopter Roger Mcgough Interest Age 7-12 Reading Age 7  Here’s a slice of Roger McGough’s childhood to entertain young readers, stories of some of the antics he got up to with his friend Midge: adventures with a new puppy; fun days at school; ... Download free opening extract
3		Clare and Her Captain Michael Morpurgo November 2015 Julia Eccleshare's Book of the Month Award-winning Michael Morpurgo is always at his best when writing about the countryside and the animals in it. Here, in a story inspired by his wife’s childhood, he writes about young Clare, visiting ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 9+ readers

1		The What on Earth? Wallbook Timeline of Nature Christopher Lloyd, Patrick Skipworth November 2015 Book of the Month  The most innovative approach to non-fiction since Horrible Histories, the What On Earth Wallbooks present information in a way guaranteed to inspire children’s curiosity and to stimulate real enthusiasm for learning. Each one contains ... Download free opening extract
2		The Fish Detective Chris O'Dowd, Nick Vincent Murphy November 2015 Book of the Month  Here we have another episode in the life of hapless eleven-year-old Martin Moone, related by his imaginary best-friend and sidekick Sean Murphy in as fine a free-fall stream-of-consciousness narrative as you could hope for, ... Download free opening extract
3		Haunters Thomas Taylor The dead and the living exist side by side in this thrilling time-travelling adventure. In David's recurrent dream, Eddie seems real and it seems like he's got something to tell David. That's scary enough but then David gets picked up ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 11+ readers

1		Island Nicky Singer Island is a powerful and vivid new story from Nicky Singer, the prize-winning author of Feather Boy. London teenager Cameron is cast away on an uninhabited island in the Arctic with his scientist mother Pascale, who seems more interested in ... Download free opening extract
2		Young Bond: Shoot to Kill Steve Cole November 2015 Book of the Month  Steve Cole steps into Ian Fleming’s, and latterly Charlie Higson’s shoes in this brand new adventure for the young James Bond, and finds them a very good fit. This is a clever piece of ... Download free opening extract
3		Winterkill Kate A. Boorman This is such a gloriously different and delightful read. The storyline sucks you in whole and clamours to be read as quickly as possible, while the beautifully bewitching writing encourages you to savour every word. Emmeline and her people rely ... Download free opening extract

Featured Books for 13+ readers

1		The Devil's Angel Kevin Brooks February 2015 Book of the Month - Interest Age Teen  Reading Age 8   Award-winning Kevin Brooks tells a gripping and thoughtful story about the irresistible appeal of a dangerous friendship. Jack is cruising along in year 10; not part of ... Download free opening extract
2		The 5th Wave Rick Yancey This is a novel that packs a punch on every page with hope and despair in equal measure alongside life and death. It will leave you gasping for breath and keep you hooked to the end and long after it'll ... Download free opening extract
3		The Lie Tree Frances Hardinge Shortlisted for the 2015 Guardian Children's Book prize - Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month, May 2015  Award-winning Frances Hardinge is spellbinding is this hugely entertaining and dramatic Victorian thriller. When Faith’s father dies suddenly she knows she must try to ... Download free opening extract