Tuva Kahrs,

From books exploring questions of identity and belonging in contemporary China to a charming memoir by a delivery driver, it’s been an extraordinary year for books about China in English argues Jeffrey Wasserstrom, a professor at UC Irvine and specialist in modern Chinese history. Here, he talks us through some of his favourite China books published in 2025.

There is a big gap between the books adults think kids should read and the books children actually enjoy, says Georgina Atwell, founder of Toppsta, the book website centred on children’s opinions. She recommends the best new books for kids of 2025 based on feedback from young readers, from a universally loved picture book to immersive novels for confident readers.

The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize celebrates the best new science books for kids. Professor Tamsin Mather, Earth scientist and chair of the 2025 judging panel, introduces this year’s shortlist and explains how scientific storytelling can awaken children’s sense of exploration of the world around them.

With no founder, prophet or book recognised as a definitive authority, Hinduism is notable for its diversity. Jawaharlal Nehru, independent India’s first Prime Minister, described it as being “all things to all men”. Here, Hindu practitioner and scholar Sravana Borkataky-Varma explains the essence of the religion, and recommends five books that are informative for readers who are familiar with Hindu traditions as well as those who are looking for their first introduction.

Exploring a historical era through crime is a particularly interesting way to explore that society, says award-winning novelist Anna Mazzola. Here she recommends five fabulous works of fiction that bring to life the impact of crimes in historical settings, from Victorian Britain to 18^th-century Jamaica.

We asked Rie Qudan, author of the award-winning novel Sympathy Tower Tokyo, to recommend her favourite Japanese novels. She selected five 20th century classics that highlight different aspects of Japanese sensibility — from the aesthetics and obsessive devotion of a 1933 novella by Tanizaki, to the desire and alienation of a 1994 Murakami novel.

Historical fiction brings the past to life, while exploring the feelings as well as the facts. Here, the novelist Louisa Treger recommends five favourite historical novels based on people who really existed, sweeping us from ancient Rome to 1930s Switzerland and everything in between.

Wordless picture books give the reader the power to tell the story and are immersive and enjoyable at any age, argues Evelyn Arizpe, Professor of Children’s Literature at the University of Glasgow. Here, she shares five of her favourite wordless picture book recommendations, and gives readers tips on how to explore their layers of meaning.

While rooted in specific Chinese contexts, these books transcend cultural boundaries and speak to universal questions about dignity, freedom, identity, and the longing to be seen, says novelist and writer Lijia Zhang. She talks us through five of the best works of fiction to come out of mainland China in the twentieth century.

From K-pop bands to webtoons, from award-winning cinema to blockbuster dramas such as Squid Game, Korean culture has taken the world by storm in recent years. But how about Korean literature? We asked Kim Ho-Yeon, author of bestselling novel The Second Chance Convenience Store, to introduce us to five unmissable 21st-century Korean novels.