”Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” ~ Emilie Buchwald
Reading to our children is one of THE most important things we can do as a parent. Marilyn Jager Adams said, “Reading aloud with children is known to be the single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills they will eventually require for learning to read.” As an educator, I could not agree more. Reading to our children opens doors, inspires creativity, and sets young minds on the path towards lifelong learning. I don’t think I could say it better than Jacqueline Kennedy, “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.” As an avid reader, a kindergarten teacher, a mother, and a children’s literature enthusiast, I am thrilled to present to you 100 children’s chapter books that you MUST read to your children!
I carefully selected each of the books on this list, and chose based on overall appeal, readability, and ability to capture (and delight, enthrall, and inspire!) a young audience. The majority of books on this list are appropriate for children/readers ages 5-10, although a few will appeal to a younger/older audience. My hope is that you will be inspired to head to your local library or bookseller, and begin working your way through this list with your children/grandchildren.
“So please, oh please, we beg and pray, go and throw your tv set away! And in its place you can install, a lovely bookshelf on the wall.” ~Roald Dahl
2. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
3. Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary
5. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
6. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
7. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
8. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
9. The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards
10. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald
11. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
12. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
13. The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
14. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
15. 5 Children and It by E. Nesbit
16. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O’Brien
17. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
18. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson
19. The Borrowers by Mary Norton
20. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Patterson
21. Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
23. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
24. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
25. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
26. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
27. Stuart Little by E.B. White
28. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
29. The Wish Giver by Bill Brittain
30. Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
31. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
32. The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
33. The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
34. Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
35. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
36. Ramona and her Mother by Beverly Cleary
37. George’s Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl
38. Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
39. Frindle by Andrew Clements
40. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
41. Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen
43. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
44. All-of-aKind Family by Sydney Taylor
45. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
46. Nurse Matilda by Christianna Brand
47. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
48. Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
49. Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol
50. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
51. The Field Guide: Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
52. The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
53. How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Crowell
54. The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo
55. Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
56. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
58. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
59. Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
60. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
61. The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
63. Stuart’s Cape by Sara Pennypacker
64. The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
65. The Worst Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
66. The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
67. Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
69. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
70. Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary
71. The Story of the Amulet by E. Nesbit
72. The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
73. The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
74. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
75. Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry
76. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming
77. Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George
78. Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
79. Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
80. The Great Brain by John Dennis Fitzgerald
81. Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier
82. The Time Warp Trio: Knights of the Kitchen Table by Jon Sciezska
83. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
84. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos
85. Belle Prater’s Boy by Ruth White
86. Sounder by William H. Armstrong
87. The Littles by John Peterson
88. Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers
89. The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick
90. A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin
91. No Flying in the House by Betty Brock
92. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
93. Miracle on 34th Street by Valentine Davies
94. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
95. The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
96. Henry Reed Inc. by Keith Robertson
98. Babe: The Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith
99. The Moffats by Eleanor Estes
100. My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ~ Dr. Seuss
*Please share this post with your family, friends, and social networks to get more parents reading to their children! Let’s help raise up a new generation of readers!
Click HERE for the printable version of this list! Take it to the library, your local bookstore, garage sales, etc! Find a new favorite!
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I’d like to add one more- “Where The Mountain MEets the Moon” by Grace Lin. It appealed to my (then) 5 and 9 year old daughters and took our breath away several times. Thanks for this list- I’m going to print it out – we’ve read about a quarter of these so far I think, by just eyeballing it. I think we’ll make it a challenge to see if we can get through the whole list.
Thanks for the recommendation. We are doing the same thing at our house. While I personally have read these books, I am making it my mission to read them all to my kids as well. Thanks so much for the comment!!
My kids are still a little young for chapter books but I’ve read a great number of these. I would also add three more of my favorites… “Peter and the Starcatchers”, “The Peculiar Miss Pickett” and “The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls.” If you haven’t read any of these, I highly recommend them. Especially if you have a love for Peter Pan, Mary Poppins or Wizard of Oz.
Martha- we just read Peter and The Star Catchers! What a great start to a series! Have you read The Sisters’ Grimm? We love those as well!
