School's out for summer. So what are your kids going to do over the holidays? Why not read a good book or two? Booksellers Gillian Roe, Suki Pearman, Veronica Isaac and Natalie Riley, from the children's department at Waterstones in York, make some recommendations for summer reading.

Nought to five age group

The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr (HarperCollins, £5.99)A charming and amusing story of a tiger who drops in on one family unexpectedly for tea and eats them out of house and home, with lovely, detailed illustrations.

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins £5.99)

"Once there was a boy and one day he found a penguin at his door" And so begins this heart-warming tale of a young boy and a lost penguin. Delightful illustrations.

Where's That Monkey by Dan Crisp (Campbell, £4.99)

Can you find monkey hiding in the jungle? That looks like a tail in the trees but perhaps it's really an elephant's trunk? A bright, colourful book packed with fun optical illusions that will keep kids hunting until the last page.

Five to eight

Aristotle by Dick King-Smith (Walker, £5.99)Aristotle is a bold kitten who is always in trouble so it's lucky he has nine lives. Read about his fur-raising adventures and the kind witch Bella Donna, who is there to rescue him with a little magic.

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond (Collins, £4.99)

It's not hard to see why this classic story still has the power to enchant readers even 50 years after it was first published. From the moment you encounter the bear from Peru who loves to eat marmalade sandwiches, you will be drawn into his adventures. A constant children's favourite.

The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark by Jill Tomlinson (Egmont, £3.99)

Plop is a tiny baby barn owl with a big problem he's afraid of the dark! Can his friends help him face his fears and learn to cope with life as a night bird? A beautifully crafted story in which even the terrified Plop comes to realise that "dark can be beautiful".

Eight to 12

Horrible Histories: York by Terry Deary (Scholastic, £4.99) One of our best-selling children's titles, this is a brilliant book with a wide appeal. Popular with children of all ages, and locals and tourists alike, it brings York alive in a way that only the Horrible Histories series can. Filled with cartoons, diary entries and jokes, this book shows the best and worst bits of York's history.

The Tale of Desperaux by Kate Dicamillo (Walker, £6.99)

This is the delightful story of a tiny, sickly mouse with unusually large ears, the princess he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, the king who has banned soup, and the devious rat who is determined to bring them all to ruin.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (Bloomsbury, £5.99)

It's never easy to move house and leave all your friends behind, but Moose has an extra concern his new home is the prison island on Alcatraz and his new neighbours are gangsters and criminals. An original and absorbing novel.

12 upwards

Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (Corgi, £6.99)Magician's apprentice Nathaniel has only revenge on his mind when he orders the djinni, Bartimaeus, to steal the Amulet of Samarkand. But the amulet holds more power than he could ever have imagined and soon he finds himself fighting to survive. A wonderful, gripping adventure with a broad cross-over appeal to adults.

Diary Of Anne Frank by Anne Frank (Puffin, £6.99)

This real diary is the powerful account of three years in the life of Anne Frank, a young Dutch Jewish girl, between July 1942 and her tragic death in a concentration camp just three years later. This is a deeply moving insight into the experience of Jewish families under the Nazi occupation, and a fascinating piece of history.

Checkmate by Malorie Blackman (Doubleday, £12.99)

The final book in a heart-wrenching trilogy, Checkmate tells the story of Callie Rose, who has a cross mother and a nought father in a world where noughts are viewed as inferior. This topical book draws parallels with issues in our own society, and one that comes to a powerful and dramatic conclusion.


STAFF at York's 14 libraries are urging children across the city to take up a summer reading challenge this year. They want youngsters to sign up to read six books over the holidays. To help them, children are promised a small gift each time they come into a library to discuss a book they are reading. But what to read? Here, library staff make a few recommendations:

Ten to 16

Ingo by Helen Dunmore (Harper Collins Children's Books, £5.99) The beginning of a gripping new trilogy that'll have you itching for the next installment. Set on the Cornish coast, this is a great book to read for summer holidays. Enter the magical world of the mer-people along with our heroes Conor and Sapphire.

Alanna, the first adventure by Tamora Pierce (Scholastic £4.99)

Alanna's ambition is to be a knight, but to achieve this she must disguise herself as a boy. Fantasy, action and humour make this a great start to a must read series.

Abhorsen by Gareth Nix (Harper Collins, £6.99)

The long-buried secrets of the Old Kingdom and the Ninth Gate are revealed in the sequel to Sabriel and Lirael. Orannis, the Destroyer, has been freed from its subterranean prison and now seeks to unleash its terrible powers. Only Lirael, Abhorsen-in-Waiting, has any chance of stopping this enemy.

Seven to 11

The Legend Of Captain Crow's Teeth by Eoin Colfer (Puffin, £7.99) On holiday in a cramped caravan on the wild Irish coast, Will's older brother, Marty, tells the bloodcurdling tale of the cutthroat pirate, Captain Crow. From that night on, everything starts to go wrong for Will, though he has the last laugh in the end. Humour and action make this a great read.

The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi (Simon and Schuster, £5.99)

Beware, the faeries will use all their power to stop you from reading these books. Book one of The Spiderwick Chronicles introduces Mallory, Simon and Jared as they get acquainted with their new home. A great short read that will leave you demanding the next in the series.

Six to nine

The Monster From Underground by Gillian Cross (Yellow Bananas, £5.99) Bomber Wilson hates writing. He hates it even more when Harriet makes fun of his ideas for the nature diary that his teacher wants written. To keep out of Harriet's way, he decides to do the diary at night and makes an extraordinary discovery. Fun read for those just starting to read whole stories for themselves.

Four to 11

Beware Of Teachers by Tony Blundell (Puffin, £4.99)Wolf is, once again, extremely hungry, and decides he has to go to school. It's full of tasty children, ready for eating. But the children quickly work out exactly what he's trying to do. Wolf is passed from one person to another until all he can do is stagger home, dazed and hungrier than ever. From a funny series that appeals to all ages.

Three to six

When The Library Lights Go Out by Megan McDonald (Simon and Schuster, £5.99)Rabbit, Lion and Hermit Crab live in the library puppet box. They look forward to closing time, when they spring to life. Tonight something is wrong. Hermit Crab is missing. The other two set off through the darkened library, A funny, charming story about using your imagination and being loyal to your friends.

Six months to three years

Can You Choo Choo Too? by David Wojtowycz (Orchard, £3.99)Nee-nar! Beep! Clickety-clack! Can you choo-choo too? Fire engines, rockets and many more vehicles appear in this noisy, colourful book. Good fun for adult and child.