As any parent will know, getting children to actually pick up a book and read is no mean feat. Whether they are a toddler or a teenager, there are always myriad distractions to tear them away. Unless the book at hand is utterly absorbing, that is – and this season brings plenty of those.
From a heartwarming new take on The Wind in the Willows to the return of Patrick Ness, here is our pick of the best….
Gone for Good by Sarah Crossan; The Shadow Pony by Olivia Wakeford; The Night I Borrowed Time by Iqbal Hussain
Gone for Good by Sarah Crossan
Young adult
When Connie is taken in the night to Silver Lake Academy, a shadowy institution for “troubled teens”, she enters a world of strict control and fear. Given the bed of a missing girl, Belle, she begins searching for answers in this thriller your teen won’t be able to put down.
Simon & Schuster Ltd, £9.99
The Shadow Pony by Olivia Wakeford
Ages 9 – 12
On a school trip, Evan visits the old mine where his grandad once worked and longs to understand the past he refuses to discuss — especially the pit ponies he worked beside. Wakeford’s moving novel explores memory, family and the powerful bond between humans and animals.
HarperCollins, £7.99
The Night I Borrowed Time by Iqbal Hussain
Ages 9-12
When Zubair learns from his visiting granny that, as the seventh son, he has the power to travel through time, he hopes to use it to repair his parents’ struggling marriage. But small changes in the past bring unexpected consequences in this tender, imaginative family story.
Puffin, £8.99
The Last Wolf by Rob Biddulph; Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna O’Sullivan; The Adventures of Portly the Otter by M.G. Leonard
The Last Wolf by Rob Biddulph
Ages 9-12
In Moonhaven, where rumours of werewolves still haunt the streets, twins Jax and Jovi sneak out after curfew with their friends — then a mysterious disappearance draws them into a larger conspiracy. This illustrated fantasy adventure is fast-paced and funny.
Macmillan Children’s, £12.99
Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna O’Sullivan
Young adult
In a world ruled by magical “Channellers”, servant girl Éadha discovers she possesses forbidden powers. Forced to conceal her abilities while attending a training academy, she uncovers disturbing truths about how magic is controlled. An excellent start to a new trilogy.
Penguin, £9.99
The Adventures of Portly the Otter by M.G. Leonard
Ages 9-12
Inspired by The Wind in the Willows, this charming story follows young otter Portly through a year of adventures in the riverbank world. With captivating writing and beautiful full-colour illustrations, Leonard’s tale lovingly captures the spirit of the classic for new readers.
Farshore, £14.99
Mammoth Rider by S.J. Poynton; The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel; The Bear and the Seed by Poonam Mistry
Mammoth Rider by S.J. Poynton
Ages 9-12
In a remote Arctic community where revived mammoths help combat climate change, Ash dreams of becoming a rider like her father. When trophy hunters threaten the herd, she finds herself racing across the tundra in this exciting eco-adventure about courage and protecting the natural world.
Simon & Schuster Ltd, £14.99
The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel
Non-fiction
This richly illustrated children’s edition of Hessel’s bestselling book for adults introduces young readers to women artists from across history and around the world. From Renaissance painters to contemporary stars, it celebrates overlooked talent while revealing the barriers women have faced.
Puffin, £20
The Bear and the Seed by Poonam Mistry
Ages 5-8
When a lonely seed appears in a dying forest, Bear carefully nurtures it with the help of his animal friends. Mistry’s exquisitely illustrated read is a gentle, hopeful story about patience, care and renewal.
Templar Books, £12.99
A Million Tiny Missiles All at Once by Lucas Maxwell
Young adult
Elias enters a joke-telling competition hoping to win enough prize money to take his family out for a pizza night, but life at home grows increasingly complicated. This debut explores family pressures, neurodivergence and resilience with heaps of humour and heart.
Chicken House, £8.99
A Million Tiny Missiles All at Once by Lucas Maxwell; Piper at the Gates of Dusk by Patrick Ness; The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away by Sophie Anderson
Piper at the Gates of Dusk by Patrick Ness
Young adult
Nearly two decades after Chaos Walking, Ness returns to the New World with the first in a new trilogy. Two brothers, the children of Todd and Viola, confront haunting dreams of Noise as political tensions rise and a cosmic threat looms in this expansive science-fiction adventure.
Walker Books, £14.99
The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away by Sophie Anderson
Ages 9-12
When Marinka’s magical house suddenly runs away, she must follow it across strange lands with her friends to uncover what has gone wrong. This enchanting return to Anderson’s beloved world blends folklore, adventure and heartfelt storytelling.
Usborne Publishing, £8.99
Hari Kumar, Ultimate Superstar by Rashmi Sirdeshpande
Ages 9-12
Hari Kumar dreams of Bollywood fame. When a school film competition offers his chance, he throws himself into the challenge while navigating friendships and rivalries. Told in lively diary form, this is a joyful first instalment to a new series.
HarperCollins, £7.99
Game Plan by Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes
Non-fiction
Inspired by their High Performance podcast, Humphrey and Hughes share their key lessons for teenagers. Through stories from sport and beyond, the book encourages young readers to set goals, face setbacks and build confidence.
DK Children, £14.99
