Books: children & YA

As part of the Amazon Big Deal Day discounts on 7 and 8 October, there is a 20 per cent discount on Elvie Breast Pumps and accessories. Olivia Coates who's currently feeding baby Annie recommends the Elvie Curve.

Designed for little hands and engineered for maximum fun, myFirst Camera Insta 20 was a big hit with Edith aged four, Hayley Willsher's daughter and now self styled selfie queen.

A perfect gift for the pre-toddler to help with colours, shapes, counting and learning to walk – the Melofaver Wooden Baby Walker is well designed and fun. Assembled and reviewed by Anne Coates.

We had five sets of these two books in the Little People, BIG DREAMS® series – Mozart and Beethoven – published by QuartoKids – to be won and here are our lucky winners. 

Visitors can now walk in the footsteps of movie and television stars and experience the silver-screen at Blenheim Palace in the newly updated film trail – perfect for a half-term visit.

100 funny, informative poems to answer questions about the world, each one bought to life by Joe Berger. Perfect for children who love asking questions and love hilarious – as well as factual – replies. 

Birmingham Rep presents its family Christmas classic The Snowman for its 28th year at Sadler’s Wells’ home in the West End, the Peacock Theatre, with a six-week run from Saturday 22 November 2025. Booking now.

Lego have a reputation for creating must have products. This was no exception. "It’s the best thing I’ve ever had, Nana!" said Christine Mayle's grandson who spent three weeks building this amazing Lego castle. 

The perfect activity gym for a newborn which grows and adapts as the baby does, offering appropriate activities for different developmental stages in the first year or so of life, writes Anne Coates.

Super Charlie received a five heart review from Christine Mayle for its cinema release and if you missed it on the big screen it's soon to be available to view at home on all major digital channels.

With beautifully crafted wooden accessories and food to delight young chefs, this set from Melofaver makes a great complement to any existing culinary toys or is a great start-up set, writes Anne Coates. 

Nurseries and primary schools will be gearing up to learn about Diwali – The Festival of Lights – falling on 20 October this year – which involves five days of celebrations. Find out more with these books from QuartoKids.

A huge number of Brits write wills without including critical elements, costing families thousands in legal fees and sparking bitter inheritance disputes, reveals legal expert Stephanie Hutton.

The Cave Downwind of the Café, The Hunt for the Fog Town Moose and Alone on My Rock – three colourful picture books to delight young readers and adults alike, reviewed by Anne Coates.

Lizzie loves penguins – and taking photos – so what better digital camera for her to try out than the Penguin from The Zoofamily which has recently launch its toys in the UK. Perfect for small hands.

To celebrate the launch of The Zoo Family range of child friendly adventure toys including video cameras, walkie-talkies and binoculars, we have a competition to win a Unicorn Kids Digital Camera.  

From Tuesday 16 to Saturday 21 September, 2025 parents dining with their children can enjoy a complimentary main course from Bella Italia’s mouth-watering menu in one of their UK restaurants.

Giving children's early art attempts a new edge, Doodle Copy from Canal Toys provides reusable templates for young artists to create pictures – and then print them off to be coloured in. 

In a welcome addition to the increasingly popular young adult romantasy market , Kiera Azara strikes just the right balance for younger teenagers in her new series, writes Elaine Hewlett.

Foldable Baby Standing Shower Support from Orzbow fits into walk-in showers perfectly, offering safer washing – especially useful if you don't have a conventional bath, writes Anne Coates.

Hay fever sufferers know the common, at times unbearable symptoms, that affect the eyes, and contact lens wearers have extra problems. Here's what to do, by Francesca Marchetti.  

Muddy Puddles has been one of our go-to places for outdoor toddler clothes and we were delighted to review this waterproof jumpsuit plus matching wellies, writes Anne Coates.