100+ Books for 9 and 10 Year Old Boys

Press Start! by Thomas Flintham
Animal Town is home to Super Rabbit Boy who is super fast and brave and also? Is a video game character. Which means that when things get dicey, he needs to save the day. But only if the player, Sunny, can manage to stop losing each level.

The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
If your child lives for slapstick, this graphic novel series is for them. Andy and Terry live in a treehouse with thirteen stories. It also has a swimming pool and a bowling alley and it keeps getting bigger and better as the duo add more stories. Chocolate waterfall, anyone?

The Academy series by T.Z. Layton
Leo Doyle’s never even been on a plane, but when a scout spots his soccer skills, he suddenly gets the chance of a lifetime – a tryout with the London Dragons, one of the biggest teams in the world! Two hundred kids are competing for just eleven spots, and Leo is up against bullies, homesickness, and his own nerves. This one is perfect for soccer fans or any kid who has big dreams.

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
The girls and I listened to this fun audiobook a few years ago and I’ve heard from SO MANY families that have loved this one too. And now with the movie out, it’s a great one to read the book and watch the movie!

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Ella come home from school saying one of her friends was raving about this series. Happily, I happened to have a copy and Ella devoured this book about Sophie doesn’t fit in at school or in her family, in part because she can read minds. Then she meets a boy who has the same powers she does and it turns out there are a lot of secrets about herself and the world around her that she doesn’t know. But she’s going to find out pretty quickly!

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
This is the book that shot Kate DiCamillo to stardom, and it’s so sweet about a little girl who finds a dog that needs a home.

Land of Stories by Chris Colfer
Alex and Conner, sister-brother twins, open up a beloved book of stories only to find themselves sucked into the book. In a mysterious land where magic runs rampant, they find themselves interacting with fairy tale characters they’ve heard about all their lives. The real question is. . . can they ever get home? This series has been especially popular in my house!

Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
I’m pretty sure Kate DiCamillo is a miracle worker. This book, with gorgeous illustrations, is a perfect classic story about a beloved china rabbit who, as sometimes happens to even the most loved toys, gets lost.

Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
I love when a series is inspired by the author’s own life, and this one comes straight from Henry Winkler’s childhood with undiagnosed dyslexia. The books follow Hank, a funny, big-hearted kid whose different way of thinking leads to all kinds of misadventures. In the first book, his “brilliant” science project (taking apart the family cable box) takes a wild turn when his sister’s iguana decides to lay eighteen eggs inside it.

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
This historical fiction title absolutely charmed me and it’s been one of my favorite read-alouds in the past couple of years. Three young children lose their grandmother, leaving them orphans and no place to go. Her lawyer suggests that, since so many children are being shipped out to the English countryside during the bombings, they might join the exodus and conveniently not mention that they don’t actually have a family. And just maybe the family that temporarily takes them in will want to keep them forever. This book has all the feelings of a classic and I definitely shed some tears at the end.

Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland
This middle grade fantasy fiction is a gripping tale about seven dragon tribes that have been at war for generations. A plot is hatched to finally bring an end to the fighting but the five dragonets that are at the heart have a different plan. This series is WILDLY popular!

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass
The Candymakers is just the kind of book I wish my school libraries had been full of. Funny, mysterious, and clever. Four kids trying to invent a new candy, all of them harboring secrets? This book is a winner. (Full review here)

Framed by James Ponti
Another book by James Ponti and Ella blew through this series in a week! This book follows Florian Bates who is the only kid that the FBI Director has on speed dial (and a kid that a whole lot of criminals want taken care of). After a move to DC, Florian and his new friend Margaret uncover a mystery that involves a major crime ring, the FBI and the National Gallery. It’s up to them to solve the mystery AND get their homework done.

The Adventures of Nanny Piggins by R. A. Spratt, illustrated by Dan Santat
I can’t even remember how we discovered Nanny Piggins, but Ella read it years ago and then insisted I immediately read it too. And it was just as good as she promised – I laughed my way through every page of this ridiculous story about a family that hires a pig as a nanny. This is definitely one of my kids’ most listened to series.

