The Ultimate List of Kids Chapter Books
It’s so exciting when your child starts reading independently! Before you know it, they’re on to beginner chapter books. But what about when beginner chapter books are too short or babyish?
Check out our favorite beginner chapter books here.
There’s another category of chapter books called middle grade. They’re supposed to be for ages 8-12, but many of them offer up more mature themes (divorce, loss, abuse, bullying) or an intensity that might not be appropriate for a child on the younger end of the spectrum.
This post is a huge list of books for that in-between age. My daughter is an advanced reader, but she’s not ready for quite a few middle grade books, so I’ve hunted for books to fill the gap. I thought I would share some of our favorite finds with all of you! These books are great for independent readers or read alouds.
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Classics
Pippi Longstocking has been a favorite in our home for quite some time. Pippi is a girl who lives with a horse and a monkey, but no parents. As such, she sees things a little (or a lot) differently than her new friends Tommy and Annika. The escapades that follow are hilarious. Claire has read this book over and over again, along with the sequels, Pippi Goes on Board and Pippi in the South Seas.
Whimsical and adorable, this is the story of a bear named Paddington, who finds himself in Paddington Station, lost and alone. When Mr. and Mrs. Brown find him, they decide to take him home. After all, he is alone and he’s a very nice bear. Paddington almost reminds me of Curious George. He’s exploring his surroundings, trying to figure things out, not realizing all the trouble he manages to cause in the meantime. This is the first book in a series that has quite a few books, so if your children love the first book, they’re sure to enjoy the whole series!
We actually read this book for school as Brave Writer Arrow (read more about that here), but it’s starting to fall apart because it’s been re-read so many times. It’s the story of five Jewish sisters growing up in New York City at the turn of the century. It’s so wholesome and sweet.
This is the story of two girls (Betsy and Tacy), who become such inseparable best friends that they’re soon referred to collectively as Betsy-Tacy. Claire has this treasury, which includes the first four books. Apparently the series goes all the way up the girls’ adulthood, marriages, etc, but we’ve only read the childhood books.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle lives in an upside down house, loves to bake and understands children. Her house and yard are always filled with the neighborhood children. So whenever a parent has an issue with their child that they just can’t seem to solve (temper tantrums, not cleaning up, won’t eat their vegetables, etc.), they turn to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle to help “cure” their children. Each chapter serves as a stand-alone story of a “cure” that Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle administers.
Of all the chapter books we own in our house, this book might be the most read and re-read. There are several other books in the series and we own all four! If you can find the books with the original illustrations by Hilary Knight, I highly recommend it!
Mr. Popper is a house painter, but he loves everything about Antarctica. He reads every book about it he can get his hands on. He listens to radio broadcasts. And he even dreams that he’d one day be able to see penguins. Imagine his surprise, when he suddenly receives a penguin as a gift from an explorer. Before you know it, penguins have overtaken Mr. Popper’s home and hilarity ensues.
When you think of classic children’s chapter books, Charlotte’s Web is likely the first book you think of. You probably don’t need a synopsis of this book, but in case you’ve never heard of it, this is the story of Wilbur the pig. Wilbur finds out he’s going to be fattened up and killed for meat. In desperation, he turns to his best friend Charlotte, a spider. But Charlotte is only a spider … can she find a creative way to save her friend? This is such a sweet story of friendship and love. Fair warning, your child may end up in tears at the end of this book. As an adult, I cried. But it’s so beautiful and so worth it!
Many people grew up watching Little House on the Prairie and likely read the books as well. This book is the first in the series. In it, Laura Ingalls is quite young (5 years old, I believe) and tells of her life in a cabin in the Wisconsin woods.
There has been recent controversy over the racism depicted in later books (most notably Little House on the Prairie, the next book in Laura’s story). There are some shocking statements made about Native Americans, but I still think it’s worth reading aloud with your children, discussing racial tensions at the time and how wrong Ma’s views are. It’s worth noting that Ma’s views do change towards the end of the book and the entire family realizes the horror of Native Americans being driven off their land. This first book in the series contains no racism whatsoever and is incredibly wholesome. As far as I’m aware, the rest of the series is also free from the racist statements found in Little House on the Prairie.
