Books to keep your children reading over summer

Books to keep your children reading over summer

07/07/23

OUR SELECTION OF SUMMER TITLES ARE BURSTING WITH ADVENTURE, HUMOUR, ANIMALS, MAGIC AND MORE…

The summer holidays are just around the corner, and what better way to keep your young ones entertained than with a brilliant book? What’s more, reading over the holidays helps to maintain reading proficiency and swerve the ‘summer slide’.

We’ve created a list of hand-picked, unputdownable stories from award-winning authors to keep your young readers engaged over the summer. 

Our publisher Ailsa explains why Barrington Stoke books help young readers to tackle the summer slide:

 

For readers aged 5+

Budgie

Budgie by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by David Barrow

Mr Buxton is always having a go at Miles and his friends for climbing the trees outside their tower block. Miles thinks he’s just a grumpy old man but when he finds a lost little budgie, Miles also discovers that he and Mr Buxton have more in common than he could ever have imagined.

 

 

Supernan's Day Out

Supernan's Day Out by Phil Earle, illustrated by Steve May

Plane crashes, robberies and fires were not what Stanley was expecting on a day out at the seaside with his nan and the other residents of her care home! Nan doesn’t know about his superpowers, so Super Stan can’t step in to help as it would blow his cover.

Luckily, though, another mysterious superhero seems to be on hand, saving the day. But who could it possibly be?

 

The Little Lost Kitten

The Little Lost Kitten by Holly Webb, illustrated by Abigail Hookham

Lucy and her dad are still feeling sad about the loss of their lovely cat Patch, who had been part of their family for such a long time. So when a little lost kitten turns up in their garden, Lucy doesn’t want to tell her dad in case it upsets him. But she grows to love the little kitten and she doesn’t seem to have a home, so Lucy is really upset when she disappears and finally she has to tell her dad the truth. Will her dad be able to help Lucy find the little kitten and can they offer her a new home?

 

The Ghost Cat Who Saved My Life

The Ghost Cat Who Saved My Life by Pamela Butchart, illustrated by Monika Filipina

The flat upstairs from Sav is empty, so who or what is making the strange yowling noises she can hear at night? Could it be a ghost cat?!

Sav and her best friend Liam decide to investigate, but their ghost hunt takes a very strange turn when Liam gets stuck in the stinky bin room of the flat and it’s a new feline friend who helps to get him out.

Nothing is quite as it seems in this brilliant new addition to the Little Gems list.

 

Sidney Makes a Wish

Sidney Makes a Wish by Lisa Thompson, illustrated by Jess Rose

When Sidney spots a wishing well in the long grass on his way to school, he thinks he might have found the answer to the problems he’s having with his friend Billy. If he can just wish for exactly the right thing, then surely Billy will want to be friends with him again?

But as Sidney makes his wishes, what he doesn’t realise is that the friend he’s longing for has been beside him all the time …

 

Sheep School

Sheep School by Ross Montgomery, illustrated by Marisa Morea

William the lamb just can’t stand still. His feet are always tapping, ready to dance, and he loves nothing more than bursting into song. But his talents aren’t always appreciated at Sheep School. Cast out of the flock, he wanders miserably away only to witness the rest of the sheep being captured by the Big Bad Wolf. Can William find a way to put his artistic skills to use to save the day?

 

For readers aged 7+

My Friend's a Gris-Kwok

My Friend's a Gris-Kwok by Malorie Blackman, illustrated by Andy Rowland

Mike had no idea that his best friend Alex was a Gris-kwok – someone who can turn into any animal he chooses! But Mike’s naughty little sister Molly is a Gris-kwok too. Alex and Mike are about to take on the worst babysitting job in the world!

 

 

 

Granny's Little Monster

Granny's Little Monsters by Karen McCombie, illustrated by Lee Cosgrove

Granny’s hunt for the perfect pet brings some unexpected results in this goofy adventure of family, mudlarking and mayhem.

