by Allison Tait | Nov 21, 2025 | Blog, Books, Reading, Your Kid's Next Read
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: Young Adult Books (14+)
As nominated by the members of the Your Kid’s Next Read community
MOST NOMINATED
Eleanor Jones (series) by Amy Doak (‘Such a good teenage sleuth series with realistic high school friendships and good wholesome fun in an Australian town …all the while with a mystery to solve for each book. Three in the series so far.’ – Tania)
‘My Family and Other Suspects’ by Kate Emery (‘So funny. But also suspenseful!’ – LJ)
‘Drift’ by Pip Harry (‘Absolutely loved it.’ – Jess)
‘The Foal in the Wire’ by Robbie Coburn (‘A moving verse novel read and enjoyed by 15yo male reader.’ – Louise)
‘A Wreck of Seabirds’ by Karleah Olson (‘If you haven’t read it you need to put it at the top of your pile. The story will stay with you, it is beautifully written and a brilliant story. Although younger readers could read it, older readers will be more open to the emotions and nuances within the story.’ – Ruth)
Chaos Walking (series) by Patrick Ness (‘I devoured this! So good! – Soph)
‘Maisy Hayes is Not for Sale’ by Allayne Webster
‘What Have They Done to Liza McClean?’ by Amy Doak
‘Completely Normal and Other Lies’ by Biffy James
‘The House Saphir’ by Marissa Meyer
‘Lady’s Knight’ by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
‘We Could Be Something’ by Will Kostakis (‘My teen readers club loved this.’ – Zanni)
The Maven & Reeve Mysteries (series) by A. L. Tait
‘When We Flew Away’ by Alice Hoffman
Skyward (series) by Brandon Sanderson
‘One By One They Disappear’ by Mike Lucas (‘War genre with a twist.’ – Kath)
‘Into the Wild’ by Hayley Lawrence
‘The Ballad of Darcy and Russell’ by Morgan Matson
‘All My Rage’ by Sabaa Tahir (‘A quick and riveting book!’ – Janet)
‘Darkest Night, Brightest Star’ by Barry Jonsberg (‘I finished it and thought ‘everyone should read this.’ – Anna)
‘Golden’ by Jade Timms
‘This Season’s Draft’ by Jason Gent (‘Genuinely fresh and the 16 yo I gave it to didn’t even realise he was reading YA.’ – Gisela)
‘Unhallowed Halls’ by Lili Wilkinson
‘Catch’ by Sarah Brill (‘Unlike anything else I’ve read. The girls at my school have been loving it.’ – Erin)
Talon (series) by Julie Kagawa (‘Recommended for kids 13-17.’ – Danusia)
Darling Devils (series) by Alexandra Moody
‘The Stand In’ by A J Rushby
‘A Guide To Falling Off The Map’ by Zanni L. Arnot
‘The Surface Trials’ by HM Waugh (‘An elimination-quest novel set on an alien planet. Full of thrills, high stakes, and dangerous secrets. Unputdownable.’ – Katja)
Red Winter (series) by Annette Marie
‘I Must Betray You’ by Ruta Sepetys
‘The Locked Room’ by Adam Cece
‘Wandering Wild’ by Lynette Noni
The Illuminae Files (series) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (‘Phenomenal layout, plot and awesome female protagonists.’ – Jen)
Powerless (series) by Lauren Roberts
‘White Noise’ by Raelke Grimmer (‘An informative read on neurodivergence. A ‘mirror’ for many YA readers.’ – Kathryn)
‘Flawed’ by Cecelia Ahern
‘I Hope This Doesn’t Find You’ by Ann Liang (‘Year 8/9 girls. A popular romance and a top borrow at the library.’ – Mads)
‘To All The Boys I’ve loved Before’ by Jenny Han
‘Wish You Were Her’ by Elle McNichol (‘An absolute delight. Our all girls school has students who do not want spicy reads, so it was great to find a romance novel with older characters that I could easily recommend, knowing it was perfect for them. Also excellent neurodiverse rep. It has been enjoyed by 15-18 year olds.’ – Fiona)
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ by Jenny Han
‘One of Us is Lying’ by Karen M McManus
The Prison Healer (series) by Lynette Noni
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
*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.
