40 more of the best new children's books in 2025

July

Unfairies by Huw Aaron (7+)

Some stories will tell you fairies are sweet, kind, magical creatures. Well, those stories are WRONG. It's time everyone knew the truth: fairies are sneaky, violent and about as magical as slugs.

The first book in a hilarious full-colour graphic novel series where the battles are mighty – but miniature!

The Wood Where Magic Grows written by Andy Shepherd and illustrated by Ellie Snowdon (7+)

Have you ever looked at a tree and seen a face staring back? Maybe you spotted a knobbly brow or a knotty pair of eyes, or even a mossy beard? Well, next time you do, stop staring and say hello!

The first book in an enchanting new series from the author of The Boy Who Grew Dragons, full of unexpected adventure, wonder and wildness, and just a little touch of magic!

Running My Own Race by Abena Eyeson (9+)

Kofi dreams of being a professional athlete – but he soon finds following your heart isn't an easy road. Can Kofi find a way to follow his own path?

An empowering, coming-of-age story combining captivating writing with unforgettable characters. We're giving you the chance to win a signed copy and a pair of Nike trainers!

My Soul, A Shining Tree by Jamila Gavin (8+)

A stunning and heartbreaking novel from the author of Coram Boy and The Wheel of Surya, based on the true story of Indian WWI gunner and recipient of the Victoria Cross, Khudadad Khan.

Dante N. Ferno is NOT a Loser by Brian Gordon (7+)

Ever since his trousers fell down in front of the whole school, Dante has struggled to shake off his seriously uncool reputation. Luckily, he has a foolproof plan to become the most popular kid at his new school.

A humorous and highly illustrated book for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Earlier this year, we gave you the chance to get one of 100 copies of this – you can still read the first chapter!

Black Dolls written by Rachelle Faturoti and illustrated by Flo Woolley (12+)

A kick-ass new graphic novel about an all-Black female pop-punk band and the epic battle they face at Clash of the Bands. For fans of Heartstopper and Josie and the Pussycats.

August

Small Wonder by Ross Montgomery (9+)

Remember everything I taught you, Small Wonder. Take care of Leaf. Take care of Pebble. I’ve done all I can. The rest is up to you…

Ross Montgomery – winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year 2024, and the 2024 Books Are My Bag Readers Award for Children's Fiction – is back with Small Wonder, a classic adventure story about the bond between two brothers, their faithful horse, and a surprising legacy.

Spirit Warriors by Ashley Thorpe (9+)

Ancient magic and all-new heroes in a battle between the living and the dead – an epic story of chaos, folklore, myth and adventure for fans of Percy Jackson, from the author of The Boy to Beat the Gods.

When Evie's island home is overrun by evil spirits, she must unlock her magic and team up with both old and new friends to stop the Blackheart Man.

The Moonlighters written by Lee Newbery and illustrated by Geraldine Rodriguez (9+)

When 10-year-old Theo ends up alone in London, he's taken in by the mysterious Alistair Goodfellow. Each night, Theo joins the Moonlighters as they search for lost magical artefacts for Alistair, who gifts them their own magical powers as a reward. Theo is quickly enthralled, but there is more to Alistair than meets the eye...

Peter Pan meets Oliver Twist in the magical new book by the author of The Last Firefox.

Jellybean written by Eve Ainsworth and illustrated by Theo Parish (11+, with a reading age of 7)

Ellie battles feelings of anxiety about school that she can't explain in this sensitively told tale.

September

Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron (14+)

A Frankenstein-tinged horror romance from the author of the TikTok sensation Cinderella is Dead.

As a mortician's assistant at her parents' funeral home, Meka's days are not for the squeamish. But then strange things start to happen: strangers follow her, mysterious items are left at her door, and worst of all: the dead don't seem to be staying dead…

Oh Dear, Look What I Got written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (3+)

"I went to the shop to get me a carrot. Oh dear, they gave me …. a parrot! Oh dear, look what I got! Do I want that? No I do NOT!"

A new instant rhyming classic from the creators of the family favourite, We're Going on a Bear Hunt.

