Our favourite books for children

Reading is a key aspect of learning and development in children and young people, and an excellent way for them to relax and unwind. With endless styles available, from children’s literature to fiction, non-fiction, poetry and lots more, books offer endless benefits to the mental health of both children and adults.

We’ve put together some of our top picks for children of all ages to enjoy this winter.

Age 4-6

‘The Worrysaurus’ by Rachel Bright – Described as a ‘fun and reassuring tale about dealing with worries’, The Worrysaurus is the perfect book to help children let go of anxieties and enjoy life in the moment.

‘Monsters in the Fog’ by Ali Bahrampour – A touching story about Hakim the donkey as he looks to deliver a gift to his friend. This story encourages children to challenge first impressions and understand that things are not always as they appear.

Age 7 – 9

‘Finn Family Moomintroll’ by Tove Jansson– A light-hearted tale of fun and adventure, this wonderful story from Tove Jansson follows the loveable Moomin family as they awake from their winter hibernation, ready for a summer of activities.

‘The Underpants of Chaos’ by Sam Copeland and Jenny Pearson – This easy-to-read story, full of hilarious illustrations introduces children to the weird goings on at Little Strangehaven Primary School, where they follow Agatha and Lenny as they seek to uncover the reason for these odd events.

Age 9 – 12

‘Wilder than Midnight’ by Cerrie Burnell– Described as “Wildly exciting and wickedly whimsical . . . a story as warming and delicious as stolen porridge.” by Hana Tooke, author of The Unadoptables, this adventure novel celebrates friendship, individualism and inclusion, all whilst paying homage to the classic fairytales that have shaped modern storytelling.

‘Pony’ by R.J. Palacio – Follow Silas Bird on his quest to find his father with only a ghost called Mittenwool and a mysterious pony that shows up at his door. This powerful tale from the international bestselling, multi-award-winning R.J Palacio is set to be a future classic.

Age 13+

‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’ by Mark Haddon– Follow the story of Christopher, a young person with Asperger’s syndrome as he seeks to solve the mystery of how he came to find a dead dog in his neighbour’s garden.

‘All the Bright Places’ by Jennifer Niven – A story of hope and friendship, this gripping novel about Theodore Finch and Violet Markey is described as ‘a compelling and beautiful story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who wants to die.’  

All ages

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy – a stunning illustrative story enjoyed by children and adults alike that follows a young boy in his journey through the countryside and the companions he meets along the way.

If you’re looking for more information on different books, genres and authors for children and young people, Penguin.co.uk and waterstones.co.uk have lots of information available online. Having a range of styles available, from fantasy and fairytales to mystery and history, encouraging young people to read not only helps with their literacy skills, it builds confidence, nurtures their imagination and builds understanding of important themes including personal wellbeing and mental health.

Books make a great present at Christmas time, let us know i you buy any and what you think of them.