by Allison Tait | Nov 21, 2025 | Blog, Books, Reading, Your Kid's Next Read
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: Middle Grade Books (9-13)
As nominated by the members of the Your Kid’s Next Read community
MOST NOMINATED
Nevermoor (series) by Jessica Townsend (‘Silverborn (book #4) made [my 10yo] then reread the whole series and I did as well.’ – Stephanie)
Murder Most Unladylike (series) by Robin Stevens (‘My 10yo has absolutely devoured this series. Think Enid Blyton x Agatha Christie for kids.’ – Karina)
Villain (series) by Adrian Beck (‘Definitely a winner!’ – Louise)
Adventures On Trains (series) by M. G. Leonard, Sam Sedgman, Elisa Pagnelli (‘The characters are fun and likeable, page-turning mysteries, you explore a different part of the world in every book, there are often adults and kids working together and the audiobooks are wonderful. Happily read by the ‘has read everything’ 12 yo and the ‘will read nothing’ 10 yo.’ – Gillian)
‘Danger Road’ by A. L. Tait (‘Awesome mystery! Lots of suspense and intrigue as two brothers find a murderer. Feeds the needs of year 5/6 students who love this genre without content preventing inclusion in a primary library.’ – Natalie)
Percy Jackson (series) by Rick Riordan
Runt (series) by Craig Silvey, illustrated by Sara Acton (‘The hero of the year for my kids. Whole family, actually!’ – Rachel)
Skandar (series) by A. F. Steadman
‘Scartown’ by Tristan Bancks (‘My daughter (10) was gripped!’ – Michelle)
‘Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief’ by Katrina Nannestad (‘9yo says this is his favourite of all time.’ – Jen)
‘Run’ by Sarah Armstrong (‘Fantastic adventure. Suspense and intrigue. Answers ever kid’s question: what if I just run away?! Lots of year 5 and 6 reading this one.’ – Natalie)
Friday Barnes (series) by R. A. Spratt (‘My 11yo is devouring them.’ – Anna)
‘Water, Water’ by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Jon McNaught
‘Airman’ by Eoin Colfer
‘Everglade: Rise of the Witch’ by Kitty Black
‘A Strange thing Happened in Cherry Hall’ by Jasmine Warga
Young Bond (series) by Charlie Higson (‘My 13yo’s favourite.’ – Marney)
The School for Good and Evil (series) by Soman Chainani
‘Music Camp’ by Penny Tangey (‘Great for muso kids and kids who are passionate about saving the planet.’ – Anna)
‘Giraffe Island’ by Sofia Chanfreau, illustrated by Amanda Chanfreau, translated by Julia Marshall
The Zero Chronicles (series) by Dan Wells
‘The Ghost Locket’ by Allison Rushby
‘The Wintrish Girl’ (Talismans of Fate series) by Melanie La’Brooy (‘It’s such a great fantasy book with a unique storyline, interesting characters and lots of mystery. I had to read the second book in the series straight after this one and can’t wait for the third book!’ – Leah)
‘The Other Edie Trimmer’ by Jacqueline Wilson (‘Timeslip. Lots of historical insight and an interesting twist.’ – Katja)
‘The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest’ by Aubrey Hartman (‘A beautiful story of friendship, loss and acceptance all written into a fabulous quest. Kate DiCamillo/Tim Burton vibes.’ – Caryn)
‘Little Bones’ by Sandy Bigna (‘Our Year 5 classes absolutely loved this book.’ – Kym)
‘Welcome to Miracle’ by Shara Curlett (‘My 11 year old daughter loved this – fast paced with magical adventure!’ – Ree)
The Mapmaker Chronicles (series) by A. L. Tait
‘Murder by Narwhal’ by Alex T. Smith
Ella at Eden (series) by Laura Sieveking
The Wild Robot (series) by Peter Brown
‘Billy and The Giant Adventure’ by Jamie Oliver, illustrated by Monica Armino (‘Has absolutely captured my sons imagination in a way not many books have to date.’ – Katelyn)