Sweet Home Alaska by Carole Estby Dagg
We listened to this one as a family when we went on a summer road trip. It’s set during the Great Depression and Trip’s family has moved to Alaska as part of FDR’s New Deal projects. The whole family is settling in to their new home except Trip’s mother. Can Trip convince her that Alaska is the place to be?  (The audiobook is narrated by the same narrator as The Penderwicks, so my girls were immediately on board!)

CatWad by Jim Benton
This series has many of the same elements that readers love about Dog Man – full color graphic novel, animals, and lots of hijinks.

39 Clues Series by Rick Riordan
Grace Cahill, the last matriarch of the world’s most powerful family, is on her deathbed and makes a quick decision to change her will. Those inheriting anything have to choose between taking a clue or one million dollars. The 39 clues are hidden around the world to reveal the family’s secret to their source of power. Can Dan and Amy put all of the clues together or will they abandon the mission completely to discover what happened to their parents? This series has each book written by a different popular author.

Dragon Slayer’s Academy by Kate McMullan
Regardless of whether I enjoy fantasy, I have recommended so many middle grade dragon books over the years, but this isn’t one I had heard of. When a wandering minstrel predicts Wiglaf’s heroic future, he eagerly enrolls at the Dragon Slayers’ Academy. The only problem? He faints at the sight of blood…hardly ideal for a would-be dragon slayer!

The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick
Strange things are happening at the Clarksville City Zoo, and when Megan disappears, her brother Noah and their friends are determined to track her down. Their search leads them past zoo the gates after dark – where the zoo’s biggest secrets are waiting to be uncovered.

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
I read this one years ago when I was a school librarian and it was SO popular with my students. Two siblings, Evan and Jessie, are both smart, but in different ways – one is people smart, while one is more math smart. When they each bring their talents to a competition to sell the most lemonade, it’s going to be an all-out battle.

Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom by Matthew Swanson
When Ben cracks open a fortune cookie that warns today could be his last day on Earth, he panics – then decides to go out in style with the ultimate bucket list. From tackling a 1,000-piece Taj Mahal model to eating an entire cake, his hilarious misadventures show that even scary moments can turn into sweet surprises.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
I know I read this one as a child, but I have almost zero memory of it (I read a bunch of The Black Stallion books when I was young, and it’s hard for me to separate them in my memory). Ella was entranced by this story of an English horse and after she finished it, she got it on CD from the library and she and Ani listened to it on repeat. Bart and the girls also watched the movie version when I was out of town.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
I’d read this one as a child, but couldn’t remember a thing about it except that he gets a penguin in the mail. Now I’ve read it multiple times to my girls and it was so fun to watch the story play out when none of us knew how it was going to turn out.

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
I read this nearly a decade ago and then again for the Everyday Reading Book Club a couple of years ago and LOVED it so much both times! Ella is also such a huge fan that she begged Bart to listen to it after she finished and had the best time listening to him make predictions about the story.

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
Ben Ripley’s dream job is to work for the CIA, but since he’s only a middle schooler, it’s going to be a tough sell.  Then he is recruited for a special STEM school program, but to his shock and delight the program is actually a front for a junior CIA! Which sounds terrific until he realizes how dangerous spy school really is!

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
I have such vivid memories of reading this book in grad school (not for school. . . .just when I needed a little break from my data heavy courses).

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
This is one of those middle grade novels that took the world by storm – it has been SO popular and for good reason. Mr. Lemoncello is a world-famous game maker AND he’s designed the new city library. And on opening night, there will be a lock-in for kids where they have to solve the puzzles to find the hidden escape route. (You can see why it spent 100 weeks on the NYT Bestseller List). (Full review here)

The Sugar Creek Gang series by Paul Hutchens
This series of mysteries are more than fifty years old and reading the reviews of them make me think my Boxcar Children-obsessed girls would really like these.

The Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon
I don’t know that I ever read a single Hardy Boys book growing up – I was more of a Nancy Drew girl myself, but you really can’t go wrong following Frank and Joe Hardy around while they find clues and solve mysteries!

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
This fun story follows five siblings who are about to lost their beloved brownstone home in Harlem, thanks to a cantankerous (and mysterious) landlord who refuses to budge.

Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol
I read and re-read these books as a child and loved trying to figure out the mysteries before flipping to the back to check out the answer. Also, I just really want an encyclopedic memory. Each mystery is only a few pages long which is perfect!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
This beloved graphic novel by many a kid tells and illustrates all the struggles of being a kid. With more than 250 copies sold, it’s no surprise that there are a LOT of Diary of a Wimpy Kid lovers out there. These books are full of hijinks and school settings, plus fun combinations of text and art.

The Boys Start the War by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
The Hatford brothers are ready for new boys to move in across the river, but instead, three clever Malloy sisters show up, and war is officially declared. From dead fish to floating cakes, the pranks fly fast. This middle grade fiction is laugh-out-loud where no trick is off-limits.

Dragon Masters by Tracey West
This fantasy adventure is perfect for any child who loves dragons, kings, wizards, and magic! My girls have listened to this series a million times over the past few years – it’s definitely on the younger side (the books are more like 100 pages), so they’re perfect for a child to read solo if they’ve been listening to Wings of Fire or for a child who wants to be like an older sibling! 

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
I heard nothing but great things about this book and it really was terrific. It is told from the point of view of seven different fifth graders, as they begin a new school year with Mr. Terupt (a new teacher). Each of them come with their own baggage and respond to Mr. Terupt differently and he, in turn, deals with each of them differently. And then a big event at school changes everything for these students and their teacher. (Duhn, Duhn, Duhn. . . ).

Ranger in Time Series by Kate Messner
Ranger is a trained search and rescue dog, but when he can’t pass the test to become an official search and rescue dog, he still finds a way to save the day – by time traveling! This is a fun historical fiction book with a brave golden retriever.

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
I was obsessed with this chapter book series growing up and read probably a hundred of them. I like that the mysteries aren’t too scary and I really love that they showcase siblings that like each other, get along, and work together to solve problems.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I grew up on these books (I lived in Wisconsin until I was almost 7 and we went to the rebuilt Little House in the Big Woods which I still remember very clearly) and waited my whole life to have children of my own to read them to. When Ella was in kindergarten, we read the first four books together and my girls have listened to the audio dozens of times since then.

The Moffats by Eleanor Estes
Four books in the series and four siblings getting into mischief to keep your 4th or 5th grade son entertained nonstop. These hilarious books turn an ordinary day into quite the adventure for the Moffat clan.

Max and the MidKnights by Lincoln Pierce
If you have a son who wants to read chapter books, but still wants a few pictures throughout – this series is a great one to pick up. Max’s dream of becoming a knight is very, very unlikely. However, he’s forced into action when his Uncle is kidnapped by the evil King.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
I pretty much don’t care for animals (I know) and I STILL think this is one of the best kids books ever, Newbery winner or not. When a book is this sweet, funny, and well-written, who cares if it’s narrated by a gorilla? Not me. (Full review here) 

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
I have a long history of loving Harry Potter. When my mom started reading the first one to me and my sisters, we only made it through one chapter before we were completely hooked. I also have some very happy memories of snuggling my nursing baby in the my in-laws’ basement, reading the British versions of several of the books. I have read the entire series multiple times, seen all the movies, and I still never get tired of this story.

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordin
I grabbed my mother-in-law’s copy of this book when we were living there and I suddenly found myself without a next book to read to the girls and they are SO INTO it. Seriously, there were shrieks of despair every night when I finished for the evening. I read it back in 2008 and it’s fun to revisit – I enjoyed it MUCH more as a read aloud than I did when I read it solo! (Full review here).

I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis
If you have a non-fiction lover, these short middle grade books about big historical events are really fun and high action. They’re a perfect fit for reluctant readers, especially those with low patience for made up stories.

The Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
Coming from the view of a big red oak tree, this book is touching and deep. People in the town write their wishes down and place them in the branches of the wishtree, allowing the tree to see most everyone’s desires and troubles.

Wish by Barbara O’Connor
Eleven-year-old Charlie has been wishing for the same thing every day since fourth grade, using every quirky method she can think of – even making a wish off of the pointing end of pie! But when she’s sent to live with distant family in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a scrappy stray dog and a surprising neighbor boy show her that what she really needs might be very different from what she’s been wishing for.

