Looking for summer reads to keep everyone entertained over the school break? We've got you covered. From an adorable missing tortoise, to fighting robots, to an elaborate eco rebellion, there's something for every young reader! collins.co.uk/blogs/barrin...

15 Books for Summer Reading

Looking for summer reads that can compete with the screens and keep everyone entertained over the school break? We've got you covered with short, top-quality stories that are easy to read, hook them i...

collins.co.uk

We had a wonderful time at the launch of the new Childhood in War exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in London last week. It's a brilliant free exhibition, featuring a Literary Trail which includes #ArmisticeRunner by Tom Palmer.

Hello all! Just a reminder that I'll be at the wonderful #FringeByTheSea THIS WEDNESDAY (5th Aug) with my book BLITZERS. Come and join me for some killer robot fun! #Blitzers @barringtonstoke.bsky.social #NorthBerwick #FBTS

Alastair Chisholm@alastairc.com · 2w ago

🚨 Event Alert! 🚨 Join me on 5th August at the wonderful #FringeByTheSea for seaside family festival fun (plus killer robots) with my book BLITZERS. Do you have what it takes to survive the Arena? alastairc.com/events/20260... #Blitzers @barringtonstoke.bsky.social #NorthBerwick #FBTS

Are you sitting comfortably? Our new leaflet 'Top Tips to Spark a Love of Reading' is full of expert advice for parents and carers of children aged 4–8, designed to help make reading a fun daily habit at home. Now available to view and download at issuu.com/collinsed/do... 📚

THE HOUSE OF HORRORS by Dan Smith Next book in The Night House Files series, with a family’s trip turning to horror after a car crash on a lonely highway. Properly scary & twisty too, with a great “investigative” format. Wonderful! @dansmithauthor.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

The HarperCollins UK summer sale is on! Get 40% off across everything when you use code SUMMER40 at checkout, including Barrington Stoke books. Explore the books at harpercollins.co.uk/discount/SUM.... Offer ends 16th August.

We are delighted to announce What It Was Like to be a Norman, the latest in @writerdavidlong.bsky.social's acclaimed series exploring the daily life, culture and legacy of the world’s most extraordinary historical civilisations. Are you missing any from your collection? Publishing October 2026.

EVENT ALERT for Scottish readers: don't miss out on this action-packed family event for ages 8+ with the brilliant @alastairc.com at #FringeByTheSea, 1pm Wed 5th August. Test your robot dance moves and try to survive the Blitzers Arena! Perfect for gamers and sci-fi fans. 🤖

🚨 Event Alert! 🚨 Join me on 5th August at the wonderful #FringeByTheSea for seaside family festival fun (plus killer robots) with my book BLITZERS. Do you have what it takes to survive the Arena? alastairc.com/events/20260... #Blitzers @barringtonstoke.bsky.social #NorthBerwick #FBTS

Blitzers at Fringe by the Sea!

Join Alastair Chisholm at the Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick with his new book, BLITZERS

alastairc.com

EVENT ALERT for Scottish readers: don't miss out on this action-packed family event for ages 8+ with the brilliant @alastairc.com at #FringeByTheSea, 1pm Wed 5th August. Test your robot dance moves and try to survive the Blitzers Arena! Perfect for gamers and sci-fi fans. 🤖

Get 25% off 4 amazing new accessible reads from @sallynicholls.bsky.social, @dansmithauthor.bsky.social, @sjwills.bsky.social + #TomPalmer this week with @waterstones.bsky.social. Enter code SUMMER26 at checkout. Offer ends 24/07. Full info at: www.waterstones.com/campaign/july-2026-pre-order-offer

"If you love football you'll love this book". We are over the moon that #BobbyBainsPlaysABlinder by @balirai.bsky.social and Daniel Duncan has been included in the #BluePeterBookClub! Check out what readers thought and read a sample at www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/joinin/... ⚽ #BluePeter

"Publishers Barrington Stoke are old hands at overcoming hurdles to reading, with dyslexia-friendly fonts and tinted paper. Their latest, Lucy Strange's Murder on a Midsummer Night (£7.99), is a slim, pacey and knowing romp through a country house murder mystery." @theobserveruk.bsky.social

Chapter books of the month: deft detectives and derring-do

The summer’s chapter books for children offer super sleuths, magical mermaids and Enid Blyton-esque action

observer.co.uk

"It was an incredible moment to see award-winning author Patrice Lawrence MBE announced as the Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2026–2028". Read more about Patrice, her books and plans for her Laureateship on our blog: bit.ly/3T46MsS Photo credit: David Bebber @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social

Does your young reader love puzzles and mysteries? #GoAllIn with curious tales from @dansmithauthor.bsky.social, #LucyStrange, #VashtiHardy and more at www.barringtonstoke.co.uk 👻🧩🗝️ #NationalYearOfReading @literacytrust.org.uk

Prepare to be scared! What evil is lurking in the shadows of Grey Towers Boarding School for Boys, and can newcomer Damian Cooper survive it? Master of horror @dansmithauthor.bsky.social returns with a chilling new Night House File this October. Illustrated by Luke Brookes.