‘The Golden Linnet’ (Evenfell series) by Alexander Armstrong
‘The Silken Thread’ by Gabrielle Wang
‘The Golden Compass’ (His Dark Materials series) by Philip Pullman (‘My 12 year old is enjoying this at the moment.’ – Bahareh)
Nanny Piggins (series) by R. A. Spratt
‘When Rain Turns to Snow’ by Jane Godwin (‘Definitely for the older end of this age range.’ – Kath)
‘The Surface Trials’ by H. M. Waugh (‘Love a younger reader’s Hunger Games. Lots of adventure and really tense moments. Teamwork, moral questions and lots more. Popular with year 5/6 and can’t wait for the next one!’ – Natalie)
The Callers (series) by Kiah Thomas
Wonder Woman Adventures (series) by Aisha Saeed
‘Let It Glow” by Marissa Meyer
‘Detention’ by Tristan Bancks (‘This was a gripping audio book enjoyed by 11 & 13 yr olds, and their parents.’ – Amanda)
Keeper of the Lost Cities (series) by Shannon Messenger (‘My girls age 10 and 12 both love [this series].’ – Aimee)
City Spies (series) by James Ponti
‘Storm Watcher’ by Maria V Snyder (’11yo son enjoyed it so much he was asking about her other books (which are more YA). He said it was his fave novel, the characters and story were great and he couldn’t put it down.’ – Kate)
‘August and Jones’ by Pip Harry (‘My 12 year old loved this book and their friendship throughout.’ – Briony)
‘All the Beautiful Things’ by Katrina Nannestad. (’10/11yo reading for 3rd time!’ – Kylie)
Kingdoms and Empires (series) by Jaclyn Moriarty (‘For the bajillionith time…’ – Cassia)
Aru Shah (series) by Roshani Chokshi
11 Ruby Road (series) by Charlotte Barkla
‘Rooftoppers’ by Katherine Rundell
‘Are You There Buddha?’ by Pip Harry
‘A Box Full of Murders’ by Janice Hallett
‘The Midwatch’ by Judith Rossell (‘Obsessively loved by an advanced-reader 7yo and an 11yo. Loved imagining themselves as characters and really wanted one of those ‘Swiss army knife’ dolls.’ – Gisela)
Swift and Hawk (series) by Logan Macx
Descendants (series) by Melissa de la Cruz
Scarlet and Ivy (series) by Sophie Cleverly (‘My 10 year old has read them over and over this year.’ – Jenny)
‘A Small Collection of Happinesses’ by Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Stephen Michael King
Worst Week Ever (series) by Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove (‘This has been the favourite for both of my 10 year old boys. Books that are funny have kept them engaged in reading.’ – Licia)
The Hatmakers (series) by Tamzin Merchant
‘Monster Locker’ by Jorge Aguirre and Andres Vera Martinez
‘The Apprentice Witnesser’ by Bren MacDibble (‘I’m constantly in awe of Bren’s post-apocalyptic world building & use of language.’ – Jo)
Lottie Brooks (series) by Katie Kirby (‘My young reader loved these because she could relate to characters and situations. They are the only books where she’s laughed constantly and is excited to tell me what happened. Age 9.’ – Lauren)
Rowan of Rin (series) by Emily Rodda
‘Malamander’ (Eerie-On-Sea series) by Thomas Taylor
‘The Kindness Project’ by Deborah Abela (‘It set my 9 year old friend on a path to reading novels.’ – Zanni)
‘Little Women’ by Louise May Alcott
Landovel (series) by Emily Rodda (‘So imaginative. “Mum, please ask her to write more in this trilogy”Age 9. – Karen)
‘Drift’ by Pip Harry
‘Song of a Thousand Seas’ by Zana Fraillon (‘Love verse novels especially if your reader is starting to resist reading. [This has] been enjoyed by 12 year old.’ – Louise)
Hedgewitch (series) by Skye McKenna
The House At The Edge of Magic (series) by Amy Sparkes
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
*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.
