Topic: Literacy & Reading

Best Children’s Books for the National Year of Reading

The Department for Education has teamed up with the National Literacy Trust to launch a National Year of Reading in 2026 to revitalise reading engagement across the UK. At BooksForTopics, we are supporting this initiative by showcasing the very best in recently published children’s literature. We believe that introducing pupils to fresh, contemporary voices and modern storytelling is one of the most effective ways to build a vibrant Reading for Pleasure culture.

Our experts have curated this Year of Reading book collection to feature the latest “must-read” titles, ensuring your school library stays current and exciting. By aligning these new releases with our established Year Group Recommended Reads and specialised Topic Lists, we’ve created a roadmap for teachers to integrate the newest bookshelf favourites into their daily practice.

New Releases and Strategic Picks by Year Group

To help you navigate the National Year of Reading with the latest titles, we have highlighted these standout picks:

• EYFS & Year 1: For our youngest learners, the recently published The Biggest Breakfast has a timeless and fun appeal, also featured in our Preschool Recommended Reads. For a barrel of laughs, younger primary children will also love We Are Definitely Human and Dotty Doughnut.

• Year 2: As children move towards independent reading, new adventures with Luna Grace or Watts & Whiskerton serve as a brilliant “bridge”. These titles are a core recommendation for readers ready for early chapter books.

• Year 3: Visual literacy is a major focus for 2026, and the recently released Pablo and Splash: Frozen in Time is already a firm favourite. This graphic novel is a highlight of our Graphic Novel Reading List, offering a high-speed, modern entry point for all readers.

• Year 4: For laugh-out-loud relatable fiction, we highly recommend the recent release The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood: School Trip. It holds a prominent spot on our Year 4 Recommended Reads list. Another fun choice is Traitor Island, which offers a choose-your-own-adventure style twist that our review panel described as a ‘an interactive and immersive read.’

• Year 5: Developing stamina in upper KS2 is made easier with contemporary hits like Bobby Bains Plays a Blinder. This book is a key part of our Year 5 Reading for Pleasure list, offering inclusive, modern storytelling that resonates with today’s pupils.

• Year 6: For older readers who crave high-stakes tension, the latest from Christopher Edge, Escape Room: Game Zero, is an essential pick which combines cutting-edge themes with intense narrative drive.

Beyond fiction, this collection includes recent non-fiction gems that bring subjects to life. There Was a Roman in Your Garden is a fresh addition to our Romans Topic Booklist, while the new Hunt for the Golden Scarab offers a thrilling hook for those exploring the Ancient Egypt theme. For budding KS1 scientists, the recently published The Great Pollination Investigation fits perfectly within our Science & STEM book recommendations.

Resources for Schools

Explore the full collection of new 2026 releases below and remember that schools can save 20% on school book packs via our partners at Peters when ordering these sets.

Young readers can even record their reading on our printable checklist!

Children’s Book Award Winners: The Definitive Guide to the Most Recent Winners

It has been a landmark year for children’s literature. At Booksfortopics, we have been tracking the winners of every major UK children’s book award to ensure the highest quality texts reach your classrooms and libraries. From the emotional depth of the Carnegie Medals to the high-energy fun of The Lollies, The past year has delivered an extraordinary range of stories that cater to every type of reader.

Award-Winning Excellence for Primary and Secondary Schools

Several of this year’s big winners are already staple favourites on our curated school book lists. King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore (Winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and Jhalak Prize) is a standout title appearing across multiple children’s book award shortlists. Similarly, the powerful Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald, which swept the Carnegie Medal and the Branford Boase Award, also found itself shortlisted for multiple awards this year in the secondary age categories.

Likewise, in primary, we find award-winning excellence across all key stages. The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, a multi-award winner, continues to be one of the most essential texts on our Year 6 book list. Equally, for lower primary, we are proud to see titles like Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf (UKLA Winner), and There’s a Tiger on the Train (The Week Junior Book Award Winner) featuring on our Year 1 booklist and Reception recommended reads list, bringing award-winning storytelling to the very start of the reading journey.

Our Expert Support for Children’s Book Awards

At Booksfortopics, we are proud to be deeply involved in the UK book award scene. Our Director, Alison Leach, brings her expertise to the industry as a key judge for several awards panels. These include The Lollies (Laugh Out Loud Book Awards), The Week Junior Book Awards, The Alligator’s Mouth Award, and The Diverse Book Awards. Because of this firsthand involvement, we ensure that our curated selections always reflect the most impactful and high-quality titles being published today.

Download Our Book Award PDF Calendar

To help you keep track of the year’s literary highlights, we have produced a dedicated Children’s Book Award PDF Calendar. This is an essential resource for literacy leads and librarians, mapping out key announcement dates throughout the academic year.

Explore our full breakdown of the past year’s winners below. Accordingly, we’ve collated the champions of the Waterstones Book Prize, Nibbies, UKLA Book Awards and more.