I can’t make a list of best chapter books and not include Roald Dahl! While this particular book isn’t my favorite Roald Dahl, it was my daughter’s favorite for a very long time. It’s also one of his shorter chapter books, which might make a little less daunting for younger readers just starting to find their way out of beginner chapter books.
Mr. Fox loves to steal from the nasty farmers who live nearby. But they’ve caught on to his sneaky ways and discovered where he lives! As they stake out his home, is there any way Mr. Fox can save his wife and children?
While some people are picnicking in the Connecticut countryside, Chester Cricket crawls into their picnic basket to help himself to some crumbs. Full and content, he falls asleep only to wake up in New York City! Chester has never experienced city life before, but he soon makes friends with Tucker Mouse and and Harry Cat. This book is such a sweet story of friendship. It’s also illustrated by Garth Williams (who famously illustrated E.B. White’s books and the Little House series), which is always a win.
Any of Thornton Burgess books are wonderful, but Old Mother West Wind is an excellent place to start. It tells the story of animals who live in the woods. Not only is whimsical and adorable, but it teaches a lot of scientific facts about nature while doing it. Sneaky learning through living books is always a win for me!
Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny are orphans. When they find out that their stern grandfather wants them to live with him, they’re afraid. They decide to run off by themselves. The children find an old, abandoned boxcar in the woods and decide to live there with their dog.
I remember this book inspiring so much creative play as a child and it did the same for Claire when she read it. There’s a whole slew of books that come afterwards where the children solve mysteries, but they’re not as good as the first book, in my opinion. Claire has read a lot of books in the series and enjoyed them, though.
Many of you probably already know that Doctor Doolittle can talk to animals. With this talent, he is the best veterinarian around! In this first book of the series, he travels to Africa to help some very sick monkeys. Of course, he gets into many snafus along the way.
This is another book that has come under fire for some racist content, but all newer editions of this book have edited that out. I don’t know if there are any issues in subsequent books in the series, but the first book is a gem.
Homer Price is a young boy, living in Centerburg, Ohio. Each chapter in this book is an adventure he goes on. This book is witty, wholesome and just plain fun! We loved the sequel (Centerburg Tales) as well.
If you could have whatever you wanted, what would you wish for? One day, Jane finds a mysterious coin on the sidewalk and realizes that it can grant wishes! Unfortunately, she and her siblings soon find out that their wishes are only half granted. As you might imagine, chaos and hilarity ensues.
Are there bears on Hemlock Mountain? All the adults say there isn’t, but Jonathan isn’t so sure. As he travels over the mountain to fetch a large pot for his mother, he ends up on the adventure of his life!
Okay, so techincally this isn’t a chapter book. I still felt compelled to include it. Beatrix Potter’s books include lovely illustrations, but the phrasing is complex and there are a lot of words per page. A beginner reader would struggle with these, but an older child will truly love them!
Winnie-the-Pooh might seem like a babyish choice for kids 7-10, but I promise you it isn’t! A.A. Milne’s writing style is hilarious and clever. My favorite character has always been Eeyore. His dark, sarcastic humor was not portrayed accurately in the Disney cartoons and it makes me laugh every time! The House at Pooh Corner is just as charming (and includes the introduction of Tigger!).
Wanda Petronski is teased by her classmates for wearing the same dress every day. She claims to have one hundred dresses at home, but the girls just mock her. The girls in this book learn the power of their words, as well as how standing by doing nothing is just as bad as bullying itself. It’s a powerful little book.
This was one of my favorite books as a child. I was thrilled when Claire loved it just as much as I did. It’s the story of the Beebe family, as they try to raise a filly who was born to be a wild horse. There are three other books in this series (which I didn’t know as a child! I need to read them as an adult). Also, Chincoteague is real place and it’s Claire and I’s dream to visit one day.
When a grumpy old homeless man stumbles upon some children in his normal sleeping spot, he’s very frustrated. He just wants to be alone! But as time goes on, the children worm their way into his heart. Be warned, this one is a tear jerker (at least for me)!
