12 children's and young adult books to get you hooked on reading

BarcelonaIt's always a good time to encourage a love of reading. We recommend several titles for all ages and tastes to get your children hooked on books. This selection was made by Marta Gil, bookseller at El Gat Pelut in Barcelona, ​​specializing in children's and young adult literature.

With whiskers and boundless curiosity, Àgata Crispy is a very feline and very brilliant detective. Through cases full of enigmas, clues, and irresistible illustrations, young readers can test their ingenuity alongside this observant and fun-loving cat. A perfect game-book for inquisitive minds who are beginning to enjoy solving mysteries, with the humor and excellent design that are the hallmarks of Blackie Books.

Ages 7 and up.

When two friends start arguing, it can seem like the world is ending... but perhaps all it takes is lifting a flap to see what lies behind all the squabbling. With her skill at transforming emotions into visual art, Clotilde Perrin creates a picture book full of movement, wonder, and sensitivity. A book to talk about conflict, reconciliation, and how, even when we fight, affection is still there, waiting to be discovered.

Ages 3+.

When the master of horror, Stephen King, delves into a classic like Hansel and GretelThe result is as fascinating as it is unsettling. This version combines King's intense and dark narrative style with Maurice Sendak's powerful and character-filled illustrations, created for an opera based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. The result is a wonderful and timeless edition, as evocative as it is nostalgic, inviting us to venture into a forest where the path may not be so easy to find... but is well worth the journey.

Ages 6+.

Narwhal and Jelly leap from the comic book pages into the world of graphic novels with a brand-new adventure brimming with humor and underwater mayhem. It all begins the moment you open the book—and maybe it's dangerous! Amidst laughter, surprises, and plenty of bubbles, Ben Clanton once again delivers his infallible blend of tenderness and absurdity. Ideal for early readers and all ages who still know how to laugh with their eyes wide open.

Ages 5 and up.

A boy wakes up in an unfamiliar forest, and to find his way home, he can only follow a mysterious yellow brick road. Swedish author Sven Nordqvist, creator of the legendary Pettson and Findus, invites us to explore a world full of detail, strange creatures, and colorful landscapes reminiscent of... The Wizard of Oz and Alice in WonderlandWith vignettes that add rhythm and humor, and great visual richness, this album is a wonderful journey that invites you to look, imagine, and discover. A book that will appeal to both children and adults.

Ages 5 and up.

The craziest and most unpredictable family in literature is back! In this second installment, the Swift Tangle must unravel new family secrets, a mysterious murder, and thefts so ingenious they resemble works of art. With humor, intrigue, and a fast pace, Beth Lincoln delivers a story full of powerful words, redefined identities, and unexpected twists. An ideal read for young detectives with an adventurous spirit.

Ages 9 and up.

Centella and her ferret, Lisa, journey through a forest filled with secrets and dangers to complete a mission that could change their world forever. With precise and poetic style, Frances Hardinge—one of the leading voices in British children's fiction—weaves a powerful story about the relationship between humans and nature, between light and darkness. Emily Gravett's illustrations underscore its mysterious and captivating atmosphere. A profound and riveting adventure for young readers seeking excitement and meaning.

Ages 12+.

Adèle is one of those irresistible characters: intelligent, witty, and capable of turning any boring day into a festival of mischief. Now the protagonist of the popular comics leaps into novel format with Adèle. Terrible one day, terrible forever!where she presents her new invention: the terribleness detector! A story full of humor, outlandish ideas, and boundless energy that will delight readers who already love Adèle—and those who haven't met her yet.

Ages 8 and up.

Verònica Fabregat captivates us once again with a new wordless album that concludes the collection AkimiraThe book Let's go to the forest It's an invitation to get lost among trees, animals, and tiny details just waiting to be discovered. A book to look at again and again, awakening the imagination and inviting you to create shared stories. Ideal for beginning readers or for enjoying together, letting the pictures speak with our own voices.

Ages 3 and up.

A visual and narrative journey through Greek mythology like never before. For centuries, mythical tales have given voice to heroes, while their female counterparts remained in the background. Invisible It breaks that silence with an original and impactful approach: through a play of colors—red for men, blue for women—and a filter that reveals what is hidden, readers can rediscover the stories from their perspective. A book that combines art, history, and a gender perspective to give voice to those who were always there but no one saw.

Ages 8 and up.

A summer of discovery, magic, and endless adventures. When the Wilson siblings spend some time in the country, they have no idea that their neighbor, Miss Price, is none other than a witch's apprentice! Between spells sent by mail and failed attempts to fly on a broomstick, the three siblings embark on an extraordinary adventure when they discover that their bed can transport them wherever they want to go. First published in 1943, this novel by Mary Norton combines humor, fantasy, and tenderness in a story that has become a modern classic. Vienna is reissuing it in the collection The Secret GardenIn an impeccable edition to continue sparking the imaginations of new readers.

Ages 9 and up.

The naughtiest skeletons in children's literature are back at it again! Big Skeleton and Little Skeleton can't help but bump into each other, fall, and trip over and over again, while the patient (and increasingly exasperated) Dr. Ossos tries to fix it with bandages and plasters. With its unmistakable humor and an aesthetic that combines panels and speech bubbles like a comic strip, Punches thrown in the middle of the night It plays with the contrast between the darkness of night and the vibrant colors of the scenes, full of movement and detail. A new adventure for these unforgettable skeletons that will make children and adults laugh alike.

Ages 3+.