These Are The Best Books For Kids, From Toddlers To Teens

Whether you’re introducing your child to reading for the first time, or you’re trying to quench an already developed thirst for new stories, there are plenty of amazing books out there for kids of all ages. If you’re looking for new ideas, here is our pick of the best books for kids, from toddlers to teenagers.

These Are The Best Books For Kids, From Toddlers To Teens

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• The Best Books For Toddler & Pre-School Kids
• The Best Books For Kids Ages 5–8
• The Best Books For Kids Ages 9–12
• The Best Books For Early Teenagers

The Best Books For Toddler & Pre-School Kids

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

First published in 1969, this picture book is a classic for a reason. Follow a very hungry caterpillar chomp through an array of foods (leaving holes in the pages), and emerge at the end as a beautiful butterfly. £6.99, waterstones.com

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

Illustrated by Axel Scheffler and also a film made for the BBC for Christmas 2009, The Gruffalo tells the story of a little mouse wandering through the woods, deterring predators by making up a monster called the Gruffalo. From £3.50, wob.com

The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr

One of the bestselling kids books of all time, The Tiger Who Came To Tea stars a young girl called Sophie, her mother, and a tiger who invites himself to their afternoon tea. From £3.50, wob.com

I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child

The first incarnation of the iconic kids TV series Charlie and Lola was this picture book by Lauren Child, in which fussy eater Lola refuses to eat vegetables, and her big brother Charlie convinces her to try them using imagination. £6.99, waterstones.com

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen

Introduce a sense of adventure with this iconic kids book, following a family of four as they venture on a bear hunt, travelling across grass, a river, mud, a forest and a snowstorm before coming face-to-face with a bear. From £4.80, wob.com

The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher

From writing (and singing) songs for McFly to writing books for kids, Tom Fletcher is a family man of many talents. The Christmasaurus is the ideal Christmas book for under fives, following William as he goes on a magical Christmassy adventure with a dinosaur. From £3.80, wob.com

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson

From the creator of The Gruffalo, the rhyming The Snail and the Whale is a story of unlikely friendship, following a tiny snail who meets a humpback whale, and the two travel together to far-off lands. From £4.30, wob.com

Cops and Robbers by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg

This classic picture book follows a band of thieves as they plot to steal all of the toys before they are delivered to children for Christmas. From £3.49, wob.com

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

And perfect for getting little ones off to sleep, this rhyming board book follows a bunny bidding goodnight to the various inanimate objects and living things in their bedroom. From £4.00, wob.com

The Best Books For Kids Ages 5–8

Horrid Henry’s Cheeky Collection 10 Books Box Set by Francesca Simon

Francesca Simon’s ‘90s classic, Horrid Henry, may be most commonly enjoyed by children on screen, but it is best enjoyed in the original novels. From £10.99, axelbooks.com

The Roald Dahl 16 Book Box Set

Why only read one when you could read them all? Roald Dahl’s kids books are perfect for kids, covering a whole host of themes. Matilda is a must-read, of course, but kids will also love Billy and the Minpins, James and the Giant Peach, and don’t miss Fantastic Mr Fox. From £34.60, abebooks.co.uk

Madame Badobedah by Sophie Dahl

Or turn to Roald Dahl’s granddaughter for a coastal adventure celebrating friendship and imagination following Mabel who lives with her parents at The Mermaid Hotel and decides that their latest guest is a secret supervillain. £8.99, waterstones.com

The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams

The first foray into writing books for kids from the now-prolific David Walliams, The Boy in the Dress is the heartwarming story of Dennis, a young boy who meets a girl called Lisa and lives out his dreams of wearing a dress. From £4.60, wob.com

Little People, BIG DREAMS by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara

Telling the child-friendly stories of the lives of a vast range of incredible people – from Lewis HamiltonLewis Hamilton to Freddie Mercury, Shakira to Marcus Rashford – Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara’s Little People, BIG DREAMS series is beautifully illustrated by a range of artists with the perfect inspirational tale for every kid. littlepeoplebigdreams.com

