The best children’s books of 2025
A new read-aloud favourite, doughnuts with world-conquering ambitions, high fantasy from Katherine Rundell, and more
The Firework-Maker’s Daughter review – Philip Pullman’s fairytale is explosive fun
This spellbinding adaptation uses a bulging dramatic toolbox of clever effects and manages to be both epic and intimate
The Children’s Booker prize will tell kids that they matter
As the number of children reading for pleasure hits a record low, the new award highlights its importance for wellbeing, and will give away thousands of books
UK libraries urged to remove children’s books with URL hijacked by porn site
Puffin issues alert to schools and local authorities over books in popular Spy Dog series by Andrew Cope
Character actors: Australia’s children celebrate 80 years of Book Week
What began in 1945 as a way to promote reading has turned into a highlight of the school year, with children dressing up in outfits inspired by their favourite books
My kids may be in terribly crafted costumes, but the real magic of Book Week is in the pages
In a world of shrinking attention spans and falling literacy rates, this celebration of books might be more important than ever
Andy Griffiths: ‘I think it’s a pity that reading is being lost through neglect’
The multimillion copy-selling children’s author on his freewheeling childhood, the joy of being unproductive and life after the Treehouse series
Maurice Gee obituary
New Zealand author who wrote about his country’s darker side and was best known for his Plumb trilogy of novels
Stephen Mangan: ‘With three people in a bed, who goes in the middle?’
The Split actor and children’s author on throuples, using his sons as a focus group, and running the London marathon
Children and teens roundup – the best new chapter books
A classic Yeti romp with 28 possible endings, a Blade Runner-style thriller and more adventures on the Thames with Jessie Burton
Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
Sleepy monsters; a wacky broken robot; a search for magical treasures and more
Bestselling Australian Bad Guys author Aaron Blabey signs eight-figure deal for seven new books
First title of series for tweens titled Game of Pets will be fantasy story to debut in 2026
Picture books for children – reviews
Laughter abounds with tales of mini beasts at bedtime, a box filled with babbling babies and an odd-couple comedy from Julia Donaldson
From The Sheep-Pig to His Dark Materials: the best audiobooks for children and teens
As research reveals children want to listen to books rather than read them, here are some of the best audiobooks to enjoy
Pig Heart Boy review – lively staging of Malorie Blackman’s stimulating novel
Winsome Pinnock adapts the story of a teenager whose heart transplant causes controversy but the comedy drowns out the issues