
Well done, Mummy Penguin – Chris Haughton
This picture book shows the emotions experienced by a young penguin when his mother undertakes the dangerous task of finding … Read More
At Read for Good we are passionate about encouraging children to read what they love. We believe that children who are given the chance to choose what to read, are more likely to enjoy reading in their own time and go on to develop life-long reading habits. This page aims to inspire and guide that core belief in the importance of book choice.
The books reviewed here have been selected to complement our work in schools and hospitals – including titles promoted on our Readathon resources, books which we buy for our hospital programmes and books donated to us by publishers to help us encourage children to read for fun. There should be something for everyone!
This picture book shows the emotions experienced by a young penguin when his mother undertakes the dangerous task of finding … Read More
With her award winning illustrations, Catherine Rayner, once again has created a wonderful story for young children about friendship, collaboration … Read More
This rhyming picture book conjures a world of friendly magic, with blue owls, earwaxy lizards and a wobbly knobbly broom. … Read More
This book from the 2021 Costa Children’s Book Award winning author Manjeet Mann looks at the big world from the … Read More
This dazzling celebration of the animal world by zoologist and children’s author Nicola Davies is exquisitely illustrated by Petr Horacek. … Read More
Sing Like a Whale is a colourful, interactive book that will appeal to the liveliest and noisiest toddler and young … Read More
A history book for young children who are just beginning to understand what the past is. This is the story … Read More
Published in support of Little Princess Trust, the charity that donates wigs to children living with cancer, this is a … Read More
This is a magical story book, set firmly in the real here-and-now world. In the time that it takes for … Read More
A beautifully illustrated picture book for younger children, about finding a friend. Black Bear meets Brown Bear whilst on his … Read More
Vashti says she can’t draw. One day her Art teacher, with gentle encouragement, gets her to draw a dot, and … Read More
Mira wants straight smooth hair like her Mum. But despite all her best efforts she can’t get hers to straighten … Read More
Monkeys, tigers, and mangoes – this is a delicious book to read aloud with a class. Chris Haughton’s latest book … Read More
Meesha finds it hard to fit in, and especially hard to make friends. One day she takes matters into her … Read More
This is the most beautiful book, both verbally and visually striking. Written in rhyme and short-listed for Oscar’s Book Prize … Read More
This is a book that every parent, guardian, teacher and child-minder will relate to as they try to encourage a … Read More
Winner of the 2021 Oscar’s Book Prize, The Littlest Yak tells the delightful story of Gertie who doesn’t want to be … Read More
Little Bear wonders why his dad keeps asking him “Can Bears ski?” as he takes us through his morning routine … Read More
This is a book to share with a child, taking time to marvel at the gorgeous illustrations covering every page. … Read More
Don’t Call Me Grumpycorn is a tale set in an explosion of colour. Unicorn and his friends, Mermaid, Narwhal and … Read More
The latest installment in the Oi Frog and Friends series, is a perfect choice for any primary school child who … Read More
Dot is no ordinary dog – NO SHE IS NOT! For Dot is a hospital dog who in this delightful … Read More
A fast-paced, funny detective adventure for younger readers, featuring magic hearing aids, talking birds and high-speed chases. Introducing SPUD – … Read More
Gizmo is feeling a little lost and bewildered as he moves with Grannie to the countryside. Fortunately he soon meets … Read More
Bear and Squirrel do everything together (with Bear being slightly over-bearing!) until Squirrel decides he wants some time alone. Time … Read More
Illustrated by one of our wonderful patrons Sarah McIntyre, this new collection of 17 stories for bedtime (or anytime!) is … Read More
This narrative, non-fiction book about India is an absolute delight. It informs and entertains simultaneously with a wealth of facts … Read More