Peter and the Star Catchers by Dave Berry and Ridley Pearson
Whenever someone tells me they just finished listening to Harry Potter, I always recommend this audiobook. The story isn’t very similar (it’s a Peter Pan story, brilliantly and hilariously reimagined), but it’s full of magic AND it’s narrated by Jim Dale, who reads the Harry Potter audiobooks. This is a do not miss. Also there are also five books in the series, so you won’t be running out of listening material anytime soon. (Full review here)

A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy, illustrated by John Steven Gurney
This was the perfect mystery book series for Ella. She’s gone on to read all of this series as well as the Calendar Mysteries and often revisits both when she’s out of new books.

The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog by John R. Erickson
This is a series that really should be listened to since the audio versions are truly hilarious. We discovered them when I was maybe 11 or 12 on a road trip and I woke up late at night to hear my mom listening to them as she drove through the night, laughing out loud. Hank thinks he’s brilliant (and of course, handsome and charming) while the reader knows that. . . the truth is possibly a little different.

The Ghost in the Noonday Sun by Sid Fleischman
Believe it or not, this novel was written in the 1970s, but any kid who loves ruthless pirates and hidden treasure will still be hooked. Twelve-year-old Oliver Finch dreams of whaling adventures, but ends up snatched up by the red-bearded Captain Harry Scratch, who needs Oliver’s ghost-seeing powers to track down a long-lost pirate treasure. It’s Treasure Island…but with ghosts, disappearing-ink maps and high-seas mischief!

Half Upon a Time by James Riley
My oldest really enjoyed this trilogy! It follows Jack, who is the son of the infamous Jack and the Beanstalk, and he’s hoping to restore his family’s reputation in hero training (which he’s doing a poor job at). He lives in fairy land and when May, a girl from the real world, lands in front of him, he thinks this is his chance to redeem the family name with a successful princess rescue. Of course, you can already guess that things are NOT going to go according to plan.

The School Mouse by Dick King-Smith
I adore all his books, but this one about a little mouse living in a Kindergarten classroom closet sounds so sweet! Once Flora the mouse learns to read, she’s determined to join the first graders and prove she’s ready for the next big adventure.

Puggleton Park by Deanna Kizis
I am absolutely obsessed with this premise – a pug as the main character, set in Regency-era London! Excuse me while I disappear into this two-book series ASAP!

The Bark of the Bog Owl (The Wilderking Trilogy) by Jonathan Rogers
Think, pre King David, middle-grade adventure fantasy, all with a strong sense of the American South. Plus, it’s all based around the biblical story David and Goliath.

The Doughnut Fix by Jessie Janowitz 
This one I actually didn’t read aloud – we listened to it together in the car over the summer as we drove around. We all liked this one (and it’s included in Audible Plus so it’s free with your membership).

Scare School Diaries by Jarrett Learner
Bash the ghost isn’t exactly nailing the whole “ghost thing,” and now he’s off to the scary-hard Scare School – yikes! Between tough classes, tricky teachers, and his famous older sister’s shadow looming over him, Bash has to figure out how to survive without getting kicked out.

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin
This beloved Newbery Honor book is about a girl named Wanda who is mocked at school for wearing the same old blue dress every day. She claims that at home she has 100 beautiful dresses, but her classmates know she’s lying.

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas
This is a super well done graphic novel, with beautiful illustrations, great characters, and a fun storyline. It’s a definite winner! Bree is excited for her first day at her new middle school, until she finds out that the only elective left open is swim team. But how can she tell her friends and coach she doesn’t know how to swim?

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
This is a Newbery winner about three different characters – a tiny mouse, a rat who loves the light, and a little girl who wants to be a princess. And niiiiice short chapters. (Full review here)

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
In 1994, when the Winona Ryder and Christian Bale version of Little Women came out, my mom told me that if I read the book, she’d take me to see the movie. I read the book in a few days and loved every second of it (I went on to read Little Men and Jo’s Boys a bunch of times too). An all-time classic, it’s just so good!

