Best New Kids' Books of 2024
Last updated: January 09, 2025
We've picked our favourite new books for kids from 2024. From beautiful picture books for children as young as two years old, to novels for 8-12 year olds to read by themselves or for teenagers, our book recommendations are made with kids of all ages in mind.
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1
Salvatore and the Goats of Mount Etna
Uschi Müller, Brittany Lane (illustrator) -
2
Rumi
by Rashin Kheiriyeh -
3
Mouse on the River
by Alice Melvin -
4
Miss Leoparda
by Natalia Shaloshvili & translated by Lena Traer -
5
There's a Tiger on the Train
by Mariesa Dulak & Rebecca Cobb (illustrator) -
6
Nose to Nose
by Thyra Heder
The Best New Books for 3-5 Year Olds, recommended by Our Children's Editor
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1
Miss Cat: The Case of the Curious Canary
by Jean-Luc Fromental, Joëlle Jolivet (illustrator) & translated by Jill Phythian -
2
Finding Home: Amazing Places Animals Live
Mike Unwin, Jenni Desmond (illustrator) -
3
The Most Boring Book Ever
by Brandon Sanderson & Kazu Kibuishi (illustrator) -
4
When the Stammer Came to Stay
Maggie O'Farrell, Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini (illustrator) -
5
Bad Panda: Mites, Camera, Action!
by Swapna Haddow -
6
Orris and Timble: The Beginning
Kate DiCamillo, Carmen Mok (illustrator)
The Best New Books for 6-8 Year Olds, recommended by Our Children's Editor
The Best New Books for 6-8 Year Olds, recommended by Our Children's Editor
The past year has been a particularly good year for chapter books for emerging readers; it can be hard to find good books for 5-8 year olds to read for pleasure (as opposed to learning to read), but this year has a great crop of entertaining easy reads. Our children’s editor, Tuva Kahrs, picks out some of her favourites.
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1
Olivetti
by Allie Millington -
2
Circus Maximus: Return of the Champion
by Annelise Gray -
3
Movies Showing Nowhere
Yorick Goldewijk, translated by Laura Watkinson -
4
The Curse of Madame Petrova
Marjolijn Hof, Annette Fienieg (illustrator), translated by Bill Nagelkerke -
5
The Pinchers and the Diamond Heist
by Anders Sparring, Per Gustavsson (illustrator) & translated by Julia Marshall -
6
Insectarium
by Dave Goulson & Emily Carter (illustrator)
The Best New Books for 9-12 Year Olds, recommended by Our Children's Editor
The Best New Books for 9-12 Year Olds, recommended by Our Children's Editor
From historical fiction to fantasy, from beautiful science books to funny novels, our children’s editor, Tuva Kahrs, picks the best new books for 9-12 year olds.
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1
When It's Your Turn for Midnight
by Blessing Musariri -
2
The Djinn's Apple
by Djamila Morani & translated by Sawad Hussain -
3
Soulmates and Other Ways to Die
by Melissa Welliver -
4
Our Beautiful Darkness
Ondjaki, António Jorge Gonçalves (illustrator), translated by Lyn Miller-Lachmann -
5
The Night Ends With Fire
by K X Song -
6
Helga
by Catherine Yu
The Best New Books for Teens, recommended by Our Children's Editor
The Best New Books for Teens, recommended by Our Children's Editor
From a love story set in Angola to a Hunger Games-style thriller, from the medieval Middle East and 19th century Ireland to the world of artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, our children’s editor Tuva Kahrs recommends her best books for teens and young adults of 2024.