by Allison Tait | Nov 21, 2025 | Blog, Books, Reading, Your Kid's Next Read
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: Junior Reads (7-9)
As nominated by the members of the Your Kid’s Next Read community
MOST NOMINATED
Detective Beans (series) by Li Chen (‘[This] was loved in our house. It’s a graphic novel with great vocab and Mr 7 and Miss 9 (and me!) found it hilarious!’ – Sarah)
Crookhaven (series) by J. J. Arcanjo
‘What Snail Knows’ by Kathryn Apel, illustrated by Mandy Foot (‘Very popular with this age group of students. A gorgeous verse novel with gentle illustrations.’ – Kath)
Wolf Girl (series) by Anh Do (‘Both my daughters love [this] series! – Jacqui)***
The Travelling Bookshop (series) by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini (‘[My 9yo girl]loved the adventures they went on and loves Nat and his quirkiness and their total acceptance and embrace of this.’ – Briony)
‘Ghost Detectives: Terry Fide and the Bakery Ghost’ by Jeannette Stampone, illustrations by Jasmine Berry
Keeper of the Lost Cities (series) by Shannon Messenger (‘Quote: The use of magic makes it feel like it’s real but not real!’ – LJ)***
Violet Mackerel (series) by Anna Branford, illustrated by Sarah Davis
‘Oceanforged: The Wicked Ship’ by Amelia Mellor (‘8yo liked how easy it was to read and wanted to wear a pirate hat.’ – Gisela)
‘Good Different’ by Meg Eden Kuyatt (‘This was [my 9yo boy’s] first introduction to poetry (the book is a novel in verse) and he read it on loop for a month (so far!), possibly 10 times right now. He can relate to the Autistic MC who loves dragons and learns to love herself just as she is.’ – Janet)
Miss Penny Dreadful (series) by Allison Rushby, illustrated by Bronte Rose Marando
Fluff (series) by Matt Stanton
Sleepovers (series) by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt (‘My daughter was 8 when she read it and loved it. It was the first proper book she read that she couldn’t put down. Not too long chapter book with the odd picture so good transition into chapter book in terms of length. There’s a couple of books in the series as well. She’s not read the third book yet but also loved the second one.’ – Amy)
The 13 Storey Treehouse (series) by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid (series) by Jeff Kinney
The Wingfeather Saga (series) by Andrew Peterson (‘My 8 year old son and I have both thoroughly enjoyed the rollercoaster of adventure the Wingfeather kids go on and I’ve really enjoyed the deep threads of family loyalty and love, justice and wholesome nature of the books.’ – Jenny)
‘Orris and Timble: The Beginning’ by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Carmen Mok
Cat Kid Comic Club (series) by Dav Pilkey (‘A fav from my 8 year old – Zoe)
‘Losing The Plot’ by Annaleise Byrd (‘[This book] is a winner! Short chapters, fairytale with a twist. Humour and lots to love! Great to read to kids and kids love it too! – Natalie)
‘The Haunting of Hindmarsh Hall (The Secret Detectives Club #1)’ by Kate Gordon
‘Wurrtoo’ by Tylissa Elisara, illustrated by Dylan Finney
Real Pigeons (series) by Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood (‘The right amount of text and pictures, and lots of adventures.’ – Suzanne)
Warriors (graphic novel series) by Erin Hunter
‘Fox Goes North’ by Jeremy Strong (‘One of the most beautiful and meaningful books I read for this age group this year.’ – Katja)
Juliet Nearly A Vet (series) by Rebecca Johnson
Malamander (Eerie-On-Sea series) by Thomas Taylor (‘We were recommended Malamander late last year, and loved it. So this year kiddo has been catching up with the later books.’ – Nandi)
Dragon Girls (series) by Maddy Mara
Sherlock Bones (series) by Tim Collins, illustrated by John Bigwood (‘These are adored by my 7 year old and she’s read them over and over this year. I love the puzzles sprinkled into the story that bring math, etc into use.’ – Tara)
‘Max and the Midknights’ by Lincoln Peirce (‘Loved by 8 year old who found it funny (also has fantasy elements that he enjoys).’ – Megan)
Weirdo (series) by Ahn Do, illustrated by Jules Faber
‘Runt’ by Craig Silvey, illustrated by Sara Acton (‘This year’s favourite [readaloud] with both my 7 and 5 year olds. Such a gorgeous, heartwarming Australian story. I bawled my eyes out and kept wanting to read it after I tucked them in each night.’ – Chelsea)
‘Roller Girl’ by Victoria Jamieson (Graphic novel. Absolutely loved by both my girls (8ish). Friendship and roller skates. What’s not to love. – Amy)
Malory Towers (series) by Enid Blyton (‘Boarding school japes & friendships, helped by a TV series. A classic series for young girls! – Laura)
Stella and Marigold (series) by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall (‘Very popular with grade 1 and 2 at school. Beautiful illustrations and gorgeous stories about two sisters. Same creators as Ivy and Bean (also fantastic) – Maree)
The Imagination Station (series) by Paul McCusker and Marianne Hering (‘My 8yo loves the adventure element and also learning about historical events. – Sally)
*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.
