The best children's books of 2026

Meet Nell and Beany, two friends who love to go on adventures together! Today Nell and Beany are going on a fishing trip. But what will they catch? With a read-aloud rhyming story, a cute cat and dog duo, and tabs and a wheel to push, slide and turn, Nell & Beany: The Big Fish is a charming, action-packed tiny adventure for preschool children.

Block the ball from entering the net, pass to your teammate and score the winning goal, as you meet sixteen famous football heroes including Kylian Mbappé, Hannah Hampton and Lionel Messi. Perfect for football-mad toddlers who like to play as they read.

This brilliant interactive spinner book will help preschoolers learn all about favourite animals, colours and counting from 1 to 10. Spin the wheels and answer the questions on each page: Who's that animal? How many? What colour?

Snuggle up with a blanket and meet an adorable cast of woodland creatures in Camilla Reid and Nila Aye’s new board book for babies and toddlers. With chunky, turnable pages and soft felt flaps for developing fine motor skills, plus a surprise mirror ending that will make little ones giggle as they discover who is the cosiest of all, Who’s Cosy? is sure to become a firm favourite story this autumn and beyond. 

Where is Dot hiding? Toddlers will love finding out in this interactive hide-and-seek book with tabs to push and pull and eye-catching neon details.

From eye-catching beetles and beautiful butterflies to adorable bumblebees, help all the bugs get ready for the Big Bug Race. Who will win this time? Tilt the book to make the colourful bugs race across the page in this innovative, interactive slider book. Are you ready to join in the fun? Ready . . . steady . . . RACE!

This is the brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, 
“Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay.”

Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure features the return of much-loved characters and is destined to become a classic.

It's springtime. Bear has woken up hungry and finds a lost egg outside his cave. Breakfast? No! Out hatches Gozzle, a very sweet little gosling who is convinced that Bear must be her daddy – and that she should be able to climb, dig and eat honey just like him. Follow Bear on his journey from reluctant carer to parent in this heartwarming and joyous picture book about what home and family truly mean.

They don’t light up, they don't make a sound – but they can take you anywhere! Join one curious little boy on a magical journey of discovery with his whole family, as he finds out that books are secret doorways to adventure, bridges to new worlds and wings for your imagination.

With new teachers to meet, routines to learn, and lots of friends to make, starting the new school year can feel daunting for little ones and their grown-ups alike. I Am Ready for School, the brilliant new picture book written by Early Years expert Camilla Reid and illustrated by Kate Hindley, gently introduces what children can expect when they start school through the story of Roo and his friends. By learning about Roo’s experiences, children of all ages will feel reassured and more prepared for the exciting new adventures that await them in the classroom and beyond this school year.

Toto and Boo are always together. But when Toto feels really worried about something, Boo grows bigger and bigger – until he is gigantic and takes over everything! Poor Toto doesn’t know what to do, until one day he talks to Boo and realises he isn’t a bad guy. Instead, Toto learns that facing our worries can help them feel smaller, and help him feel braver and bolder! A beautifully illustrated, funny picture book that will help primary-aged children learn the skills they need to talk about and manage big feelings and worries, I Am Boo is a must-have for any bookshelf or class book corner. 

Step inside Rasta Granny’s Rainbow in this uplifting celebration of Jamaican culture and cooking from poet Jessica Wilson and illustrator Rochelle Falconer. Join Granny as she brightens her grandson Dylan’s day with a feast cooked up with a rainbow of Jamaican flavours like red ackee and orange plantain. With new foods for them to guess on every page, this interactive picture book will inspire little ones to try new foods. Best of all, they can work with a grown-up to cook up the book’s simple recipes for classic Caribbean dishes like fried plantain and duckanoo.

The ultimate family jam session that swaps 'Once Upon a Time' for a beatbox rhyme! Using the well-known beatboxing starting point pattern of boots and cats, this book takes you on a fantastical, magical ride, down to a deep-sea diner, a nightclub where ducks dance and an exhilarating rollercoaster ride. Bold, wacky and brilliantly funny, Boots and Cats tickles the imagination, reminding us all to find the fun in reading aloud – and to do it together!

Dad is strong.
Dad is sweet.
Dad dreams of watching you grow . . .