Great list! I love reading to my children. As a former teacher, read aloud time was my favorite. I look forward to getting into chapter books when my kids get older. New follower from blog hop! Stop on by and say hi when you get a chance!
http://naptimeshopper.blogspot.com/
It was one of my favorite times when I was in the classroom as well! It is fun for me now to transition from reading to my students, to reading to my own children. Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be sure to visit back!
Excellent list. My 2 favorites (one is a series) is not on the list, so I’ll mention them. “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” and “The Prydain Chronicles.”
Thanks for linking this up today!
You are welcome! Thank you for being passionate about books! (I liked the Witch of Blackbird Pond as well, and would definitely include it on a middle school list!)
My children are 8 and 11 and we began reading when they were little but switched to chapter books about 3 years ago. We have read over 40 books as a family and 20 of the listed books. Some of our favorites not on the list are “My Side of the Mountain”, “The Miraculous Adventures of Edward Tulane” and “Peter and the Starcatchers.”
My Side of the Mountain is actually #56! I read and enjoyed Edward Tulane.
I’m reading Little House in the Big Woods to my 4-year-old right now and she loves it. We don’t have any TV channels, but we do have a TV and watch some shows now and then. I remember when my mom and I read All Creatures Big and Small. We took turns reading it to each other. My mom would always fall asleep! Good times… Hope you will visit me at True Aim Education. Thanks!
We finished that one several months ago at our house, and my five year old (at the time) really loved it as well! I’m so glad so many parents out there are reading to their kids!! Will definitely visit your site!
I didn’t see on the list; “Where the Red Fern Grows”, “Summer of the Monkeys”, “Little Women”, “Black Beauty”, “Misty of Chincoteague”, “King of the Wind.” I love books by Marguerite Henry because they are based on real stories. (I’m hoping to take Caitlin up the Chincoteague/Assateague Islands for the running of the ponies when she’s a little older.)
I also loved “Treasure Island”, “Swiss Family Robinson”, “Robinson Crusoe.”
Where the Red Fern Grows is on the list. I felt some of the other older classics lacked some of the broad appeal I was shooting for, and may be more suitable for older/middle school readers. I wanted each of the titles to appeal to both boys and girls 5-10. The most important thing though, is for parents to read any book to their child, and if you are passionate about the books, more than likely, your kids will be too! Bravo for desiring to share your favorites with your girls!
What a fabulous list!! Totally added it to my favorites. Thanks for sharing! Newly following from the Welcome Wed Hop!
Thank you for this list! I have already read many of these to my 7 year old son, but he is very nervous about scary scenes, so we’ll have to wait on a large chunk of these until he becomes a bit more brave.
We just finished “Half Magic” and its sequel, “Magic by the Lake” by Edward Eager and loved them both. Thanks again for the list!
Thank you for this list, it will truly be a treasured resource in our home.
Aloha,
I’m following and liking and plusing and all those loving things from Follow Me Wed. I would love, love, love it if you’d visit localsugarhawaii.com and “join the ride”.
xo,
Nicole
I appreciate this list! We love reading books and I am constantly on the look out for good classics for my 8 and 5 year old.
Thank you!
You are so welcome!!
Thank you for this list! I’m going to go add some of these to my ever-growing list I already have!!
I love a good book list!
This is a great list! Better yet, I’m going to let my kiddo read them. Maybe 2 books a month?
Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend am dropping by from Winky Linky.
Thanks so much! I hope he/she enjoys them as much as we do!
Thanks so much – what a great list. I made the leap to reading chapter books to my 5 yr old daughter this past month (one chapter per night). We started with Little House in the Big Woods for totally selfish reasons – it was my favorite series as a kid! I almost thought she might be too young as there aren’t as many pictures, but she has fallen head over heels! We’re now on Little House on the Prairie, and I’m so glad to have this great list to draw from once we’re done with this series.
Great list, but what about “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle?! A must read for my little girl!
I like the book too…but, I thought it might be too complex for younger readers. When I make my list for readers 10+, I will definitely include it! A classic for sure!
Great list! I have three boys and I’ve read a few of the books to them although they generally read on their own now. Last vacation I read them “Where the Red Fern Grows” and all three decided to read it over again. Other books that we’ve read have been “The Mad Scientist’s Club” series by Bertrand Brinley and “Swallows and Amazons” by Arthur Ransome.
