The sun is out, the days are getting longer, and it is starting to truly feel like summer. With that in mind, it's worth freshening up your kids' reading list with a few books that feel more summery and tell a great story.
We’ve pulled together a list of the 5 best children’s books to add to their library this summer. Whether you have a younger child or a little bit older, our list will have a little bit of everything for them.
Fly into a fiery and fantastical future with No. 1 bestselling author David Walliams, in an epic adventure of myth and legend, good and evil, and one small boy who must save the world… It is 2120 and London is in ruins. The young Prince Alfred has never known a life outside Buckingham Palace – but when strange goings-on breach its walls and stalk the corridors in the dead of night, he is thrust into a world of mystery, adventure and monsters. And when his mother, the Queen, is dragged away to the Tower of London, Alfred must screw up his courage and battle to save her, himself… and the entire city. In a future of myths and legends, join the bestselling David Walliams and venture forth into his most enthralling tale yet! Product Information: • ISBN: 9780008438708 • Author: David Walliams, Tony Ross • Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks • Format: Paperback • Pages: 464 • Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.9 x 3.5 cm
Welcome to Elsewhere. It is warm, with a breeze, and the beaches are beautiful. It's quiet and peaceful. You can't get sick and you can't get older. In Elsewhere, death is only the beginning… Elsewhere is where fifteen-year-old Liz Hall ends up, after she is killed in a hit-and-run accident. It is a place very like Earth, yet completely different. Here Liz will age backwards from the day of her death until she becomes a baby again and returns to Earth. But Liz wants to turn sixteen, not fourteen again. She wants to get her driving licence. She wants to graduate from high school and go to college. She doesn't want to get to know a grandmother she's never met before and have to make all-new friends. How can Liz let go of the only life she has ever known and embrace a new one? Or is it possible that a life lived in reverse is no different from a life lived forward? Product Information: • ISBN: 9781526675835 • Author: Gabrielle Zevin • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC • Format: Paperback • Pages: 288 • Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.9 x 2 cm
James Henry Trotter is about to go on the adventure of a lifetime. James lives his awful Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, two of the meanest people you can imagine. Life isn't much fun at all, until something peculiar happens at the bottom of his garden... A peach at the very top of a tree begins to grow... and grow... and GROW! Inside are seven very unusual insects - all waiting to take James on a magical journey. Product Information: • ISBN: 9780241558331 • Author: Roald Dahl • Publisher: Scholastic • Format: Paperback • Pages: 288 • Dimensions: 21.6 x 13.8 x 1.46 cm
Why we love it:
- Full of summery fun and frolics for your little ones
- Has a really sweet and important message at its core around sharing
Kipper has been a staple of children’s book collections for years - over 30 years, in fact. So your kids are in safe hands with him. The story involves Kipper opening his cornflakes to discover a big, beautiful beach ball and follows him and his friends on all sorts of summery adventures. We love this book because it’s light, fun and has a really sweet and important message around sharing.
Why we love it:
- A genuinely hilarious book that will have you full-on belly laughing
- Perfect for slightly older children with a very relatable lead character
Diary of a Wimpy Kid has become one of the most successful children’s book series ever because it deals with real issues kids suffer with heart and hilarious humour. This book is no different. Greg is forced into a whole bunch of activities over the course of the summer in the name of “family togetherness”. Obviously, it doesn’t always go to plan, and chaos often ensues. This book is perfect for slightly older kids as it’s incredibly relatable, dealing with everything from family dynamics to young love and friendship.
Why we love it:
- The perfect picture book for summer with outrageous tales from under the sea
- The melodic writing makes for an enjoyable bedtime story - especially putting on voices for each of Tiddler's sea friends!
The story of Tiddler, the story-telling fish, is captivating and absolutely delightful for little ones to listen to and look at the beautiful illustrations. It follows Tiddler telling tales of diving with dolphins and meeting mermaids before he is swept up in a fisherman's net. Dropped in an unfamiliar part of the ocean, Tiddler struggles to find his way back home until he hears a familiar tale and follows it all the way to safety. This is the perfect book for fans of Finding Nemo and will engage little ears through enjoyable rhymes and silly stories.
Why we love it:
- A silly, fun and thrilling adventure
- Lots of plot twists that will keep you on your toes
David Walliams has cornered the market in silly, fun and beautifully illustrated children's stories in recent years - and that’s why he has become a bestselling author. The Beast of Buckingham Palace follows the young Prince Alfred, who’s never known a life outside of the palace. A series of strange events start to take place, which lead to his Mum (the Queen) being dragged away to the Tower of London. Alfred has to step up and save her and the country. Like every book David Walliams rights, there’s as much in this for the parents as there is for the kids, so if it’s a summer bedtime story you’re looking for, this is perfect for you.
Why we love it:
- The fun characters, and particularly animals, that you meet along the way
- It's a moving and bittersweet story that tackles tough topics in a creative and imaginative way
If you’re looking for a brilliant well-imagined and well-written Young Adult novel for your teen to read, we recommend Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin. Set in the picturesque world of Elsewhere, a place after death with beautiful beaches and a warm breeze, Liz Hall wakes up in her pyjamas on a boat after being a victim of a hit and run. A place so similar to Earth, and yes so different. In Elsewhere, you age backward from the day of your death until you're a baby and return to Earth. This book deals with grief, death, and loss, and is a story that will stay with the reader long after turning the last page. Whilst not a summery read, per se, it's the perfect opportunity for adolescents to explore deep topics in a lighthearted way and enjoy an escape to a new world.
With books for all ages, these books are sure to add some excitement to your child's reading list this summer. If you’re looking for other book inspiration, then take a look at our list of the best animal books to read, the best children’s books to read and if you want to get a head start on Christmas, then the best Christmas books for kids.
If you’re going to get kids into reading, you need to make sure that you pick the right books—cool books for cool kids, not boring old reads that won’t hold their attention and will have them reaching for the iPad.
It’s no secret that British summers can be fickle. The sun shines longer, the ice creams melt quicker, but all of a sudden, the rain clouds roll in, and your outdoor plans are done for. After retreating indoors, you start the desperate search for ways to keep your children entertained without resorting to hours of screen time.
There are Children’s authors, and then there’s Julia Donaldson. Her books, with their colourful characters, repetitive rhyming patterns and beautiful illustrations, have made them the perfect bedtime stories for kids for the last 40+ years.