Best summer reads for kids

We have our best summer reads page for grown-ups...but it really didn't seem fair for the younger members of the family to miss out. And so - ta-da - may we present our best summer reads for kids (of all ages, from teens to tots).

The Nearest Far Away Place - Hayley Long. (Age 13-15) Griff and Dylan are driving into Manhattan with their parents when the worst happens. There is a terrible car accident and the boys are suddenly orphans. Dylan is worried about Griff: whether he is coping with his grief. But Dylan himself needs to be even braver than his brother, because there is something very important he needs to face up to before he can move on.

Hole in the Middle - Kendra Fortmeyer. (Age YA) Morgan Stone was born with a hole in her middle. A smooth patch of nothing where a something should be. After seventeen years of fear and shame, she has had enough of hiding and finally bares all. A few photos uploaded to social media is all it takes to create a media frenzy. And then she meets a boy who is literally her perfect match. They could be each other's cure. But can he truly make her 'whole'?

Piglettes - Clementine Beauvais. (Age YA) Mireille, Astrid and Hakima have just been voted the three ugliest girls in school on Facebook. Butthey don't sit around crying about it for long. On a summer roadtrip to Paris. The girls will find fame, friendship and happiness on their journey. But will they really be able to leave all their troubles behind?

Kid Normal - Greg James & Chris Smith. (Age 8-12) When Murph Cooper rocks up to his new school several weeks into the beginning of term, he can't help but feel a bit out of his depth...because his mum has enrolled him at a school for superheroes by mistake. But just because you don't have superpowers, it doesn't mean you can't save the day. It's time for Kid Normal to become a hero!

Simply the Quest - Maz Evans. (Age 8+) Elliot Hooper's troubles are far from over: his mum's health worsens, he's struggling at school, and a bunch of anarchic Greek immortals have moved into his home - including teen goddess Virgo, who's in trouble with the Zodiac. What's more, death-daemon Thanatos and his scary mum are at large. As even more immortal allies and enemies emerge, Virgo and Elliot must learn how to be heroes ...

Alex Rider: Never Say Die - Anthony Horowitz. (Age 9-12) Alex Rider is back in this brand new, explosive mission in the number one bestselling series. In this adrenaline-fueled, action-packed adventure, Alex Rider is trying to get his life back on track after the traumatic events of his last mission. But even Alex can't fight the past ...especially when it holds a deadly secret.

The Wee Free Men - Terry Pratchett. (Age 10+) A nightmarish danger threatens from the other side of reality... Armed with only a frying pan and her common sense, young witch-to-be Tiffany Aching must defend her home against the monsters of Fairyland. Luckily she has some very unusual help: the local Nac Mac Feegle - aka the Wee Free Men - a clan of fierce, sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men. Together they must face headless horsemen, ferocious grimhounds, terrifying dreams come true, and ultimately the sinister Queen of the Elves herself...

Titania and Oberon - Phyllis Bray. (Age 7+) A gorgeous reissue of this classic tale, originally published in 1945. Titania, the Fairy Queen, and Oberon, King of the Fairies, fall into a quarrel about who should have charge of a little changeling boy. Oberon and his servant, Puck, cast a spell which causes Titania to fall magically in love with Nick Bottom, a weaver who has been given the head of a donkey. Oberon sees the error of his ways and seeks a way to reverse the spell and restore harmony.

Operation Ouch: The Humanual - Ben Elcomb, Dr Chris van Tulleken, Dr Xand van Tulleken. (Age 8+) Take a tour of one of the most complex, diverse and downright unusual places on the entire planet - the human body! Find out all about what makes YOU tick, from the wonders of the human brain to the tingling in your ticklish toes. From crazy bodily functions to bizarre real-life medical cases, this is the ultimate guide to getting to know yourself, inside and out!

How To Be A Scientist - Steve Mould. (Age 7+) Being a scientist isn't just about wearing a lab coat and performing science experiments in test tubes. It's about looking at the world and trying to figure out how it works. Fun questions, science games, and real-life scenarios, with an emphasis is on inspiring kids, which means less time spent in stuffy labs and more time in the real world!

The World's Worst Children 2 - David Walliams. (Age 7+) If you thought you had read about the World’s Worst Children already, you’re in for a rather nasty shock. The beastly boys and gruesome girls in this book are even ruder, even more disgusting and WORSE than you could ever imagine! This collection of ten stories will make you snort with laughter and thank your lucky stars that you don’t know anyone like Gruesome Griselda or Fussy Frankie in real life.

Origami, Poems and Pictures - British Museum. (Age 8-adult) This stunning book features three beautiful Japanese art forms in one gorgeous gift format. For each animal or object, children (and grown-ups!) will be able to read the haiku, enjoy a painting from the British Museum collection...and then make the origami figure.

The Jungle Challenge - Bear Grylls. (Age 5-8) Omar is fiercely competitive and very impatient. But when he's given a mysterious compass it transports him to a thick jungle that is impossible to get through quickly - he has to learn to move with the rhythm of the environment around him with the help of his guide, Bear Grylls. Can his time in the rainforest change his mind about what makes someone successful? And who will he give the compass to next?

