Best Usborne books to pair with your child's hobbies for the National Year of Reading 2026

The National Year of Reading is all about helping more people make reading part of everyday life, and its “Go All In” theme feels especially inspiring for children who already have a favourite hobby (or are just beginning to discover one). One of the loveliest ways to build reading for pleasure is to start with what a child already loves, whether that’s baking, music, nature, puzzles, keeping calm, or solving mysteries.

When books connect with a child’s real interests, reading can feel less like a homework task and more like a portal to new possibilities. A recipe becomes a shared afternoon in the kitchen. A music book becomes a chance to press, listen and talk. A puzzle adventure book becomes a reason to keep turning the page. And for parents and carers, that makes it much easier to build repeatable reading moments at home.

For children who love baking and cooking

Food is such a natural bridge into reading because it brings together stories, instructions, pictures and hands-on fun. For younger children, Poppy and Sam’s Baking Book is a lovely place to begin. Its step-by-step format is welcoming, and the recipes are designed for children to enjoy with adult supervision, making it a strong choice for family baking sessions. First Cookbook is another brilliant pick for children starting to feel more confident in the kitchen, with simple, child-friendly recipes that are sure to get them excited for meal time. For older children who are curious about food as part of family life and culture, World Kitchen opens things out beautifully, sharing recipes contributed by families from around the world in a way that feels warm, inclusive and jam-packed with conversation starters.

These are the kinds of books that work especially well in the National Year of Reading because they turn reading into something shared and purposeful. Children are reading to make, taste, notice and join in, and that can be a powerful way to help reading feel joyful and relevant.

For children who love music

Music books can be wonderful for children who do not always want to sit still with a conventional story. They invite listening, noticing and repeating, which helps make reading time feel active and playful. The Four Seasons is a beautiful early introduction to classical music, with sound buttons and fingertrails that encourage little ones to explore with their hands as well as their ears. Lift-the-Flap Questions and Answers About Music suits children who are always asking how things work, offering an accessible way into instruments, songs and musical ideas. For fact-loving readers, 100 Things to Know About Music is full of fascinating details and big questions, making it ideal for children who enjoy dipping in and coming back with a new fact to share at teatime.

Together, these books show that reading about music can be just as engaging as listening to it. They are particularly useful for children whose reading confidence grows when there is sound, interaction or a strong non-fiction hook.

For children who love nature and the outdoors

Children who are happiest outside often respond brilliantly to books that help them notice more of the world around them. Nature Spotting Guide is perfect for this, giving young nature lovers plenty to look for, talk about and identify on walks, in parks or even in the garden. The Usborne Outdoor Book takes that interest one step further with ideas for exploring outdoors in different places and weathers, while also including practical safety guidance for adventures with parents and carers. And Lift-the-Flap Trees is a lovely choice for curious children who like facts with a bit of discovery built in, helping them understand why trees matter as well as what makes them so extraordinary.

For the National Year of Reading, this hobby area feels especially strong because it links books with everyday family life so naturally. A child can read before a walk, during a walk, or afterwards while talking about what they found. That kind of easy back-and-forth between book and world is often where reading habits really begin.

For children who love gaming and puzzles

Some children are at their most motivated when a book gives them something to solve. That is where interactive puzzle adventures can be such a gift. Dragonflare is a particularly exciting choice for readers who enjoy quests, fantasy worlds and problem-solving, because the story asks them to solve puzzles as they go. Puzzle Slug and the Intergalactic Poop Robbery brings a very different energy: funny, comic-style, irreverent and full of puzzles that keep the action moving. These are excellent books for children who like gaming because they offer challenge, reward and momentum, but in a screen-free format that still feels playful and immersive.

This is also a helpful reminder that reading does not always need to look quiet or traditional. Sometimes it looks like laughing, pointing, figuring things out together and racing ahead to crack the next clue!

For children who are interested in mindfulness and feelings

Mindfulness books for children work best when they feel gentle, practical and age-appropriate, and Usborne has some lovely options for that. For very young children, Very First Questions and Answers: Why do I (sometimes) worry? opens up reassuring conversations about worries and what to do with them. All About Feelings is another strong early choice, helping children recognise, name and talk about emotions in clear and supportive language. For older children who prefer doing rather than discussing, Unworry Drawing Book offers drawing activities designed to bring focus to the present moment and help children work through difficult feelings in a calm, creative way. These are not books that push children to “fix” their emotions; they help parents and carers create space to notice, name and support what is already there.

That makes them especially valuable in a year dedicated to reading, because reading can also be a tool for connection, reassurance and reflection (not just entertainment).

For children who love the idea of being a spy or detective

Mystery-loving children often become very committed readers because they want to know what happens next. Official Spy’s Handbook is packed with classic spy appeal, including codes, disguises, observation skills and missions, and works brilliantly for children who enjoy practical, activity-led reading. Spy Disguises is ideal for pockets, journeys and little bursts of puzzle-solving fun. For children ready for a fuller story, Anisha, Accidental Detective: Holiday Adventure brings humour, mystery and plenty of pace, making it a strong pick for independent readers who enjoy clever, lively fiction.

This category is often a very effective way to hook children who say they are not keen readers. Give them a mystery to solve or a code to crack, and suddenly reading has a mission.

Choosing the right book to accompany your child’s favourite hobby

The best hobby-led books are not always the most obvious ones. A child who loves baking might want recipes they can genuinely help with. A music-loving child might prefer facts over songs, or sound buttons over text-heavy pages. A puzzle-loving child might be more motivated by silliness than by challenge level. Starting with their real personality rather than their broad interest usually leads to the most satisfying match.

It can also help to think in terms of reading mood. Some books are lovely for shared reading, like sound books, flap books and cookbooks. Others suit independent readers who like to disappear into a world of facts, clues or comic-book chaos. Across the National Year of Reading, that flexibility matters. The goal is not to make every child read in the same way; it is to help each child find a way into reading that feels like theirs.

Frequently asked questions

Which Usborne books are best for children who prefer doing to sitting still?
Interactive books such as Poppy and Sam’s Baking Book, Nature Spotting Guide, Dragonflare and Official Spy’s Handbook are excellent because they give children something active to do while they read.

Are hobby-themed books good for children who don’t like reading?
They can be brilliant for children who are reluctant to read because they start with an existing interest. When a child already cares about the subject, they often feel more motivated to keep reading, whether that is to solve a puzzle, try a recipe or uncover a mystery.

Which hobby books work well for shared family reading?
Cook books, music books and early feelings books are especially good for shared reading because they naturally invite talking, listening, noticing and joining in together.

Whether your child is happiest mixing cake batter, listening to music, spotting bugs, solving clues or learning how to manage worries, there is real value in choosing books that meet them where they already are. For the National Year of Reading 2026, going all in on a child’s favourite hobby can be a wonderfully simple way to help reading feel natural, enjoyable and part of everyday family life.

Explore these hobby-led Usborne books and pick the one that matches what your child already loves. It can be the simplest way to turn a current interest into a lasting reading habit!

Tips and expert advice

7 ways hobbies are valuable for kids

Hobbies are an activity we do in our downtime, purely for pleasure. However, as well as being fun, a hobby can enrich your child’s life and help them grow and flourish in numerous ways.

Emma Baxter