Written and illustrated by the multi-award-winning Christian Robinson, Dad draws inspiration from the animal world to break stereotypes of fatherhood and pay tribute to the huge range of relationships dads have with their kids.

Norrie and her little sister Star are two unicorns that live in a magical forest near Norrie's best friend, Louella. Little sisters can be a bit annoying – Star likes to copy almost everything Norrie does, and she always wants to join in whatever she's doing. But when Star disappears everyone joins together to help Norrie find her. They search far and wide, and what they find is a BIG surprise . . .

Emily Gravett's latest book is a very funny story about trying to get to sleep. Bear just can't work out who is keeping him awake with all their cheep cheep noises. He leaves his comfy cave to ask the other animals, but none of them are making that cheepy sound! This is a wonderful rhyming tale with a surprise comic ending.

Meet Penguin: he's thoughtful, kind and loyal. He can be a bit cautious with new things, and he’s very sensible. Pup, on the other hand, is a fun-loving whirlwind! She always thinks big and sometimes gets a bit carried away. . . When it comes to finding a pet, all Penguin wants is a something small and fluffy. Pup, in typical Pup fashion, thinks the BIGGER the better. A blue whale in a dress! A giant sloth! A unicorn! It's a recipe for disaster, and LOTS of laughter, but in The Perfect Pet, will they ever agree on one?

Verbs, also known as action words, can be hard to get the hang of, and nobody understands the struggle better than the young child in Wiggling Words. Skip, trip, fumble and fall with them as they discover that even though words can be tricky, they can be fun too! This is a great book to share with children with dyslexia and other neurodivergence to encourage problem-solving and build confidence.

This comforting and magical bedtime story explores resilience, friendship and overcoming your fears.
When Moon shines down, Owl's toes feel tingly and her wings feel fluttery, and she can't help but dance in the moonlight. But what happens when Moon begins to wane and Owl is left in the darkness? Will she find the inner strength to venture out beyond her treetop home and dance anyway?

They've inhaled Bunny vs Monkey. They love Dogman. Now they need a new, tiny hero in their lives. He’s brave! He’s strong! He’s the size of a jam jar! He’s Tiny Hercules, and he’s winning his way back to Tiny Olympus, one legendary deed at a time. Having been banished to Earth after ruining Tiny Zeus's party, Tiny Hercules must complete twelves tasks to get back home. Crash landing in the peaceful town of Chutney-on-Toast, Tiny Hercules soon spots his first task: defeating a lion. Or maybe it's a cat?. . .

Join Tiny Hercules on his next chaotic quest to find the mysterious golden cabbage and get back to Tiny Olympus in the second instalment of Jon Lock and Nich Angell’s hilarious middle-grade graphic novel series. Will Hercules defeat the ferocious (but miniature) Tinytaur, Minidusa and the Grifflet, sent to Earth by Tiny Zeus? And will Jeff’s mathematical skills and pinpoint-precise graphs save the day and stop Chutney-on-Toast’s supermarket from closing down? Find out in Tiny Hercules – Golden Cabbage Chaos. 

One of The Guardian's Best Children's Books of 2025, The Great Bear is the perfect read for budding environmentalists and conservationists, full of incredible illustrations and inspiring facts alongside its beautiful central story. Since the dawn of time, the Great Bear has patrolled the oceans, protecting the Earth and her animals and overseeing the delicate balance of life. But now, one creature is changing everything. And the Great Bear cannot stand by.

This is the brilliant sequel to A Mermaid's Diary. When timid Atalanta Scrimshaw notices strange footprints in the sand she knows something is wrong. Her best friend, Creech, has vanished! Atalanta raises the alarm, and she and her mermaid friends begin a thrilling chase through Mer City. Can Atalanta and her friends pull off a daring rescue from the aquarium lair of a wicked industrialist before it's too late?

Astrid Atomic and her best friends, the Space Cadets, have been given an important mission – to help two scientists track down a mysterious, never before seen fish rumoured to be living on an underwater planet. But it isn’t long before things take a shocking turn when Astrid and the Space Cadets discover that they have been tricked – the scientists are actually infamous Intergalactic Sea Bandits! Can the gang catch the Sea Bandits and rescue the treasure? Don't miss Astrid and the gang's first adventures in Attack of the Snailiens! and Race from Planet Peril!

