Journal
Reading guides, buying advice and what’s selling right now.
Why buy second-hand?
Cheaper, greener, and often in better shape than you expect.
Five books to start the year
A short, unintimidating stack to get the reading habit going again.
Craft books for beginners: knit, sew, print, paint
A good beginner craft book teaches technique through a few real projects — not a reference you never finish.
What makes a cookbook you actually cook from
Most cookbooks are read once and shelved. A few get splattered and broken-spined. Here is what separates them.
A first bookshelf for a new baby (0–3)
You do not need many books for a baby — you need the right few, read often. Here is what actually earns its place.
Building your teen’s GCSE English shelf
GCSE English is heavy on close reading. A few sensible buying decisions make the set texts easier to live with.
What to read after the school reading scheme (KS1)
Your child has finished the phonics scheme and can read alone. Here is how to keep the momentum going in Years 1 and 2.
Best kinds of book for reluctant readers aged 7–11
If a child in KS2 has decided reading is not for them, the fix is rarely a "better" book. It is a different kind of book.
New to manga? A starter guide for adults and teens
Manga is the fastest-growing part of the UK print market. If you have never picked one up, here is how it works and where to begin.
What is BookTok — and where do you actually start?
BookTok now drives a big share of UK fiction sales. If the hype has passed you by, here is a plain-English map of it.
Go All In: turning what you love into your next book
2026 is the UK’s National Year of Reading. Its whole idea — read into what you already enjoy — is the easiest way back to reading for pleasure.
Is a used book worth buying? What the condition grades mean
Second-hand books are cheaper and greener — and usually in far better shape than people expect. Here is how to read our condition grades.
Choosing books for your child's key stage: a KS1–KS4 guide
BookCart sorts its children’s range by key stage, not just age. Here is what each stage means and what to look for at every step.
Hardback, paperback or PDF: which should you buy?
Every title on BookCart comes in more than one format. Here is how to pick the one that suits how — and where — you actually read.