The last two are new to me! I will have to check them out for my boys! Thanks!!
Would love to see you do a list for ages 9-12 also!!
I have such fond memories of reading aloud to my son when he was little – it really does foster a great love of books! So many of your must reads are my favourites as well – both from my own childhood and from my son’s. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful post with us at the Gallery of Favorites.
Thanks for linking up to What Works Wednesday! I appreciate it.
This is an awesome list of books. I am printing it out!
By His Grace,
Heather Bowen
How about Eva Ibbotson? She has some wonderful younger books such as The Secret of Platform 13, and Which Witch etc. They appeal both to boys and girls
Great list, but you’ve missed the book that has the very quote that you started with. “So please, oh please, we beg and pray, go and throw your tv set away! And in its place you can install, a lovely bookshelf on the wall.” ~Roald Dahl. This is from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as the Oompa Loompa’s are singing to Mike Teavee to try reading! It’s a funny book, and so much of it will be more funny to the parents than to the kids.
I know…I don’t happen to like that book very much. =( I adore Roald Dahl, but just don’t love that book. That’s the beauty of books though, everyone has such varied tastes. I’ve toyed with a part 2, and I would probably include it in that list, regardless of my own feelings. Thanks for stopping by!
Excellent list (speaking as librarian). Let me add the Freddy the Pig series. Hilarity.
Thank you! We will have to check out your recommendation!
I have other suggestions:
-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
-The Artemis Fowl series
-Babysitter’s club/Babysitters’ little sisters club
-The Mouse and the Motorcycle
-Sideways Stories from Wayside School
-A Wrinkle in Time (maybe middle school or upper elementary, depending on the kid)
-Bunnicula
-Sarah Plain and Tall
-The Littles
I Love Sideways Stories from Wayside School and was going to suggest it as well. My Mother read the series to us when I was a child and those are some of my fondest memories.
I remember loving Bunnicula!
Wonderful list! I’ll share it with the parents in my class who are always asking about what to read to their children. It also gives me a few ideas for a chapter book for afternoon reading to my students.
My 4th graders (both boys and girls) really loved “Wise Child” and “Juniper” by Monica Furlong. And little known, but quite magical books for 1st – 3rd grade age children are “The House Above the Trees” and “The King of Ireland’s Son”.
Thank you! I will check out your recommendations…ALWAYS looking for more great books! Thank you for sharing the list!
While your link goes to the correct book on Amazon, you have listed Little House in the Big Woods as “Little Cabin.” Otherwise,as a children’s librarian, I approve this list!
Thank you! I fixed it! Must have been working on that part of the list late at night. Glad you like the list!
I’d love to share this list/post on my blog – it’s wonderful! How do you feel about that? (I’d give you full credit, naturally!)
I would be happy (honored) to have you link to it or share the link to it on your site/social media. Please just don’t copy and paste the list. Thanks so much for asking, reading, and encouraging your readers to read!
Thank you for creating such an incredible list….it’s a trip down memory lane! I was an avid reader growing up (almost TOO avid…I remember talks where my parents told me I should be playing on the playground, not reading!) and so many of these were among my favorites. Thank you for including Maud Hart Lovelace, an amazing author from an older generation than most of the others. Another wonderful author is actually the illustrator for the Betsy-Tacy books, Lois Lenski. She wrote wonderful books about children growing up in various time periods all over the U.S. Really good stories + history lesson = win!
Oh, and keep an eye out for the vintage series ‘The Happy Hollisters’ by Jerry West, about a large family of children who solve mysteries. I always tagged along with my mom to antiques stores to find these.
Thank you so much! I love hearing from people who have stumbled on this list, and love the memories it brings back for them. Our childhoods sound very similar! I will definitely look for the two books you recommended. You can never have too many books!
Amanda – I, too, was an almost TOO avid reader, but it was my teachers (can you believe it?) that told me I should be playing instead of reading!
This is a great list. Sometimes I struggle to find books my boys will be interested in..you’ve given me some great ideas! I just reviewed Stone Fox, which they loved. I also posted a short thematic unit for it on my website: http://www.parentteachertalk.com. Check it out!