A beautiful celebration of the wonder of nature, A Wild Child's Guide to Nature at Night is the new book from author of Diary of a Young Naturalist and Wild Child, Dana McAnulty. Prepare to embark on a night-time adventure, learning how to use all your senses to experience the wonders that unfold at night. Journey through five different habitats in Britain and Ireland and discover fantastic facts about nocturnal animals, activities on how to spot them and ways that we can protect the natural world around us. 

The InvestiGators’ latest case is a dairy disaster! The city's water supply has been replaced with milk and the newest feline agents, the InvestiGatos, don’t seem to be complaining. What’s with the monkey-scientists and why is the rain green?!

From the best-loved author of the Treehouse series comes You and Me and the Gigantic Knucklehead, a laugh-out-loud middle-grade comic book for fans of Dog Man and Bunny vs Monkey. Putting the reader at the centre of the story, this wacky caper takes young bookworms on a hilarious and chaotic adventure as they transform into giants and are banished to a land filled with even bigger giants! This is the third book in Andy Griffiths and Bill Hope’s bestselling You and Me series. 

An inspiring non-fiction book from Billy Monger, former F3 driver, athlete and star of Strictly Come Dancing and Race Across the World, Find Your Drive is packed with tips to help young readers discover their passions and achieve their dreams. Through stories of how he used his inner strength to speak up for what he believes in and overcome the barriers life put in his way, Monger shares inspiring and motivational snippets that will encourage children to build resilience and try their best, even when it feels impossible. With its clear narrative and photos and illustrations designed to support children’s comprehension, Find Your Drive can be enjoyed by readers of all levels. 

Many have tried to reach the heart of the maze that holds the mysterious Avenir, a device that allows the holder to see into the future, but none have ever cracked its code. For twelve-year-old Drew Blake, the maze holds so much more than just the chance to change the future. His sister Evie vanished on her own quest into its dangerous pathways and has never been seen again. Facing the ultimate challenge, Drew pits his smarts against the maze’s ever-changing traps and puzzles, and puts himself in grave danger. Will he discover the secrets of the Avenir and find his sister before the maze takes over?

There’s always something dramatic happening at Mae’s rural Irish boarding school, but there’s never been a murder before. Until now. Joining forces with her best friends and fellow sleuths, the Common Criminals’ Club, Mae and her pals embark on a mission to search for clues and solve the mystery of who killed Conor Haddock. Will they manage to keep themselves out of trouble as the murderer gets wind of their investigation, or are they in danger too? Death Before Detention is perfect for middle-grade and teen fans of Lottie Brooks and the Murder Most Unladylike series. 

Puffin Lau and her best friend Lance are back in the sequel to Land of the Last Wildcat, Lui Sit’s middle-grade eco-adventure story. Rejoin daring Puffin as she learns how to care for her wilful, magical wildcat kitten Noma while embarking on a daring adventure to save her mum, who finds herself in grave danger when a scientific research trip goes wrong. A brilliant adventure story for children who are gaining confidence in reading chapter books independently, The Wildcat and the Gathering Storm is a heartwarming and exciting tale for animal lovers. 

The ultimate all-access pass to the beautiful game, delivered by one of football’s greatest inspirations, Marcus Rashford MBE. Go all in with top player stats, fun facts about your favourite clubs, and the rules of the game. Marcus will also teach you some handy tips and tricks on improving your own skills, as well as showing you all the different ways that you can get into football.

The must-have book for mixed-raced children. Discover the joy of being wholly yourself with Emma Slade Edmondson, co-host of the award-winning Mixed Up podcast, as she guides young readers to be their truest selves. Featuring inspirational letters by mixed-race people from a range of cultural backgrounds and filled with practical advice and engaging activities, this is the essential guide for mixed-race children and their families to explore the different parts of their heritage.

Lights, camera, chaos! The Blockbusters! by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the UK Children’s Laureate, is a laugh-out-loud adventure bursting with heart and Hollywood hijinks. When new boy Rafa and his friends stumble onto the set of a blockbuster movie, Rafa’s uncanny resemblance to a famous star catapults him into the spotlight – complete with VIP treatment and unlimited doughnuts! But amidst the glitz and glamour, Rafa has a mission: to find his missing brother, Cillian, who’s left a mysterious clue. Illustrated by Steven Lenton, this action-packed, warm-hearted tale is perfect for readers who love adventure, comedy, and a touch of movie magic!