When Ann’s family moves west to settle in Pennsylania, she isn’t happy. She misses her old life and her old home in Gettysburg. Can Ann find contentment in her new pioneer life? Most pioneer books are set in the 1800s, but this takes place shortly after the Revolutionary War. It even includes a scene with George Washington, which is a really neat part of the book.
Anna and Caleb’s mother died when Caleb was born. Their father wants them to have a mother, so he sends for Sarah. She travels to them from Maine and the children can’t help but wonder what Sarah will be like … and if she’ll stay. This is short, but beautiful – it was another tear jerker for me!
This is the sweet tale of the four Moffat siblings – Sylvie, Joey, Janey and Rufus. Lots of silliness and fun in this one! We also really enjoyed Ginger Pye, set in the same town.
The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook
Amelia Margaret Amanda is a little girl with an awfully big name. Her family calls her Milly Molly Mandy for short. This book is a collection of her adventures (and sometimes misadventures). Sweet, funny and wholesome, this is a great book!
Homily, Pod and their daughter Arrietty are tiny people who live in a human house. They hide out, trying to stay under the radar and “borrow” things to make their home and life comfortable. If I’m being honest, I thought this book was boring, but Claire absolutely loved it and has gone on to read the entire series. I included it, because my opinion is the vast minority.
If I was asked what my favorite book was as a child, it was hands down The Secret Garden. I wore out my copy from reading it so much. It’s the story of Mary Lennox, a spoiled girl who becomes an orphan and must move to England. I love her transformation from a self-centered little girl to one that values others. The language in this book might be a little tougher, but it’s beautifully written.
If your kids like this one, they’ll also love The Little Princess by the same author. Don’t be fooled by the title. This isn’t a “girly” story, but a story of bravery and character that even boys will love.
Funny Books
There are so many hysterical Roald Dahl books. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and The BFG are all popular Dahl books that we recommend. But I wanted to include a lesser known, but equally hilarious Dahl book on this list. When George is alone in the house with his horrible, cruel grandmother, he decides it’s time to give her a medicine to try to cure her grouchiness. As you might imagine, everything goes wrong in the most hilarious way. This is one of our favorite Roald Dahl books and we highly recommend it for some laughs.
While this is book 3 in the Moomintroll series, it’s the only one I’ve read. It works quite well as a standalone. It’s the hilarious adventures of Moomintroll and his friends as they get into all kind of ridiculous and hilarious adventures.
McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm
This is a short, silly book about a family who find that the 80 acre farm they purchased are actually all stacked on top of each other into one acre! But they end up being able to grow all sorts of amazing things there.
Neil Gaiman is known for his adult fantasy books and children’s horror books. This is neither. It’s the hilarious story of a father who steps out to get milk for his children’s cereal. He takes a very long time in returning, but when he does, he has the most intricate story to tell about all that happened to delay it. Normally, I prefer reading aloud to audio books, but this audio book is read by Neil Gaiman himself and is absolutely hilarious!
How could I make a list of chapter books and not include Ramona? Her books were some of my favorites growing up and my daughter has loved them as well. They’ve definitely stood the test of time. All the antics and situations in which Ramona finds herself are funny. She doesn’t mean to be bad … it just sort of happens.
Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible
Harriet Hamsterbone had a curse placed on her when she was only a baby. She is cursed to die on her 12th birthday. For most people, this would be alarming news. But not when Harriet realizes that if she has to die on her 12th birthday, she’s invincible until then! This clever retelling of Sleeping Beauty is hilarious and loads of fun. Better still, it’s a series and each book is a take on a different fairy tale.
Ruffleclaw is a furry monster who is tired of eating bugs. He decides to move in with some humans. Tommy wants to keep his newfound monster as a pet, but Ruffleclaw is intent on mischief and eating everything in sight! Can he teach his monster to behave? This book is written by Cornelia Funke, who wrote one of my all time favorite middle grade series (Inkheart). All of her books for younger children are such fun!
8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos (Twitch the Squirrel)
Technically, Claire and I haven’t read this exact book, but we’ve read the other two books in the series Squirrel in the Museum and Squirrel in the House). All of them are the hilarious story of Twitch, the squirrel who is so curious about humans. His assumptions about what humans are thinking or feeling are absolutely hilarious! And of course, his curiosity leaves all sorts of chaos in his wake.
