Young Readers Programme: booklists

Celebrate reading and inspire children with our curated booklists. We've compiled lists matched to age ranges, genres and themes to help engage children, develop their own reader identity and to encourage them to try something new.

Our booklists include:

• Age ranges covering 5 through to 13+
• Genres including non-fiction, magazines and funny books
• Themes such as wellbeing, the environment, space & STEM, refugee and migrant stories, and LGBTQIA+
• Plus award winners, titles to engage reluctant readers, and inspiration for what to read next after a title or author they have really enjoyed.

Why reading is important

In 2024, our Annual Literacy Survey recorded the lowest levels of reading enjoyment since we started asking children and young people about this in 2005.

We know that reading for enjoyment is vital to a child’s development and future success in life. Children who enjoy reading are three times more likely to read above the level expected for their age than children who don’t enjoy reading. As well as this, children who are good readers are three times more likely to have higher mental wellbeing than their peers with below expected reading skills.

So explore our booklists, share then with you class, pin then up in your library and inspire children as they choose their next good read!

These booklists have been created by our award-winning Young Readers Programme team drawing on over 25 years of experience in helping children develop a love of reading. The programme uses fun activities and events to help young children learn how to choose books they will enjoy and provides the chance for them to select brand new books to take home and keep.