The Pudding Problem - Joe Berger. (Age 8-12) To Sam Lyttle, the truth is like an elephant. It’s heavy, worrying and wrinkly. And when it’s sitting in your way, you can’t go under it or over it. But you CAN skirt round it… So Sam does, every now and then, tell the odd porky-pie, much to the annoyance of his family. But is there more to Sam’s occasional streeeetching of the truth than meets the eye?

The Superhero Handbook - James Doyle & Jason Ford. (Age 7-11) Ever wanted to be a superhero, but just didn’t know how to go about it? The Superhero Handbook features 20 exciting activities to help you develop your superhero powers. Choose your superhero name, discover your superpower, make your own superhero costume and gadgets, and much more!

Holidaytivity - Fiona Hayes, Carolyn Gavin, Jessica Secheret. (Age 7+) All the push-out designs, stencils and creative card components you need to make 25 fun-packed holiday activities, specially chosen to complement all-year-round holidays, and include the making of butterfly straws, woven flowers and a jumping frog game. The final project – a gliding parrot – is the most ambitious in scope, and is sure to delight fans of card craft of all ages.

The Girl Guide - Marawa Ibrahim & Sinem Erkas. (Age 10+) Eight times world-record breaking hula-hoop star Marawa Ibrahim was told that she was too chubby during her teenage years to succeed as a performer. Today she is one of the most solicited circus performers worldwide. The first book in a new series about growing up has been written for young girls becoming women, who need not feel alone on their journey to womanhood.

Labyrinth - Theo Guignard. (Age 6+) The biggest maze book to hit shelves this year! Explore worlds made of plants, giant skyscrapers, wild habitats, and futuristic cities, in this book that asks you to trace your way through 14 magical mazes. With things to spot along the way, each maze grows in complexity with every turn of the page.

Piggy Handsome - Pip Jomes & Adam Stower. (Age 6+) Piggy Handsome is a very confident Guinea pig with a hugely inflated ego - he hails from a long line of very famous Guinea pigs. But sadly Handsome hasn't yet achieved world renown. With the help of gruff-talking Jeffry the budgie and the inadvertent efforts of two dastardly villains Dan and Dolly Dixon, Handsome might realise his dream, get in the papers and save the day - without even realising. All in one day trip to the seaside!

Tasso - The Stories of William Papas. (Age 5-7) Can Tasso and his bouzouki be replaced by a Rock-a-Rola machine at the village cafe? What place do people have in a world where innovation can make them feel worthless? This heartwarming tale has never been more relevant. Papa's illustrations evoke the simple life of the islanders which though hard, reminds us of the value of a common life lived out together.

The Girl Who Drank The Moon - Kelly Barnhill. (Age 10+) Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. The witch, Xan, rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. But one year she accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic and decides she must raise this girl as her own.

Animosaics: Can You Find Me - Surya Sajnani. (Age 1+) This large-format board book from the creator of the Wee Gallery is wonderfully colourful and packed with animals for children to look at and learn from. Each page focuses on a different habitat and contains a series of animals hidden within the large, mosaic-inspired pictures. Additional questions will encourage the reader to count from one to ten as they turn each page of the book.

What The Ladybird Heard Next - Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks. (Age 3+) Those two bad men, Lanky Len and Hefty Hugh, are back! They may be in the city instead of the farm, but they haven't changed their thieving ways. In fact, they've got even more ambitious. They're planning to steal a monkey from the zoo and use it to pinch the Queen's crown. It's a pity for them that a certain crime-busting ladybird is holidaying in the very same city...and she's got a good idea that will ensure the dastardly pair won't get away with it!

The Enchanted Forest - Samantha Chagollan & Evgenia Golubeva. (Age 3+) Inspire kids to laugh and learn with some of their favorite fairy tale characters. Featuring a fun mashup of familiar fairy tales, including Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the Three Little Pigs, and Little Red Riding Hood, favorite stories are intertwined to create a new, bilingual adventure. Hidden within each page are flaps with common English words that lift to reveal their Spanish translations.

A Kitten Called Tiger - Holly Webb & Sophy Williams. (Age 3+) Ava’s new kitten, Tiger, may be small but he makes up for it with his big personality and sense of adventure. When the kitten disappears one night Ava has no idea where he could be. Meanwhile, Tiger is stuck up in a tall tree, cold and alone. Ava to the rescue as she bravely climbs up with some cat treats, and she and her beloved kitten are reunited.

The Great Heffalump Hunt - Giles Andreae & Angela Rozelaar. (Age 3+) When Winnie-the-Pooh sets out to catch a Heffalump he finds himself in a sticky situation. Luckily his loyal friend, Piglet, isn’t far awayFrom the author of Giraffes Can’t Dance comes a delightful tale of Heffalumps, deep pits and large jars of honey, inspired by the classic tales of A. A. Milne.

I Can't Sleep - Stephanie Blake. (Age 3+) Simon's little brother can't sleep without his special blanket. Simon usually just tells Casper what to do. But he is going to have to be very, very brave to solve this problem.

Fairytale Pets - Tracey Corduroy & Jorge Martin. (Age 3+) Bob has decided to be a pet-sitter. He just can’t wait for all the cute hamsters and bunnies to arrive! But when Goldilocks asks him to look after her grumpy baby bear, the fairy tale chaos begins... Spot your favourite characters misbehaving in an all-star cast as the golden goose, three billy goats gruff and - yikes! - a troll arrive at Bob’s door. Whatever will he do?

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