Here are almost 40 of my favourite #MiddleGrade reads for 2025. A fantastic range from wild fantasy, to gritty realism, historical adventures and more than a few scares. What a brilliant year its been for children’s books

Here are almost 40 of my favourite #MiddleGrade reads for 2025. A fantastic range from wild fantasy, to gritty realism, historical adventures and more than a few scares. What a brilliant year its been for children’s books

I finished my #FavePicturebooks25 then this absolute worldie arrived. “Cat Nap” by @brianlies.bsky.social is an utterly joyful Tom and Jerry-esque romp through a museum. A delightful story is delivered in through extraordinary art as they dive from exhibit to exhibit #PicturebookPage

No. 1 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Don’t Trust Fish!” by @dansantat.bsky.social & @unshavedmouse.bsky.social, a truly hilarious, visually stunning romp with an unforgettable narrator (and a twist you’ll love!). Packed with gags, humor & comic timing. Pure joy! Just genius! #PicturebookPage

So here they my favourite 40 picturebooks of 2025 (actually there are 42). Merry Christmas! #FavePicturebooks25 #PicturebookPage

So here they my favourite 40 picturebooks of 2025 (actually there are 42). Merry Christmas! #FavePicturebooks25 #PicturebookPage

No. 1 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Don’t Trust Fish!” by @dansantat.bsky.social & @unshavedmouse.bsky.social, a truly hilarious, visually stunning romp with an unforgettable narrator (and a twist you’ll love!). Packed with gags, humor & comic timing. Pure joy! Just genius! #PicturebookPage

No. 2 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Broken” by #XFang, a tender, cinematic gem that turns a shattered teacup into a story of guilt, forgiveness & love. Mei Mei’s journey is hilarious, heartfelt & beautifully illustrated with warmth and whimsy. Brilliant! #PicturebookPage

No. 3 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Oh Dear, Look What I Got!” by @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social & #HelenOxenbury, a masterclass in picturebook making! Fantastically funny, rhythmic, and a joy to read aloud. Beautiful art and a pure delight from start to finish. Just wonderful! #PicturebookPage

No. 4 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “The House That Floated” by #Goujing, a storm, a rising sea & a family that holds on. Stunning art tells a delicate tale of resilience & love. A #WordlessWonder, quietly powerful & unforgettable. Breathtaking visual storytelling #PicturebookPage

No. 5 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Five Wolves” by Peter McCarty, five wolves on a wild, art-filled adventure! A stream-of-consciousness tale that’s quirky, philosophical and visually stunning. Striking, provocative & utterly original. #PicturebookPage thanks @100scopenotes.bsky.social for this

No. 6 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Once I Was A Tree” by #EoinMcLaughlin & #GuilhermeKarsten, a fantastically funny journey from seed to book!Packed with facts, clever jokes & quirky art. Smart, hilarious & huge fun for curious minds. One of the funniest of ‘25 #PicturebookPage @nosycrow.bsky.social

No. 7 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “The Littlest Drop” by #SaschaAlper, #BrianPinkney & #JerryPinkney, can one tiny hummingbird stop a fire? A stunning, inspiring tale of courage & community, with art that’s pure magic. Small acts matter. Stunning in every way! #PicturebookPage

No. 8 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Sometimes You Find A Dragon” by @vivschwarz.bsky.social m, a perfect #AssemblyBook! A joyful celebration of spotting, imagining & finding your voice. Creative, bold & full of wonder. Express yourself, explore the world! #PicturebookPage @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

I apologise in advance for the number of book tweets today…I am racing for the finish line in my top 40 #FavePicturebooks25

No. 9 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Stalactite and Stalagmite” by #DrewBeckmeyer — two rock formations grow a friendship over millions of years in a cave! Science, whimsy and philosophy makes a wildly original, funny, and tender tale of time, change & connection. #PicturebookPage

No. 10 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Recess” by #LaneSmith — pure joyous chaos bottled in a book! From “pretty fun” school days to wild games, it’s an interactive explosion of color, silliness & read-aloud fun. Wilder than any rumpus—RECESS rules! #PicturebookPage

No. 13 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Wild” by #KatyaBalen & #GillSmith A gorgeous, lyrical debut that celebrates spotting the “wild” around you and feeling it within, wherever you are. Poetic words and stunning art equal pure joy. Truly lovely #PicturebookPage @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

No. 12 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “My Friend, Billy Whiskers” by @dc-litchfield.bsky.social, a tender triumph of imaginary friendship, courage & empathy. Dreamy art, gentle storytelling make a snowy-day hug in book form. Kids feel seen, brave & beautifully understood. #PicturebookPage

No. 11 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Frog” by @isabelthomas.co.uk & #DanielEgneus — a brilliant, ambitious look at life’s story, from the first spark to complex creatures. Science meets art in a stunning picturebook. Published by @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social #PicturebookPage

No. 11 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Frog” by @isabelthomas.co.uk & #DanielEgneus — a brilliant, ambitious look at life’s story, from the first spark to complex creatures. Science meets art in a stunning picturebook. Published by @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social #PicturebookPage

No. 12 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “My Friend, Billy Whiskers” by @dc-litchfield.bsky.social, a tender triumph of imaginary friendship, courage & empathy. Dreamy art, gentle storytelling make a snowy-day hug in book form. Kids feel seen, brave & beautifully understood. #PicturebookPage

No. 13 in my #FavePicturebook25 is “Late Today” by #JungyoonHuh & #MyungaeLee Rush hour. Rain lashes. A kitten, lost in Seoul’s gridlock. Most look away, one driver doesn’t. A quiet, powerful tale of everyday heroism, told with tender words & dynamic art. #PicturebookPage

No. 13 in my #FavePicturebook25 is “Late Today” by #JungyoonHuh & #MyungaeLee Rush hour. Rain lashes. A kitten, lost in Seoul’s gridlock. Most look away, one driver doesn’t. A quiet, powerful tale of everyday heroism, told with tender words & dynamic art. #PicturebookPage

This makes me so happy!

No 14 in my #FavePicturebooks25 Firefly Song by @colleenpaeff.bsky.social and #JiHyukKim The magical true story of Lynn Frierson Faust—whose childhood curiosity led to a groundbreaking discovery about synchronous fireflies. A brilliant celebration of science & wonder! #PicturebookPage

No 14 in my #FavePicturebooks25 Firefly Song by @colleenpaeff.bsky.social and #JiHyukKim The magical true story of Lynn Frierson Faust—whose childhood curiosity led to a groundbreaking discovery about synchronous fireflies. A brilliant celebration of science & wonder! #PicturebookPage

This list of books from @100scopenotes.bsky.social is always one of my favourites of the year. A few of these are already in my #FavePicturebooks25 I now want the rest!

No 15 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “Caboose” by @100scopenotes.bsky.social & #RuthChan A hippo obsessed with leading the line (we’ve all met this child) learns what happens when you’re sent to the back. Chaos,humour and real childhood emotions shine in this zany, read-aloud #PicturebookPage

Joint No. 17 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is… “Dear Acorn (Love Oak)” by #JoyceSidman & #MelissaSweet. Letter poems give voice to a range of pairings, oak to acorn, bubbles to sky—revealing deep truths about connection. Lyrical, inventive, and visually stunning. #PicturebookPage

No. 16 in my #FavePicturebooks25: “Astro” by #ManuelMarsol. A surreal space tale of friendship, loss, and wonder—psychedelic art meets cosmic questions. Achingly beautiful and deeply human. A true wonder that remains long after you close the book #PicturebookPage

Joint No. 17 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is… “Dear Acorn (Love Oak)” by #JoyceSidman & #MelissaSweet. Letter poems give voice to a range of pairings, oak to acorn, bubbles to sky—revealing deep truths about connection. Lyrical, inventive, and visually stunning. #PicturebookPage

Joint No. 17 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “Nightmare Jones” by #SharonBramer & #CindyDerby. A deliciously dark compendium of verse, witches, ghosts, and grotesque art that feels like a lost classic. Poetry + haunting illustrations = pure spooky magic. #PicturebookPage @jonnybid.bsky.social one for U

No. 18 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “Golden Gate” by #ElizabethPartridge & #EllenHeck a stunning look at the iconic SF bridge’s construction. Gorgeous art and perspective ( love the evolving build at the bottom!) paired with perfect narration. Fab #NonFiction #PicturebookPage

