Reading is one of my favourite things to do! As you get older, you have the choice whether you want to read to yourself, or have somebody else share the story with you, which means that there are loads more books you can read! There are so many different ones to choose from that can take you on tonnes of different adventures. In this blog post, I will share with you my top picks for books for children between the ages of 8 and 12. If you’re older, you can still totally enjoy these books too! A lot of these books are a bit longer and have chapters, but there are still some picture books in there too. You’re never too old to enjoy picture books!
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
by Cressida Cowell
This is the first book in a huge ten-book series about Vikings on the Isle of Berk. It follows a young Viking named Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III as he tries to become a hero. This book is aimed at children aged 8+ and it is so difficult to put down once you’ve started reading it. You’ll love learning about Hiccup and the other Vikings, as well as their dragons!
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
by Roald Dahl
This book is a classic by the incredible Roald Dahl who has given us so many great books to choose from. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has got to be my favourite, despite some strong contenders. It tells the story of a boy named Charlie who, against all odds, wins a trip of a lifetime to the chocolate factory. It is a rags-to-riches story and shows us the importance of being kind.
THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX
by Kate DiCamillo
This book follows the story of Despereaux, a very cultured mouse, who just so happens to fall in love with a human princess. He discovers a plan to kidnap the princess, made by a group of pesky rats, and tries to foil their plan. It is a story of courage and how good can outsmart evil.
A PAGE IN THE WIND
by Jose Sanabria
This is our first picture book of the blog post. The story follows a newspaper travelling on a gust of wind with pages flying in many different directions. All of the pages have different adventures and this beautiful book shows us the importance of following our purpose in life and being happy. Despite it being a picture book, the story is pretty complex and not suitable for young children.
THE ARRIVAL
by Shaun Tan
This book is truly one of a kind and words cannot explain how important it is. The book doesn’t contain any words at all, only pictures. This is a must-read for all young people as it shares the confusion, sadness and isolation that comes with immigration. The story helps us to be compassionate to those around us. Yes, it is a very sad and complex story, but learning about the troubles people face is so important. I highly recommend this book to any person above the age of 8, even adults should ‘read’ this book.
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
by Jeff Kinney
Back to the more traditional chapter books. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a book that is sure to get you laughing out loud. It follows the story of Greg Heffley, through his diary, as he tries to navigate his life, while also trying to become a bit more popular with the girls. Not only is this book super funny, but it is also very touching.
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE
by JK Rowling
This is the most read book for a whole generation of people. It tells the story of Harry Potter as he discovers he’s a wizard and sets out on an adventure to join Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry is a very special wizard and the books follow the story of all the trouble he gets into at school, alongside his best friends. The story is quite literally magical!
SKELLING
by David Almond
Skellig is a modern-day fairytale. This truly magical story follows Michael, who has just moved into a new home and his little sister is very poorly. Michael finds a strange creature in a garage – it is part human and part bird. Michael takes it upon himself to save the creature, who we come to know as Skellig. This one might be better for children who are closer to 12 years of age, as it is very sad at times, but this story is one you won’t ever forget.
MICHAEL ROSEN’S SAD BOOK
by Michael Rosen
This book is another very different book. It tells the true story of Michael Rosen’s son’s death. Rosen talks a lot about death, emotions and how to cope when you lose somebody you love. This story, whilst being true and very sad, teaches us how to be resilient. It also teaches us about love and loss. This is one to read if you want to learn about bereavement. It isn’t fun or exciting, but it is pretty important.
THE ILLUSTRATED MUM
by Jacqueline Wilson
Jacqueline Wilson is another author who always seems to write incredible books. In this book, she writes about what it is like to have a mother who suffers from mental health issues. Wilson writes from the perspective of the children and the story is both sad and heart-warming. Like many other books included here, it shows us some of the struggles other people face and teaches us to be compassionate. This book is recommended for children from 10+ due to the storyline.
While there are other theme parks in the UK, these are my top picks for children and families. There’s something for people of all ages at each of these parks so that you’re not stuck around waiting for your parents, or taller siblings, to have their fun.
