Children Printable Word Search

A selection of the 100 best children's books to inspire a love of reading. From picture books to modern classics, explore these beloved stories. Enjoy our collection of free word search printable puzzles. Perfect for a quick word find or a deep dive into Children.

You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum!

Mr Gum is an extremely nasty man who hates everyone and lives in a disgusting tip of a house.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

With beautiful illustrations of babies born all over the world and gentle rhyming text, this charming book is perfect for sharing with little ones.

Peepo!

A classic children's book titled Peepo!.

The Gruffalo

In this much-loved picture book, a little mouse walks through the woods and encounters a fox, an owl and a snake.

Dogger

Dogger is Dave’s special toy. So when Dogger gets lost at the funfair, Dave is desolate. Will they find each other again? Exploring concepts of love, loss and kindness, this classic tale will be cherished by the entire family and will particularly appeal to any child who has a favourite toy.

Elmer

The first book in David McKee’s iconic series about a friendly, fun elephant and his adventures, Elmer is a true ambassador of inclusion, acceptance and celebrating difference.

Green Eggs and Ham

In Dr Seuss’ rhyming classic, Sam-I-Am’s decided he’s going to invite his friend to try a very unusual dish: green eggs and ham! But his friend is decidedly against the idea…

Dear Zoo

This appealing story, in lift-the-flap, board-book format has been a favourite with toddlers ever since it was first published in 1982.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Little fingers will love to follow the very hungry caterpillar as he munches his way through the pages of this classic, colourful, interactive picture book.

A Great Big Cuddle

Beautifully illustrated poems for young children by two Children’s Laureates

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Sophie and her Mummy are having tea in the kitchen when in walks a hungry tiger who asks to stay to tea.

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy

This hilarious rhyming story follows Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy, as he sets off for a walk in town

I Want My Potty!

The Little Princess hates nappies, and thinks there must be something better. This is classic picture book entertainment, which will be especially appreciated by any children who are learning to love their potty!

The Snowy Day

When Peter wakes up one winter morning to find the world has turned white, he can’t wait to put on his snowsuit and get out into the snow.

So Much!

One by one, family members drop by on a mum and her tot – all wanting to squeeze, kiss and give undivided attention to the baby. An adorable picture book, which is high-spirited, vibrant and fun.

Mr Big

With its gruff hero, vibrant, strong colours, bold design and spare text, this story about looking beyond appearances has a satisfying punchy simplicity and jazzy feel.

Harry the Dirty Dog

It’s bathtime for Harry the dog – but he hides his brush and runs away on an adventure! But he gets very, very mucky in the process – will his family recognise him when he comes home?

Would You Rather…

A classic for children, Would You Rather… presents an alternative to a traditional story by imagining a mixture of fantastical and real-life choices. It’s great for building confidence with little ones about making their own choices for their own reasons.

The Day the Crayons Quit

Award-winning illustrator and artist Oliver Jeffers has teamed up with film writer and director Drew Daywalt to create this gorgeously colourful picture book.

This is Our House

George wants his cardboard house all to himself. But when he goes to the loo, his friends fill his house to bursting point.

I Want My Hat Back

A bear sets out in search of his hat – he loves his hat and he wants it back

Where the Wild Things Are

Max is being naughty, and his mother sends him to bed without dinner, calling him a “wild thing.” As Max sits in his fury, a boat appears, taking him to a world of monsters and wild things with big claws and teeth. A classic picture book and one of the first to explore a child’s feelings of anger.

Five Minutes Peace

Mrs Large the elephant just wants five minutes of peace away from her three boisterous children… but that proves to be a bit of a challenge! This funny, charmingly observed portrayal of family life is sure to resonate with parents and children alike.

Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish

When a rich and powerful man decides he wants to visit the stars, he stops at nothing to build a rocket that will take him there. When he blasts off, however, he wakes up the dinosaurs – who are horrified at all the rubbish he’s left on the planet.

Julian is a Mermaid

When Julian spots three women in lavish mermaid costumes, it fires his imagination and all he can think about is becoming a mermaid himself – with a little help from his nana’s soft furnishings.

Uncle Bobby’s Wedding

This huggable treat of a book is a gorgeous and heartfelt celebration of weddings, as Chloe learns that just because her Uncle Bobby is marrying his boyfriend, it doesn’t mean he’ll love her any less.

Dave and the Tooth Fairy

Dave is thrilled when he finally gets his first wobbly tooth although, despite much wiggling and waggling, it seems reluctant to come out. A marvellous book with broad appeal, with a wealth of thoughtful, humorous detail.

