The most popular school & education books of 2026

Books set at school or university capture years that shape a life. Friendships, rivalries, inspiring teachers, exams and first freedoms are their material. Boarding school stories, campus novels and memoirs of learning against the odds all belong here. This list shows the ones first published in 2026.

Cover of The Ministry of Manners

The Ministry of Manners

David Solomons

Published 2026

272 pages

Cover of Adventures of Rap Kid 3

Adventures of Rap Kid 3

M. C. Grammar

Published 2026

240 pages

Cover of Lottie Brooks Vs the Ultra Mean Girls

Lottie Brooks Vs the Ultra Mean Girls

Katie Kirby

Published 2026

400 pages

Cover of Penguin Readers Level 2

Penguin Readers Level 2

Anna Trewin

Published 2026

64 pages

Cover of My Kentucky Moonlight School

My Kentucky Moonlight School

Kim Michele Richardson

Published 2026

48 pages

Cover of Serial Chillers

Serial Chillers

Jennifer Killick

Published 2026

288 pages

Cover of One Person

One Person

Wi Haejun

Published 2026

40 pages

Cover of BEANO The Day We Got Lost in Time

BEANO The Day We Got Lost in Time

Craig Graham, Mike Stirling, Beano

Published 2026

224 pages

Cover of Ladybird Lane

Ladybird Lane

Nora Dare

Published 2026

12 pages

Cover of I Am Ready for School

I Am Ready for School

Camilla Reid

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of Sometimes I'm Stinkeroo

Sometimes I'm Stinkeroo

Rachel Vail

Published 2026

40 pages

Cover of MY FIRST DECODABLE STORIES FIX-IT FOXES AND DELI DOGS 'SH' BIND-UP.

MY FIRST DECODABLE STORIES FIX-IT FOXES AND DELI DOGS 'SH' BIND-UP.

Dorling Kindersley

Published 2026

24 pages

Cover of MY FIRST DECODABLE STORIES FIX-IT FOXES AND DELI DOGS 'CH' BIND-UP.

MY FIRST DECODABLE STORIES FIX-IT FOXES AND DELI DOGS 'CH' BIND-UP.

Dorling Kindersley

Published 2026

24 pages

Cover of MY FIRST DECODABLE STORIES FIX-IT FOXES AND DELI DOGS 'TH' BIND-UP.

MY FIRST DECODABLE STORIES FIX-IT FOXES AND DELI DOGS 'TH' BIND-UP.

Dorling Kindersley

Published 2026

24 pages

Cover of MY FIRST DECODABLE STORIES FIX-IT FOXES AND DELI DOGS 'NG, QU' BIND-UP.

MY FIRST DECODABLE STORIES FIX-IT FOXES AND DELI DOGS 'NG, QU' BIND-UP.

Dorling Kindersley

Published 2026

24 pages

Cover of MY FIRST DECODABLE STORIES FIX-IT FOXES AND DELI DOGS 'CK, WH' BIND-UP.

MY FIRST DECODABLE STORIES FIX-IT FOXES AND DELI DOGS 'CK, WH' BIND-UP.

Dorling Kindersley

Published 2026

24 pages

Cover of Lottie Brooks 9

Lottie Brooks 9

Katie Kirby

Published 2026

320 pages

Cover of The Pug who wanted to be a Dancer

The Pug who wanted to be a Dancer

Bella Swift

Published 2026

160 pages

Cover of DK Super Readers Level 3 Pope Leo XIV

DK Super Readers Level 3 Pope Leo XIV

Published 2026

48 pages

Cover of Hari Kumar, Ultimate Superstar

Hari Kumar, Ultimate Superstar

Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Published 2026

240 pages

Cover of The Sweetest Taste

The Sweetest Taste

Sara Holly Ackerman

Published 2026

32 pages

Cover of Paws

Paws

Nathan Fairbairn

Published 2026

204 pages

Cover of The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood

The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood

Farhana Islam

Published 2026

192 pages

Cover of The School Is Lava A Story about Emotionally-Based School Avoidance

The School Is Lava A Story about Emotionally-Based School Avoidance

Danielle Jata-Hall

Published 2026

64 pages

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