20 Children’s Books 9+

Those who write for children are trying to arm them for the life ahead with everything we can find that is true. And perhaps, also, secretly, to arm adults against those necessary compromises and necessary heartbreaks that life involves: to remind them that there are and always will be great, sustaining truths to which we can return.

— Katherine Rundell, Why You Should Read Children’s Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise

Rundell’s words are ringing in my ears. Like so many authors, Rundell is “trying to arm” the next generation with “everything…that is true”. What an encouragement to us all to get books into our children’s lives. With millions of children in lockdown throughout much of the world, one of the upsides is time gained for reading. Time with a book allows children to become engrossed in an adventure, to travel, to learn, to make new friends as they turn the pages, to be inspired and so much more. So let’s help our children choose books and get reading.

If you are looking for ideas, I’m listing a mixture of contemporary and classic fiction that my daughter (11) and son (9) have enjoyed recently:

P.S. If your kids are like mine and devouring books, the libraries here in the UK are offering a Click and Collect service during lockdown.