books recommended by kids

Top reads: November 2020

November 30, 2020November 29, 2020 Alphabet Soup

It’s the last day of November and that means it’s time for some recommended reads from the members of our Top Reads team. Top Reads is a list of books nominated by the kids reading them. Every month (from February to November) we post the books our Top Reads Team loved reading during the preceding month.

Today’s post is the final Top Reads post for 2020. We hope you have a stack of great books to read over the summer holidays and we’ll be back with more recommended reading in 2021. Here are this month’s recommendations:

Fergus recommends PERCY JACKSON AND THE GREEK GODS by Rick Riordan

Céití recommends ANNE OF GREEN GABLES by LM Montgomery

Henry recommends THE ICE MONSTER by David Walliams and illustrated by Tony Ross

Lewis recommends MY STORY DESERT DANGER TIM JACKSON NORTH AFRICA WWII by Jim Eldridge

Matilda recommends THE HEARTSONG OF WONDER QUINN by Kate Gordon

Anishka recommends AS OLD AS TIME by Liz Braswell

Rory recommends AMULET: FIRELIGHT by Kazu Kibuishi

Willow recommends DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake

Kobe recommends THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL by Soman Chainani. (This is a book for older readers.)

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reads Team on the last day of every month (February to November). If you’d like even more recommendations, browse all through all our Top Reads ever!

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

Top reads: October 2020

October 31, 2020October 31, 2020 Alphabet Soup

October this year included CBCA Book Week, (which is usually in August, but this year it was postponed a couple of months due to COVID). We’ve loved all the fabulous photos from families and schools dressing up as book characters and students putting their favourite books in the spotlight.

It’s the last day of the month and that means it’s time for members of our Top Reads Team* to share a list of their favourite books from the last 4 weeks. You’ll find most of them at your local library or favourite bookshop.

Lewis recommends THE BAD GUYS IN THE ONE?! by Aaron Blabey

Albie recommends HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD by John Tiffany and Jack Thorne.

Willow recommends SMILE by Raina Telgemeier

Matilda recommends FLORA AND ULYSSES by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by KG Campbell

Henry recommends THE BOOK WITH NO PICTURES by BJ Novak

Anishka recommends NETBALL DREAMS by Thalia Kalkipsakis

Fergus recommends THE TRIALS OF APOLLO: THE TOWER OF NERO by Rick Riordan

Rory recommends THE ROBBER HOTZENPLOTZ by Otfried Preußler and illustrated by FJ Tripp and Translated by Anthea Bell

Kobe recommends WARRIORS: SKYCLAN AND THE STRANGER: AFTER THE FLOOD (Graphic Novel) by Erin Hunter

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reads Team on the last day of every month (February to November). If you’d like even more recommendations, browse all through all our Top Reads ever!

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

Top reads: August 2020

August 31, 2020August 29, 2020 Alphabet Soup

It’s the last day of August — and that means it’s time for our Top Reads team* to stop by with this month’s book recommendations. If you’re looking for something to read, check out these page-turners:

Fergus recommends ARTEMIS FOWL AND THE OPAL DECEPTION by Eoin Colfer

Matilda recommends KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES FLASHBACK by Shannon Messenger

Henry recommends MR STINK by David Walliams and illustrated by Quentin Blake

Willow recommends WeirDo by Anh Do.

Kobe recommends THE BIG BOOK OF BUILDING EVERYTHING MINECRAFT by Triumph Books

Albie May recommends ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND by Lewis Carroll and illustrated by John Tenniel

Céití recommends THE TIME OF GREEN MAGIC by Hilary McKay

Rory recommends LIARS ARMAGEDDON by Jack Heath

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reads Team on the last day of every month (February to November). If you’d like even more recommendations, browse all through all our Top Reads ever!

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

Top Reads: September 2019

September 30, 2019September 29, 2019 Alphabet Soup

Another month has zoomed by and it’s time to post the Top Reads recommendations for September. Add these books to your holiday reading pile …

Céití recommends MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs

Albie recommends RETURN TO THE HUNDRED ACRE WOOD by David Benedictus and illustrated by Mark Burgess

Henry recommends MR STINK by David Walliams and illustrated by Quentin Blake

Lewis recommends SNAPSHOTS OF THE JOURNEY by David Woodworth

Nicholas recommends EVERYTHING I'VE NEVER SAID by Samantha Wheeler

This is a book for older readers: Matilda recommends INKDEATH by Cornelia Funke

Anna recommends THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate

THE AUSTRALIA SURVIVAL GUIDE by George Ivanoff

Fergus recommends GOBLINS VS DWARVES by Philip Reeve

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reads Team on the last day of every month (February to November). If you’d like even more recommendations, browse all through all our Top Reads ever!

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

Top reads: August 2019

August 31, 2019August 28, 2019 Alphabet Soup

Here we are again on the last day of the month … on the last day of the month our Top Reads Team members nominate their favourite reads from the past four weeks. Here they are!

Matilda recommends INKHEART by Cornelia Funke

Anishka recommends THE SNOW CAT by Holly Webb

Book for older readers: Nicholas recommends THE MEDITERRANEAN by Armin Greder.

Albie May recommends GOOD NIGHT STORIES FOR REBEL GIRLS by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo

Lewis recommends THE DARK IS RISING by Susan Cooper

Xavier recommends THE LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE by CS Lewis.

Anna recommends OH MY DOG! by Vince Ford.

Rory recommends ADDISON COOKE AND THE TOMB OF THE KHAN by Jonathan W Stokes

Fergus recommends LINTANG AND THE BRIGHTEST STAR by Tamara Moss

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reads Team on the last day of every month (February to November). If you’d like even more recommendations, browse all through all our Top Reads ever!

