It is often hard to find books that engage the “reluctant” reader, beginner reader or finding books that the “bookworm” hasn’t yet read. Having a list of age-appropriate book ideas can help. This list of books for both boys and girls ages 5-10 can be a great resource for any type of reader. These options can either be read aloud to your child(ren) as an introduction to chapter books or read independently.
Chapter Books for Children
The Yeti Files series
By: Kevin Sherry
The One and Only Ivan
By: Katherine Applegate and Patricia Castelao
Thea Stilton series
By: Thea Stilton
Geronimo Stilton series
By: Geronimo Stilton
The Adventures of Captain Underpants series
By: Dav Pilkey
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
By: Roald Dahl
The BFG
By: Roald Dahl
Stewart Little
By: E.B. White
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
By: Stan Kirby
The Jungle Book
By: Rudyard Kipling
Peter Pan
By: Bobby Driscoll
How to Train Your Dragon
By: Cressida Cowell
Danny the Champion of the World
By: Roald Dahl
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
By: Brian Selznick
Wonder
By: R.J. Palacio
Junie B. Jones series
By: Barbara Park
James and the Giant Peach
By: Roald Dahl
The Family Under the Bridge
By: Natalie Savage Carlson
Ivy & Bean series
By: Annie Barrows
Judy Moody series
By: Megan McDonald
Beezus and Ramona
By: Beverly Cleary
Captain Awesome series
By: Stan Kirby
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
By: Stan Kirby
The Great Brain
By: John D. Fitzgerald
The Borrowers
By: Mary Norton
Lulu and the Brontosaurus
By: Judith Viorst
Toys Go Out
By: Emily Jenkins
The Indian in the Cupboard
By: Lynne Reid Banks
Magic Tree House
By: Mary Pope Osborne
Gooney Bird Greene series
By: Lois Lowry
The Tale of Despereaux
By: Kate DiCamillo
The Lemonade Wars series
By: Jacqueline Davies
The 39-Story Treehouse Series
By: Andy Griffiths
Humphrey series
By: Betty G. Birney
I Survived series
By: Lauren Tarshis
Harry Potter series
By: J.K Rowling
Dear America series
By: authors vary
Dork Diaries
By: Rachel Renee Russell
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
By: Jeff Kinney
Crime Biters
By: Tommy Greenwald
A to Z Mysteries
By: Ron Roy
Rainbow Magic Fairies
By: Linda Chapman
The Never Girls series
By: Kiki Thorpe
Pippi Longstocking
By: Astrid Lindgren
Gooseberry Park
By: Cynthia Rylant
American Girl series
By: Various authors
Percy Jackson
By: Rick Riordan
Warriors
By: Erin Hunter
Who Was series
By: Various authors of these non-fiction books
All children are different in terms of age and grade they are ready to read on their own. Some children can read longer books independently but enjoy the time spent being read to by a parent. When my own kids got to the point where the could read but weren’t quite ready to do so independently, we would take turns reading pages or paragraphs, or even sentences early on. Continue to work on comprehension by pausing to ask questions of your child. There are many awesome picture books to keep in the mix but it fun when they reach an age to explore chapter books together.
