Reading Paths
Curated book journeys for every stage of your child's development
A World of Friends: Kindness & Empathy
For children who struggle to connect, make friends, or treat others with kindness. These books explore inclusion, empathy, and what it really means to be a good friend — without ever feeling preachy. Best read together, as each one sparks a conversation worth having.
Baby's First Books
The best place to start your child's reading journey. These timeless board books introduce language, rhythm, and story through simple, joyful pages — perfect for sharing from birth. Read them again and again; repetition is how babies learn to love books.
Banned Books You and Your Child Must Read
Some of the greatest children's books ever written have been challenged or banned — for depicting different kinds of families, for being too funny, for being too honest, or for asking hard questions. This path collects 19 of the most important: from joyful picture books your three-year-old will love, to powerful novels that will stay with your child for life. The best conversation starter in any library.
Be Brave, Be You: Confidence & Creativity
For the child who gives up too quickly or doesn't quite believe in themselves yet. These books celebrate the messy, imperfect, wonderful process of trying — through art, engineering, science, and just being exactly who you are. Each one is a quiet reminder that mistakes are where the magic starts.
Big Kid Bedtime
Stories long enough to feel like a proper adventure but cosy enough to end in sleep. These picture books have warmth, humour, and just enough magic to make bedtime something your child actually looks forward to. Perfect for children who've outgrown board books but aren't quite ready for chapter books.
Epic Adventures: The Fantasy Gateway
For the child who devoured one magical world and is ready for the next. This path moves through the greatest fantasy and adventure series of the last fifty years — from a chocolate-making giant to Hogwarts to Mount Olympus. Each book is a gateway to the next, and to a lifelong love of reading.
Laugh Your Head Off: For Reluctant Readers
For the child who says they hate reading. Start here. These books are genuinely, embarrassingly funny — the kind that get read under the covers with a torch. Once a reluctant reader finishes one, they'll come back for more on their own.
Ready to Read Alone
The milestone every parent waits for — your child reading their first full book by themselves. This path starts with the easiest, most rewarding early readers and gently builds confidence and stamina. Each book is short enough to finish in one sitting, long enough to feel like a real achievement.
Stand Up, Speak Up
For children who have experienced unkindness — from a classmate, a so-called friend, or even themselves. These books name what bullying looks like in all its forms, celebrate the bystanders who become upstanders, and show children of all ages that kindness is always the braver choice.
The World of Julia Donaldson
Julia Donaldson has a rare gift: books that children beg to hear again and again, and parents actually enjoy reading aloud. This path collects her best — from the Gruffalo's dark wood to Zog's dragon school — all sharing the same joyful rhythm, rhyme, and heart that make her irreplaceable. Start anywhere.
When Things Change
Life changes — a new school, a baby sibling, a family that looks different, a friend who moves away. For children, these transitions can feel overwhelming and confusing. This path gathers the best books for every kind of change — big or small — to help children understand their feelings, find the right words, and know they are not alone.
Worry Warriors: For the Anxious Child
For the child who worries, overthinks, or feels overwhelmed by big emotions. These books don't talk down to anxious children — they name feelings, show characters working through them, and leave kids feeling understood. Read together and use each story as an opener for conversation.