To celebrate World Book Day 2026, we teamed up with Norfolk Library and Information Service to create a curated reading list, filled with stories that spark imagination and curiosity for young people of all ages.
From atmospheric picture books to warm-hearted graphic novels, we’ve got you covered with new reading material for the Year of Reading 2026.
Thank you to Apryl Markham, Community Librarian for Children & Young People and Adam McGee, Community Librarian: Virtual Community / Coordinator: Children & Young People, for their valuable expertise!
Picture books
This is the Girl by Robert Starling
Hachette Children’s Group, ISBN 9781408373156
An evocative and atmospheric picture book about a young girl who sets sail in search of a different kind of treasure.
Wild by Katya Balen, illustrated by Gill Smith
Walker Books, ISBN 9781529518634
A heart-warming picture book about moving home, accepting change and connecting with nature from an award-winning author and illustrator.
Along the Tapajós by Fernando Vilela, translated by Daniel Hahn
Amazon Crossing Kids, ISBN 9781542008686
This picture book, first published in Brazil, offers kids a unique look into the lives of children who live along Brazil’s beautiful Tapajós River.
Junior Fiction
Ghost Tide by Jim Cockin
Lightning Books, ISBN 9781785633775
Don’t open the box, warned the old man. But Charlie can’t help himself… Crowned Children’s Book category winner at the East Anglian Book Awards 2025, Ghost Tide is a spooky, unforgettable tale of restless spirits and youthful heroism.
A Kind of Spark by Ellie McNicoll
Macmillan Children’s Books, ISBN 9781037410796
A story about friendship, courage and self-belief. 11-year-old Addie comes to terms with her own autism while trying to right historical wrongs: the fate of women accused of witchcraft centuries before. Keedie, its prequel, is a powerful coming-of-age story about Addie’s sisters.`
The Night I Borrowed Time by Iqbal Hussain
Puffin, ISBN 9780241742624
Eleven-year-old Zubair is a seventh son. This means a LOT of big brothers. But when Zubair’s granny arrives from Pakistan and gives him a mysterious amulet, he discovers it means something else, too: he has inherited a gift. The Night I Borrowed Time is a funny, heartbreaking and uplifting tale about family, bravery and living in the here and now.
Teen
Florrie by Anna Trench
Jonathan Cape, ISBN 9781787335660
This is a story of self-discovery, friendship and queer love, alongside huge (and little known) historical moments for the women’s game. In Florrie, Anna Trench brings readers a beautifully drawn, evocative and warm-hearted love-song to an unforgettable woman and sport.
The Restaurant at the End of the World by Oliver Gerlach, illustrated by Kelsi Jo Silver
Faber & Faber, ISBN 9780571381609
At seventeen, Soup must battle her evil boss in a fantastical cooking competition. This graphic novel is a great look at how we can all overcome our own self-doubt if we put our minds to it, and will appeal to cosy gamers or baking fans alike!
Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron
Bloomsbury, ISBN 9781526680464
As a mortician’s assistant at her parents’ funeral home, Meka’s days are not for the squeamish. In this modern twist on Frankenstein, Meka discovers that the family business is more complicated than it seemed, and that even though the dead might be silent, their secrets certainly aren’t.
National Year of Reading 2026
In 2026, schools, workplaces, libraries, cultural organisations, and individuals across the country will celebrate the Year of Reading. While, statistics show that fewer of us are reading for pleasure than ever before, reading has never mattered more. It expands minds, builds confidence, and fuels creativity throughout our lives.
Led by the National Literary Trust on behalf of the Department for Education, and supported by more than 60 partners across the UK, the Year of Reading aims to reconnect reading with the things that already inspire us, from playlists and football matches to films, food and family time. It’s reading that fits how we live, not the other way around.
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