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

Top Reads: July 2019

July 31, 2019July 30, 2019 Alphabet Soup

It’s the last day of the month, and that means it’s time for our Top Reads Team* to recommend some good books. These are their favourite books read during the past month:

Rory recommends Countdown to danger: BULLET TRAIN DISASTER by Jack Heath

Céití recommends THE SLIGHTLY ALARMING TALE OF THE WHISPERING WALLS by Jaclyn Moriarty

Xavier recommends Diary of a Minecraft Zombie Book 8: IN TOO DEEP by Zack Zombie

Fergus recommends The Heroes of Olympus Book 5: THE BLOOD OF OLYMPUS by Rick Riordan

Anishka recommends VAMPIRE BREATH by RL Stine

Albie recommends HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS by JK Rowling.

Lewis recommends QUICKSILVER by Sam Osman

Matilda recommends INKHEART by Cornelia Funke

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reads Team on the last day of every month (February to November). If you’d like even more recommendations, browse all through all our Top Reads ever!

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

Top Reads: June 2019

June 30, 2019June 25, 2019 Alphabet Soup

It’s the last day of the month, and that means it’s time for members of our Top Reads Team to recommend some good books (just in time for the school holidays!). Add these to your beside table …

Albie recommends HUNTED (audiobook) by Maggie Stiefvater, narrated by Nicola Barber.

Lewis recommends NICHOLAS AND THE GANG by Goscinny & Sempé.

Céití recommends FINDING SERENDIPITY by Angelica Banks

Xavier recommends DISCOVER PHYSICS: A FIRST INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE by North Parade Publishing

Rory recommends MEGA WEIRD by Anh Do

Fergus recommends JIMMY COATES: KILLER by Joe Craig

Matilda recommends SECRET GUARDIANS by Lian Tanner

Anna recommends A DOG'S LIFE BY Ann M Martin

Anishka recommends ICE PLANET ADVENTURE by Geronimo Stilton

Nicholas recommends DIARY OF AN AWESOME FRIENDLY KID by Jeff Kinney

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reads Team on the last day of every month (February to November). If you’d like even more recommendations, browse all through all our Top Reads ever!

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

Top Reads: May 2019

May 31, 2019May 28, 2019 Alphabet Soup

It’s the last day of May! And that means it’s time for our Top Reads Team* to recommend some favourite books.

Xavier recommends DIARY OF AN AWESOME FRIENDLY KID by Jeff Kinney

Anna recommends THE MELTDOWN by Jeff Kinney

Céití recommends THE AUSTERE ACADEMY by Lemony Snicket

Nicholas recommends NOT SO NORMAL NORBERT by James Patterson and Joey Green

Rory recommends THE SONG FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE by AF Harrold and illustrated by Levi Pinfold

Anishka recommends ICE CREAM SANDWICHED by Coco Simon

Matilda recommends THE ROGUES: ACCIDENTAL HEROES by Lian Tanner

Fergus recommends CHARLIE AND THE WAR AGAINST THE GRANNIES by Alan Brough

Albie May recommends WOMBAT, MUDLARK & OTHER STORIES by Helen Milroy [Please note: this book will be available from 1 July 2019]

Lewis recommends THE LORD OF THE RINGS by JRR Tolkien

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reads Team on the last day of every month (February to November). If you’d like even more recommendations, browse all through all our Top Reads ever!

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

TOP READS: November 2018

November 30, 2018November 29, 2018 Alphabet Soup

Welcome to the FINAL Top Reads for 2018! At the end of each month — from February to November — members of our Top Reads team recommend fantastic books.

A huge thank you to everyone on our team for this year*, we’ve loved seeing your recommendations. (Top Reads will be back in February 2019.)

Add these titles to your Christmas wishlist or visit your local library — settle in for some great holiday reading …

Tirion recommends THE WISHING SPELL by Chris Colfer

Lewis recommends THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by CS Lewis

Matthew recommends The 104-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

Céití recommends THE GIRL WHO WASN'T THERE by Karen McCombie

Xavier recommends HARRY POTTER A HISTORY OF MAGIC by The British Library

Albie May recommends THE PICKY PUFFIN by Amelia Cobb, illustrated by Sophy Williams

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reads Team on the last day of every month (February to November). If you’d like even more recommendations, browse all through all our Top Reads ever!

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

TOP READS: October 2018

October 31, 2018October 27, 2018 Alphabet Soup

Where did October go? Here we are staring November down, and our Top Reads Team is back with some recommendations for you. Get into these great stories:

Anishka recommends THE SIXTH FORM AT ST CLARE'S by Enid Blyton. The cover is yellow and shows four girls in school uniform: two with brown hair and two with blonde curls and white bows. The girls with blonde hair are each holding a pale blue book and look guilty.

Matthew recommends the film Small Foot. The image is predominantly blue and shows a small boy in a red shirt being held aloft by a white Yeti-like creature.

Tirion recommends AN AUTHOR'S ODYSSEY by Chris Colfer

Lewis recommends THE MAGICIAN'S NEPHEW by CS Lewis

Lewis recommends THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by CS Lewis

Albie May recommends THE 13-STOREY TREEHOUSE by Andy Griffiths, ill. by Terry Denton.

Céití recommends Whimsy and Woe the Final Act by Rebecca McRitchie, illustrated by Sonia Kretschmar

Xavier recommends Frankie Fish and the Sonic Suitcase by Peter Helliar, art by Lesley Vamos

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reads Team on the last day of every month (February to November). If you’d like even more recommendations, browse all through all our Top Reads ever!

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!