Top 10 Summer Reads Under £5 for All Ages.
Read below for our sun and stories recommendations for all ages from 5 and above, available to purchase across our bookstores WHSmith, Waterstones and The Works.
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Ages 5-8:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
This classic picture book is delightful and colourful, it's perfect for inspiring a love of reading in little ones.
Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
A picture book, perfect for young children. It likely follows the adventures of a mischievous or curious cat named Tabby McTat. Julia Donaldson is known for her catchy rhymes and Axel Scheffler for his colourful illustrations, making this a delightful read-aloud or independent reading choice for early readers.
![](/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBcEFZIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--059957a7966a1e26a3c56a07d041bf45e95e4585/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdDRG9MWm05eWJXRjBPZ2h3Ym1jNkUzSmxjMmw2WlY5MGIxOW1hV3hzV3dkcEFjaHBBZUU2Q25OaGRtVnlld1k2REhGMVlXeHBkSGxwWHc9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoidmFyaWF0aW9uIn19--bf7458ec58cb325bbfa4a82e34e39da9e3d48283/Tabby.png)
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Ages 9-12:
Old School: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 10 by Jeff Kinney
It follows the story of middle-schooler Greg Heffley as his town attempts to go "old school" and embrace a life without electronics and modern conveniences.
We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen
Meet Ashley. She’s popular, cool and sees things very differently to her new family. Her dad has come out and moved out – but not far enough. And now she must live with a freakazoid stepbrother.
![](/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBc1VZIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--793ea68cf4f302eefd24205f3477bcf7e424283c/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdDRG9MWm05eWJXRjBPZ2h3Ym1jNkUzSmxjMmw2WlY5MGIxOW1hV3hzV3dkcEFjaHBBZUU2Q25OaGRtVnlld1k2REhGMVlXeHBkSGxwWHc9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoidmFyaWF0aW9uIn19--bf7458ec58cb325bbfa4a82e34e39da9e3d48283/Molecules.png)
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Ages 13-16:
Indi Raye is Totally Faking It by Lauren Layfield
A hilarious teen diary series about trying to be cool when you just want to eat chicken nuggets and chat to your pet lizard. Meet Indi. She's new to Manchester with approximately zero friends. Unless you count Gary, who, unfortunately, is a gecko. If Indi's going to find some real mates - and maybe even a boyfriend - she's going to have to FAKE IT.
Ages 16+
Wildfire by Hannah Grace
When Russ and Aurora cross paths at a university party, a drinking game ends with them spending the night together. The next day, Aurora slips away before Russ learns her full name.
This anonymity ends when they both turn up to their first day of work as camp counsellors. A job they had both chosen to escape Maple Hills for the summer.
![](/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdHdZIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--0abd5fd57dfc1c0f2921793b9a81621ffbc5841a/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdDRG9MWm05eWJXRjBPZ2h3Ym1jNkUzSmxjMmw2WlY5MGIxOW1hV3hzV3dkcEFjaHBBZUU2Q25OaGRtVnlld1k2REhGMVlXeHBkSGxwWHc9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoidmFyaWF0aW9uIn19--bf7458ec58cb325bbfa4a82e34e39da9e3d48283/Wildfire.png)
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Glow Up, Lara Bloom by Dee Benson
Meet Lara Bloom - the best friend you never knew you needed. This is her diary... A must read.
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The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden
This story centres around a family who moves into a new house in a seemingly idyllic suburban neighbourhood.