The Fear written by Tom Palmer and illustrated by Robin Boyden (9+, with a reading age of 7)

Kian has to face his fears of footballing failure in order to support a friend in this action-packed sports story.

Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom written by P.J. Kilburn and illustrated by Markia Jenai (9+)

Jermaine can't resist the patties at his great-great uncle's Dead Yard party – until he finds out they're meant for the dead, and no one eats before midnight. Jermaine wishes he knew that before 22:53…

The first book in a spook-tastic new series, perfect for fans of the Goosebumps and Dread Wood series.

This is Who I Am written by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane (4+)

Discover that we are so much more than where we are from in this beautiful, poetic celebration of children with shared heritage.

Hansel and Gretel written by Stephen King and illustrated by Maurice Sendak (7+)

The classic, haunting tale of two brave children lost in an eerie and dangerous forest, reimagined by literary legends: Stephen King and Maurice Sendak.

October

The Notted Island by Katherine Child (9+)

A stunningly illustrated debut about kindness and determination. Perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell, Philip Pullman, Lewis Carroll and Joan Aiken.

Read the first two chapters straight away and enter to get one of 100 early copies with Discover First!

The Very Last Christmas Present by Adam Baron and illustrated by Benji Davies (7+)

Father Christmas is back from his fast-track journey around the world on Christmas Eve but he's forgotten to deliver one of the presents! The reindeers are exhausted, so there's only one option: Father Christmas's loyal dog, Kado. Can Kado help deliver the very last present?

A magical, heartwarming and unforgettable Christmas story with a powerful environmental message at its heart.

November

Swanfall by Sophie Kirtley (9+)

Pip feels most at home in the wetlands, especially during swanfall – when the flock of majestic Arctic swans return from Siberia. But this December, his favourite swans are missing. Instead, Pip notices strange footprints in the snow, whispers on the wind and the sense that someone is watching him...

A thrilling new adventure story inspired by Irish folklore, from the author of The Wild Way Home.

July

Totally Chaotic History: The Stone Age Runs Wild! written by Greg Jenner and illustrated by Rikin Parekh (7+)

Think history is just a boring list of facts and dates? Think again! History is hectic, exciting and unpredictable – in fact, it's absolute CHAOS! Greg Jenner takes us on a riotously fun journey through the Stone Age, from brilliant beginnings to epic ending, accompanied by expert archaeologist Dr Brenna Hassett.

AI for Beginners written by Rachel Firth & Rose Hall and illustrated by Hylton Warburton (10+)

Should we be asking machines to do creative tasks? Is there a chance that machines might take over the world? Is there any point going to school and doing homework if computers can do it all for us? AI For Beginners answers all the questions about AI, where answers exist, and raises debating points at every turn about what it all means.

What Came First? written by Kit Frost and illustrated by Aaron Cushley (9+)

Are pants older than socks? Did flushing toilets come before toilet paper? What’s older – Mount Everest or sharks?Discover a host of surprising facts about science, animals, people, games, and much more in an incredible journey through the world's timeline. 

The Week Junior Guide to the Environment by Dr Sai Pathmanathan (8+)

Who says plastic is not fantastic? Why do rising temperatures matter? Will we all be eating bugs in the future? This book is an essential guide to understanding the environment and climate change from beloved children's magazine The Week Junior.

August

My Body's Power Pack: How to Manage your Energy and Stay in Charge! written by Sandhya Menon and Kushla Ross (7+)

My Body's Power Pack uses elements of neuroscience to help children understand why their energy ebbs and flows, and why this may cause dysregulation, providing gentle neuro-affirmative coping strategies.

Words from War: A Collection of Poetry About Conflic written by Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Flora Delargy (9+)

A powerful and moving collection of poems written by soldiers and civilians who have experienced different conflicts around the world and throughout history. Each poem is followed by a biography of the poet, and their relationship to conflict, as well as the background of the war that is the subject of each poem.

The Extraordinary History of Witches written by Hazel Atkinson and illustrated by Camelia Pham (8+)

Featuring immersive storytelling and enchanting illustrations, this book covers everything from the origin of the word "witch" to the modern-day beliefs of Wiccans. Meet magical women and hear about different forms of magic, from Ancient Egyptian Heka to South American Brujeria.

