What Kids Are Reading - Primary

The 2025 What (and How) Kids are Reading report celebrates the 17th edition of this annual spotlight on the reading choices, habits, and attitudes of children of all ages.

Accelerated Reader was used in more than 6,700 schools in the UK and the Republic of Ireland by more than 1.2 million pupils. Collectively more than 25 million books were read (4% less than last year), and 66% of these were in Primary Schools. The Report not only looks at reading behaviours of children of all ages and abilities, but also what they’re enjoying – as every student that took part in the study voted on their favourites.

For the first time in 2025 the lists feature the Top 100 books (previously these lists were Top 20) which features a greater breadth of titles, and also include a list of the Top 10 most popular authors.

You can also see the results of the 2025 What Kids are Reading Report for Year 7 to Year 11 on our Secondary page.

Most Read Titles
Highest New Entrants
Pupils Voting on their Favourite Books
Top 100 Non-Fiction by Year
Top 10 Authors
Jeff Kinney category image

Jeff Kinney

Roald Dahl category image

Roald Dahl

Julia Donaldson category image

Julia Donaldson

David Walliams category image

David Walliams

J.K. Rowling category image

J.K. Rowling

Roderick Hunt category image

Roderick Hunt

Dav Pilkey category image

Dav Pilkey

Francesca Simon category image

Francesca Simon

Andy Griffiths category image

Andy Griffiths

Jill Murphy category image

Jill Murphy