Legends of Lotus Island by Christina Soontornvat
First off, I’ve never met a Christina Soontornvat book I didn’t adore! Now, imagine a school where kids can transform into magical animals – yep, that’s Guardian Academy! Plum is excited to join, but when her powers won’t show up, she faces losing not just her shot at adventure, but the first real friends she’s ever made.

Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan Crow was born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, and thus lives a cursed life. As she awaits her fate, she is whisked away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor. She learns that to stay in the safety of Nevermoor she has to compete in four difficult trials and discover her own extraordinary talent- or have to leave the city and face her deadly fate.

My Weird School by Dan Gutman
This is a silly series reminds me of the Wayside School series. This series is geared more for beginning readers, but all the adults at Ella Mentry School are just a little bit weird…maybe REALLY weird! 

Last Kids on Earth series by Max Brallier
For kids who love anything monsters and zombies this graphic novel series will be a hit! After monsters took over, Jack Sullivan has been surviving the apocalypse alone in his treehouse while others were zombified or evacuated. As he finds other kids still around, they band together and turn the treehouse into a stronghold to fight back.

Weird But True by National Geographic Kids
This series is so good for someone who loves to have some facts in their back pocket – especially facts that are incredibly strange, but true! And if you want even more…Nat Geo’s 5,000 Awesome Facts books are a huge hit too!

The Double Life of Danny Day by Mike Thayer
What would you do if you got to live everyday twice!? For Danny, this is reality. When Danny’s family moves across the country, his unusual gift helps him make friends, outsmart bullies, and even take down a cheating ring, proving that second chances can make all the difference.

Liesl Shurtliff books
I have been recommending her fractured fairy tales for years, because they are that good. Rump is a personal favorite of mine!

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
At this point, Shel Silverstein’s name is basically synonymous with children’s poetry and even the most reluctant child can’t help but crack a smile at some of his wacky poems.

Beast Quest by Adam Blade
I’ve never heard of these before, but with 124 books in the series (you read that number right) I think it speaks for itself! Each book features a new beast as a boy’s journey to save his village turns into much more than he was anticipating.

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
When Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin get together to co-write a book about WWII codebreakers, you know that’s a book you aren’t going to want to miss. This story takes place in the summer of 1940 with two siblings who love riddles and puzzles. And they live in the right place for that since they live at Britain’s top secret codebreaking factory, Bletchley Park, where the brightest minds work together to crack the Nazi’s infamous Enigma cipher. My daughter and I listened to this together on a trip and we were both gripped.

The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson 
The three gifted Igiby siblings pull together their smarts, heart, and courage to defeat the evil Fangs of Dang who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice.

The Green Ember by S. D. Smith and Zach Franzen
This series takes a fun spin on a fantastical story with lead characters Heather and Picket rabbit. They make their way through a land filled with kingdoms, tyrants, and ultimately prove that good conquers evil in the end. This is the first book in a great series!

National Geographic Encyclopedia by National Geographic Kids
It’s hard not to love anything National Geographic touches. They are known for their stunning photos and they are on full display here in any addition – space, animal, science, bug and so much more!

Warrior Cat by Erin Hunter
The Warrior Cat series is one of those book concepts where you think “I can’t believe someone thought this would be a good book plot.” And then it works better than you ever could have imagined.

National Park Mystery Series by Aaron Johnson
This 10 book series is perfect for readers who love exploring the great outdoors, scavenger hunts, and coded messages! Jake, Wes, Amber, and their families embark on a two-month trip to explore ten national parks. But when Jake receives a scrapbook with a mystery to solve from his late grandfather, he must decide whether to solve it alone or trust his friends with the secret.

The Boy with Video Game Powers by R.L. Ullman
Gaming, but in reading form! Get your game lover to jump into a series they are interested by starting with this one that has great reviews!

Tales of an 8 Bit Warrior by Cube Kid
I’m the first to admit that I know nothing about Minecraft, but I can guarantee that most 10 year old boys know a thing or two about it. This story follows, Runt, a Minecraft villager who is bound and determined to become a Minecraft warrior! Another Minecraft series suggestion was Minecraft Woodsward Chronicles!