The Great Big Book of Families

The Great Big Book of Families is about the diversity of families. The simple message is that every family is unique and special and that there is no such thing as ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’. Books simply don’t get much more inclusive than this.

I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato

Charlie tricks his younger sister, Lola – an extremely fussy eater – into eating all her least favourite foods.

Cyril and Pat

Cyril the Squirrel is so lonely that, when he finally makes a friend, he doesn’t seem to notice that “Pat” might not be quite what he seems. A colourful, rhyming story about friendship against the odds.

The Story of Ferdinand

Ferdinand the bull doesn’t want to butt heads or fight the Matador – he just wants to sit quietly and smell the flowers. Munro Leaf’s gentle picture book about simply being yourself is just as poignant and powerful today as it has ever been.

Clean Up!

Rocket loves visiting her Grammy and Grampy in the Caribbean, especially splashing in the waves with her cool surfing Grammy – but when Rocket finds a baby turtle washed up on the shore, tangled in plastic, she decides something must be done. It’s time to clean up!

What Happened To You

Joe just wants to play pirates, but the other children notice that he only has one leg and start asking him a barrage of questions. A stunningly clever book with a clear message that someone who happens to be disabled is not a teaching tool, with practical advice for parents on handling questions about this.

Billy and the Beast

Billy and her friend Fatcat are enjoying a walk in the woods when they notice that the bunnies and mice have gone missing – and a hungry Beast is collecting ingredients for a terrible soup. An empowering story, full of humour and humanity.

Coming to England

This picture book autobiography explores the early life of Floella Benjamin, celebrated writer, actress and television presenter. It begins in her childhood home of Trinidad and charts her move to England in 1960 as part of the Windrush generation.

Winnie-the-Pooh

No child’s library could be complete without A A Milne’s stories about Pooh, Christopher Robin and their friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Finn Family Moomintroll

Moomintroll is cheerful and chubby and lives in the magical Moominvalley with his mother, Moominmamma, his father, Moominpappa and all of their friends.

Fungus the Bogeyman

This sophisticated cartoon-strip picture book for older children follows one day in the life of Fungus, a morose bogeyman who scares humans – but starts wondering what it’s really all for? This is Briggs at his subversive and entertaining finest.

Hilda and the Troll

Blue-haired explorer Hilda has an uncanny ability to find weird and wonderful adventures and befriend peculiar creatures.

The 13-Storey Treehouse

Griffiths and Denton create a triumph to engage even the most determined hater of books, which includes hilarious cartoon drawings.

Charlotte’s Web

This is the tale of how a little girl named Fern – with the help of a friendly talking spider called Charlotte – saved her pig, Wilbur, from the usual fate of nice fat little pigs.

Under the Moon and Over the Sea

This joyful collection of more than 50 poems superbly conjures the sights, sounds and rhythms of the Caribbean.

Pippi Longstocking

Follow Pippi Longstocking on her amazing adventures as she moves into Villa Villekulla with a horse, a monkey, and a big suitcase of gold coins.

Holes

A fascinating book on holes, from subways to sinkholes, as well as the philosophical concept of a hole and some surprising cultural facts. Any budding archaeologists will really enjoy this original take on the natural and built environment.

Through the Magic Mirror

Toby is fed up and doesn’t feel like doing anything. So imagine his amazement when a whole new world opens right in front of his eyes…

The Sheep-Pig

When Farmer Hogget wins a piglet at the fair, he is amazed that Fly, his sheep-dog, welcomes him as one of her own pups.

A Bear Called Paddington

Paddington, the brown bear from darkest Peru, is found by the Brown family on Paddington Station with his hat, duffel coat and marmalade sandwiches.

Jumanji

Judy and Peter are bored and alone – until they discover a mysterious board game, Jumanji, that comes to life as soon as they start to play

The BFG

The BFG stands for Big Friendly Giant, who unexpectedly spirits a little girl named Sophie out of bed, and into the land of the child-eating giants.

Beezus and Ramona

Life with a very naughty little sister is both funny and excruciating in the six complete stories that make up this classic chapter book for newly independent readers.

Dog Man

Dog Man, created by Captain Underpants’ Dav Pilkey, is a comic masterclass, perfect for the surreal sense of humour of the average six- to nine-year-old.

Africa Amazing Africa

A perfect book for young children interested in their cultural heritage or for those with a passion for travel and geography, this would also make a gorgeous gift for anyone interested in Africa.

Princess Smartypants

Princess Smartypants is rebellious, independent, and very happy being single – but her parents want her to get married and settle down! This hilarious picture book has a subversive protagonist and a strong message about choosing your own destiny.