Fantasy/Adventure
When things start to go missing on the prairie, Louisa’s pa gets accused of stealing. Poor Louisa is forced to live with the Smirches – her closest neighbors and the people responsible for her father’s arrest. Can Louisa clear his name and find out who’s been stealing? This book has a fun fantasy twist that most kids won’t see coming.
If you’ve been here for very long, you’ve heard me rave about this book (and its sequel). This is the story of Roz, a robot who is shipwrecked on an island. There are no humans there and Roz must discover how to survive. It’s sweet, funny, adventurous and just all around amazing. I would say it’s one of the best modern children’s chapter books I’ve read in quite some time.
Many of you are likely familiar with the story of Ralph the Mouse and how he comes to be the proud owner of a perfect, mouse-sized motorcycle. It’s such a fun book! There are two more books in the series. Runaway Ralph was Claire’s favorite in the series when she first read it.
Tumtum & Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall
This is a collection of stories of two mice (Tumtum and Nutmeg) and the adventures they have secretly helping two young children who live in the same home. This book is a collection of three stories. Claire and I loved everything about this book!
Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure
Claire and I recently read this book and it exceeded all of my expectations! The tale of Mr. Penguin, who moved to start his own detective/adventure business, this isn’t one to be missed. There was humor, daring, adventure and even some mysteries and plot twists. Also, that spider on the cover is the best part of the whole book.
Vastly different from the movie franchise, How to Train Your Dragon follows Hiccup and his struggle to train a very obstinate dragon. This is a rite of passage for all boys his age in his tribe. It’s full of humor and adventure. There’s definitely some potty humor, so beware of that if that’s something you’re trying to avoid in your home.
Mr. Ocax the owl protects the mice of Gray House on one condition – they must get his permission to travel outside the boundaries of their land. But when suspicious circumstances occur, Poppy the deer mice is left wondering … is Mr. Ocax really protecting them? Or is he hiding something? Lots of adventure and tense moments in this book (and a mouse dies in the first chapter), so if you have a very sensitive child, you may want to wait a few years on this one.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia)
When recommended child fantasies, how could I leave out the Chronicles of Narnia? We loved every book, but the first book is absolutely iconic. C.S. Lewis basically defined the fantasy genre for children (along with J.R.R. Tolkien and George MacDonald, but their books are a bit more difficult for younger readers to read independently).
The Nerviest Girl in the World
This is the second Melissa Wiley book in this list, but I had to include it. It’s not fantasy driven like The Prairie Thief, but it is a really fun adventure story of how a girl named Pearl ends up in moving pictures as they’re first getting their start. It’s a lot of fun and a great glimpse into history.
This is a short little book about Nim and her dad, Jack, who live on an island alone. When Jack is stranded out at sea and Nim is left on the island by herself, can Nim save the day? Claire loved the adventure in this story.
One dark night, Emma finds a mysterious green bottle floating in the ocean. When she pulls out the stopper, she sets a blue genie free! Most genies grant three wishes, but Karim can’t grant even one anymore. A yellow genie stole his magic nose ring, leaving him small, powerless, and trapped in that bottle. Emma and her dog have to help Karim get his nose ring -and his magic- back! This is by the same author of one of my favorite middle grade series of all time (Inkheart, in case you were wondering) and this book for the younger crowd is lots of fun!
This book could’ve been put in either the classic’s section or the fantasy section, but either way, this is a great book for younger kiddos. I haven’t read the entire series (just the first book), but I’ve heard the sequels get a bit darker, so bear that in mind.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
In the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain, a young girl named Minli spends her days working hard and her nights listening to her father tell tales. Despite her mother’s objections, Minli believes all of these stories, so she sets off on an adventure to find the Old Man in the Moon to change her family’s fortune. Both Claire and I adored this book. Minli’s bravery was wonderful, but it also explored grief and friendship. There are so many stories within the main story, but Grace Lin expertly weaves them all together seamlessly. There are a few intense moments, so your sensitive reader may want to skip this one for now.
Mystery
The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe’s Very First Case
By the same author as the adult series The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency comes this mystery about Precious as a child. When cake goes missing from her classroom, Precious is on the case! If your kiddo is anything like mine, they’ll love this fun little mystery.