Goodnight Stories For Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo

Or try Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo’s Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, a collection of 100 one-page stories of real inspiring women, accompanied by gorgeous illustrations. From £9.00, wob.com

Suffragette, The Battle For Equality by David Roberts

An important tale for kids of all genders, David Roberts’ Suffragette, The Battle For Equality explains the fight for women’s suffrage in the US and UK in kid-friendly terms. £15, blackwells.co.uk

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

If you are running out of books for your kids, turn back to the classics. Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is mind-bending with delight around every corner. £25, fortnumandmason.com

Rainbow Magic

Nothing is more pleasing than personalisation: scour the shelves and find your kid’s name in fairy incarnation, and then read (and re-read) all about their adventures. orchardseriesbooks.co.uk

The Breakfast Club Adventures by Marcus Rashford

New from national treasure Marcus Rashford, the fun-filled The Breakfast Club Adventures follows the mysterious adventure that ensues when 12-year-old Marcus kicks his football over the school fence. £6.64, bookshop.org

The Magic Faraway Tree Trilogy by Enid Blyton

A giant magical tree grows in the enchanted wood, so tall that its branches stretch into the clouds, and so strong that houses are carved into the trunk. Enid Blyton’s classic trilogy follows the adventures of three siblings who move into a new house nearby, and their adventures in the mystical lands at the top of the tree. From £4.80, wob.com

The Best Books For Kids Ages 9–12

Harry Potter Complete Book Series by J.K. Rowling

The magical world of Harry Potter is perfect for your kid’s first foray into true independent reading. From £37.32, abebooks.co.uk

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Daniel Handler’s series of 13 books – written under the pen name Lemony Snicket – have been adapted into a film and a TV series, but the books still stand strong, following the eventful and turbulent lives of orphaned siblings Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. £29.99, oxfam.org.uk

Horrible Histories Savage Book Set – 8 Book Collection by Terry Deary

Budding young historians should pick up Terry Deary’s iconic Horrible Histories books. From the Egyptians to the Second World War, these books have been making history fun since the ‘90s. £17.99, books2door.com

Jacqueline Wilson Collection 21 Books Set

Keep your kids entertained for months with this set of 21 books by iconic children’s author, Jacqueline Wilson, perfect for showcasing British culture, the power of friendship and different ways of growing up. £39.95, axelbooks.com

The Chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis

Or invest in a classic collection: C S Lewis’ timeless series, The Chronicles of Narnia, is an ideal introduction to fantasy. From £5.20, wob.com

Percy Jackson: 5 Book Collection by Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan’s ever-popular series is a great introduction to Greek mythology for youngsters, following Percy Jackson, a teenager who realises he’s not just any teen: he’s the son of Poseidon. £10.00, theworks.co.uk

The Best Books For Young Teenagers

The Hunger Games 4 Book Paperback Box Set by Suzanne Collins

This series took the world by storm in 2012 with the release of the franchise’s first film adaptation, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. Time to introduce your young teen to the original book series along with the prequel ahead of the new filmnew film arriving this winter. £19.99, scholastic.co.uk

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Teach your young teen that it’s OK to be obsessed with things: Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl follows introverted Cath who arrives at university still invested and writing fanfiction about her favourite book series, Simon Snow. From £3.80, wob.com

His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman

This coming of age series – now a major TV show – follows the coming of age of Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry as they wander through a series of parallel universes. £16.99, axelbooks.com

Heartstopper 4 Pack by Alice Oseman

Now a heartwarming Netflix seriesNetflix series, Alice Oseman’s LGBTQ+ graphic novel series Heartstopper follows Charlie and Nick as they navigate their teenage years and fall in love. £24.99, scholastic.co.uk

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

Not everyone is the chosen one: from the author of the famed Chaos Walking trilogy, The Rest of Us Just Live Here explores what the side characters get up to when the heroes are saving the world. From £5.30, wob.com