Reading Recommendations

Brilliant book lists for everyone

Wondering what book to pick up next? Keen to try a new author? Looking for a book to inspire a reluctant reader? We’re here to help you discover your next read and to give children, families, teachers and librarians ideas of what books are suitable and brilliant for each age and stage of reading.

World Book Day’s aim is for the books we present to be for all children and families, and particularly to offer a gateway into reading for those who don’t currently see themselves as readers. We use an approach to reading scales, developed by CLPE, that recognises that reading for pleasure develops at different times for all children – and that children less engaged in reading are likely to have a reading level lower than their chronological age.

We are also aware that some children develop their reading skills at a rate that exceeds their emotional development. Please be aware that most of the books listed as being suitable for Independent Readers in these lists will include content that is not emotionally suitable for a young person under the age of 11 and some will be intended for an older teen.

We suggest that these lists are shared between an adult and a child and titles chosen that match both their reading and their chronological age.

Author Recommendations

Core reading lists

Story Shares