As with my previous list, 51 must-read picture books, I took great pains to ensure this was not a duplicate of all the other “best chapter books of all time” book list. You do not need another list to tell you Charlotte’s Web is one of the best books ever written and that your kids must read it before they grow up.
My criteria for this must read chapter books for kids book list was two-fold:
- The book must not be a well-known book outside of the book-obsessed community, of which I am a card-carrying member.
- The book must appeal to kids and not just their book-snob parents, a group of which I am the president and founder.
- The whole of the list must embrace a wide variety of diverse life experiences and book genres.
Now, before you send me comments about how could I possibly have forgotten your favorite book (I get those comments all the time, people!) remember, there is no way to make a comprehensive book list, and that was not my aim. I do, however, feel that if you go down this list of must-read chapter books, your kids will have a GREAT time reading! (Note: book titles are affiliate links.)
Be sure to also visit:
51 (out of the box) Must read picture books
62 Essential books for families to read aloud
The index of all my book lists!
Must Read Chapter Books ages 5 and up
Not every child is ready to read these books at age 5—and that is normal. And these are all must read chapter books that kids older than 5 will like!
More: See all my early chapter book lists.
My Happy Life (series) by Rose Lagercrantz, illustrated by Eva Eriksson. A sweet and realistic Swedish import about a girl who finds joy even amongst life’s setbacks.
Freddie Ramos Takes Off (series) by Jaqueline Jules. Freddie receives a mysterious package containing shoes which give him super fast skills.
Bunjitsu Bunny (series) by John Himmelman. Delightfully humorous short stories about a bunny with serious martial arts skills. Mixed in is a dose of philosophy.
Super Duper Teddy (series) by Johanna Hurwitz. 4 year old Teddy gets to take on some big kid responsibilities.
Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary. Ellen has a new friend, Austine, but can she keep from messing up her new relationship?
Emil and the Great Escape (series) by Astrid Lindgren. Clever Emil has humorous adventurous in rural Sweden.
The Magician’s Boy by Susan Cooper. A magician’s assistant gets a crash course on magic when he gets thrown into the Land of Stories on a journey to find St. George.
Dory Fantasmagory (series) by Abby Hanlon. An absolutely hilarious series about a girl with an overactive imagination.
The Giggler Treatment by Roddy Doyle. The Gigglers set in motion a super stinky prank and the kids and their dog must thwart it.
Beans on the Roof by Betsy Byers. Anna is up on the roof writing a poem for a contest, and soon her whole family is composing poetry together.
Must Read Chapter Books ages 7 and up
These are some of my top chapter books every child should be reading – on their own or even as a read aloud! More: see all my chapter book lists
Gertie’s Leap of Greatness by Kate Beasley, illustrated Jillian Tamaki. Move over Ramona and Clementine, there is a new spunky girl in town.
The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz, illustrated by Angela Barrett. When a fairy loses her wings she must survive the night in a world full of danger and discovery.
Year of the Dog (series) by Grace Lin. Pacy navigates friends, school, family and Chinese New Year as she discovers what it means to be herself.
8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos (series) by Vivian Vande. A laugh-out-loud tale of the chaos created when a squirrel runs through an elementary school.
Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry, illustrated by Eric Rohmann. In Saint Bartholemew’s church, a group of mice comes up with a clever way to thwart an extermination plan.
Ragweed by Avi. A charismatic mouse decides to set out on to see the world.
The Adventures of Nanny Piggins (series) by R. A. Spratt. An outrageously ridiculous nanny (she’s a pig!) has some unorthodox ideas about how to raise children.
Confessions of an Imaginary Friend: A Memoir by Jacques Papier by Michelle Cuevas. In this unusual, hilarious and intriguing book, the narrator learns he is actually an imaginary friend and must find his purpose.
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Three children discover a magical field guide that changes their lives.
Because of Mr. Terrupt (series) by Rob Buyea. Told with alternating narratives, this story follows the experience of a group of fifth graders as they learn how to be more accepting of themselves and of each other.
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan. This funny and touching story of an Indian immigrant adjusting to middle school and a boy who recently lost his best friend due to a move is told in alternating voices.
The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich. The first book in a series about a Native American family in the 19th century.
George by Alex Gino. A 5th grade girl struggles with her gender identity and how to explain it to her friends and family.
The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth, illustrated by Raoul Vitale. A quiet book about a Japanese man and his cat. Interspersed with poetry, the text is imbued with Buddhist teachings.
The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom (series) by Christopher Healy. Fairy tales get turned upside-down in this hilarious series in which princes and princesses set out to make a name for themselves.
Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins, illustrated by Jamie Hogan. Naima figures out a way to earn money for her family in Bangladesh.
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis. Spunky and immensely likable Deza struggles through the Great Depression when she, her mother and brother set off to find her father after he disappears.
The Family Fletcher (series) by Dana Alison Levy. A hilarious tale in which a diverse family, both in personality and ethnicity, navigates the perils of family life and school.
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. Jack learns how to express himself with the help of a sensitive teacher, his dog and poetry.
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman. An uppity prince and his whipping boy become embroiled in a kidnapping plot with comic results.
Under the Egg byLaura Marx Fitzgerald. Theodora roams around New York City to solve the puzzle of a mysterious painting left to her by her grandfather.
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell. A classic tale about a disgusting dare.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (series) by Grace Lin. This is most likely on all the “Best Books for Kids” lists, but most of the parents I talk to have never heard of it so I feel compelled to include it!
Must Read Chapter Books ages 9 and up
In this section of my must read middle grade books I’ve made sure to include some timeless classic books and some more contemporary novels. More: see all my middle grade book lists
Eyes of the Amaryllis by Natalie Babbitt. A rather haunting but classic tale about a girl waiting with her grandmother for a message from the sea. This book will stick with your kids forever.
Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan. A very funny story about a misfit theatrical family and the rebel foster kid who comes to stay with them.
The Best Man by Richard Peck. This author is well known for his book, A Long Way From Chicago, but this newest release from him about a boy learning about the men he considers his role models.
The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Shane W. Evans. A verse novel about Amira who faces war horrors in Sudan.
The Apothecary (series) by Maile Meloy. A suspenseful, thrilling series set during the Cold War. Two friends seek to uncover the mystery surrounding an apothecary’s book.
Fish in A Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Ally is skilled at hiding her inability to read, but a sensitive teacher and a diagnosis gives her a fresh start.
Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby. Solveig and her siblings are trapped, along with the king’s guard, a group of warriors known as the berserkers in a fortress during a winter storm. Solveig attempts to uncover the traitor amongst them.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. A coming of age story in which Esperanza and her family fall on hard times in Mexico during the Great Depression and immigrate to California.
Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff. After a terrible accident Trent is suffering from guilt. An unlikely friendship with a rather mysterious girl helps him to move on.
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk. A compelling story. Annabelle befriends the local hermit and must stand up to bullies to do the right thing.
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale. Dashti, a servant to a princess locked in a tower narrates her imprisonment, correspondence with a prince and her eventual escape and journey to the nearby kingdom.
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. An absolutely fascinating story set in medieval Korea about an orphan who becomes a potter’s apprentice.
As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds. 11 year old Genie and his brother travel from Brooklyn to rural Virginia to spend the summer with their grandparents.
It Ain’t So Awful Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas. In 1970s California a young Iranian immigrant figures out how to be American without rejecting her heritage. Both funny and moving.
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. An incredibly moving story about a girl breaking out of the confines of her disability.
Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin. A surprisingly funny tale of a boy who starts to doubt the authority of the USSR in the time of Stalin.
Masterpiece by Elise Broach, illustrated by Kelly Murphy. An artistically talented beetle and a boy solve an art mystery.
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Ada and her younger brother Jamie, escape a cruel mother when they are evacuated to the English countryside during WWII.
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Other book lists in this series:
- 51 (out of the box) must read picture books
- 62 Essential books for families to read aloud (couldn’t limit myself to 51 on this list!)
And if you absolutely must have a standard list of the top 100 books, you can check out this terrific list at SLJ, which I would certainly agree are also essential chapter books for kids!
Laurel says
This is a fantastic list! I spend a ton of time searching for good reads for my kids so I was proud to see that there were a bunch here I’d already discovered, but even happier to see that there were many I’d never heard of. My hold list at our library is going to get longer again just in time for the winter break. Thank you.
Erica says
I am so glad you approve of the list. Your kids will be delighted when you bring home new books for them to enjoy! 🙂
Hilary Cohen says
Sylvia Waugh, The Mennyms
EL Konigsberg, Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, Wm McKinley & Me, Elizabeth; Up from Jericho Tel; About the B’nai Bagels
Margaret Mahy, The Greatest Show Off Earth
Daniel Pinkwater, Borgel
Patricia W…, The Enchanted Forest Chronicles,
and of course, the My Father’s Dragon trilogy
Hilary Cohen says
Patricia Wrede – sorry, brain freeze.
Erica says
Great books!
