40 of the best new children's books in 2025

January

The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold (12+)

It’s been a year since a devastating storm ripped Liz's world apart... Now she's holed up in the only place she felt safe before her world fell away: the bookstore where she used to work. And now another storm is coming.

A heartbreaking and high-stakes story of queer love and survival set against the backdrop of a climate change apocalypse.

People Like Stars by Patrice Lawrence (9+)

Three 13-year-old strangers are connected by one big secret. What happens when their paths cross... ?

A page-turning mystery and exploration of fractured families, long-buried secrets and the power of friendship.

Hunt for the Golden Scarab by M.G. Leonard and illustrated by Manuel Sumberac (9+)

Running for their lives, Sim and his friends are determined to outwit the sinister Council of Keys and be the first to find Nefertiti’s lost tomb and a powerful door to Ancient Egypt.

The action of Indiana Jones meets the time travel of Dr Who in the first title in the Time Keys series.

The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick by Larry Hayes (10+)

By night, Finn has horrible nightmares. By day, they come TRUE!

A gripping horror story by Laugh Out Loud Book Award winner Larry Hayes.

The Famous Five: Five and the Forgotten Treasure by Chris Smith, inspired by Enid Blyton (8+)

The Famous Five are back as a new group of kids head to Kirrin Island to help crack the mystery of the forgotten treasure.

Join the Famous Five in this brand-new adventure featuring original and new characters.

February

The Day My School Got Famous by Jen Carney

When the headteacher sets the school a design challenge, Ferris knows that he MUST find a way to work with his new foster brother, Nile, who causes mischief wherever he goes. But can the boys put their differences aside in order to win a once-in-a-lifetime prize? Or will this partnership have EXPLOSIVE consequences?!

An uplifting book to accompany The Day My Dog Got Famous, bursting with comic strips and cartoons.

Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improbable by Tom Percival (5+)

Squirrel and Duck might seem strange housemates but they are drawn together by their secret – they are the only two talking animals in the world.

Hilarious illustrated fiction about unlikely friends who outwit bungling burglars, with only the help of their pet cactus. Young readers will love this zanily brilliant story, full of unlikely scenarios and laugh-out-loud moments.

March

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (13+)

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honour of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. In District 12, Haymitch's name is called.

Teenagers and adults alike will be excited to read this tense prequel to The Hunger Games. 

Meet the Mubbles by Liz Pichon (5+)

Welcome to the Isle of Smile where everyone, including the Wibbles of Wobble Mountain, the singing Earworms and the one-eyed Drib Drabs, lives in perfect harmony – most of the time! But when the Clouds of Joy BUMP together to make a wonky rainbow it means one thing: someone or something is coming to VISIT. Who could it be?

The first book in a hilarious new graphic novel series from the creator of Tom Gates.

Puloma and the Bear written by Jasbinder Bilan and illustrated by Skylar White (9+)

Can Puloma save Nyla the bear and herself at the same time?

Puloma must summon immense courage to rescue a captive bear in this gripping adventure.

How to Roller Skate with One Leg written by Ella Dove and illustrated by Jennifer Jamieson (9+)

Maya Bright has spent months recovering from a car accident – and the loss of her leg. Now she's finally going back to school and can't wait to hang out with her friends. But to her dismay, her best friend Sophie has ditched her for a group of cool girls. When Maya finds a bucket list she made before her accident, she decides she's still going to do everything on it... 

Uplifting, funny and full of heart, Ella Dove's debut is a celebration of friendship, family and overcoming adversity.

Hidden Treasure by Jessie Burton (9+)

From the bestselling author of The Miniaturist. Jessie Burton's Hidden Treasure is the page-turning story of two children whose lives collide when they find an ancient treasure with the power to return to them the most precious thing they have ever lost.

Serial Chillers: The Witch in the Woods by Jennifer Killick (9+)

Hazard is an ordinary town where strangeness is a way of life. When Travis and his classmates are set a school project to investigate the town's history, they soon realise that something strange and alien lies beneath...

A super-spooky new novel from the 2024 World Book Day author of the Dread Wood series.

April

A Sequence of Cosmic Accidents by S.A Reyhani (9+)

12-year-old Arian never wanted a foster sister, much less the weird and annoying one who has joined his family. There’s just one thing the pair can agree on: that Madlock is from another planet. Of course, Arian never meant literally… It turns out she's is the most wanted criminal in the galaxy. 

Teachers vs. Aliens vs the Kids! written by Steve Williams and illustrated by Ellie O'Shea

When a school assembly is interrupted by an alien invasion, bookworm Finley Swinnerton finds himself catapulted into an unlikely quest to save the planet, humanity and even Derek the school Guinea Pig! Get ready for the cosmic clash of the century…

These Are My Rocks by Bethan Woollvin (3+)

Join the narrator, as they proudly introduce the reader to their prized collection, featuring BIG things to small things… and spiky things to wobbly things!