Zac and Essie have been helping their Granny Mo in her search for the perfect pet. She’s tried everything from cats to axolotls and just can’t find the right one. But when the trio go mudlarking in the river bank they find a creature unlike anything else … Granny Mo might have set out looking for a pet but now she’s got a monster on her hands, and it’s about to get up to some mischief!

 

Suitcase Switch

Suitcase S(witch) by Aisha Bushby, illustrated by Coralie Muce

When Zahra accidentally swaps suitcases with a witch, it’s the beginning of a whole series of magical mishaps. Her feet take on a dancing life of their own when she puts on a pair of enchanted boots, while her first flying adventure in a charmed cloak nearly ends in disaster! But it’s not all bad. She learns a spell that can transform her dad’s worst cooking into a gourmet delight and makes a new best friend in the form of a talking cat. When she finds the witch again, will Zahra even want to get her own suitcase back?!

 

Meg and Merlin

Meg and Merlin - Running Away by Tanya Landman, illustrated by Sonia Albert

Meg and her new friend Sam Houseman meet up to take their horses out on a hack, but after a lovely day in the countryside, Meg gets lost while making her way home. Then things take a dangerous turn when Merlin gets spooked and takes off, galloping straight towards a main road … Can Meg get him back under control before disaster strikes?

 

 

Laura Norder

Laura Norder, Sheriff of Butts Canyon by Guy Bass

Laura Norder lives her life by the Golden Rules and so should everybody else. But being Sheriff of Butts Canyon at the age of ten is a big job to handle, and when a no-good rule-breaking bandit causes chaos in the town, enough is enough! It's time for Laura to step up to the plate and catch the masked mischief-maker before he breaks any more of her rules! Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+

 

 

Noodle the Doodle

Noodle the Doodle Wins the Day by Jonathan Meres, illustrated by Katy Halford

Sports Day has arrived at Wigley Primary and everyone is excited to take part in unusual events like book balancing, frisbee tossing and seeing who can race in the most layers of clothes! Of course Noodle the doodle is desperate to join in all the fun, but when he gets a new partner-in-crime, Daniel the spaniel, are the canine capers going to spiral out of control or can Noodle win the day …?

 

 

For readers aged 9+

Calling the Whales

Calling the Whales by Jasbinder Bilan, illustrated by Skylar White

After rowing out to an island near their seaside home, Tulsi and Satchen discover a whale that has been trapped in a fishing net. Determined to try to free the poor creature, they repeatedly dive down into the freezing sea to cut the netting, but eventually, exhausted and with a storm rolling in, they have to admit defeat.

As they head for home to seek help, their boat capsizes in the storm and they’re left clinging to it, dangerously adrift. Just as they think all is lost, help arrives from an unexpected source …

A thrilling adventure with a powerful message about how we need to protect the oceans at its heart.

 

Dragonracers

Dragonracers by Peter Bunzl, illustrated by Lia Visirin

Twins Kitty and Harris Hawk have grown up at the airfield where their father works as an engineer. Kitty in particular is obsessed with the idea of becoming an aeronaut but her father thinks children should stay firmly on the ground. When the twins discover a strange and unusually large egg from which a dragon hatches, little do they imagine that this is the first step on a journey that will see them taking to the skies and competing in the first long-distance air race. Can they win the huge prize that’s at stake and will their daring adventure lead their father to change his mind about Kitty’s future?

 

The Curio Collectors

The Curio Collectors by Eloise Williams

Lily and Tom travel the county with Ma Hawker, enthralling crowds with their amazing collection of curios. Always on the lookout for new wonders, Lily is tricked into buying a worthless bag of rubbish. But hidden within is a special piece of scrimshaw. A young woman called Flora Meriweather is desperate to buy the scrimshaw, hoping it can help her solve a mystery surrounding her late mother. But someone else also wants to get his hands on the scrimshaw and ensure that secrets stay hidden in the past. Can the Curio Collectors help the truth come to light?

 

Bertie and the Alien Chicken

Bertie and the Alien Chicken by Jenny Pearson

Bertie is NOT looking forward to spending the summer holidays on stinky Long Bottom Farm. But things take an interesting turn when he encounters Nugget, the alien chicken. Nugget’s mission is to find the Earth’s most important resource and transport it back to Nurgle 7, and he needs Bertie’s help. But what could the Earth’s most valuable resource be, and can they find it in time to stop the Nurgles exterminating the Earth?!