Thanks for the great list! It broke back reminders of my favorite childhood chapter books! I’m in the process of writing a unit plan for school and my search turned up your page…thrilled to find books that I remember loving that will be usable for my 5th grade unit plan about vacations.
Oops. I meant “brought” not “broke…” This is what happens when I don’t closely read what I wrote.
I love your list and see many familiar titles. If you want to find books that fit your child’s interest there is a site called Book Wizard on the Scholastic.com teacher site. Parents can use it for free and can put in their child’s interest and then find books at particular reading levels. It tells a bit about the book and author most of the time.
http://www.scholastic.com/bookwizard/
I am so printing this list for myself! I remember reading some when I was young but a lot I haven’t heard of, so I’m keen to check them out. At school I loved Enid Blyton’s, The Enchanted Wood series. And my teacher read us the first Fantastic Five book, and as I loved it so much he gave it to me because we didn’t get to finish it! Sadly, it is since long gone though. Anyway thankyou again for your list! I will be checking out your others too
Love this list, I am going to print this out for my library bag! I would add the Dr. Dolittle books. They were my favorite as a kid, and I loved reading them to my son when he was tiny.
Awesome! I love knowing that people are using this list with their kids. I will definitely check out the Dr. Dolittle books!
Great list! (found this through pinterest!)
I would add: Gone Away Lake, and Return to Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright.
Excellent stories with enchanting illustrations ;D
I am so happy this list is making its way through Pinterest! I love new book suggestions and will definitely check those out.
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum was a favorite of my children. I think it’s wonderful for little ones. So far this year I’ve read Charlotte’s Web, Little House on the Prairie and The Mouse and the Motorcycle to my kindergarten students. I have a book buying addiction and need to stop buying. I already own more books than I can possibly use in a school year!
When I was teaching kindergarten, reading aloud was one of my favorite times of day! We read Charlotte’s Web and The Mouse and the Motorcycle as well. I too suffer from a book buying addiction….there are worse things. =) Thanks for stopping by!
I think there should be ,,Ronja” by Astrid Lindgren
I found this book out in a box in the garage just a few days ago! I will have to read it soon. Thanks for the suggestion!
Also found this on Pinterest – Love this list! I see most of my favorites from my formative years and a lot of my son’s as well! Roald Dahl was the first author he fell in love with! Another author he read many books by was Linda Sue Park, my son loved The Single Shard, The Kite Fighters and Seesaw Girl – stories about children from other countries living in VERY different cultures.
It always makes my day to know this post is making its way around Pinterest. Yes, I have a special place in my heart for Roald Dahl. Love the suggestions. I will be sure to check them out. I love the idea of my kids learning about other cultures. Thanks for stopping by!!
Meant for the my comment to appear on your 100 math books post, but it somehow ended up on the chapter book listing. Sorry.
Love this list! Just by browsing through it looks like we have read about a third of them at our house. We started chapter books when my son was two (he is now eight). Our first book was highly unconventional, but wonderful all the same. It was “the princess bride” and he loved it. Many years later, we are currently re-reading this same book at his sister’s (she is five) request.
Very good list, but you do need to add “The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by Elenore Cameron. My grandson, age 7, ‘built’ an amazing space ship after we read the book together. And I’d echo the suggestion of Elizabeth Enright books.
Thanks for the suggestions! I love learning about new books. We will check that one out!
Lovely to have such a list, I love reading chapter books to my almost-5 year old and am pleased to have several of the listed books already on the shelf for when she’s a little bit bigger. I noticed you have no Enid Blyton books? She wrote some of my most treasured stories as a growing girl, and my own little girl adores them. In particular the Faraway Tree series and The Wishing Chair books, but we have already read many others (meant for younger kids and early readers).
Thanks for this list! Have you ever read The Book of Three and the other Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander? Not sure what age group they are but I have loved those!!!
No, but I will add them to my list of books to check out! I have been getting the best recommendations from reader comments. Thanks so much!
Great list! Ones that I really liked reading when I was little wa “The Magic Tree House” books… they are really good and interesting and adventurous.
Also (for older kids) the “Inkheart” triology is really good and “The Series Of Unfourtunate Events” includes 13 books and there is a movie of the 1st book with Jim Carry.