If you were to make a list of must read chapter books and children's novels, what titles would you include? Would it be well-known books like Charlotte's Web and Harry Potter, or would you include sentimental favorites you remember from childhood?
As someone who has read thousands of children's chapter books and novels, I've come up with my own, out-of-the-box list. It's not filled with the usual books you'll find on "100 books to read before you grow up." After all, you're smart enough to know that A Wrinkle in Time is a great book.
Instead, this list of 52 essential books is filled with page-turning, funny, mysterious, compelling and emotion-inducing titles reflecting a diversity of genres and inclusive of a wide variety of experiences that may be new to you! And yes, there are still a few I simply could not leave off the list, despite their presence on every top 100 children's novels lists out there.
Which books will you share with your children, next?
Note: this list contains Amazon and Bookshop affiliate links. Purchases made through these links may earn a commission for this blog. Bookshop also supports independent bookstores.
Table of contents
MORE: Visit the index of all our book lists
Ages 5 and up
Not every child is ready to read these books at age 5—and that is normal. These must read early chapter books are best suited for kids ages 5-9.
Bunjitsu Bunny (series) by John Himmelman. Delightfully humorous short stories about a bunny with serious martial arts skills. Mixed in with the laughs is a dose of philosophy.
My Happy Life (series) by Rose Lagercrantz. A sweet and realistic Swedish import about a girl who finds joy even amongst life's setbacks.
JoJo Makoons (series) by Dawn Quigley. JoJo, the clever, spunky heroine, lives on an Ojibwe reservation and navigates school life and changing friendships.
Super Duper Teddy (series) by Johanna Hurwitz. In a NYC apartment building, 4-year-old Teddy gets to take on some big kid responsibilities.
Too Small Tola (series) by Atinuke. Tola lives with her older siblings and grandmother in modern-day urban Nigeria. Tola's wit and intelligence help her to solve problems that pop up in the loving family's daily life.
Freddie Ramos Takes Off (series) by Jaqueline Jules. Freddie receives a mysterious package containing shoes which give him super fast skills.
J. D. and the Great Barber Battle (series) by J. Dillard. After J.D.'s mom gives him a terrible haircut, J.D. tries to remedy the situation and discovers he is a hair-cutting genius!
Badir and the Beaver by Shannon Stewart. In Canada, Badir and his friends rally to learn all they can about beavers to save a local specimen. Stewart deftly weaves themes of belonging and cultural diversity into this marvelous story.
The Mailbox in the Forest by Kyoko Hara. Mayu leaves a letter in a forest mailbox, thus beginning a unique correspondence with a mysterious letter writer.
Emil and the Great Escape (series) by Astrid Lindgren. Clever Emil has humorous adventurous in his family's farm in rural Sweden.
The Magician’s Boy by Susan Cooper. A magician's assistant gets a crash course on magic when he gets thrown into the Land of Stories on a journey to find St. George.
The Giggler Treatment by Roddy Doyle. The Gigglers set in motion a super stinky prank and the kids and their dog must thwart it.
MORE: Favorite early chapter books with diverse characters
Ages 7 and up
All of these books are age appropriate for ages 7 and up, although not every 7-year-old will be reading at the same level. These are great choices for older kids, too.
Yours Sincerely, Giraffe (series) by Megumi Iwasa. Giraffe in Africa and Penguin in the Antarctic exchange letters and hope to met one day.
Dory Fantasmagory (series) by Abby Hanlon. An absolutely hilarious series about a girl with an overactive imagination.
The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz, illustrated by Angela Barrett. When a fairy loses her wings she must survive the night in a world full of danger and discovery.
8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos (series) by Vivian Vande. A laugh-out-loud tale of the chaos created when a squirrel runs through an elementary school.
The Adventures of Nanny Piggins (series) by R. A. Spratt. An outrageously ridiculous nanny (she's a pig!) has hilariously unorthodox ideas about how to raise children, involving lots of chocolate.
Ragweed (series) by Avi. A charismatic mouse decides to set out to see the world.
Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins. Naima figures out a way to earn money for her family in Bangladesh.
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman. An uppity prince and his whipping boy become embroiled in a kidnapping plot with comic results.
Ways to Make Sunshine (series) by Renée Watson. Ryan Hart is the optimistic heroine we all need. She is the first one to see the silver lining in any situation, even when things don't go according to plan.
The Very, Very Far North (series) by Dan Bar-El. Duane the polar bear and his friends explore the wonders of the northern landscape.
Detective Gordon: The First Case (series) by Ulf Nilsson. Detective Gordon and his young sidekick concoct a plan to discover the identity of the thief who stole Squirrel's nuts.
MORE: Great books for 7 year olds
Ages 8 and up
8-year-olds (3rd graders) love funny books with mystery and adventure.
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan. This funny and touching story of Ravi, an Indian immigrant adjusting to middle school and Joe, a boy whose best friend moved awasy, is told in alternating voices.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (series) by Grace Lin. In an effort to help her impoverished family, Minli goes on a journey to find the Old Man on the Moon
The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity (series) by Mac Barnett. From reading The Bailey Brothers’ Detective Handbook, Steve knows everything about solving crimes, which comes in handy when he finds himself thrown into the middle of an exciting mystery
Melissa by Alex Gino. A 5th grade girl struggles with her gender identity and how to explain it to her friends and family.
The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom (series) by Christopher Healy. Fairy tales get turned upside-down in this hilarious series in which princes and princesses set out to make a name for themselves.
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. In the 1930s, Buddy runs away from a series of unpleasant foster homes and sets out to find his father, whom he believes to be a jazz musician.
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell. A classic tale about a disgusting dare.
The Birchbark House (series) by Louise Erdrich. The first book in a series about a Ojibwe family in the 19th century.
Masterpiece by Elise Broach. An artistically talented beetle and a boy solve an art mystery.
The Best Man by Richard Peck. A boy learns valuable lessons about the men he considers to be his role models.
You Are Here: Connecting Flights, edited by Ellen Oh. Twelve different authors penned this collection of interwoven stories detailing the experiences of several Southeast Asian and East Asian American families at a Chicago airport.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Sure, it's probably on a lot of top book lists, but I could not in all good conscience leave the ultimate middle grade mystery off my list.
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. Jack learns how to express himself with the help of a sensitive teacher, his dog and poetry.
The False Prince (series) by Jennifer A. Nielsen. In this heart-pounding adventure with a surprise twist, a devious nobleman attempts to pass an orphan off as the heir to a kingdom in turmoil.
Sisters of the Neversea by Cynthia Leitich Smith. A re-envisioning of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan story centered around a blended Muskogee Creek and British family.
MORE: Best books for 8 year olds
Ages 9 and up
As they get older, middle grade readers can tackle complex topics as reflected in these page-turning novels.
Mascot by Charles Waters & Traci Sorrell. In this verse novel, multiple narratives describe their experience working on a debate project exploring the controversy over a racially-charged school mascot.
It Ain't So Awful Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas. In 1970s California a young Iranian immigrant figures out how to be American without rejecting her heritage. Both funny and moving.
Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin. A surprisingly funny tale of a boy who starts to doubt the authority of the USSR in the time of Stalin.
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk. In this compelling story, Annabelle befriends the local hermit and must stand up to bullies to do the right thing.
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. An absolutely fascinating story set in medieval Korea about an orphan who becomes a potter's apprentice.
As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds. 11-year-old Genie and his brother travel from Brooklyn to rural Virginia to spend the summer with their grandparents.
Eyes of the Amaryllis by Natalie Babbitt. A haunting and classic tale about a girl waiting with her grandmother for a message from the sea. This book will stick with your kids forever.
Surviving the Applewhites (series) by Stephanie S. Tolan. A very funny story about a misfit theatrical family and the rebel foster kid who comes to stay with them.
The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney. A verse novel about Amira, who faces war horrors in Sudan.