A stylish, humorous, and inclusive celebration of children's love of collecting. 

May

I Can't Even Think Straight by Dean Atta (13+)

Big decisions and messy relationships. It's all part of life for Kai...

A queer coming of age story, written in verse, for fans of Sarah Crossan and Sex Education.

Felix and the Future Agency by Rachel Morrisroe (8+)

Felix Green can foresee the future. When his latest prediction comes true, he soon finds himself whisked off to join the secret underground Future Agency. Here he starts to learn the tools to protect the country from the natural disasters set to befall it. When a dark spectre infiltrates, only Felix can unmask the culprit and save the agency from destruction...

Pia's Pet Club: Puppy Problem written by Serena Patel and illustrated by Emma McCann (7+)

Meet Pia, the girl who loves pets, but isn't allowed one of her own!

A new series of funny animal adventures from the creators of Anisha, Accidental Detective.

June

A Box Full of Murders by Janice Hallett (9+)

When siblings Ava and Luke discover a mysterious notebook in their dad’s attic, they are instantly intrigued. And, as they read through letters, diary entries, newspaper cuttings and notarised secret recordings, they realise that a decades-old, still unsolved, murder case is unfolding right in front of them....

YOU know the facts. YOU have all the clues. Can YOU solve the mystery before they do?

The first children's book from bestselling author Janice Hallett.

How It Works: Money written by Lizzie Cope and illustrated by Shaw Nielsen (7+)

Lift the flaps to find out all about money and what it can do, from earning and spending to borrowing and lending. See what goes on inside a bank, and discover tips and tricks for managing your own money.

Simply explained with fun, quirky illustrations, this book is a perfect introduction for anyone curious about how money works.

The Sad Ghost Club: A Hopeful Guide to Getting Through Bad Days by Lize Meddings (12+)

We can all feel anxious and alone sometimes. Like you're almost... invisible. But at the Sad Ghost Club, you can find your kindred spirits and know you're not alone. In this graphic novel for both teens and adults alike, discover the Sad Ghost Club's rules for taking things one day at a time. 

A Kids Book About Systemic Racism by Jordan Thierry (5+)

Systemic racism is incredibly difficult to understand – even for grown-ups! – but it isn’t always obvious, which is what makes it so hard to see. This book was made to help kids aged 5 to 9 understand what systemic racism is and how it's built into laws, schools, stories and other institutions in a way that collectively makes life much harder for people of colour.

One Day: A True Story of Courage and Survival in the Holocaust by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Benjamin Phillips (5+)

Eugène Handschuh was a Jewish member of the Resistance in occupied Paris. After he was captured by the Nazis, he was placed on a convoy to Auschwitz. Against all the odds, with the help of strangers and fellow members of the Resistance, Eugène and his father escaped the convoy and survived – when so many others did not.

Former Poet Laureate Michael Rosen was inspired to tell this story after discovering his father’s uncle and aunt were on the same convoy as Eugène, but never returned. With powerful illustrations from Benjamin Phillips, this sensitive true-story picture book reminds us of the best of people, in the worst of times.

February

Make Your Own Rainbow: A colourful approach to all things STEAM by Leonie Briggs (7+)

An engaging book that identifies creative, fun and easy ways to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) subjects using the colours of the rainbow, from colour and chemical reactions to photosynthesis, with many more in between.

All Brains Are Wonderful written by Scott Evans and illustrated by The Boy Fitz Hammond (7+)

Primary school teacher, neurodivergent spokesperson and reading for pleasure expert Scott Evans, with the help of a neuroscientist, shows how neurodiversity, mental health and training your brain are what makes you YOU.

Little People, Big Dreams: Roald Dahl written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Francis Martin (5+)

Discover the life of Roald Dahl, the groundbreaking author whose work is beloved by children all over the world, part of the popular Little People, Big Dreams series.

What's the Actually Factually Difference?: How to tell the difference between over 150 things that are similar but different by Jane Wilsher and illustrated by Liz Kay (8+)

What's the difference between a country and a continent? What's the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? And what about a wormhole and a black hole?

A fun-filled, fact-packed encyclopedia with sections on space, the body, the world, food, technology, transport, animals, and more.

March

99 Questions About: The Ancient Greeks by Annabel Stones (8+)

Where did the ancient Greeks do their shopping? Why did the Athenians worship Athena? And just what happened in a hippodrome?! Find out the answers to all these questions and many, many more in this high-interest romp through the world of the ancient Greeks.