Learn how to be strong, think strong and be strong for others with everyone’s favourite Gladiator – Fury! Jodie Ounsley is a Gladiator, an England Rugby player, an inspirational role model for deaf people, and an author too! Jodie wants to show YOU how to be strong in lots of different ways. Written with journalist Becky Grey, Strong Girls is full of stories from Jodie's life, key profiles on her own role models, as well as advice on how to find your own strength and celebrate it. Because you are already strong; you just might not know it yet.

Eleven-year-old Vanya Vallen can talk to books. But more importantly, the books talk back. When her family is attacked by a monster she believed only existed in legends, Vanya discovers that her parents have been keeping secrets, and that monsters do exist. Soon, she is whisked off to the enchanted school of Auramere, where she joins the ranks of archwitches and archivists. Auramere is full of magic. . . and monsters. And the Wild Hunt is on the prowl. It’s up to Vanya to unmask its leader and stop them from destroying the only place she’s ever truly belonged.

Jax, Jovi, Esau and Fourth live for full-moon adventures – sneaking out after curfew, dodging the Nighthawks and roaming the empty streets of Moonhaven. But when a rare werewolf attack rocks the town, the friends become prime suspects. With the Nighthawks closing in on anyone who was out after dark, they’re forced to run – setting off a chain of rumours, secrets and betrayals. As suspicion spreads, friendships are tested and the truth may be more dangerous than any of them imagined . . This book is packed with more than one hundred spectacular black-and-white illustrations by superstar author/illustrator Rob Biddulph.

In this laugh-out-loud, highly illustrated adventure from Brian Gordon, Dante arrives at Purg School determined to reinvent himself and finally become cool. His plan? Make loads of friends, ace every sport, and prove all the haters wrong. The catch? His classmates are literal monsters, myths, and legends, and popularity is a whole new ball game. Packed with wild mishaps, quirky characters, and a big dose of heart, this is the perfect pick for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and anyone who’s ever felt like an underdog.

This is a spectacular new fantasy trilogy featuring dragons, a monstrous hound on the hunt for lost souls and a waterhorse of deadly beauty. No babies have been born for twelve years, and no-one knows why. Quill is one of the youngest people alive, a shy ordinary twelve-year-old with no interest in being a hero. But then a mysterious shapeshifter reveals a world of urgent magic and breathtaking danger, and Quill realises he must find the courage to fight for his world.

For as long as he can remember, sixteen-year-old Ezra has been on the run to keep himself and his nine-year-old sister Evie out of danger. But when, out of desperation, he commits a crime he can’t get away with, Ezra is forced to make a heartbreaking choice. Seeing an escape across the border into Ireland as his only option, should he leave his sister in the care system, or take her with him once again? Runaway Road is a moving YA novel set in contemporary Northern Ireland about the importance of family and belonging. 

Join Patch Simmons, self-styled Drama King, as he navigates more romantic misadventures in the second book in Harry Trevaldwyn’s hilarious YA queer romance series. Will Patch be able to work out whether he should date charismatic Peter or his best friend Sam without breaking either of their hearts? Find out in must-read I Can't Believe I Don't Have a Boyfriend, a laugh-out-loud celebration of the joy of queer teen romance and the emotions of falling in love for the first time. 

From the award-winning author of The Lie Tree comes a stunning new YA fantasy novel. The Kingdom of Thaletal is no ordinary place. For the villagers, their lives are dictated by the Great Game, where castles are moved like chess pieces by those in power. But for 15-year-old Burr, the arrival of a new castle is the last straw. Leading a coup against the players, he is banished and left to rely on his friends and mysterious maiden to unlock the secrets of the Kingdom. Will he be able to find the answers and free the people from the Great Games' clutches for good?

