More: An Age-by-Age Guide to The Best Historical Fiction Books for Kids This article covers the ultimate bucket list of 108 books for children, early readers, and elementary through tween-aged kids. From picture books and graphic novels to fantasy and cultural immersion, these books are bestsellers, cult classics, and subtle expose’s that will leave your kids chuckling, impacted, and appreciating the value of a good book.
Great Reads by Age Group
Anyone with kids knows that age groups assigned to books are a guide. Many elementary students still find joy in reading picture books and easy chapter books, while many tweens are happy to leaf through graphic novels intended for younger audiences. That’s the beauty of books!
Children’s Books & Young Readers
A board book box set with five classic, adventurous tales of bunnies, frogs, and mice. Purchase it here.
A board book that teaches the days of the week with a quirkylittle caterpillar. Purchase it here.
A board book about a poetic, gentle bedtime routine of saying goodnight. Purchase it here.
Harold’s Purple Crayon Adventure: 6 Picture Book Box Set. Purchase it here.
A book about a little boy’s wild rumpus adventures in his imagination. Purchase it here.
A book about the adventures of a little boy in the city on a snowy day. Purchase it here.
A book about the first day of preschool. Purchase it here.
A book about learning to appreciate nature in the suburbs. Purchase it here.
A book about a little mouse worried that the big, hungry bear will take his strawberry. Purchase it here. A book about friendship and an imaginary friend. Purchase it here.
A board book gift set with The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child. Purchase it here.
A book about learning how to calm your mind and emotions. Purchase it here.
An Elephant and Piggie book about being grateful. Purchase it here.
A book about funny thank you’s and no thank you’s. Purchase it here.
A book based on the Bob Marley song One Love, adapted by his daughter. A little girl transforms a neighborhood for the better. Purchase it here.
A treasury book of original stories about a little girl’s adventures in Paris. Purchase it here.
A scansion and rhyming comic saga about underwater adventures of the coral reef. Purchase it here.
A poetry collection of funny and profound stories. Purchase it here.
A book about a little girl’s persistenceand changing a community for the good. Purchase it here. A book about a naughty cat and his adventures in the home of two kids. Purchase it here.
A book about crazy food weather in the tiny town of Chewandswallow. Purchase it here.
A book about some fed up crayons and their hilarious letters to their kid owner. Purchase it here.
A classic Seuss story about the importance of protecting the environment. Purchase it here.
A set of three books based on a silly, cute cat who just keeps getting cooler and cooler. Purchase it here.
A book about a whimsical journey through the alphabet with animals and beautiful illustrations. Purchase it here.
A book about the adventures of a little mouse. Purchase it here.
A book about a stuffed rabbit who was once loved by a little boy. Purchase it here.
A collection of 28 books about two kids and a magic treehouse that takes them on historical adventures into different lands and stories. Purchase it here.
A book about a boy who goes on a crazy adventure on a peach with a group of talking insects. Purchase it here.
An award-winning story about a dog named Jennie who seeks a meaningful experience in life outside of his cozy, convenient home. Purchase it here.
This book celebrates the power of friendship between Frog and Toad in five short stories. Purchase it here.
This book showcases four animal friends going on an exciting adventure and lived to tell all of their stories. Purchase it here.
The first four short books of the NYT bestselling series that teaches the true stories of Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, and Albert Einstein. Purchase it here.
The Ramona Collection Volume 1 follows a little girl named Ramona and her experiences with her sister, going to school, and being a kid. Purchase it here.
This book is about a girl who has to rebuild friendships after her spy notebook, filled with hurtful words, goes missing. Purchase it here.
This nine-book box set tells the real story of the author’s childhood as an American pioneer. Purchase it here.
This book is about the adventures of a house painter and his penguins. Purchase it here.
This Newbery Honor Book is about friendship, love, life, and a pig dealing with the death of Charlotte, his spider friend. Purchase it here.
A book about the fantastical adventures of a magical nanny in London. Purchase it here.
This book is a French classic about a little boy who loves, loses, and loves again on a journey from planet to planet. Purchase it here.
This book is Chinese folklore about a journey to find a magic stone to save the protagonist’s grandmother. Purchase it here.
A Newbery Medal-winning book about a brave mouse, a covetous rat, a serving girl, and a princess named Pea. Purchase it here.
The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh is a collection of the classic Pooh stories about friendship and love. Purchase it here.
All seven Harry Potter books are together in a series, featuring a saga about wizards and magic. Purchase it here.
A box set of the first six Dog Man graphic novels about a dog cop who is part man, part dog, and all hero. Purchase it here.