The 99 Questions About... series makes historical civilisations come alive with interest, humour and occasional weirdness.

See Inside AI written by Alex Frith and Victoria Williams and illustrated by Beatrix Hatcher (7+)

How can a machine write a story? Are computers now cleverer than people? Could a robot do your shopping? Discover all the things that artificial intelligence can already do (and the things it can't).

How To Be Disabled and Proud: (or at least kinda sorta okay with it...) by Cathy Reay (9+)

In this honest, funny, empowering guide, Cathy Reay draws on her own experiences of growing up disabled to encourage young readers to embrace (or at least, feel kinda sorta OK with) their disabled identity. Cathy examines the challenges faced by disabled children, touching gently on issues such as bullying and discrimination, and what to do when people just don’t get it, with comforting and practical advice to help readers through tough times.

Epic FACTopia!: Follow the Trail of 400 Extreme Facts written by Rose Davidson and illustrated by Andy Smith (8+)

On this epic fact-trail, you will dine inside a volcano and waterslide through a shark-filled lagoon. You will meet a cat worth $97 million, a goat who can ride a surfboard, and a daredevil who skydived from space.

Epic FACTopia! uncovers some of the world's most wow-worthy, awe-inspiring, and unbelievable facts, that kids will be desperate to share with friends and family.

The Greatest Stuff on Earth: The amazing science of sunlight, smartphones, microphones, mushrooms & everything in written by Steve Tomecek and illustrated by John Devolle (8+)

Have you ever stopped to think about all the stuff you encounter every day? There's the stuff you breathe, the stuff you eat, the stuff you wear, the stuff you read, the stuff you walk on, the stuff you ride in, the stuff your body is made of… plus water, trees, sunlight, soap, electricity, vaccines, smartphones, and so much more!

With contagiously enthusiastic and chatty explanatory text, fast facts, and clever, stylish and sometimes funny photos, illustrations, and diagrams, this fantastically browsable book offers hundreds of entry points for knowledge-hungry kids.

My First Story Orchestra: The Four Seasons in One Day by Jessica Courtney Tickle (5+)

The My First Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for little children through illustrated retellings of classic ballets, operas and musical stories, paired with 10-second sound clips of real orchestras playing the music.

Listen to the changing seasons and watch the leaves change colour in Vivaldi's Four Seasons in One Day. Children will love pressing the button on every page to hear the music, as the story unfolds.

Six Queens: An illustrated guide to the iconic queens of Henry VIII by Lydia Monks (7+)

Lydia Monks brings to life the six queens of Henry VIII in spectacular, fully-illustrated style, including a foreword from Tudor historian, author and broadcaster Suzannah Lipscomb.

Perfect for Tudor enthusiasts who want to learn more about six queens who changed history.

April

National Trust: Wonder World: Earth by Ben Lerwill & Xuan Le (5+)

What’s the point of soil? What’s it ever done for us? From hosting billions of worms to minibeasts and microbes, to being the home of fungi that could allow trees to talk, to providing enough nutrients to feed a planet... soil is a muddy, magical, marvellous miracle!

The first book in a gorgeously illustrated new natural science series for children, produced in collaboration with the National Trust.

Weird Philosophy: A wonderfully weird kid’s introduction to philosophy written by Brandon Robshaw and illustrated by Paul Hammond (9+)

Are you in a video game right now? If your body is constantly changing, are you still you? Would you rather be a happy pig or an unhappy human?

Weird Philosophy introduce children to some of the weirdest ever philosophical thoughts – and encourage them to think up some answers of their own, packed with funny stories, cartoons, and silly quizzes.

May

Growing into You! An Inclusive, Shame-Busting, Get-Real Guide to Your Changing Body and Mind by Melissa Pintor Carnagey (10+)

Packed with essential information, conversation starters, surprising facts, fun activities, and more, you’ll find plenty to take into the real world with you. After all, growing into you is a journey – so it’s time to embrace curiosity, ask questions, and treat your body with respect and care!

A shame-busting, interactive guide to puberty and changing bodies by the founder of Sex Positive Families.

Girls with Goals: How women's football took over the world by Clelia Castro-Malaspina (12+)

A love letter to women's football and the female athletes who inspired girls all over the world to pull on their cleats, Girls with Goals will honor the women who fought hard to play the sport they loved and paved the way for athletes playing all women's sports today.

Become a Genius in a Year by Mike Rampton (7+)

Discover how planes fly, which spiders can kill you and how to milk a cow, plus learn about Vikings with silly names, being sick in space and what really happens in the Bermuda Triangle.

Knowledge-hungry readers will become an absurdly intelligent, super-brained, hyper-genius capable of anything… in just twelve magnificent months.