by Allison Tait | Nov 21, 2025 | Blog, Books, Your Kid's Next Read
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)
Ninja Kid (series) by Ahn Do
‘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)
Hot Dog (series) by Anh Do
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
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
*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.
by Allison Tait | Nov 21, 2025 | Blog, Reading, Your Kid's Next Read
Can you believe it’s that time again?
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 young readers’ 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: Picture Books
As nominated by the members of the Your Kid’s Next Read community
MOST NOMINATED
‘The Truck Cat’ by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell (‘I’m a teacher librarian and read [this book] many times around National Simultaneously Storytime this year. I LOVED it (and so did many of my students).’ – Robyn)
‘Dear Broccoli’ by Jo Dabrowski, illustrated by Cate James
‘Once I Was a Giant’ by Zeno Sworder (This book is perfection – beautiful, magical and deeply emotional. I’m inclined to say upper primary to high school (and adults), but it also really moved my 8 year old and sparked a very deep conversation. – Cristin)
‘The Book With No Pictures’ by B.J. Novak
‘Shmoof’ by Heidi McKinnon
‘Don’t Trust Fish’ by Neil Sharpson
‘Go Go and the Silver Shoes’ by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker
Do Not Open This Book (series) by Andy Lee, illustrated by Heath McKenzie (‘My five year old’s favourite!’ – Emily)
‘Thoughts From A Quiet Bench’ by Kes Gray, illustrated by Nila Aye (‘This might almost be my picture book of the year.’ – Margot)
‘Engibear’s Dream’ by Andrew King, illustrated by Benjamin Johnston
The Leaf Thief (series) by Alice Hemming
‘Train of Thought’ by Jess Horn and Hayley Wells
‘Dreaming’ by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, illustrated by David Hardy (‘My 6yo and 2yo love [this book], and all of the other ones [in the Welcome To Our Country series] too! – Dominique)
‘Floof’ by Heidi McKinnon
‘Here Come the Cousins’ by Maggie Hutchings and Sarah Zweck
‘Elephant and Piggie: We are in a Book!’ by Mo Willems (‘Mr 6 loves this book because it makes him laugh, especially when Piggie makes the reader say a word, if the reader is reading out loud. And I love it because it shows the magic of books to transcend the pages and come to life.’ – Katrina)
‘The Misadventures Of Frederick‘ by Ben Manley, illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark (‘We’ve been reading this on repeat as both my 3yo girl and 6yo boy love it and keep asking for it. It’s beautifully illustrated and hilarious and a joy to read out loud. My son cried laughing for a good 10 minutes after the first read.’ – Carly)
Behaviour Matters (series) by Sue Graves and Trevor Dunton
‘Mad Cows’ by Kathryn Apel, illustrated by Beau Wylie (‘My 3 yr old cried for 2 days when it was returned to the library so had to buy a copy.’ – Nella)
‘Lucky’ by Amelia Tonta, illustrated by Peter Baldwin (‘Made me laugh out loud!’ – Nathan)
‘Claris the Chicest Mouse in Paris’ by Megan Hess
‘If We Were Dogs’ by Sophie Blackall
‘A Leaf Called Greaf’ by Kelly Canby (‘At work in the primary school library, [this book] captured the hearts of everyone who heard it. The year 6 boys laughed at me when I said it made me cry, but then got quieter and quieter the longer I read. It’s lovely to still be able to have good conversations with them around picture books at their age.’ – Caitlin)
