Children's books

Kids of all ages can benefit from a good book. Whether fiction or non-fiction, children’s books gently introduce kids to new concepts and ideas to further explore, teach them how to be caring, compassionate and responsible members of their community, and allow them the freedom to let their imagination and creativity run wild.

Books can help the development of babies and toddlers in so many ways. Board books are the perfect way to introduce babies to the wonderful world of literature. As well as helping hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, they’re robust enough to withstand small, clumsy hands, and are a great tummy time activity. Fiona Watt’s That’s Not My… series of tactile baby books includes touchy feely images of everything from animals to vehicles and mythical creatures, aiding sensory development in a fun, colourful way.

Reading with young children can expand vocabularies, increase attention spans and stimulate imaginations, as well as creating important bonds across generations as parents and grandparents read to the youngsters in their family. Classic picture books such as Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo and Sam McBratney’s Guess How Much I Love You are great books to read together, teaching important lessons of friendship and expressions of love in a very simple, gentle way. 

Early learning books prepare children for school, covering everything from the ABCs and 123s to colours, shapes, sounds and animals. While classic picture books like Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell and Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar continue to delight, there are lots of early learning books and activity books featuring popular characters to help children grow, so why not learn the alphabet with Paddington Bear, how to use a potty with Peppa Pig, or numeracy skills with the Paw Patrol? 

For newly independent young readers, books often provide the first look at the wider world around them, introducing different cultures, complex concepts and modern-day issues in an accessible, age-appropriate manner. Roald Dahl is a must-have for any young person’s library, with books such as Matilda and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory sparking the imagination for generations, while David Walliams offers wildly imaginative adventures which touch upon many modern issues: in Gangsta Granny, young Ben finds that his granny flouts the conventional image of old people, and Dennis defies gender stereotypes in The Boy In The Dress. 

Books can provide excitement and adventure for young readers. Katherine Rundell’s The Explorer will transport them to the wilds of the Amazon rainforest as four children fight for survival after a plane crash, or for adventure a little closer to home, Jeff Kinney’s Diary Of A Wimpy Kid follows the everyday exploits of Greg Heffley as he tackles school bullies, embarrassing parents and an annoying older brother.

Jacqueline Wilson is one of the UK’s most prolific children’s authors, with over 100 books to her name. Tackling many issues, her books are the perfect introduction to an often imperfect world: The Story Of Tracy Beaker looks at life in a care home, while the eponymous Lola Rose must start a new life after fleeing her mother’s abusive boyfriend. In Hetty Feather, the Victorian era is introduced as Hetty is abandoned at the Foundling Hospital.

For youngsters wanting to learn more about the past, Horrible Histories by Terry Deary is a great series of non-fiction books covering all the exciting parts of history from the Stone Age to the 20th century, but whatever your young reader is into, there’s a book to sate their natural curiosity about the world around them. Covering everything from science to sport, STEM to art, and every weird and wonderful fact about everything in the known universe, children’s non-fiction is a genre with endless opportunities, with books to answer the biggest of questions and ask a bigger one in return. 

Books provide a place for young adults to explore real-world issues in a safe manner, exposing them to both the best and worst of humanity. Authors such as Suzanne Collins brought the dystopian world of Panem to life in The Hunger Games trilogy, raising real-world issues of class, inequality, oppression and corruption, but also the power of love, the notion of sacrifice, and the importance of perseverance and bravery. J.K. Rowling’s phenomenally popular Harry Potter series also explores themes of inequality and the corrupting nature of power as well as matters of slavery, prejudice and the devastating grief caused by death, while Philip Pullman opens up the world of theology in His Dark Materials series, asking questions about religion, destiny and free will. 

Books that focus on LGBTQ+ issues, such as Heartstopper by Alice Oseman or Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera’s What If It’s Us series, have an important role in educating young adults about gender and sexuality, and can offer much-needed solace and support for anyone struggling with their own identity.  

Young adult books such as Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief and John Boyne’s The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas introduce young adults to the atrocities of the past, while Malorie Blackman’s Noughts & Crosses and Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give deal with contemporary dark themes of racism and police brutality.

Here are AwesomeBooks, we firmly believe that books are a vital resource for kids of all ages, so we’re happy to donate a book to someone in need for every new or used book you buy. Young readers have a wealth of literature at their fingertips, with millions of cheap new and used books to browse through, all available at bargain prices. Our vast collection of second-hand children’s books contains something for every child, whether they want to lose themselves in another world or learn more about the one they live in, while with our range of new and used young adult books, teens can discover who they are and how they can live their best lives. So come and browse our online collection, and find the perfect children’s book the awesome way.