This is a significant period during your child's development, they are expanding their vocabulary, engaging with their education and most importantly finding out who they are.

All of the above are encouraged and supported by the books they choose to read.

We've rounded up our favourite books for 8 year olds, all of which are both entertaining and informative so if your child doesn't naturally gravitate towards books these are sure to spark a new interest.

The books featured are available from Bookabees. So if you haven't read them yet, what's stopping you!

1. My life as a Goldfish and other poems

   Magic slips between the cracks in real life. One day you will step on it.

   Full of jokes, surprises and puzzles, but also sensitive and thought-provoking, this is a spellbinding new collection from the winner of the CLPE Poetry Award.

   

2. How to Train Your Dragon

   Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was the most put upon Viking you'd ever seen. Not loud enough, not hard enough, and CERTAINLY not stupid enough to go into a cave full of dragons to find a pet... It's time for Hiccup to learn how to be a Hero.

   

3. Attack of the Demon Dinner Ladies

   The dinner ladies are acting strangely (making up random rules, wearing hats, and cooking new food, even more horrible than usual), what's going on?

   

4. Michael Morpurgo: Private Peaceful

   Told in the voice of a young soldier, the story follows 24 hours in his life at the front during WW1, and captures his memories as he looks back over his life. Full of stunningly researched detail and engrossing atmosphere, the book leads to a dramatic and moving conclusion. Both a love story and a deeply moving account of the horrors of the First World War.

   

5. Dreams of Freedom

   This inspirational book by Amnesty International contains 17 quotations about many different aspects of freedom, from the freedom to have an education to that not to be hurt or tortured, the freedom to have a home and the freedom to be yourself.

   

With a subscription to Bookabees every month your little one will have fun, hand-picked books delivered to your doorstep in a special personalised box. Every new subscriber is asked to fill out their child's age and interests to help our team of book experts and educators suggest the contents of their next box. Choose from either 1, 3 or 5 books a month which will come with activities designed to encourage imagination and development, our topical monthly newsletter The Yeller, and exciting stickers! All packed with magic!