Pick up a Book: Chapter Books for Children that Encourage the Love of Reading

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Leslie Catlett and Liz Renneker have co-created this list and would love to have your additional suggestions and recommendations!

reading books

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.