 

 

Picture Perfect

Picture Perfect by Serena Patel, illustrated by Louise Forshaw

Sonal needs to capture a great family picture for her school photography project but it’s impossible when everyone’s always so busy! Luckily they’re heading off on a family camping trip which should provide lots of great photo opportunities … shouldn’t it? Faced with an enforced digital detox, will Sonal’s family come together and have fun … or will the trip end in complete disaster?

 

 

Journey Back to Freedom

Journey Back to Freedom: The Olaudah Equiano Story by Catherine Johnson

Born in what is now Nigeria in 1745, Olaudah Equiano’s peaceful childhood was brought to an abrupt end when he was captured and enslaved aged 11. He spent much of the next ten years of his life at sea, seeing action in the Seven Years’ War. When he was finally able to buy his freedom, he went on to become a prominent member of the abolition movement and in 1789 published one of the first books by a Black African writer. Journey Back to Freedom focuses on Equiano’s early life, demonstrating the resilience of the human spirit and one man’s determination to be free.

 

For readers aged 11+

The Climbers

The Climbers by Keith Gray

Sully is the best climber in the village. He can scale the Twisted Sister’s tangled branches and clamber up Double Trunker with ease. But when new kid Nottingham shows up and astonishes everyone with his climbing skills, Sully’s status is under threat and there’s only one way to prove who’s best. Sully and Nottingham must race to climb the last unnamed tree. Whoever makes it to the top will become a legend. But something spiteful and ugly has reared its head in Sully … Is it worth losing everything just to reach the top?

 

 

Wrath

Wrath by Marcus Sedgwick

Cassie Cotton has always been unusual, a bit different – but this only makes her more intriguing to her classmate Fitz.

Cassie can hear a noise that most people don’t notice or recognise, and she believes it’s a sound that shows the Earth is in distress, damaged by human activity that is causing climate change.

When this belief leads to her being ridiculed and bullied at school, Cassie disappears. Fitz is determined to find her, but he has no idea where to start looking, or if he’ll be in time to help her…

 

The Deep-Sea Duke

The Deep-Sea Duke by Lauren James

Hugo is spending the holidays on his friend Dorian's home planet, Hydrox. Although thrilled at the invitation, Hugo is still astonished that Duke Dorian could possibly want to be friends with an android watchmaker like him. But when the pair land on Hydrox along with their friend Ada, they soon discover that there are much bigger problems afoot. A race of butterflies from a neighbouring star system have evacuated their now-uninhabitable planet, and Hydrox is struggling to find space for the growing number of refugees. Meanwhile, deep in the seas beneath Dorian's home, a strange creature is on a path of destruction … Can the unlikely trio step in before the crisis gets out of control?

Dive into a strange new world in this truly imaginative companion to The Starlight Watchmaker.

 

Say No to the Dress

Say No to the Dress by Keren David

Miri is fourteen and in the last year she’s been mugged by puberty. She’s grown six inches, expanded in all directions, her breasts are out of control, and she’s prone to random eruptions of spots.

Life already feels like a nightmare and now she’s been asked to act as a bridesmaid for two of her siblings. Two weddings and two bridesmaid dresses – could things get any worse?

Of course they could. Her brother is getting married to brittle, beautiful Scarlett, whose sister Tiffany is Miri’s nemesis at school. Tiffany is the other bridesmaid and the pink satin dress they’ve chosen makes Miri feel like an oversized sausage.

Join a bridesmaid's hilarious journey to the altar in this sharp-witted story of family, friendship and embracing your true self, no matter what you’re forced to wear …

 

The Humiliations of Welton Blake

The Humiliations of Welton Blake by Alex Wheatle

Welton Blake has done it! He’s asked out Carmella McKenzie – the best-looking girl in school – and she’s only gone and said yes!