Werewolf Club Rules

Coelho follows in a noble tradition headed by Agard, Ahlberg, McGough and Rosen, who turn everyday life into memorable poetic miniatures.

The Magic Faraway Tree

When Joe, Beth and Frannie move to a new home, an Enchanted Wood is on their doorstep. And when they discover the Faraway Tree, it proves to be the beginning of many magical adventures! Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree.

The Boy at the Back of the Class

This is the story about how four classmates have a massive impact on the life of Ahmet, a boy that comes to their school as a refugee from Syria. An inspiring and sweet tale that should help children be the best they can be and realise the power of kindness.

The Journey

What is it like to leave everything behind and travel somewhere strange? This incredibly poignant story introduces the concept of refugees with straightforward language, tackling this difficult subject with truth, clarity and strikingly beautiful illustrations.

The Hobbit

This well-loved fantasy story has delighed readers ever since its first publication in 1937.

The Arrival

In this unusual book, we follow a young man as he packs his bags and leaves his family to go and start a new life in another country

The Wolves of Currumpaw

In New Mexico in the late 1800s, the wolves that had once roamed the landscape of the Old West were becoming scarce because of the rising number of settlers to the area.

Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet

Planet Omar has all of the everyday life family drama and silly humour of Tom Gates and Sam Wu, and it’s wonderful to read a funny book for kids featuring a Muslim family.

Ballet Shoes

First published in the 1930s, this classic story of three very different girls who work hard to master their talents has captivated children’s imaginations for decades

Are You There, God It’s Me, Margaret

All the girls in Margaret’s new neighbourhood are interested in boys, wearing makeup, and getting their period – but Margaret hasn’t done any of those things yet. To assuage her worries, Margaret begins to talk to God in her mind, asking him to help her grow up.

Varjak Paw

Pedigree cat Varjak Paw lives in a luxurious mansion with his family, but when trouble comes to their door, he’s forced to escape to the streets to enlist the help of a sworn enemy. A modern adventure which considers what it is to be persecuted for coming from a different culture, and, at the same time, find strength in the wisdom passed down from our ancestors.

Wonder

August (‘Auggie’) Pullman can’t help but stand out – he was born with a severe facial deformity. Written in the first person, Wonder follows Auggie as he experiences more than the usual ups-and-downs of friendships, family and school.

The Boy in the Tower

Taking place in a believable urban, multicultural environment that will be familiar to many young readers, Polly Ho-Yen’s debut is an impressively moving and thought-provoking story that will touch children and adults alike.

Funky Chickens

A funny, thought-provoking collection of poems for older children from Britain’s best-loved rap poet, Benjamin Zephaniah, which cover a diverse and sometimes difficult range of topics but are full of fun and imagination.

The Silver Sword

In the chaos of World War II, Ruth, Edek and Bronia are separated from their parents, and left alone to fend for themselves, hiding from the Nazis in the ruins of their city.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

After the misery of life with his ghastly aunt and uncle, Harry Potter is delighted to have the chance to embark on an exciting new life at the Hogwart’s School of Wizardry and Witchcraft.

Flour Babies

A classic, touching and very funny coming-of-age story about an unusual science project that teaches the boys in 4C so much more than just science.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

When Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy – step through a wardrobe door in the strange country house where they are staying, they find themselves in the land of Narnia.

The Borrowers

The Borrowers are tiny people who live in the secret places of old houses – behind the mantlepiece, inside the harpsichord, under the kitchen clock.

The Family From One End Street

Eve Garnett’s brilliant depiction of a large, close-knit family and their hilarious escapades is every bit as funny and charming today as it was when it was published in the 1930s.

The Neverending Story

When Bastian hides in an antique bookshop to escape bullies, he stumbles across a mysterious leatherbound book which carries him into adventures beyond his wildest dreams.

Millions

One night, a bag containing £229,370 falls from the sky and flattens the hermitage. Damian is convinced it is a gift from God.

Emil and the Detectives

Ten-year-old Emil is excited to be taking the train to Berlin on his own for the first time – but he doesn’t like the look of his fellow passenger, the man in the bowler hat.

Planetarium

Written by an astrophysicist and illustrated by the phenomenally talented Chris Wormell, Planetarium explores the solar system and universe as we know it. A beautiful and wonderful book and a real treasure for any child.

How to Train Your Dragon

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III was an incredible sword-fighter, dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking hero who ever lived.

Carrie’s War

Inspired by Nina Bawden’s own experiences of living as an evacuee in a Welsh mining valley as a child, Carrie’s War is now considered a modern classic. Funny, sad and thought-provoking.

