Best Book Choices for Kids
Top Book Selections for Kids of all Ages
Have trouble finding books your kids will actually enjoy reading? Well, look no further, for here is a list, broken down by grade level, of the top 5 books kids will be sure to enjoy reading!
For those in Grades 1 and 2:
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
Amelia Bedelia is hired as a maid for the wealthy Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. Despite meaning well, she cannot seem to do anything right because she misinterprets Rogers' instructions and takes them quite literally. Being a series of books, children can follow Amelia while she attempts to help Mr. and Mrs. Rogers with their tasks that just seem easy enough to complete...
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
This story describes a set of events that occurs after a boy gives a mouse a cookie. Once the mouse is given the cookie, he asks for a glass of milk, leading to a series of additional requests, with each making the mouse want something new. By finding out what happens when a mouse is given a cookie, children will become engaged and observe the seemingly endless stream of demands the mouse wants!
Frog and Toad Series by Arnold Lobel
Two best friends - Frog and Toad - do everything together! With numerous books within the series, each follows their friendship and the fun times they have while just enjoying each other’s company. Through these books, children can enjoy lighthearted stories and learn the value of friendship.
Junie B. Jones Series by Barbara Park
Following the life of Junie B. Jones, each book offers a different story of her life. While very spunky, sassy, friendly, and wild, Junie B. Jones will not fail to have your child engaged as she embarks on different adventures in both kindergarten and first grade!
The Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne
This series follows Jack and Annie, brother and sister, who discover a magical treehouse filled with books. With each book in the treehouse taking the sibling duo on different adventures, there is a book for any interest your child may have, making this series fun to read and keeping engagement as they begin to fall in love with reading.
For those in Grades 3 and 4:
The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman
An unlikely foursome made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker are bound together by one huge secret: the homework machine. Because the machine is doing their homework for them, they start spending a lot of time together, thus attracting a lot of attention, which is something you don't want when you are keeping a secret. As this occurs, the machine is becoming more powerful than they ever imagined, and soon, the kids are in a race against their own creation. This book will have kids on the edge of their seats until the very end as they will see what happens if the secret comes out!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
It's a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school. He and his friend, Rowley Jefferson, must navigate through the newness of middle school as Greg records their journey through words and drawings within his diary in a humorous and unique way. This book incorporates illustrations to maintain the reader’s attention while also providing further explanations of the hilarious misfortunes Greg encounters and is sure to keep kids entertained.
Captain Underpants Series by Dav Pilkey
When Krupp, their principal, videotapes George and Harold setting up their stunts and threatens to expose them, the boys' luck changes when they send for a 3-D Hypno-Ring. Using it to hypnotize Krupp, the boys’ plan suddenly comes true when they turn him into Captain Underpants, their own superhero creation. As part of a series, each book is filled with comedic elements that keep children engaged in their reading as they will want to continue to find out what other wacky adventures Captain Underpants has to offer.
Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
The story introduces three gluttonous farmers robbed of their livestock by a clever fox trying to provide for his family. Because of this, the farmers decide that they must come up with a plan to catch the fox, but they are unsuccessful in their endeavors. Unwilling to give up easily, they plan to dig the foxes out, but no matter their attempts, the farmers are seemingly unable to catch the foxes! As kids read, they’ll begin to cheer the fox family on and will want to continue until the very end to see just how the story will play out.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Milo, a very bored little boy, receives an unusual package one day: a make-believe tollbooth. When he drives through it in his electric toy car, he is suddenly transported to the Lands Beyond, a fantastic world of imagination. On his way to Dictionopolis, he meets Tock, a watchdog, and King Azaz, who presides over the world of letters and words. The King sends Milo on a mission to rescue two princesses, Rhyme and Reason, who are imprisoned in the Castle in the Air! With the introduction of magical places and other fairy tale elements, children will enjoy reading this book and will want to see just how it ends!
For those in Grades 5 and 6:
The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
The novels in the series follow the life of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With the main arc concerning Harry's struggle against Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who intends to become immortal, it is up to Harry to stop him before he overthrows the Ministry of Magic to subjugate all wizards and Muggles! With the addition of magic and the desire to see the bad guy lose, kids will enjoy reading this series as it is one of the most popular in the world, and for a good reason!