But just as he thinks his luck is starting to change, Welton’s phone breaks, kick-starting a series of unfortunate and humiliating events. With bullies to avoid, girls ready to knock him out and all the drama with his mum and dad, life for Welton is about to go very, very wrong …

 

 

The Ghost of Shadow Vale

The Ghost of Shadow Vale by Jonathan Stroud, illustrated by Suki

In a land of ice and a vale of snow, the safety of a people rests of the shoulders of the warrior Grettir. Glam was a monster-slayer. He killed the monster in Shadow Vale. But now Glam’s ghost roams the frozen wastes, killing anyone who crosses his path. Can Grettir face down the horror who was once a hero?

 

 

 

For readers aged 13+

Needle

Needle by Patrice Lawrence

Charlene is a demon knitter. It’s the only thing she enjoys and the only thing she believes she’s really good at.

So when her foster mum’s son destroys her latest creation, Charlene loses it and stabs him in the hand with her knitting needle. It damages a nerve and she gets sucked into the criminal justice system for assault.

Charlene's not sorry and she’s never apologised to anyone in her life. But people keep telling her that if she says sorry, they’ll go easier on her. Can she bring herself to say it and not mean it when her freedom’s at stake?

 

Kerb-Stain Boys

Kerb-Stain Boys: The Crongton Broadway Robbery by Alex Wheatle

Life on the Crongton estate can be rough for Briggy. Dad's lost his job, Mum's working so hard to make ends meet, and big brother Kingsley just wants out. With all of the shouting and arguing it's difficult not to get lost in the mix. So when his best mate Terror and coolest chick in the year Caldonia, cook up a plan to make a quick buck, Briggy hopes this time it might be his chance to shine. Robbing the Post Office … what could go wrong? A brilliantly real and funny novella of life on one of London's toughest (fictional) estates.

 

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice: A Retelling by Laura Wood

Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy’s romance comes to life once more in a stunning and truly accessible retelling of Austen’s beloved classic from bestseller Laura Wood.

Witty, intelligent Elizabeth Bennet has no desire for a marriage of convenience.

And when she meets the handsome, wealthy Mr Darcy, her opinion of him is quickly set: he is aloof, selfish and proud – the last man in the world she would ever marry. Until their paths cross again, and again, and the pair begin to realise that first impressions can be flawed…

But as Elizabeth and Darcy become entangled in a dance through the strict hierarchies of society, will there be space for true love to bloom?

 

Little Women

Little Women: A Retelling by Laura Wood

Little Women, the charming story of the brave and resilient March sisters, has been adored by generations of readers who have identified with the struggles of kind and pretty Meg; gentle, delicate Beth; precocious, artistic Amy; and of course wild, tomboyish Jo, determined to forge her own path and become a writer. Follow the girls as they come of age during the American Civil War and fall in love with the story all over again in this retelling by award-winning writer Laura Wood.

 

 

Stay A Little Longer

Stay A Little Longer by Bali Rai

Aman's dad is gone, leaving her feeling lost and alone. She struggles to talk about it, but it's a fact and he isn't coming back. When a lovely man called Gurnam moves in to her street and saves Aman from some local bullies, he and Aman quickly become friends, perhaps even like family. But Gurnam has his own sadness. One that's far bigger than Aman can understand, and it's tearing his life apart. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 13+

 

 

The Battle of Cable Street

The Battle of Cable Street by Tanya Landman

Life has always been tough on the streets of Stepney, where Elsie and her brother Mikey are growing up in a vermin-infested slum nicknamed “Paradise”.

But the rise of antisemitic fascist Oswald Mosley and his Blackshirts in the 1930s stirs up trouble between families who have lived closely together for years, and Elsie sees friendships torn apart.

When Elsie and Mikey attend a Mosley rally, intending to heckle and cause trouble, they soon see how dangerous the situation has become, but out in the streets the fascists find that people will stand and fight against them and against hatred in what becomes the dramatic Battle of Cable Street.

 

FANCY A CHALLENGE?

The Summer Reading Challenge kicks off in July when readers all across the country will be smashing their reading goals and winning digital prizes! Sign up at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk