The Summer Reading Challenge has just blasted off in UK libraries, and the theme this year is space. If you haven't taken part before, this is a reading challenge scheme for children which runs every summer. Children choose which books they want to read and review, and are rewarded with stickers and other goodies.

It's a great way to entice even the most reluctant reader to pick up a book. All you need to do to sign up is turn up at your local library - it's completely free.

And for your reading inspiration, here are some new book releases for children, out now:

The Smelly Book Company produces books that stink, literally. Their books (pictured here) are scratch 'n sniff stories for early readers - a great way to capture children's imaginations. Just watch out for the page that smells like a guff of garlic. The books also include a set of free stickers which thankfully smell much more pleasant. A good range for reading to your child or for children to read independently from around five and over.
A new mystery adventure series just released for boys aged 5 to 8 comes in the shape of Will Solvit Our hero Will is a ten year old boy blessed with the ability to travel through time. His adventures encounter everyone from dinosaurs to Egyptian mummies. The books come with a decoder accessory to enable readers to crack the codes within. There's plenty of illustrations and variety in the text, which works in educational facts about the time period each book covers. Plus there's a fart-powered car.
Great for boys who are not big readers and need a few added extras to tempt them in, or for Doctor Who fans everywhere.


And for teenagers, check out Della Says: OMG! by Keris Stainton. This recently-published debut novel is scooping up the five star reviews. It concerns seventeen year old Della, coping with the twin traumas of finding love and losing her diary. What's worse - someone's posted her diary pages on to Facebook, and is texting extracts to her heart's desire. Yikes!
A fun holiday read for your teenage daughter


Related Posts:
More recently released children's books
How to get reluctant readers reading
Best books for confident readers