Reading beyond age 7 can feel like a real balancing act. Children are beginning to choose their own books, there’s more competition from screens, and their personal interests start to shape what they’ll happily read. At this stage, illustrations still play a huge role, helping with confidence, stamina and sheer enjoyment, so there’s no need to rush them into longer, text-heavy stories before they’re ready.
Our Top 10 Books for Ages 7+ reflects this beautifully, with a wonderful mix of formats and genres. From comics and cosy animal tales to laugh-out-loud adventures and even a dash of gentle horror, these are the titles our readers couldn’t put down this year. There’s something here for every kind of young reader, so take a look and see what might spark their next reading moment.
Solving Crimes Is NOT My Superpower is exciting and imaginative, packed full of action and laugh-out-loud humour. Basically, a recipe for success in our view! Readers have loved this book so much it's our number 1 hit, with reviews praising the mystery, chaos, twists and pace of the book. Accompanied by illustrations throughout, we've found the mixture of magic, action and mystery just perfect for readers aged 7+, with something on each and every page to keep them engaged as they search for a stolen trophy, and the main character's magical abilities!
Stories of unlikely heroes are a big favourite of ours, and Mo's adventurous story of solving a missing monster mystery has truly been doing the rounds on Toppsta! Grumpfort, written and illustrated by Jamie Hammond, is such a fantastical tale following a young new warden who needs to prove himself in his role of protector of his village from the terrifying monsters that live in the forest. Children reading it on their own or with the support of an adult have enjoyed the monster fact files, the engaging illustrations that help better understand the story and action, the adventure and the characters full of heart, from gnomes and trolls to snotwoggles and goblins. This is a book that'll get picked up time and time again.
Pia's Pet Club has been such a big hit with readers that adore animals. It's the first in a series of laugh-out-loud animal adventures in which a young girl named Pia decides to help her friend Hari train his new puppy, so that she can prove to her parents that she too can look after her own pet. You can imagine the chaos and fun that ensues! Parents are a big fan of this series as well, thanks to the representation of different family set-ups together with the illustrations and nice big font for young ones still learning to read independently.
4. Alan, King of the Universe: the hilariously chaotic graphic novel for kids
A secret ingredient to get children interested in reading are GRAPHIC NOVELS! Alan, King of the Universe is a big favourite with its comic-style illustrations throughout by Tom McLaughlin. Some readers love Alan for his imagination and creativity, others love his sidekick dog Fido and the funny things he does. Overall, this is such a funny first book in series, with humour, twists and a LOT of adventure! Parents say the fast-paced chapters are especially appreciated and encourage young readers to race through the rest of the book.
Betty Steady and the Queen’s Orb has been a firm favourite this year, written by Nicky Smith-Dale and illustrated throughout by Sarah Horne. Readers, parents and teachers equally loved the many pictures throughout, the adventure, the jokes and the simple language, making this an easy book to read independently too. Exploring themes from friendship and strength to resilience and self-confidence, Betty Steady's adventure of breaking the shrinking curse that's been cast on her will have young readers fully engaged.
Isn't Clem Fatal just the cleverest young heroine we all wish we could be? Dodging all kinds of danger in 1950s London, Clem is on a mission to find infamous jewel thief and her beloved father, Jimmy Fatale, in her very first adventure of the series, Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed. Our readers loved how fast-paced and gripping this first book is thanks to its many, many cliffhangers and plot twists, adventures and schemes, and so much more that kept them turning each page. The book is brilliantly written by Eve Wersocki Morris and an added touch are the black-and-white illustrations throughout by Honie Beam, supporting young readers along and enhancing their experience. We're big fans!
Minibeast lovers, let us introduce you to Marnie Midnight, an adorable little moth with big, bold dreams. Marnie Midnight and the Minibeast Mission may be the third book in the series, written and illustrated by the wonderful talent that is Laura Ellen Anderson, but you can still pick it up if you haven't read the first two books. It's such an immaginative story that readers say they felt like they were bugs too, and they could visualise the danger and adventures Marnie faces – talk about creating books that build empathy in readers! The beginning 'Meet the minibeasts' page introducing all the characters and the world's map have also been big hits!
If you have a visual reader at hand and are looking for illustrated books to keep them booked and busy, Beano books are what you need to turn to and Betty and the Yeti: A Monstrous Mess should be at the top of the list! Following main character Betty and her yeti, who lives with her in secret, this has been so very loved by our readers, who have praised the bright pictures, activities, word searches and super readable font in captions, speech bubbles, thought bubbles and more. The book is a fully engaging experience for the youngest of readers gaining confidence in their skills.
9. The Appletree Animal Agency: First in a heart-warming illustrated animal vet and rescue series set in a cosy village from award-winning creators for ages 6, 7, 8, 9
Heart-warming and full of charm, The Appletree Animal Agency is only 150 pages with illustrations throughout, and perfect for all animal lovers. The book follows the sweetest group of friends who decide together that they will find a way to help all the injured animals that come their way until finding them a new forever home. Readers love the charm and sweetness of these books, but also the humour and mischief that comes with the many adventures our very determined characters go on! They found the book easy to understand, leaving them with a sense of happiness and joy. Such a lovely, cosy read!
If your little one is partial to a bit of macabre, they'll love The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood, a brilliant but gentle horror mystery. But don't let the word 'horror' deter you: this book is packed full of humour and gripping adventure. Kids love the character of Bertie Blackteeth, who haunts the woods and then skewers her victims with cheese 'n' onion crisps. Some readers found it so engrossing they even finished it in just one sitting. The brilliant plotline and hilarious writing by Farhana Islam is all topped off with illustrations throughout by Simran Diamond Singh.
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