Lisa says
I just finished The War that Saved My Life. It was wonderful! I have a six year old so we didn’t read that one together. But we both enjoyed 8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos . She laughed so much! We just checked Dory Fantasmagory out of the library. I love your lists because you remind me of things I loved as a child AND new things I’d likely never find otherwise! I am pretty sure the library staff hates me because I put so many things on hold from your lists!!
Erica says
I’m so glad to hear you loved The War that Saved My Life! And how wonderful that you and your daughter have been laughing during read aloud time. She must really enjoy all the special read aloud time you are enjoying together. I’m sure your library loves what an active patron you are. After all, libraries usually get resource funding based on circulation and you are keeping their numbers high. 🙂
Jill says
The “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” series lends itself to reading aloud beautifully. Great choice! It was so nice to see “Ellen Tebbits” on your list, too, as that was a favorite when I was young and people seem to have forgotten that Beverly Cleary wrote more than the Ramona series!
Erica says
Thanks, Jill. I agree that Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantastic read aloud!
Mary says
I love your lists. Thank you! I just noticed that this list shows Masterpiece as written by Kelly Murphy. Elise Broach wrote the book, Kelly Murphy illustrated it. Also, The War That Saved My Life was written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.
I often wish for more printer friendly versions of your lists that I could take to the library or bookstore. I do like to see the covers, but a simple bibliography at the end would be helpful!
Erica says
Hi Mary,
Thanks for being my proofreader. 🙂 On my list for 2017 is to figure out a way to quickly make a printable list for people without adding to my already large work load!! I’m so glad you appreciate the lists.
Mary says
I’ll look forward to that! Many thanks!
Amber says
Erica, this link might help you with that printable list – Sarah may be able to suggest a way that isn’t too labor intensive. I would happily help you myself if I could, but my tech skills are woeful.
Amy Jane says
We read aloud constantly, but we never seem to make a dent in the awesome list of titles that keep coming at us.
For all that I know some-is-good, I still find myself disappointed (if not outright discouraged) by all we leave unread.
Do you have any words of encouragement to speak to this?
Erica says
Hi Amy,
You know, this is the same with us. It is literally impossible to read every single good book out there. I focus on throughly enjoying the books we do read. That’s sort of the only thing to do! I know that’s probably not much help but you are doing great just reading as much as you do! – Erica
Amber says
Fantastic list, Thank You! I’ve discovered a few on this list already, but so many new titles – I was like a kid in a sweet shop at the library yesterday! Like you I am tired of seeing the same old titles again and again – well done for breaking from the banal. So many great authors out there, crafting future classics for kids and families, and am so grateful to you for making them easier to find.
Sandy Yusman says
Hi Erica. I stumbled upon your site and have since read 3 books on your recommended lists. I absolutely love Where the mountain meets the moon and The last of the really great whangdoodles. I’ve ordered them and Starry river of the sky and When tbe sea turned to silver also by Grace Lin to add to my son’s bookshelf. He is only 7 months but I’ve been reading to him since he was a newborn.
I’m going to pick up some of your picture books recommendation from the library next.
Thank you.
Erica says
I am delighted to hear it, Sandy! I know you will enjoy Grace Lin’s other books. Your son is so lucky to have you reading to him at such a young age — it will serve him well!! Happy reading!
Sandy says
You are such a gem, Erica! Tried out The Hero Guides, Nanny Piggins and in the process came across Friday Barnes also by RA Spratt and love them all. They’re going to be gracing our bookshelves when my son is ready for them. Thank you.
Erica says
Wonderful! I’m so glad you liked the books, and Friday Barnes is great, too.
Courtney says
Thanks for this list! We’ve read a ton of chapter books together, and have made it through most of the standard selections, so it’s great to have some more obscure suggestions. We recently discovered The Birchbark House on our own, and have been tearing through it. Dory Fantasmagory is another favourite here, we give it for birthdays!
Erica says
That’s great to hear. Happy reading!
Kay Rush says
I would add “Flipped” to the list. I read this to my 6th grade class every year and very few of them have ever heard of it, and every one of them LOVE the story. I know there was a movie made about the book, but it does not do the story justice. I am excited to check out the books you have suggested. I read to my sixth graders every day and it has made a huge difference in their love of reading and their willingness to check out books that are outside their usual interests.
Erica says
Thank you for the recommendation.
Jessica says
I would love a printer friendly version of this list to use as a checklist! 🙂
Adriana Schanen says
We love the Anna Hibiscus chapter books! Thanks for these great lists and site.
Theresa says
A couple of special books that I’ve read with my son are captain nobody, Dorko the magnificent, and True. Thank you for your list!
Erica says
Thank you for including your recommendations!
free says
luv it