5 More Awesome Kids’ Books We Loved in 2025

2025 has been a magical year for young readers, and the Better Reading Vault is brimming with stories. From heartwarming tales of friendship and adventure to inspiring true stories of real-life heroes, these books remind us of the power of stories to transport, teach, and transform. Here are some awesome kids’ books from 2025.

Hidden Treasure by Jessie Burton

For the people who live on the banks of the Thames, the river is a living, breathing thing. It can take your treasures. It can hide your treasures. And, sometimes, it can give them back. Bo and Billy are two children who have never met. Billy is an orphan. Bo’s dad died when she was small and now her brother is off to war. Both children are poor, but they have each found half of a priceless treasure, given up by the river. A treasure which – when the pieces are reunited – holds the power to give back to one of them the most precious thing they have ever lost. But should the treasure be put back together again? And why has the river given it up now?

Buy a copy of Hidden Treasure here.

Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady by Dianne Wolfer

Imagine flying solo, crisscrossing the north-west of Australia in your own plane, and single-handedly delivering life-saving vaccines to remote communities. Robin Miller did this, and at a time when most people didn’t think women should be pilots at all. Her arrival seemed like magic to the outback children who received her polio vaccine on sugar cubes. Before long, she became known as the Sugarbird Lady. And this was just the start of Robin’s extraordinary real-life adventures!

Buy a copy of Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady here.

Meatball Goes to School by Tom Jellett

Meatball is the newest member of our family. And he LOVES eating everything. But when he ate Mum’s slippers, he was sent to Dog School. It seems that Meatball has done so well at Dog School, that now he’s going to MY school. With me! A story that goes straight to the top of the class from award-winning creator, Tom Jellett.

Buy a copy of Meatball Goes to School here.

The Marvellous Submarine #1: The Marvellous Submarine by Clayton Zane Comber and Conor McCammon

Readers, be warned! This book is set on Monkey Island and contains a super-smart gorilla called Harold, two regular kids called Poppy and Billy, and the world’s greatest inventor, who happens to be their mum. BUT it also features a villainous kidnapping, a secret volcano, pirates on yachts, a hungry blue whale, exploding basketballs – and a whole lot of water. Plus, there’s Mum’s greatest invention yet: a Marvellous Submarine.

Buy a copy of The Marvellous Submarine #1: The Marvellous Submarine here.

Luna’s World #1: Library Dreams by Hayley Gannon, Illustrated by Michelle Conn

Hi, I’m Luna! This diary you’re reading? My mum’s idea. She said it will help me to focus. You see, my mind is always racing with a million thoughts! I have so much I want to say and do! So, I’m going to use this diary to show you EVERYTHING that’s going on in my world … Luna Merrian is a ten-year-old with BIG dreams. This year, Luna is desperate to become a library monitor. AKA a Little Librarian! The only problem? Her school enemy: Jade Jones. There can only be ONE Little Librarian from their class, and Luna has three chances to prove that she’s the best person for the job. But the contest between Luna and Jade reveals parts of Luna that she’s not proud of … Will Luna ever achieve her library dream?