This thought-provoking book from Rebecca Schiller, co-founder of the human rights charity Birthrights, features 20 activists from history to the … Read More
From the best-selling and multi-award-winning author, Phil Earle, comes a second masterly story all about bravery, wartime, loyalty and the … Read More
KS2 readers will love meeting Edie Eckhart, the eleven year old protagonist in an exciting new series by comedian Rosie … Read More
This new and original story by award-winning author Caryl Lewis shows the power of hope and imagination when you believe … Read More
Inspired by Eva Ibbotson’s famous novel Journey to the River Sea, this latest compelling tale from award-winning author, Emma Carroll, … Read More
The latest in this wonderful series of books concerns Kevin the Roly-Poly Flying Pony and his friends Max and Daisy. … Read More
A special review from Freddie, age 6, and his mum, Jemma What a beautiful story of hope Michael Rosen’s Sticky … Read More
This large, hardbacked book is a beautiful addition to any class library shelf. Divided into four chapters entitled Poems to … Read More
How can we not like a book that puts warmth and hope into a hospital setting? Sticky McStickstick is Michael … Read More
Fans of Harry Potter will adore this debut novel from Sky McKenna with its marvellous mixture of boarding school setting, … Read More
Yanni isn’t happy. Together with his screaming baby sister who seems to take all his parents’ attention, he has had … Read More
The best-selling creators of Kid Normal, Greg Smith and Chris Smith, are back with a fantastic and funny new story … Read More
Kids Fight Climate Change by Martin Dorey is a densely-packed colourful handbook filled with practical activities (“missions”) for children to … Read More
Reviewed by Sophie, age 14 The Week at World’s End is an interesting book set during the Cold War about a … Read More
Shadowghast, the third book by Thomas Taylor involving Herbert Lemon and Violet Parma is set in the aptly named Eerie-on … Read More
This is a funny, mad-cap adventure that involves flying tuk-tuks, lost treasure, the great Pyramids, a 12-year old girl and … Read More
This is the perfect book for fact-loving young readers and a must for the classroom. Following on from his earlier … Read More
At a time when travel is restricted, this is a tale that takes us to Crete, to beautiful beaches, warm … Read More
This is the fifth and, sadly, the last it seems of this wonderful series which features Tomas, his super-hero gang … Read More
Uma Gnudersonn has plenty of questions to ask but can’t find too many answers until the day when, with best … Read More
Reluctant or dyslexic readers will be delighted by a new story set in the weeks before the outbreak of WW1 … Read More
At the back of a library rests the old, neglected books. Dust-covered, foul-smelling and broken, our narrator uncovers the fairy-tales … Read More
This third novel from Onjali Q Raúf, best-selling author of the award-winning The Boy at the Back of the Class, … Read More
This page-turner reminiscent of the gruesomeness of Roald Dahl with a touch of Lemony Snicket thrown in, is sure to … Read More
The Midnight Guardians is a wonderful departure for Carnegie Award-nominee Ross Montgomery, skilfully combining the kind of fantastical adventures those … Read More
Told from the point of view of a curious nine year old who is intrigued by the silent new boy … Read More
Wonderscape is an ideal story to hook in children who enjoy playing computer games. Set largely in a virtual-reality adventure, … Read More
Haikus, monster cheese sandwiches and lessons in how to fail, help award-winning author of the hilarious Dog Man series Dav Pilkey … Read More
We know that publishers of children’s fiction strive to reach today’s children with titles that reflect both the ethnic and … Read More
This captivating middle-grade novel cleverly explores the issues of teenage mental health delivered through a dual-timeline narrative. In 1884 Emma … Read More
This stunning debut novel artfully combines historical fact with a delicious blend of magical fantasy. The story is set in … Read More
This is going to be a very important book! Yeva is 12. She lives with her grandmother in Kharkiv, Ukraine. … Read More
Aimed at readers of 11+ Witty with plenty of irony Written from the point of view of a 13 year … Read More
A poignant graphic novel which tells the story of Omar and his brother Hassan in the Daadaab Refugee camp in … Read More