I think I also listed this book in my beginner chapter book series post, but I don’t think it’s too young for the lower end of middle grade (3rd-4th grade). If your daughters loved Fancy Nancy picture books, they’ll love this series about Nancy in grade school. Nancy Clancy forms a detective club with her best friend, Bree, and they solve lots of fun cases.
Basil of Baker Street (The Great Mouse Detective)
This title might sound familiar if you love older Disney cartoons. I had no idea that The Great Mouse Detective was based on a book! This is the first in a series all about Basil, a mouse who lives in the basement of Sherlock Holmes’ house. It’s a great introduction to Sherlock for younger kids who love mysteries.
For people who grew up reading Trixie Belden (I wasn’t one of them, unfortunately), this is like Nancy Drew, but better! It’s a series of books about a mystery-solving 13 year old. In this particular book, it looks like it’s going to be a boring summer for Trixie … until a millionaire’s daughter moves next door and they discover an old miser has hidden a fortune inside his decrepit house. While Claire loves Nancy Drew, she likes Trixie even more!
For Animal Lovers
The Adventures of Geraldine Woolkins
Geraldine longs to be brave and have grand adventures, but she’s a tiny little mouse. She struggles to overcome her fear. This sweet story does have a lot of Christian elements in it, so if that’s objectionable to you, you might want to skip this one.
The Horse Diaries is a whole series of books about horses in different time periods. Not only are they great stories, but they’re also very informative about horses and historical time periods. They’re perfect for horse loving or history loving kids.
The Dog Diaries series is similar to the Horse Diaries series, but following dogs rather than horses. Also, many of the dogs were real dogs that played a role in history, which is really cool. Claire’s favorite was Stubby the war dog, because he’s similiar to a pitbull. If you know our dog Gus, you’ll understand why she loved this one so much.
Beverly Cleary’s books are well known and beloved, but this is lesser known book about a cat is pretty adorable. Socks loves his family and is perfectly content … until there’s a new baby in the house! This is still a favorite for Claire and one she’s read over and over again.
Jasmine Green Rescues: A Piglet Called Truffle
Jasmine’s mother is a large animal vet and her father is a farmer, so she’s no stranger to caring for animals. When Jasmine rescues a tiny piglet, can she convince her parents that farm animals can be kept as pets? This is the first in a series and all are about animal rescues.
Two to Tango (Second Chance Ranch)
Another series about girls whose mother is a vet, this follows 4 sisters and their various adventures with animals (horse, llama, cat or dog, depending on the book). The thing that impressed me most about this series is that it conveyed very healthy sibling relationships. Many kids books just show siblings fighting and being annoyed with each other. Obviously, that does happen in real life, but siblings are also usually friends. This book shows sisters who love and really root for each other. It was refreshing to as a parent to see that modelled so well.
The World According to Humphrey
Such a fun little series about Humphrey, the class pet hamster. He goes on all sorts of adventures after everyone goes home for the night. These books caused my daughter to beg for a golden hamster, just like Humphrey. She ended up with a girl, otherwise she would’ve named her hamster Humphrey. Be warned that this book may cause a desire to get a new pet 😉
The Adventures of Miss Petitfour
When Claire and I finished this library book, we immediately went online and bought our own copy. We have never done that before! But we loved it so much, we knew we needed to own it and read it over and over again.
This is the tale (or tail? 😂) of Miss Petitfour and her 16 cats. On windy days, they use a tablecloth as a sail and float through the air together. Each chapter is a standalone adventure. It made us laugh out loud so many times. It’s witty, describes writing methods (especially digressions) and is pure delight. Every cat lover should own this book!
A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home
Celeste isn’t your ordinary mouse. She lives alone under the floor boards and loves to weave baskets. But when Celeste is displaced upon the arrival of John James Audubon and his assistant Joseph, she ends up living in the guest room. She and Joseph strike up an unusual friendship. Not only is this story sweet, but the pencil illustrations are gorgeous. And John James Audubon is in the story! What more could you want?
What are your favorite chapter books for kids? Whether they were your childhood favorites or books your children love, I’d love it if you shared them in the comments below!
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