Best ebooks for young readers!

The Showtym Adventure series/ Kelly Wilson

Perfect for: the 7+ animal lover

This bestselling series by Kelly Wilson is inspired by true stories from the Wilson sisters’ childhoods. Join Vicki, Kelly and Amanda as they first encounter horses in the wild and learn what it takes to make them champions.  

Start with the first book in the series, Dandy the Mountain Pony, in which Vicki must train and tame her own wild pony. Will she be able to earn the trust of her beautiful new chestnut?

Roald Dahl books

Perfect for: readers of all ages who love their humour just a little bit dark

Roald Dahl books are a must for a young reader’s bookshelves. Chances are you’ve got a few of his books around your home already, but have you read them all? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda are big fan favourites, but how about the heart-warming Danny, Champion of the World? Or The Twits (disgusting but hilarious)? Both would be worthy additions to any kid’s collection.

With the movie releasing later this year, why not start with The Witches? Beware though, it might make your child overly suspicious of elegant looking ladies wearing gloves . . .

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series/ Jeff Kinney

Perfect for: reluctant readers who love their stories with a side of hilarious comic book style art

Is your kid familiar with the trials and tribulations of Greg Heffley? If not, with fourteen books in the Diary of A Wimpy Kid series so far, there’s plenty to keep them going for a while. If yes, then have they read the wimpy kid spin off? Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid is told from the perspective of Greg’s best friend, Rowley Jefferson, and is just as hilarious (but don’t tell Greg we said that!).

Trials of Apollo series/ Rick Riordan

Perfect for: 12+ readers who love mythology and adventure!

You might know Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, but have you heard of the Trials of Apollo? After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disoriented, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four thousand year old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow regain his father’s favour.

 But Apollo has many enemies - gods, monsters and mortals who would love to see the former Olympian permanently destroyed. Apollo needs help, and he can think of only one place to go . . . an enclave of modern demigods known as Camp Half-Blood.

Ali Cross/ James Patterson

Perfect for: 10+ fans of mystery and action

James Patterson's blockbuster Alex Cross series has sold over 100 million copies, and now he's bringing those thrills to a new generation! Ali Cross has always looked up to his father, former detective and FBI agent Alex Cross.

When Ali's best friend Abraham is reported missing, Ali is desperate to find him. With his father on trial for a crime he didn't commit, it's up to Ali to search for clues and find his friend. But being a kid sleuth isn't easy, and Ali soon learns that clues aren't always what they seem.

Will his detective work lead to a break in Abraham's case, or cause even more trouble for the Cross family?

Jacqueline Wilson books

Perfect for: readers aged 9 -16 (depending on the book) who like realistic drama with relatable characters

Jacqueline Wilson is one of our most beloved children’s authors. She’s written over 100 books and is the creator of beloved characters such as Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather. Her historical fiction (the Hetty Feather series and it’s spin offs) is hugely popular, but it’s her contemporary fiction for which she’s maybe best known. She has a particular talent for telling stories about difficult issues which many children face (such as divorce, eating disorders, mental illness) in a digestible way which never patronises.

For younger readers: maybe start with The Suitcase Kid

Max Einstein/ James Patterson

Perfect for: readers 9+ who want a strong, smart heroine and an adventure with a science-y edge​

In this series, officially approved by the Albert Einstein archives, you’ll meet 12 year old genius Max Einstein. After being recruited by a mysterious organization, Max finds herself leading a group of other young geniuses! Their mission? To solve some of the world’s toughest problems using science.

In book one, they attempt to invent new ways to power the farthest reaches of the planet . . . but Max will only be able to help if the sinister outfit known only as The Corporation doesn’t get to her first. . .