How to choose a great book for your child: A Pebble Guide

Most parents and carers will already know about the wonderful benefits of encouraging a love of reading in our kids. But, with so many other distractions in modern life, how do we find “the right book” that will engage our kids? Here, the Pebble team, and our lovely social media followers, share their favourite children's books - and we explore why finding the right book doesn’t need to be a needle-in-a-haystack-style challenge.

Choosing the right book for your child

Respect children’s book choices: 

In an article called “How to choose a great book for your child” you might be surprised to hear that our first piece of advice is “don’t”. Sure, they will need help, and perhaps a gentle nudge in the right direction to pick something they will love, but this year’s World Book Day theme is "Read Your Way". The lovely people over at the World Book Day charity explain that “children are more likely to enjoy reading when their choices are championed” and that “reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income.” So, if they love the look of a book (assuming it is age-appropriate!) encourage them to pick it up and have a browse!

Consider your child’s age and reading level: 

On the subject of choosing age-appropriate books, it is helpful to steer your child in the direction of books that match their reading ability.  You can refer to reading-level guidelines provided by the publishers or bookshops to ensure the book is not too challenging or too easy for them. Online bookshops like Waterstones, Awesome Books and Amazon will also allow you to sort the books by age, which can be great for narrowing down the choices. Libraries usually have sections for different age groups too - but if not, the librarians will point you in the right direction.

Choose books that fit their interests: 

As with anything in life, it is easier to get stuck into something when it aligns with your interests and ticks your boxes! Have your kids got a love for dinosaurs or fairies, nature and adventure, or animals? Whatever their interests are, finding books that align with something they already have a passion for will be more likely to keep them engaged and eager to read.

Visit your local library: 

As a parent or carer, spending money on something that your child won't engage with can be frustrating. As well as being a treasure trove of free-reading material to satisfy even the most book-hungry child, local libraries are also a great place to try before you buy!  Take your child to the library and let them explore the books, flip through pages, read summaries, and choose books that catch their eye. With no pressure to select one “perfect book” that fits your budget, they can browse and borrow until they find something they like.

Look beyond the book: 

There are lots of lovely books that have been written to help children cope with feelings, situations or circumstances. There are books about sadness, grief and emotions, books that help develop empathy, and books that feature diversity in culture or experience. If your child is experiencing any challenges, or if you are keen to expand their knowledge and understanding, books can be a great place to start.

Find books that will engage your child: 

If your child isn’t a natural reader, try seeking out books that have some kind of interactive element. For younger children, there are a wide array of pop-up books, musical books with buttons, and board books with touchy-feely elements. But the fun of interactive books doesn’t stop at toddlerhood! Older children may enjoy reading graphic novels, books that contain puzzles and activities, or choose your own adventure books. These formats can make reading more fun and immersive for children of all ages, and are great for engaging more reluctant readers.

Look for series or sequels: 

If your child enjoys a particular book, look for other titles in the series or sequels by the same author. Continuing with familiar characters and storylines can keep them motivated and excited about reading.

Book reviews and recommendations: 

Look for reviews and recommendations from trusted sources such as teachers, librarians, parenting websites, or other parents. The reader reviews on online bookshops can offer some great insights into the book's content, themes, and suitability for different age groups. It can also help to browse bestseller lists to see what is flying off the shelves!

Pebble’s book recommendations for kids

Before you read on, we should point out that this is not a “best sellers” list. Nor is it one that has been verified by teachers or educators. But, it is a list of books that Pebble people and their kids love, and that’s why we are keen to share it - we hope you love them too!

Books for younger children: 

If I Were You And You Were Me – Ross Williams & Kristin Makarius

“The illustrations are beautiful and elegantly teaches us to love one another, celebrate our differences and be comfortable in our skin. My little one learnt the word Bunny from this book!” Morgana (Pebble Customer Success Manager)

The little mouse, the red ripe strawberry, and the big hungry bear – Don Wood 

“A lovely book with nice illustrations which is widely recognised and used across early years.” Dane (Pebble Director of Childcare & Strategy)

Tadpole's Promise – Tony Ross

“This one is a book about death, but it handles it in a way children can comprehend.” Dane (Pebble Director of Childcare & Strategy)

On the Night You Were Born – Nancy Tillman

"It's a beautiful book for children, to celebrate how loved and unique they are. My son loves pointing at the illustrations and saying the names of the different animals as we read." Sonia (Pebble Head of Growth)

Goodnight tractor - Michelle Robinson, One camel called Doug - by Lu Fraser and The tiger who came to tea - Judith Kerr

“For no other reason than that’s just the ones they choose to pick up time and time again - a sign of love!” Nick (Pebble CPO)

Books for primary school kids: 

Meltdown - Jill Murphy 

“I like this book because it is funny and it shows how we can all feel when we want something badly - and I like the end because she is cheeky.” Pip (aged 7)

The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas - Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter

“Because kids love anything to do with poo!” Little Learners West Edinburgh (Pebble provider)

Bunny vs Monkey - Jamie Smart

“There is a waiting list for these in our school library, the kids keep trying to pass them to their friends rather than return them!” Kelly (Primary school librarian)

David Walliams books 

“To be honest, I’m not a big fan. But my kids LOVE the books - they are silly, have great pictures and occasionally include toilet jokes. For kids, what’s not to like?” Laura (Pebble Mum)

You’re Called What? – Kes Grey 

“Silly story about animals with funny names. Makes us laugh every time, but also encourages us to go off and learn more about the real animals and their habitats.” Catherine (Pebble Mum) 

Books for years 5-9:

Mega Robo Bros – Neill Cameron

“This is a great series about two robot brothers. It is a graphic novel and is funny but oddly relatable.” Violet (age 13)

Murder Most Unladylike – Robin Stevens 

“My daughter has just read these and loved them! Well written and full of excitement.” Helen (Primary school teacher and mum)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – JK Rowling 

“Because the Harry Potter books are modern-day classics and they are gripping and full of adventure!” Dexter (aged 11)

The Vanishing Trick – Jenni Spangler

“Great book full of mock-Victorian magic and mystery!” Vic (Pebble Mum)

The legend of Dave the villager – Dave Villager

“A great one for getting Minecraft lovers off their screens and into reading! Well written too!” Sarah (Pebble Mum)

The Hunger Games Series – Suzanne Collins 

“I really like these books because they are gripping and full of twists and turns!” Theo (aged 13)