Looking for summer reads to keep everyone entertained over the school break? We've got you covered. From an adorable missing tortoise, to fighting robots, to an elaborate eco rebellion, there's something for every young reader! collins.co.uk/blogs/barrin...

Calling all reviewers! Carnegie Medal winning author @tanyalandman.bsky.social's new accessible retelling of #AnimalFarm is now available to request on NetGalley: www.netgalley.co.uk/catalog/book... Available until 30th July.

Are your students into football? Encourage them to read into it this summer with our list of recommended footy fiction: collins.co.uk/blogs/barrin...

"My dyslexia-friendly novella, Needle ... raises questions about how we, as adults, listen to and nurture vulnerable children. My aim for my tenure as Laureate is to ask these questions." @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social www.waterstones.com/blog/patrice...

Great to see #SoulFeeder by #JenniferKillick is in @readingrocks.bsky.social's virtual summer book fair! Check it out here: wherereadingrocks.com/product-cate...

So proud to work with Barrington Stoke on this! Creepily illustrated by Berat Pekmezci, this is only 80 pages long, aimed at age 11+ with a reading age of 7. Accessible text perfect for dyslexic teens, or anyone who loves to be efficiently terrified.

Barrington Stoke@barringtonstoke.bsky.social · 4w ago

We are so excited to announce #LifeHack! A heart-pounding teen thriller from award-winning author @sjwills.bsky.social, Life Hack sees Jay thrust into a fight for survival as the virtual world of Apocalypta, his favourite game, begins to leak into reality. Out October 2026 for 11+.

This is going straight on my list! 🤩

Barrington Stoke@barringtonstoke.bsky.social · 4w ago

We are so excited to announce #LifeHack! A heart-pounding teen thriller from award-winning author @sjwills.bsky.social, Life Hack sees Jay thrust into a fight for survival as the virtual world of Apocalypta, his favourite game, begins to leak into reality. Out October 2026 for 11+.

We are so excited to announce #LifeHack! A heart-pounding teen thriller from award-winning author @sjwills.bsky.social, Life Hack sees Jay thrust into a fight for survival as the virtual world of Apocalypta, his favourite game, begins to leak into reality. Out October 2026 for 11+.

🥳 We are delighted to announce that the brand new Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate 2026-2028 is the marvellous @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social We're so excited that Patrice is taking on the role and love that she will be focusing on how stories can help to build communities. #NationalYearOfReading2026

What a fantastic day we've had unveiling @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social as our new Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate! We're so proud to manage the Laureateship, as it aligns perfectly with our mission to give every child the best start in life through shared reading. More 👇 https://bit.ly/44JmbkO

Amazing news that @lawrencepatrice.bsky.social will be the @waterstones.bsky.social Children’s Laureate 2026-2028! So well deserved! We are incredibly proud to publish Patrice’s compelling and powerful writing and wish her every success in her laureateship. @booktrust.org.uk #ChildrensLaureate

What a fantastic book by @alastairc.com and @barringtonstoke.bsky.social so much action, adventure and insight in a book that is accessible for all.

UKLA@uklitassociation.bsky.social · last mo.

The winner of this year's UKLA Book Award in the 7-10+ Category is... Reek - Written by Alastair Chisholm and illustrated by George Caltsoudas #kidslit #bookawards #nationalyearofreading #goallin2026 #ukla26

The winner of this year's UKLA Book Award in the 7-10+ Category is... Reek - Written by Alastair Chisholm and illustrated by George Caltsoudas #kidslit #bookawards #nationalyearofreading #goallin2026 #ukla26

The #SummerReadingChallenge 2026 is LIVE! Welcome to #ReadToTheBeat, this year’s celebration of stories, music and imagination.⁠ Head to your local library to sign up or join in online 👉️ summerreadingchallenge.org.uk @harrywoodgate.bsky.social youtu.be/sMuo6FoK8bk?...

Read to the Beat Summer Reading Challenge 2026 - Voiceover | The Reading Agency

YouTube video by readingagency

youtu.be