After another exciting and busy year, Team Your Kid’s Next Read has consulted our brilliant members and compiled book lists based on their recommendations.
The Your Kid’s Next Read community now comprises 39,000+ members, connected via our Facebook group, the Your Kid’s Next Read website, our podcast and our monthly newsletter!
This year, we also added Facebook and Instagram for even more ways to spread the word about incredible books for kids and teens.
And when we asked the community to share their favourite reads of the previous 12 months, they did not hesitate!
As is the case each year, some of these books were published in 2025, some were not. There are new books that bubble to the top straight away, and there are always older books that are rediscovered by a new group of readers every year.
Once again, I’ve broken the lists into categories: picture books, early chapter books (5-7), junior reads (7-9), middle grade (9-13) and young adult (14+). (NB: There is always crossover in these lists, particularly across ages 7-10, as readers develop at their own pace and to their own level of interest, but I’ve done my best to place the books according to expected independent reading age.)
Stand by also for Team YKNR’s favourite reads in 2025, coming soon.
These lists are great starting points when you’re looking for the next great read for your kid/s and teens. Click the title to find out more about each book*.
Your Kid’s Favourite Read 2025: Chapter Books (5-7)
As nominated by the members of the Your Kid’s Next Read community
MOST NOMINATED
Real Pigeons (series) by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood (‘We love them all, but my son says if he has to choose one, it would be “real pigeons get bready” which is book 6 in the series. He loves it because its funny and they are fighting crime! He also says that they always have an adventure!’ – Kate)
The Travelling Bookshop (series) by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini
Itty Bitty Kitty (series) by Maddy Mara, illustrated by Noemie Gionet Landry (‘My 5 year old loved it due to the humour in it. It’s a series based on the perspective of a kitten and would suit families who have a pet cat.’ – Vicki)**
Billie B. Brown (series) by Sally Rippin, illustrated by Aki Fukuoka (‘My 5 year old loves how confident she is, and he relates to her more than Jack.’ – Victoria)
Pizza & Taco (grahic novel series) by Stephen Shaskan
Isadora Moon (series) by Harriet Muncaster (‘My 8 year old has really loved this series and the spin offs this year, there are quite a few books to get through and she likes listening to them on audio as well.’ – Stephanie)
‘Press Start!’ (series) by Thomas Flintham
Willa and Woof (series) by Jacqueline Harvey (‘My nearly 6yo has loved this series – so authentic and Aussie!’ – Emily)
‘Unipiggle the Unicorn Pig’ (series) by Hannah Shaw (‘Loved by my 4 year old. It’s makes her laugh. It’s also a great bridge between picture books and chapter books.’ – Michelle)
‘Orris and Timble: The Beginning’ by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Carmen Mok
‘The Yes Bunny’ by Chris Parker (‘My 6 year old keeps asking if there’s another one yet. He loves bunnies, and the main character in this chapter book was the first book that caught his attention that wasn’t a non-fiction animal text.’ – Megan)
Ivy and Bean (series) by Annie Barrows (‘For our 6 year old. She loves their antics, witchyness, potion making and the younger sister perspective.’ – Kat)
‘Ella and the Sleepover Safari’ by Cassy Polimeni, illustrated by Hykie Breeze (‘My 8 year old neice adored [this book] for the sweet relatable friendships this year.’ – Ree)
Little Gem (series) by Anna Zobel (‘My 7 year old absolutely loved these books … so much so that she dressed up as Little Gem for Book Week and wrote the author a letter. She loved how heart-warming the story was, the illustrations and Little Gem’s pet cat, Pomelo.’ – Rebecca)
‘Cat On The Run’ by Aaron Blabey
Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol (series) by Andres Miedoso, Victor Rivas
‘The Alien Zoo and You’ by Adrian Beck (‘My 5yo randomly picked this up and we have read it several times this year (and found the sequel!). He likes that it’s an adventure, is funny, and has a character that’s a super computer.’ – Liz)
School Of Monsters (series) by Sally Rippin, illustrated by Chris Kennett
Adventures Unlimited (series) by Andy Griffiths, illustrated by Bill Hope
Tiny Dogs (series) by Rose Lihou
Seekers Of The Lost Cavern (series ) by Thomas Duncan-Watt, illustrations by Suren Perara (‘Simple language, so good for reading alone.’ – Eleanor)
‘The Thylacine and The Time Machine’ by Renee Treml (graphic novel)
Ella Diaries (series) by Meredith Costain, illustrated by Danielle McDonald
Gymnastics Diaries (series) by Georgia Godwin with Laura Sieveking, illustrated by Amanda Erb
Dragon Masters (series) by Tracey West, illustrated by Graham Howells
Orris and Timble (series) by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Carmen Mok
Princess in Black (series) by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
‘Frances Bloom’ by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Marina Zlatanova (‘Perfect for 5-7 year olds. Lots of humour and mischief.’ – Kath)
‘Running with Horses’ by Alison Lester
Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey (‘Dav Pilkey’s series are fantastic to get young readers reading.’ – Thandi)
The Bad Guys (series) by Aaron Blabey
Bravepaw (series) by L.M. Wilkinson, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu
Dog Man (series) by Dav Pilkey
Julius Zebra (series) by Gary Northfield
‘Kay’s Marvellous Medicine’ by Adam Kay, illustrated by Henry Paker
Ebb & Flo (series) by Laura and Philip Bunting (‘They do an amazing job of filling that awkward gap between picture books and full chapter books with engaging and entertaining stories that are (bonus!) decodable by early readers. And my 6 year old finds them hilarious.’ – Carly)
‘Kay’s Anatomy’ by Adam Kay, illustrated by Henry Paker
Showerland (series) by Nat Amoore, illustrated by James Hart
Meet Ella (series) by Rebecca McRitchie, illustrated by Danielle McDonald
The Wish Sisters (series) by Allison Rushby, illustrated by Karen Blair
Witch Wars (series) by Sibéal Pounder (‘My 7 year old loved them so much she asked to buy physical books instead of just having them on Kindle.’ – Olga)
Tilda Teaches (series) by Amy Adeney, illustrated by Katie Alexander
Ratbags (series) by Tim Harris, illustrated by Shiloh Gordon
Sapphire and the Monster Hunters (series) by Scott Stewart (‘My 6 year old was obsessed with these two books and is hanging out for book number 3!’ – Candeece)
Ramona (series) by Beverley Cleary
*This post contains affiliate links. See contact page for details
Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of middle-grade fantasy adventure series, The Mapmaker Chronicles, The Ateban Cipher, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries.
My latest novels are contemporary middle-grade reads: ‘The First Summer of Callie McGee’, ‘Willow Bright’s Secret Plot’ and ‘Danger Road’. You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here.
If you’re looking for book recommendations for young readers, join the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community, tune in to the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast and sign up for the Your Kid’s Next Read newsletter.
0 Comments