The Pirate Who’s Afraid of Everything by Annabeth Bondor-Stone and Connor White
Pirates are meant to be fearless, but Shivers might be the most scaredy-cat pirate to ever sail the Seven Seas. On a daring quest to save his parents, he’ll hunt for buried treasure and face a giant squid in an adventure packed with danger – and laughs!

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Can you believe I’ve only ever read ONE Judy Blume book!? And shockingly it wasn’t from this series. Life is hard with a little brother, especially when your little brother is Fudge. Grown-ups think Fudge is cute, but Peter and his turtle Dribble know he’s a whirlwind of mischief!

Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
While I’ve never been the biggest fan of Captain Underpants myself (thanks to all the potty humor), there’s no denying this underwear-clad superhero is a favorite with kids everywhere!”

Lightfall by Tim Probert
For fans of Star Wars and epic graphic novels, this is a must-read adventure! Bea, the Pig Wizard’s granddaughter, joins forces with Cad, a rare and mysterious creature, on a daring quest to save their world from being swallowed by eternal darkness.

Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
The Dog Man series are wildly popular with young readers and upper elementary students alike (although there are plenty of parents who could live without the bathroom humor) and have helped many elementary schoolers catch a love for reading for the first time.

The First Cat in Space by Mac Barnett
If there is one author that knows how to pique the interest of a 10 year old boy, it’s Mac Barnett! The Terrible Two and Mac B. Kid Spy are fan favorites, but this graphic novel about the heroic first cat in space saving the moon from moon-eating rats sounds right up any 4th or 5th grade boys alley.

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
I have some fantasy lovers in my household that would love this one! During a visit to his grandpa, Christopher spots something unbelievable – a rush of mythical creatures charging down the hill. That’s when he learns his grandfather is the keeper of a hidden gateway to a magical world. But there is one BIG problem…the barrier separating the two worlds is beginning to fail.

Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
In our family, the Beverly Cleary books on audio are definitely in our top 5. We’ve listened to many of them together, and my girls love listening on their own. And I just love Henry Huggins.

The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
This is another great novel from one of my favorite authors, Kate DiCamillo. She writes about Rob Horton, an 11 year old boy who finds a caged tiger in the woods behind the hotel where he lives with his father. He and his new friend, Sistine, have to decide what to do with this new found discovery while also coming to terms with Rob’s past.

Roald Dahl books
From Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to Matilda, to The BFG, I mean, you just can’t go wrong with Roald Dahl. With so much silliness and plots that move right along, it’s no wonder his books were suggestions countless times.

Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
I know Big Nate isn’t for everyone, but if it’s a hit at your house, it will be sure to make you and your kids laugh.

The Magic Faraway Tree Collection by Enid Blyton
Joe, Beth, and Frannie think they’re just moving to the country…until they discover the Magic Faraway Tree. It is filled with talking creatures, magical friends, and a new world waiting at the top of the tree every time. Can I move there please?

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
This was our first read-aloud and you better believe I sobbed through the whole last 15 pages. You really can’t pass up this classic about the relationship between a pig and spider.

Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
Ella LOVES this series about a crew of traditionally “bad” animals (shark, wolf, snake, etc) that decide they’re tired of being bad and want to be good instead. Funny and LOTS of black and white illustrations.

Gangsta Granny by David Walliams
The title of this series alone should peek the interest of any 10 year old boy. Ben doesn’t want to stay at his grandma’s house. She’s boring. Her Scrabble game is even more boring. But while Ben is there he discovers his grandma used to be a successful jewel thief and she’s looking into getting back into the business with Ben’s help!

Alvin Ho by Lenore Look, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Alvin Ho is VERY scared of everything, especially school, where he never says a word. But when he’s at home? He turns into Firecracker Man who isn’t afraid of anything.

Geronimo Stilton series by Geronimo Stilton
This chapter book series has about ten bazillion books in it, so if your child can get hooked, you are set for a bit. These books follow Geronimo Stilton, a mouse journalist who is always accidentally finding himself in the middle of mega-adventures. When I was a librarian, I heard some complaints from other librarians about the text having occasional words in different colors or fonts and that it made it hard to read, but I think it’s fine and makes the pages look more fun and less intimidating to elementary kids.

