Top Children's Books 2025

15th December 2025

We've kept track of what's down with the kids...

Animal main characters were a big hit this year. Sharks, bunnies, dogs and Zogs, this list is a menagerie of creatures real and imaginary.

Join us as we share the top 10 most borrowed Children's books in 2025.

Want to read one? Click the links to reserve.

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10. Space Tortoise – Ross Montgomery (Book)

Once, in an old rusty bin in an old rusty playground in an old empty park. there lived a little tortoise. But Tortoise is lonely. He's never seen any other tortoises, and wonders where they could all be hiding.

Then, one day, he looks up and the night sky, and sees a million blinking lights winking at him. 'That must be where the other tortoises are - at the top of the sky! I wish I could join them.' But how can a little tortoise get to the top of the sky? And so begins a magical journey.

9. Gruffalo's Child – Julia Donaldson (Book)

The Gruffalo said that no gruffalo should ever set foot in the deep dark wood. But one wild and windy night, the Gruffalo's child ignores her father's warning and tiptoes out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn't really exist - does he?

8. Bunny vs Monkey and the League of Doom! – Smart, Jamie (Book)

Since he crash landed to Earth in a rocket, Monkey has been causing absolute mayhem! Bunny and the gang (Squirrel, Pig, Action Beaver, and Skunky the Inventor) have almost had enough.

Monkey's eternal struggle for world domination is getting more ridiculous every day, and it's impossible to predict which bizarre plan he's going to put into action next.

7. The Meltdown – Jeff Kinney (Book)

When snow shuts down Greg Heffley's middle school, his neighbourhood transforms into a wintry battlefield. Rival groups fight over territory, build massive snow forts, and stage epic snowball fights. And in the crosshairs are Greg and his trusty best friend, Rowley Jefferson.

It's a fight for survival as Greg and Rowley navigate alliances, betrayals, and warring gangs in a neighbourhood meltdown. When the snow clears, will Greg and Rowley emerge as heroes? Or will they even survive to see another day?

6. The Highway Rat – Julia Donaldson (Book)

Life is not safe for the other animals, as the villainous Highway Rat gallops along the highway, stealing their food. Clover from a rabbit, nuts from a squirrel - he even steals his own horse's hay! But will he finally meet his comeuppance in the form of a cunning duck?

5. Zog – Julia Donaldson (Book)

Zog is the keenest dragon in school. He's also the most accident-prone, flying into trees and even setting his own wing on fire. Luckily, a mysterious little girl always comes by and patches up his bumps and bruises. But will she be able to help Zog with his toughest test: capturing a princess?

4. Dog Man – Dav Pilkey (Book)

George and Harold (the co-stars of the popular 'Captain Underpants' series) are in big trouble again! Their mean principal, Mr Krupp, has had it with their comic books. But the boys aren't giving up, and they decide to create an all-new epic novel about a subject they've never tackled before!

3. Rise of the Maniacal Badger – Jamie Smart (Book)

The Maniacal Badger has arrived, and he's determined to take over the Woods! Wasn't that Monkey's plan? This cannot happen! What japes await in this brand-new adventure, when Bunny and Monkey team up to beat this new menace?! They've never managed to work together before. And will Skunky rediscover his passion for evil inventions, to defeat his rival at their own game?

2. The Scarecrows' Wedding – Julia Donaldson (Book)

Written in Julia Donaldson's glorious rhyme and illustrated in glowing colour by Axel Scheffler, this book is a fabulous love story. Scarecrows Betty O'Barley and Harry O'Hay are planning the perfect wedding, but wicked Reginald Rake has other ideas. Harry must become a hero before he and Betty can have the wedding of their dreams.

1. Shark in the Park on a Windy Day!– Nick Sharratt (Book)

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the park ... Timothy Pope is blown this way and that way in the windy park - but among the whistling wind and blustering brollies could that be a shark he spies through his telescope? Peep through the die-cut hole in the pages of the book to find out.