Starfish by Lisa Flipps. Ellie is tired of being bullied about her weight but when a new family moves in next door, she makes a friend who understands what it's like to be judged by what you look like. Written in verse.
Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby. Solveig and her siblings are trapped, along with the king's guard, and a group of warriors known as the berserkers, in a fortress during a winter storm. Solveig attempts to uncover the traitor amongst them.
Show Me a Sign (series) by Ann Clare LeZotte. In 1805, Mary Lambert lives in a community where everyone speaks sign language and a quarter of the population is deaf. Tensions within the community are mounting, and the cruel intentions of a young researcher highlight the importance of fighting for what's right.
How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd. A compelling survival story about a boy who, abandoned by his parents, is determined to keep his homelessness a secret. However, his growing friendships with several other misfits offer hope that he can finally find a safe home.
Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros. After his Ama is deported in a surprise raid, Efrén must look after the household, including his sibling who has a cognitive disability, while his Apa works hard to earn the money needed to bring Ama back to the family.
MORE: 75 books for 9 year olds
Laurel says
This is a fantastic list! I spend a ton of time searching for good reads for my kids so I was proud to see that there were a bunch here I'd already discovered, but even happier to see that there were many I'd never heard of. My hold list at our library is going to get longer again just in time for the winter break. Thank you.
Erica says
I am so glad you approve of the list. Your kids will be delighted when you bring home new books for them to enjoy! 🙂
Hilary Cohen says
Sylvia Waugh, The Mennyms
EL Konigsberg, Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, Wm McKinley & Me, Elizabeth; Up from Jericho Tel; About the B'nai Bagels
Margaret Mahy, The Greatest Show Off Earth
Daniel Pinkwater, Borgel
Patricia W..., The Enchanted Forest Chronicles,
and of course, the My Father's Dragon trilogy
Hilary Cohen says
Patricia Wrede - sorry, brain freeze.
Erica says
Great books!
Lisa says
I just finished The War that Saved My Life. It was wonderful! I have a six year old so we didn't read that one together. But we both enjoyed 8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos . She laughed so much! We just checked Dory Fantasmagory out of the library. I love your lists because you remind me of things I loved as a child AND new things I'd likely never find otherwise! I am pretty sure the library staff hates me because I put so many things on hold from your lists!!
Erica says
I'm so glad to hear you loved The War that Saved My Life! And how wonderful that you and your daughter have been laughing during read aloud time. She must really enjoy all the special read aloud time you are enjoying together. I'm sure your library loves what an active patron you are. After all, libraries usually get resource funding based on circulation and you are keeping their numbers high. 🙂
Jill says
The "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" series lends itself to reading aloud beautifully. Great choice! It was so nice to see "Ellen Tebbits" on your list, too, as that was a favorite when I was young and people seem to have forgotten that Beverly Cleary wrote more than the Ramona series!
Erica says
Thanks, Jill. I agree that Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantastic read aloud!
Mary says
I love your lists. Thank you! I just noticed that this list shows Masterpiece as written by Kelly Murphy. Elise Broach wrote the book, Kelly Murphy illustrated it. Also, The War That Saved My Life was written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.
I often wish for more printer friendly versions of your lists that I could take to the library or bookstore. I do like to see the covers, but a simple bibliography at the end would be helpful!
Erica says
Hi Mary,
Thanks for being my proofreader. 🙂 On my list for 2017 is to figure out a way to quickly make a printable list for people without adding to my already large work load!! I'm so glad you appreciate the lists.
Mary says
I'll look forward to that! Many thanks!
Amber says
Erica, this link might help you with that printable list - Sarah may be able to suggest a way that isn't too labor intensive. I would happily help you myself if I could, but my tech skills are woeful.
Amy Jane says
We read aloud constantly, but we never seem to make a dent in the awesome list of titles that keep coming at us.
For all that I know some-is-good, I still find myself disappointed (if not outright discouraged) by all we leave unread.
Do you have any words of encouragement to speak to this?