InvestiGators by John Patrick Green
This might be one of the most popular graphic novel series I’ve ever suggested (Ella included it in an episode of Ella Enjoyed a couple of years ago) and for good reason. It’s just so fun and engaging with two clever gators working to solve some mysteries with their very cool spy gear.

Wild Rescuers by StacyPlays
All Stacy has ever know is her wolf family who she was raised by. And humans – well they are dangerous and unpredictable. Stacy and her wolf family help protect the other forest animals that is until the forest starts changing and new dangers arise.

Mac B. Kid Spy Books by Mac Barnett
You may know Mac Barnett as an author but before that? He was a spy for the Queen of England in this series that the publisher calls James Bond meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It’s filled with a nice dose of historical facts. Smart and funny, this is a winner series.

The Terrible Two Series by Mac Barnett & Jory John
Ella and I listened to it together several years ago (all of my kids went on and listened to the rest of them one million times) and it’s hilarious about two boys trying to out-prank each other. Now, all of my girls can recite pretty much the entire book from memory because they’ve listened to it so many times.

Story Thieves by James Riley
My girls loved James Riley’s series Half Upon a Time, so I was delighted to hear about this one. Bethany is a half-fictional person who can climb in and out of books and is the only one who knows about it, until Owen sees her jump out of a book in the library. Owen promises to keep her secret if she will just take him into his favorite series, but we all know it can’t be that simple.

Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller
Magnolia Wu has high hopes of helping people find their lost socks from her parents’ laundromat and quickly finds out that not many people care. That is until a new friend moves into town and is excited about jetting across the city to find the owners of all of these lonely socks!

You Are Here: Connecting Flights by Ellen Oh
This novel brings together twelve incredible Asian American authors – including some of my absolute favorites (looking at you, Linda Sue Park, Erin Entrada Kelly, Grace Lin, and Christina Soontornvat!). Together, they weave an unforgettable story of young travelers navigating chaos at an airport, where themes of identity, belonging, courage, and even a blue Stratocaster guitar intertwine.

J Vs. K by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft
I have loved Jerry Craft’s other books, and I’ve heard this one is just as good. Both J & K are known at their school for their creative drawing and writing skills. When they both enter the DAPS annual creative writing competition, they start the craziest rivalry ever!

Magyk by Angie Sage
Magyk begins when Septimus Heap, the seventh son of the seventh son, vanishes on the night of his birth. The midwife declares him dead . . .but that might not be the whole story. And things really get interesting when, on the same evening, Septimus’ father finds a newborn baby girl abandoned outside.

Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale
This series is fantastic and teaches so much about history. Everyone has heard of the famous spy, Nathan Hale, famous for his last words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” But did you know that he is also a fantastic storyteller? Follow these entertaining and educating stories which Nathan Hale tells to his executioners.

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus 
Get ready for an adventure like no other! In this historical fiction (which is also highly biographical), fourteen-year-old Manjiro has been through it all! He survives a shipwreck, sails all the way to America, learns English, pans for gold, and even dreams of becoming a samurai.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit
This one made it on to my short chapter book list at 160 pages. Winnie Foster is shocked to discover that the spring on her family’s property is magical and grants immortality to the drinker, and even more shocked to meet a family that’s drunk from the spring and now will keep living forever.

All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat
I picked this up when it won the Newbery Honor and LOVED it! This book made the whole true story of the rescue of these thirteen boys come vividly to life for me and even though I knew the ending, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. If you haven’t read this one yet, now is the time. (Full review here)

Pax by Sara Pennypacker
This book got ALL the awards – National Book Award finalist, Amazon Best Book of the Year, etc – and I’d love to read it. I think they are probably old enough!

The Land of Roar series by Jenny McLachlan
This one sounds like it has a feeling reminiscent of Chronicles of Narnia. Whenever twins Rose and Arthur stay at their grandfather’s house, they play their made-up game Roar. The game would always begin by them crawling into a folding bed and entering a new world. After several years pass and the twins are helping their grandfather clean out his loft, they come across the bed…what could possibly happen this time?

Choose Your Own Adventure by R. A. Montgomery
These Choose Your Own Adventure books are so fun, especially for those who tend to be reluctant readers! It keeps the reader actively engaged since they are having to make some interesting choices along the way!