September

Feminist History for Every Day of the Year written by Kate Mosse and illustrated by Sophie Bass (14+)

Bestselling author and feminist champion Kate Mosse tells the story of women's and girls' history, sweeping across the world and through the ages. From Mary Anning to Simone Biles, Billie Eilish to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Malala Yousafzai to Mary Wollstonecraft, discover the stories of 366 incredible women throughout history.

The Great Big Dinosaur Search Book: An Epic Journey Through Prehistoric Earth (7+)

Travel back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth in this roar-some, giant search challenge.

Meet the Moods written by Agatha Morse and illustrated by Gemma Correll (4+)

How do you tell the difference between Happy and Excited or Grumpy and Sadness? And how can you make Worry go away? With laugh-out-loud character profiles, Meet the Moods introduces children to different moods, including what they feel like and how they might make you behave.

TEN: Children Who Changed the World written by Paterson Joseph and illustrated by Rumbidzai Savanhu (9+)

The debut children's book from the award-winning author and actor.

These ten inspiring children grew up in a time when slavery was still legal in most of the world and people who looked like them weren't expected to become important. But they did! The ten all went on to change the world through their acts of rebellion, bravery and adventure that helped secure their freedom and the freedom of so many from slavery.

History's Most Epic Fails written by Athena Kugblenu and illustrated by Nicole Miles (9+)

History is full of daring deeds, mighty heroes and incredible inventions. But it's also full of humongous FAILS! Athena Kugblenu – comedian and writer on CBBC's Horrible Histories – explores them all, whether it be the silly mishaps that changed the course of history or the mistakes that did us all a favour.

A Wild Child's Book of Nature at Night written by Dara McAnulty and illustrated by Barry Falls (7+)

Join the brilliant Dara McAnulty, winner of the Wainwright Prize for Diary of a Young Naturalist, as he shows you how to explore nature at night.

Press Start to Play by Sam Gayton (9+)

Get ready to press start on… video games, board games, word games, playground games, card games, and play by yourself games when you’re feeling sad games.

This laugh-out-loud, brilliantly imaginative, interactive collection of poetry celebrates play in all its forms.

Dance of Resistance written by Catherine Johnson and illustrated by Katie Hickey (9+, with a reading age of 8)

Catherine Johnson celebrates the incredible life of Josephine Baker in this true story, chronicling her journey from an impoverished childhood to beloved actress, dancer and wartime heroine.

A Poem for Every Question written by Brian Bilston and illustrated by Joe Berger (9+)

Join renowned poet Brian Bilston for a hilarious, non-fiction adventure in 100 poems – with subjects ranging from science and animals to unicorns, pyramids, technology and much more.

Wish Upon a Star: The Science, Magic and Meaning of Stars written by Catherine Ard and illustrated by Wenjia Tang (7+)

A richly illustrated guide to the myths, histories and science of stars. Covering their various forms, including constellations and galaxies, how we study stars and our connections to stars, including navigation, astronomy, art and mythology from around the world.

October

Oceanopedia written by Helen Scales and illustrated by Good Wives and Warriors (7+)

Our planet's oceans are home to a breathtaking array of animals. From the neon squid that roam the open waters and the floating forests of the Sargasso Sea, to glow-in-the-dark sharks and the angel fish of the coral reefs, discover an underwater world teeming with life. Discover an incredible world hidden beneath the waves with this beautiful encyclopedia by marine biologist Dr Helen Scales.

Joy to the Whole World! written by Lucy Brownridge and illustrated by Sang Miao (3+)

Whether it's discovering the magic of Yule in Scandinavia, the colourful Pinatas of Mexico, or the time-honoured rituals of Ethiopia, this Christmas journey is a heart-warming reminder of the universal joy and togetherness that Christmas embodies around the globe.

All of Me: A Poem for Every Emotion written by Daniel Thompson and illustrated by Julia Murray (12+)

A collection of 50 poems to help children understand their feelings and embrace each and every one of them, with poems on joy and jealousy, curiosity and confidence, embarrassment and excitement, and everything in between.