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader, but she trips and falls one night after Girl Scouts, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey of dental drama and, while this is occurring, she still has to deal with the issues of becoming a teenager! With things such as boy confusion and finding out that some friends are just not so friendly, this is a story many could relate to. Kids will become engaged in reading to find out the silver lining in all the misfortunes poor Raina endures as there is always light at the end of the tunnel!
Holes by Louis Sachar
Stanley Yelnats, a boy who has bad luck due to a curse placed on his great-great-grandfather, is sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention camp, for a crime he did not commit. At the camp, Stanley and the other boys are forced to dig large holes in the dirt every day, but soon Stanley begins to realize that they are digging these holes because the Warden is searching for something, but what exactly could it be? With this book, kids will find themselves rooting for the wrongfully accused Stanley and detesting the evil Warden. Along with a mystery playing a significant part in the novel, it will be impossible to put this book down once picked up.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
A Wrinkle in Time is the story of Meg Murry, a high-school-aged girl who is transported on an adventure through time and space with her younger brother and her friend to rescue her father, a gifted scientist, from the evil forces that hold him prisoner on another planet. Guided by the three mysterious astral travelers, the children must go on a dangerous journey to a planet that possesses all of the evil in the universe to save Meg’s father. With the addition of time travel and distant planets, this book will have no problem maintaining kids’ attention!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
A teenager discovers that he is the descendant of a Greek god and is suddenly introduced to the world of demi-gods. Attending Camp Half-Blood, a camp for those who are half-god/half-human, he befriends those like him and sets out on adventures full of Greek mythology, and often aids in the settlement of on-going battles between the Gods. Being a series, once children become involved with the plot, there is no doubt that once they start, they will not be able to put the series down as it is that interesting to read!
For those in Grades 7 and 8:
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
Ponyboy Curtis belongs to a lower-class group of youths who call themselves greasers. One night, while walking home from a movie, Ponyboy is attacked by a group of Socs, the greasers’ rivals, who are upper-class youths from the West Side of town. This altercation only leads to more significant issues for Ponyboy as more events unfold that lead to great consequences for the greasers. As this book has the ability to captivate its reader through the excitement of the events that continuously occur, it will be easy for your child to fall in love with it.
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Set in a dystopian society, per the Bill of Life, pregnant women cannot get abortions, but they can unwind their children when they turn 13. Through unwinding, that child will live in a divided state as an organ and tissue donor. Because of this, the novel follows three different kids, all trying to fight for their own lives, but once the three characters’ stories converge, they all must work together in order to escape. This book poses numerous questions as it is read, which will get kids thinking about different aspects of life, but the overall plot will keep them reading.
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Eleanor, a chubby 16-year-old girl with curly red hair, and Park, a half-Korean, 16-year-old boy, meet on a school bus. While starting somewhat rocky, they gradually begin to connect through comic books and mixtapes, sparking a love story. As everyone loves a good unconventional love story, kids will be unable to put the book down as they will become engrossed in the budding romance unfolding right before their eyes.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Written from the point of view of Jonas, an eleven-year-old boy, the story follows those living in a futuristic society that has eliminated all pain, fear, war, and hatred. Everything is planned and organized so that life is as convenient and pleasant as possible; however, Jonas soon realizes that he is unlike the others in the community. Sparking a chain of events, being different it had left him to obtain the most important job of all. The thought of living in a dystopian society leads to all types of questions arising, but the journey Jonas must go on will have kids invested as they will see what happens when he gets assigned his job.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Englishman Arthur Dent is trying to stop demolition workers from tearing down his house when his friend Ford tells him that he actually hails from a planet and is a researcher updating the latest edition of the popular travel manual “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” However, while trying to complete it, he had found himself trapped on Earth for 15 years and discovered that the Vogons, an alien race, are about to destroy Earth! With a confused Arthur, Ford finds his way to a Vogon ship, but when the Earth suddenly explodes behind them, then that is where Arthur’s story begins! Once your child starts, they won’t be able to put this book down, and for a good reason! The comedy mixed with space travel makes for an exciting book that leaves you wanting more until the very end!
At LogiQMinds, we strive to get kids interested in reading both in and outside of the classroom, and this list is a great start! Broken up by grades, there is definitely a book for everyone, even ones that just might surprise you! With reading equating to greater knowledge, it is never too late to become an avid reader; so why not start today?