‘Dropbear’ by Philip Bunting (‘It’s a little difficult trying to explain to Dropbear mythology to a 4 year old, so he’s still not 100% sure if it’s real or fake, but he loves it and asks for it over and over again.’ – Caitlin)
‘Hedgehog or Echidna’ by Ashleigh Barton, illustrated by Amandine Thomas
‘Martha Maps It Out’ (series) by Leigh Hodgkinson (‘Loved by 4 year old. Just a really cool book about maps of many things.‘ – Michelle)
‘The Train at the End of My Street’ by Tom Jellett
‘Dawn’ by Marc Martin
‘A Recipe for Magic Potion’ by Jack Henseleit, illustrated by Natasja Horne
‘There’s A Monster In Your Book’ by Tom Fletcher, illustrated by Greg Abbott (‘A very engaging book: my 6 year old laughs so much and has fun trying to shake the monster out of the book every time we read it!’ – Viviana)
‘Gina Kaminski Saves The Wolf’ by Craig Barr-Green, illustrated by Francis Martin https://www.booktopia.com.au/gina-kaminski-saves-the-wolf-craig-barr-green/book/9781684647866.html
‘Bigfoot Vs Yeti: A Love Story’ by James Foley (‘This was a hit when I read it to children in Years 2-6 in a primary school in NSW! – Candice)
‘Pig The Blob’ by Aaron Blabey
‘Grandma Murphy’s Pussycat’ by Maura Finn, illustrated by Lucinda Gifford
‘The Wobbly Bike’ by Darren McCallum and Craig Smith (‘Such a winner on all levels this year!’ – Hayley)
‘Fairy Beach’ by Sheila Knaggs and Jennifer Falkner (‘One of my favourite new picture book reads this year because it’s simple delightful.’ – Katja)
‘There’s A Wocket In My Pocket’ by Dr Seuss
‘Stumpkin’ by Lucy Ruth Cummins
‘The Fabulous Friend Machine’ by Nick Bland
‘Colour Me’ by Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Moira Court (‘A favourite among the four and five year olds I know because of the beautiful illustrations and the repetitive use of lyrical language.’ – Katja)
‘Doctor Fairytale’ by Catherine Jacob, illustrated by Hoang Giang
‘Our Pool’ by Lucy Ruth Cummins
‘A Hatful Of Dreams’ by Bob Graham
‘Everything You Wanted To Know About The Tooth Fairy’ by Briony Stewart (‘Our 5 year old had a loose tooth so we read this every night for a week. The book was great for explaining the magic in teeth and the tooth fairy magic and everything else they could think of!’ – Jae)
‘Once I Was A Tree’ by Eoin McLaughlan, illustrated by Guilherme Karsten
‘Bothered by Bugs’ by Emily Gravett
‘Knight Owl’ by Christopher Denise
‘Girl On Wire’ by Lucy Estela, illustrations by Elise Hurst (‘The story is one of finding courage to keep going. The illustrations are magical – I learnt that Elise made each spread as an oil painting, which was then converted to the book.’ – Annie)
‘Dragons are the Worst’ by Alex Willan
‘When Ice Cream had a Meltdown’ by Michelle Robinson and Tom Knight
‘When Jelly Had A Wobble’ by Michelle Robinson and Tom Knight
‘The Germ Lab: The Gruesome Story of Deadly Diseases’ by Richard Platt, illustrated by John Kelly
‘The Beehive’ by Megan Daley, illustrated by Max Hamilton
‘The Day Louis Got Eaten’ by John Fardell (‘My kids LOVE this book!’ – Thandi)
‘Big Blue Whale’ by Nicola Davies and Nick Maland
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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.
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. 