Reading articles

Not all children take well to reading. We asked volunteers with Beanstalk, the national literacy charity, for their advice on helping kids who find reading tough.

A wide vocabulary is a good indicator of how well your child will perform academically, but how can you tell if they’re on track?

Take a step back in time when Britain was being regularly invaded to find out more about the fearless raiders who travelled by sea in their long ships to settle here and who have left their mark on today's society. Primary school teacher and children's literature lover Scott Evans shares his pick of the best Viking historical fiction that will capture children's interest in this most interesting and exciting (and sometimes bloodthirsty!) of times.

Terrifying ogres, nasty pirates, a rainforest adventure, two evil toy thieves and a ghostly boarding school make these books the perfect choice for sharing with your eight year old. Snuggle up and get reading!

Ancient secret societies, a Stone Age boy and an Edwardian girl, a planet terrorised by jelly-like creatures and a 'practically perfect' nanny make these books the ideal twentieth-century classic reading choices for children in Key Stage 2.

A cunning fox, a haunted room, a terrifying cat, a broken time machine and a princess who fights crime make these short, accessible chapter books perfect for building young readers' confidence.

How young is too young to start encouraging your budding reader? Emily Guille-Marrett, co-founder of Reading Fairy classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, shares how to go about it.

Lonely rainclouds, tea-drinking dogs, dastardly dragons and grumpy giants make this selection for six year olds the perfect choice for developing readers. The illustrations are wonderful and there isn't too much text, so these books are perfect for a first foray into the world of independent reading.

Our classic books picks cover a wide range of subject matter and historical periods, but what they all have in common are great story-telling, excitingly unfamiliar worlds, and colourful characters to root for. Our lives may have changed significantly since these books were written, but their portrayal of the pleasures and anxieties of growing up remains as relevant as ever. By Emma Harding

How does historical fiction transport children to the past? Tom Palmer, author of football and history best-sellers, shares his love of kids' historical fiction and its ability to introduce us to the lives of the people who came before us. Settle down with a book and step back in time...

When it comes to encouraging children's love of books and reading, teachers (and librarians!) are the experts. We asked Ashley Booth – reader, Year 6 teacher and passionate advocate of children's books – to share his tips for teachers (and for parents!) on igniting a love of reading in primary-school children.

Travel back in time to the dawn of England and find out more about the Anglo Saxons, their stories and their lives. Teacher and literacy expert Ashley Booth shares his pick of the best historical fiction set in the time of King Alfred, including different retellings of the epic Anglo Saxon poem Beowulf.

A rooster who wears skinny jeans, a greedy tiger, a gang of skateboarding fairies and a yoga-teaching giraffe make these hilarious picture books for six year olds the perfect reading choice!

This collection of recommended books to read with your seven year old includes some lovely poems about the great outdoors and nature, a spooky collection of ghost stories, an exciting adventure into an Egyptian tomb and a journey into the magical, wintry land of Narnia. Curl up together and enjoy!

Short chapters, charming characters, hilarious storylines, beautiful illustrations and rich language make these books the perfect pick for seven year olds.

Enchanted horses, evil emperors, busking cats, strange gadgets, crooked kidnappers, a clever spider and a wizard with revenge on his mind make these books the perfect pick for eight year olds!

Life in prehistoric times is incredibly hard to picture, but teacher Ashley Booth's pick of the best Stone Age stories and novels for kids will help transport your child (far) back in time .

Ancient Egypt is one of the primary history topics that children most want to learn about and it’s easy to see why. Y6 teacher Ashley Booth picks his favourite Nile-based fiction books to fascinate your child and introduce them to a world of pyramids, mummies and pharaohs.

Enter a world of gods, legends and mythical creatures... Y6 teacher and kids' literature lover Ashley Booth shares his top picks for inspiring children's interest in Ancient Greece and its culture.