The heart-pounding sequel to the epic gods-and-monsters fantasy The Sleepless. There are new gods roaming the earth, and Lucian and Artair, two souls forced to share one body, are prime targets for their wrath. Between them both is Elver: a monster girl caught between the humanity that Artair brought back into her life, and the strange obsession that Lucian stirs within her. But she is no longer the girl that she was when they first met. Elver has been changed, too - in ways more terrifying than even she can imagine. There is treachery at work in their midst, and as the world teeters on the edge of chaos and devastation, the battle lines must be drawn before it's too late.

Fans of YA crime like The Reappearance of Rachel Price should snap this up. Sarah has got a fair few people's backs up over the years, in her voluntary role as high school amateur detective and part-time vigilante. And now she's disappeared, leaving behind a binder labelled 'In case I go missing.' Her friend Fenny knows Sarah was mid-major investigation, and there must be foul play involved. So she decides to pick up the case.

Corin doesn’t have time for fairy tales. She’s too busy surviving her war-torn reality. Then, her little sister runs off to find a mythical sleeping princess she believes can fix everything. When Corin follows her sister into the princess’s sleeping world, she suspects there are darker secrets hidden deep inside the dreams. Should she stay in this whimsical paradise? Or should she return to the waking world, with all its horrors, and fight for a better life?

Princess Mariama's life may look enviable, but she has a terrible secret. Behind palace walls, ninety-nine suitors have died trying to complete a trial in order to win her hand in marriage. And she is determined to end the carnage. Meanwhile, Amie has lost everything after being framed for a crime she had nothing to do with, and has been forced to work at the palace. Will she help Mariama to end the trials, or try to escape with the boy she loves?

This heart-wrenching follow up to You've Reached Sam features Sam's best friend, Oliver. Even though he knows he won’t get a response, Oliver can’t stop texting Sam’s number, especially as the anniversary of his death approaches. Then one day he accidentally hits the call button, and someone picks up. Sam’s number was reassigned and a college student called Ben has been receiving Oliver’s private and vulnerable messages for months. When they finally meet in person, their spark is undeniable. Everything seems perfect until Oliver discovers something impossible and strange that will keep them from being together . . .

For years, Yaseema and the fae have faced persecution by the Empire. Their traditions have been quashed, their magic extinguished, and their artefacts hidden away. As she works in secret to keep the magic alive, Yaseema finds a lost key that gives her access to the fae world. After crossing the river, she meets a gruff Captain who is searching for the same thing as her - an ancient fae crown that could restore their magic. Teaming up, they battle monsters, solve curses and slowly realise their feelings for one another. Will they be able to bring magic back to the kingdom? The River She Became is the first novel in a YA fantasy duology by bestselling author Emily Varga. 

This New Adult debut is a sapphic romance with a supernatural twist, packed full of snappy dialogue and crackling with tension. By day, Harper and Tia are bickering interns; by night, they’re sworn enemies, bound to rival magical clans and tasked with each other’s destruction. What follows is a breathless game of secrets, shifting loyalties and undeniable attraction, set against a vibrant, neon-lit cityscape. Chong balances wit and heart, crafting a sapphic enemies-to-lovers story where love is as dangerous as the magic that binds them.

Two teenagers try to break out of the system that has them trapped in this dark fantasy. Mancella has a strange and violent magic that can summon an army of animals (as long as she kills them first). Silver is charming and manipulative, and wants to use Mancella in his latest scheme. Even worse, it turns out, is her father, who wants her to use her powers to create a human spirit army, with all the murder this entails. Mancella find herself forced to make choices that will change her world forever. 

Poems that tap into every emotion, and empower you to feel them, from classic poetry, well loved poets and bold, new voices. This poignant collection, curated by Charlie Castelletti, will help you navigate all that life throws at you, from falling in love to having your heart broken, to feeling anxious about and having hope for the world.

This is the epic follow up to the bestselling A Tempest of Tea. White Roaring is sharpening its fangs after the deadly night that left the city in shambles. The press are dead, the public calls for justice, vampires are in danger, and amid the turmoil, the Ram announces a celebration. Still reeling from the bloodshed, Arthie Casimir has no time to mourn the death of anyone, let alone her own. She has no time for love, either, but it had saved her life. As Arthie navigates new emotions and new allies, she must reassemble her scrambled crew and scrape what little they have left to fight one last time – and she will need to face the ghosts of her past to do it.