The first four chapter books include an enchanting kingdom and the magical adventures of Prince Lucas and Clara. Purchase it here.
These books follow the adventures of Zoey and her cat, magical animals, and problem-solving using science. Purchase it here.
For early chapter book readers, this comical book series is about a portly, good-natured pig and her owners. Purchase it here.
This Newbery Honor book from 1945 is about a Polish girl who eventually builds friendships after being bullied for wearing the same dress every day. Purchase it here.
This book is about the adventures of Arthur, a shy fox foundling with only one ear and a desperate desire to belong. Purchase it here.
A book about a boy’s adventures and mishaps in Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory. Purchase it here.
Upper Elementary (9+)
A series about the misadventures of three orphans. Purchase it here.
A book about a boy who looks different, kindness, and trying to fit in. Purchase it here.
A Newbery Medal-winning novel about two best friends in the fifth grade and their experience with love and loss. Purchase it here.
A classic story about an orphan girl who finds a key to a secret garden. Purchase it here.
This 12 book set follows the hilarious adventures f a “wimpy” kid. Purchase it here.
A book about a new perspective on the Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Purchase it here.
A graphic novel about an unlikely hero who saves a town from evil. Also comes in a ten book series set. Purchase it here.
This National Book Award and Newbery Honor winner is a book of vivid poems about what life was like growing up as an African American in the 60’s and 70’s. Purchase it here.
These three award-winning books, including One Crazy Summer, are about the humorous stories of the Gaither sisters. Purchase it here.
A story about an epic journey of survival, humor, and folk history with rabbits as the main characters. Purchase it here.
A series of humorous mystery books based on a strange bunny accused of being a vampire. Purchase it here.
The first ten books in a very long series of scary adventures, each book different. Purchase it here.
A book about Tucker, a streetwise New York City mouse and making friends with a cricket and a cat. Purchase it here.
A book about a young girl who finds a family secret and the possibility of living forever. Purchase it here.
Classic books about a spirited red-head orphan girl who finds a family and learns to make friends in a small town. Purchase it here.
A book about a boy and his little brother and the hilarious frustrations of having a sibling. Purchase it here.
A book about boredom and finding adventure in another mysterious land. Purchase it here.
A classic book with stories about a girl going on adventures through a rabbit hole. Purchase it here.
A book about basketball and a boy who finds his rhythm on court with his rap beats. Purchase it here.
All five books are in this set about a boy and his thrilling adventures with Greek gods and monsters. Purchase it here.
A story of the adventures in space time of three kids, searching for a scientist who disappeared. Purchase it here.
An award-winning book that tells the story of the author’s childhood experience as a refugee of Vietnam to Alabama. Purchase it here.
A hilarious graphic novel series about humor, frustration, and awkwardness of middle school Jedi Academy. Purchase it here.
A graphic novel about a young mermaid who was caught and put into a boardwalk aquarium. Purchase it here.
A book about the unexpected true friendship of a caged gorilla and a baby elephant. Purchase it here.
A winner of multiple awards, this graphic novel is about starting over at a new, low-diversity school and struggling to fit in. Purchase it here.
Young Adults and Middle School
Animal fiction. Purchase it here.
Coming of age fiction. Purchase it here.
Funny middle school fiction. Purchase it here.
Fantasy. Purchase it here.
Fantasy. Purchase it here.
Survival fiction. Purchase it here.
Cultural coming of age fiction. Purchase it here.
Coming of age in poverty. Purchase it here.
Coming of age through race. Purchase it here.
Basketball and cultural fiction. Purchase it here.
A bi-racial coming of age fiction. Purchase it here.
Racial coming of age. Purchase it here.
History, Native American fiction. Purchase it here.
History, Mexican-American fiction. Purchase it here.
History, colonial witch hunt fiction. Purchase it here.
History and racism, fiction. Purchase it here.
Dystopian society fiction. Purchase it here.
Animal fantasy. Purchase it here.
Coming of age with pets fiction. Purchase it here.
Historical German biography. Purchase it here.
Fantasy magic. Purchase it here.
Survival coming of age fiction. Purchase it here.
Cultural, animal fiction. Purchase it here.
Italian culture, coming of age fiction. Purchase it here.
Pakistani/Asian history, biography. Purchase it here.
Dystopian society fiction. Purchase it here.
Graphic novel, civil and human rights. Purchase it here.
Holocaust fiction. Purchase it here.
Fantasy thriller fiction. Purchase it here.
Comedy, coming of age graphic novel memoir. Purchase it here.
History and survival fiction. Purchase it here.
Pirate adventure fiction. Purchase it here.