For fans of Robin Stevens, this brilliant and original story is the first in a series of books set in … Read More
There is no colour left in the world. Many years ago, the Emperor had stolen it all, making everyone else … Read More
This is such a fascinating and well-researched piece of historical fiction. Acclaimed author Tom Palmer, (After the War, Armistice Runner, … Read More
It is refreshing to read a children’s novel that simultaneously informs and entertains. Ruth’s mother works at the British Museum … Read More
In the sequel to The House At The Edge of Magic, we find that feisty, pick-pocketing orphan, Nine, has moved … Read More
Following the success of After the War, D Day Dog and Armistice Runner, this new story from Tom Palmer is … Read More
This lovely story, translated from Chinese and published here in 2019, tells the story of Dilah, an Arctic fox who … Read More
It’s 1910, Halley’s Comet is in the sky, and Nancy is taken unexpectedly to stay in Suffolk with a grandfather … Read More
This is a wonderful book! Written as a companion novel rather than a sequel to The Skylarks’ War, it’s a … Read More
This is a triumph! A funny book which at its heart shouts out how important words are (with some lexical … Read More
Meet Scarlett McCain, a feisty and sharp-shooting outlaw in a futuristic Britain where surviving towns seem reassuringly familiar while the … Read More
It’s the start of the summer holidays and Twitch, a rather singular little boy who sleeps in a bird-box bed, … Read More
Konnie Huq’s much-loved character Cookie returns in a brilliantly funny book that we enjoyed as much as her first (Cookie … Read More
Fans of stories such as The Worst Witch and The Chrestomanci series will greatly enjoy this new book by talented … Read More
Adam Baron, author of best selling Carnegie-nominated “Boy Underwater” brings Cymbeline Igloo and familiar friends back to life in a … Read More
Two runaway children, two slightly chaotic dogs and a canal boat named ‘Sparrowhawk’ are the cast of this engaging tale … Read More
We think everyone should read Elle McNicoll’s important debut. Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the Year and a Carnegie medal nominee, … Read More
Who wouldn’t love a tale which involves a jewel thief, a royal steam train, a cast of characters that could … Read More
Artemis Fowl has been given a new look to tie-in with the film and thanks to the number of formats … Read More
Part fairytale, and part adventure, this lovely story is set in Russia and tells of Feodora’s journey through the winter … Read More
This is best-selling author of adult self-help books, Bounce and Black Box Thinking, Mathew Syed’s second book for children. Dare … Read More
For fans of The Hate U Give, this is a powerful debut YA novel which confronts the issues of discrimination … Read More
A funny debut novel following wannabe rapper MC Growls (Shaun) and his best friend Shanks. When his live stream goes … Read More
In this powerful and poignant verse novel, the Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, deftly interweaves Greek myth with a contemporary teenage … Read More
From award-winning author Patrice Lawrence comes a truly powerful and heart-breaking story of a teenage girl in care, caught up … Read More
Winner of the Edgar Best Young Adult award 2022, this chilling novel explores the issues of race and white supremacy … Read More
Inspired by true events this powerful, and at times harrowing, tale concerns three young children whose closely intertwined lives take … Read More
Shortlisted for the 2022 Yoto Carnegie Medal and based on true events, this magnificent verse novel about a wrongly imprisoned … Read More
Shortlisted for the young adult book prize Carnegie Medal 2022, and winner of The Young Quills Historical Fiction Award 2021, … Read More
Winner of the Costa Children’s Book Award 2021, this is a powerful Young Adult verse novel that is both compassionate … Read More
Magic, friendship and teenage angst! The sequel to the highly successful All our Hidden Gifts is a complex but intriguing … Read More
This is a highly enjoyable book for young adults about friendship, rules and what happens when you break them. Teenager … Read More
Reviewed by Jack, age 12 I enjoyed Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes. It’s about a 12-year-old boy named Jerome, … Read More