It’s easy to feel lost in the flood of so many new children’s books available. Each month, our Review Panel reads scores of new books and we highlight five of our recently published favourites.
This month, our panel of experienced teachers, librarians and children’s book experts has carefully selected five outstanding titles for you to read, with a mixture of longer and shorter reads to engage and excite young readers.
This month’s list features plenty of options to read on holiday, including picturebook Beacons of Light, which is a must for beach-bound fact fans with its gorgeously illustrated history of the most fascinating of coastal landmarks, the lighthouse.
Two more picturebooks also feature in this summer holiday reading list: Worm’s Big Dig, which combines humour and facts in an engaging underground adventure; and The Beautiful Layers of Me, a heartwarming story about self acceptance and cultural identity.
For older readers, August’s Books of the Month include two highly recommended chapter books: Into Thin Air, S. E. Durrant’s mystery novel with diverse characters and themes of family and the environment; and The Horse Dreamer, a magically illustrated story by Holly Surplice that balances the heaviness of grief with the power of imagination and friendship.
Read on to discover our Review Panel’s top new children’s books for you to read in August 2026.
Schools can also take advantage of our Books of the Month subscription service, enabling schools to receive regular bundles of our Books of the Month selections.