No. 19 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “The Ordinary Life of Jacominus Gainsborough.” A visually stunning masterpiece by #RebeccaDautremer—profound, tender, and true. We follow Jacominus from birth to death: sad, happy, and beautiful. Perfect for Year 5/6. #PicturebookPage

No. 18 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “Golden Gate” by #ElizabethPartridge & #EllenHeck a stunning look at the iconic SF bridge’s construction. Gorgeous art and perspective ( love the evolving build at the bottom!) paired with perfect narration. Fab #NonFiction #PicturebookPage

No. 19 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “The Ordinary Life of Jacominus Gainsborough.” A visually stunning masterpiece by #RebeccaDautremer—profound, tender, and true. We follow Jacominus from birth to death: sad, happy, and beautiful. Perfect for Year 5/6. #PicturebookPage

Announcing the winners of the 2025 Undies Case Cover Awards: 100scopenotes.com/2025/11/24/a... @carterhiggins.bsky.social @spikypenelope.bsky.social

No.20 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “A Voice in the Storm” by #KarlJamesMountford A powerful story about facing anger & despair, finding courage, and how sharing lightens the load. Stunning geometric art and poetic text combine to make book of rare beauty #PicturebookPage @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

No.20 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “A Voice in the Storm” by #KarlJamesMountford A powerful story about facing anger & despair, finding courage, and how sharing lightens the load. Stunning geometric art and poetic text combine to make book of rare beauty #PicturebookPage @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

No. 21 in #FavePicturebooks25 is… “We Are Definitely Human” by #XFang is a riot of farce! Three “definitely human” visitors (maybe “from Europe”) crash-land and discover the kindness of a village. Gorgeous, hilarious, and heartwarming. #PicturebookPage @pushkinpress.com

No. 22 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is Island Storm by #BrianFloca & @sydneydraws.bsky.social a tour de force! Two kids caught in a storm, Floca’s wordplay and Smith’s evocative art capture nature’s raw power. Stunning and evocative. No one does sea like Sydney Smith #PicturebookPage.

No. 22 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is Island Storm by #BrianFloca & @sydneydraws.bsky.social a tour de force! Two kids caught in a storm, Floca’s wordplay and Smith’s evocative art capture nature’s raw power. Stunning and evocative. No one does sea like Sydney Smith #PicturebookPage.

No. 23 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “Dawn” by #MarcMartin, a breathtaking celebration of that fleeting moment of the day. Lush, poetic, and visually divine. Every page hums with life. An astounding book that captures a pure beautiful moment. #PicturebookPage @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

No. 23 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “Dawn” by #MarcMartin, a breathtaking celebration of that fleeting moment of the day. Lush, poetic, and visually divine. Every page hums with life. An astounding book that captures a pure beautiful moment. #PicturebookPage @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

No. 24 in my #FavePicturebooks25: Seven Skies All at Once by #TedKooser & #MattMyers A whimsical, poetic adventure where skies hang out their “cloud laundry” and two kids discover friendship on a rooftop. Gorgeous art + lyrical language = pure magic. #PicturebookPage

No. 24 in my #FavePicturebooks25: Seven Skies All at Once by #TedKooser & #MattMyers A whimsical, poetic adventure where skies hang out their “cloud laundry” and two kids discover friendship on a rooftop. Gorgeous art + lyrical language = pure magic. #PicturebookPage

No. 25 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “The Invisible Parade” by #LeighBardugo & @johnpicacio.bsky.social — a stunning tale of grief & memory set on Día de los Muertos. Poignant, funny, and visually breathtaking. The dead are never truly gone. A true wow of a book #PicturebookPage

No. 25 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “The Invisible Parade” by #LeighBardugo & @johnpicacio.bsky.social — a stunning tale of grief & memory set on Día de los Muertos. Poignant, funny, and visually breathtaking. The dead are never truly gone. A true wow of a book #PicturebookPage

No. 26 in my #FavePicturebooks25 is “The Monster in the Lake” by #LeoTimmers Timid Eric fears the lake’s “monster”… until curiosity leads him to a dazzling underwater world of color, creatures, and courage. A witty, layered tale with stunning above/below spreads. Fantastic. #PicturebookPage