Must read kids' books to start the year

2025! What a time to be young! If you're on the market for some titles to get your little ones on board the literature train this year, then we have you covered. There's a wealth of exciting new releases, as well as tried and tested classics. Take a gander and see what's down with the kids.

 Too Small Tola by Atinuke (Author) and Onyinye Iwu (Illustrator)
Three delightful stories about Too Small Tola, a young girl who, though small, is very determined. Tola lives in a flat in Lagos with her sister, Moji, who is very clever; her brother, Dapo, who is very fast; and Grandmummy, who is very bossy. Tola proves to be stronger than she seems when she goes to market with Grandmummy and manages to carry home a basket full of yams and vegetables, chilli peppers and fish. When the taps in the flat don't work, it's Tola who brings water from the well, and it's Tola who saves the day when Mr Abdul, the tailor, needs his goods to be delivered quickly. Too Small Tola is a wonderful new character in the world of children's books by multi-award-winning children's writer and storyteller Atinuke.

The Ga Picture Alphabet by Nii Ayikwei Parkes (Author) and Avril Filomeno (Illustrator)
A is for Akpakpa, B is for Baa... Ga is the beautiful, poetic language that lent the word kwashiokor to global medical vocabulary. Working alongside Peruvian illustrator Avril Filomeno, renowned Ghanaian novelist and poet, Nii Ayikwei Parkes has created a playful universe in which the pictures tell a story as you learn the letters of the Ga alphabet.

Simple and fun, this one-of-a-kind book gives children the basics needed to master this musical language of West Africa.

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant by Nizrana Farook
Chaya, a no-nonsense, outspoken hero, leads her friends and a gorgeous elephant on a noisy, fraught, joyous adventure through the jungle where revolution is stirring and leeches lurk. Will stealing the queen's jewels be the beginning or the end of everything for the intrepid gang?

When Life Gives You Mangoes by Kereen Getten
Nothing much happens in Sycamore, the small village where Clara lives - at least, that's how it looks. She loves eating ripe mangoes fallen from trees, running outside in the rainy season and escaping to her secret hideout with her best friend Gaynah. There's only one problem - she can't remember anything that happened last summer.

When a quirky girl called Rudy arrives from England, everything starts to change. Gaynah stops acting like a best friend, while Rudy and Clara roam across the island and uncover an old family secret. As the summer reaches its peak and the island storms begin, Clara's memory starts to return and she must finally face the truth of what happened last year.

Whether it’s a journey through Lagos, a dive into the Ga alphabet, or a thrilling jungle escape, these books are sure to inspire and delight young readers.

Start 2025 right. Inspire the children in your life with good books!