Erica says
Hi Amy,
You know, this is the same with us. It is literally impossible to read every single good book out there. I focus on throughly enjoying the books we do read. That's sort of the only thing to do! I know that's probably not much help but you are doing great just reading as much as you do! - Erica
Amber says
Fantastic list, Thank You! I've discovered a few on this list already, but so many new titles - I was like a kid in a sweet shop at the library yesterday! Like you I am tired of seeing the same old titles again and again - well done for breaking from the banal. So many great authors out there, crafting future classics for kids and families, and am so grateful to you for making them easier to find.
Sandy Yusman says
Hi Erica. I stumbled upon your site and have since read 3 books on your recommended lists. I absolutely love Where the mountain meets the moon and The last of the really great whangdoodles. I've ordered them and Starry river of the sky and When tbe sea turned to silver also by Grace Lin to add to my son's bookshelf. He is only 7 months but I've been reading to him since he was a newborn.
I'm going to pick up some of your picture books recommendation from the library next.
Thank you.
Erica says
I am delighted to hear it, Sandy! I know you will enjoy Grace Lin's other books. Your son is so lucky to have you reading to him at such a young age -- it will serve him well!! Happy reading!
Sandy says
You are such a gem, Erica! Tried out The Hero Guides, Nanny Piggins and in the process came across Friday Barnes also by RA Spratt and love them all. They're going to be gracing our bookshelves when my son is ready for them. Thank you.
Erica says
Wonderful! I'm so glad you liked the books, and Friday Barnes is great, too.
Courtney says
Thanks for this list! We've read a ton of chapter books together, and have made it through most of the standard selections, so it's great to have some more obscure suggestions. We recently discovered The Birchbark House on our own, and have been tearing through it. Dory Fantasmagory is another favourite here, we give it for birthdays!
Erica says
That's great to hear. Happy reading!
Kay Rush says
I would add "Flipped" to the list. I read this to my 6th grade class every year and very few of them have ever heard of it, and every one of them LOVE the story. I know there was a movie made about the book, but it does not do the story justice. I am excited to check out the books you have suggested. I read to my sixth graders every day and it has made a huge difference in their love of reading and their willingness to check out books that are outside their usual interests.
Erica says
Thank you for the recommendation.
Jessica says
I would love a printer friendly version of this list to use as a checklist! 🙂
Adriana Schanen says
We love the Anna Hibiscus chapter books! Thanks for these great lists and site.
Theresa says
A couple of special books that I've read with my son are captain nobody, Dorko the magnificent, and True. Thank you for your list!
Erica says
Thank you for including your recommendations!
free says
luv it
Mary says
Thank you. I appreciate that you’ve included books that aren’t just from an America perspective. I read to my 4, and we continued to read aloud on car trips up thru high school.
I love children’s books still but have lost touch with them since my kids are all grown. I’m finally a grandmother of 4 that live across country or overseas. Because I don’t see them often enough, I’ve decided instead of just sending them books I will record (or video) me reading the books I send. I may not get to hold them on my lap but I can still read to them.
Your lists will be a great help.
You might check out “Half Magic” by Edgar Eager. It’s old but still fun about kids that find a magic nickel that grants only half of a wish.
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An interesting list of books for children.
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I think reading is very important for children. And reading should be taught from an early age. I'm in the 3rd year of pedagogical university and we recently had a lesson about the benefits of reading for young children. Reading develops intelligence and logical thinking. To be honest, although I'm going to teach children, but I do not like doing homework and writing essays on various topics, so I use online essay writing service.
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Julie Anne Peters says
Erica, Love your list! Noted!
about book "Fish in a Tree":
This book is especially sincere in it first person voice, the voice of an innocent child with a learning disorder called dyslexia. Sometimes we forget how small the world can be. How labels can creep in to hold us back. This book is for parents and children, students and educators, doctors and patients. In a larger ssense, this book is for anyone who cards about the future.
Recommended.
Erica says
Yes, this is a great book. I might have it on another list, I can't remember off hand, but I loved it!