Tall Story

Engagingly told in alternate chapters by four-foot, thirteen year-old Andi, in the UK, and her eight-foot, sixteen year-old half brother Bernardo, in the Philippines

Freedom 1783

This is a brilliant adventure story that manages to give young readers a really important insight into slavery without being so upsetting that it’s impossible to read: a very fine balance, masterfully achieved.

Northern Lights

This extraordinary fantasy is the first book in Philip Pullman’s multi-award-winning His Dark Materials trilogy

Goodnight Mister Tom

Willie Beech, a lonely and deprived child, is evacuated to a tiny English village just before the Second World War, and finds himself living with reclusive widower Thomas Oakley.

Skellig

Exploring a ramshackle garage with his new-found friend Mina, Michael discovers a strange, magical creature who needs his help. A contemporary classic.

The Illustrated Mum

This is a moving yet unsentimental account of two children coming to terms with their mother’s depression, mental instability and alcohol problem.

Kensuke’s Kingdom

This is a beautifully written tale of an exceptional friendship which survives beyond the boundaries of culture and language.

The Wheel of Surya

A story of adventure, trauma and courage set in India and England against a backdrop of imperialism, a world war and the violent unrest that followed the partition of India.

Once

Morris Gleitzman brings heart and humour to the difficult subject of the Holocaust in this ground-breaking children’s book.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

In 1930s Mississippi, the Logan family are forced to live their lives in fear simply because they are black. A classic, compelling story that is as relevant and important today as ever.

Melissa (formerly published as George)

To everyone around her, George is a boy – but George longs to be like Charlotte, the wise and gentle hero of Charlotte’s Web. This short, sweet story of embracing your true self and trusting those around you is a timely addition to the growing awareness of transgender identification in children and young adults.

A Monster Calls

Connor’s mum has cancer and life is changing. There is the nightmare, then there is school, where people avoid him, or persecute him. And then there is the immense, mythic Monster.

Artichoke Hearts

This empathetic account of the process of bereavement, a month’s diary, reassures readers that we grow from our experiences, however painful they are.

A Wizard of Earthsea

The first in a classic series of fantasy novels, A Wizard of Earthsea follows a young boy’s development from goat herder to magician. Flawlessly written and by turns exciting, insightful and thought provoking, Ursula Le Guin’s story has a timeless, mythical feel – a truly wonderful book.

The Owl Service

When Alison finds a curious dinner service in the attic, the discovery sets off a strange chain of events that look set to affect everyone’s lives. This extraordinary and powerful story is a modern classic, blending together mystery, adventure and history.

Booked

From fast-paced football matches to school and family drama, this novel written in verse has something for everyone and will grip reluctant readers from page one.

Noughts & Crosses

Callum is a Nought but his best friend Sephy is a Cross – the daughter of one of the most influential politicians in the country.

Anne Frank: The Diary of A Young Girl

Now widely regarded as one of the most important pieces of historical literature of all time, Anne Frank’s diary is a poignant and powerful insight into the life of a child in hiding from the Nazi occupation.

Liccle Bit

At school Lemar, also known as Liccle Bit due to his height, is like any teenage boy. He’s in love with a girl who barely notices him, he mucks about with his best mates and he spends a lot of time doodling in his work books. However, at home…

The Cat in the Hat

A classic book about a mischievous cat who visits two children on a rainy day and wreaks havoc in their house while their mother is away.

Matilda

Matilda is an extraordinary girl with a magical mind, who dares to take a stand against her cruel parents and the formidable headmistress Miss Trunchbull.

Why Play Children Word Search Puzzles?

Our Children word search collection features 100 unique puzzles, each with carefully curated word lists. A selection of the 100 best children's books to inspire a love of reading. From picture books to modern classics, explore these beloved stories.

Word search puzzles are more than just fun — they help improve vocabulary, pattern recognition, and focus. Our free printable children word search puzzles are perfect for classrooms, waiting rooms, road trips, or relaxing at home. Every puzzle can be played online or printed for offline solving.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, when you play online, the game tracks your progress and highlights found words in real-time. If you're printing puzzles, the easiest way to check answers is to play the same puzzle online. We designed our answer system this way to prevent accidental spoilers while still giving you a way to verify your solutions.

Our Children collection currently features 100 unique word search puzzles, each with a carefully curated list of 18 words related to its specific topic. New puzzles are added regularly. Every puzzle can be played online with interactive highlighting, or printed for offline solving with pen and paper.

Yes, all our Children word search puzzles are completely free to play online or print — no sign-ups, subscriptions, or hidden fees. We believe in making learning and entertainment accessible to everyone. You can play directly in your browser, print as many copies as you need for classroom or group use, and come back for new puzzles anytime.