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25 must read chapter books for older children

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it’s mid-summer.  it seems that’s usually when the slump begins.  there’s the heat, the boredom, and the car rides.  here are my suggestions on the 25 best chapter books to keep your older readers hands occupied and imaginations busy.

  1. A Taste of Blackberries by Doris Buchanan Smith
  2. Because of Winn-dixie by Kate DiCamillo
  3. The Boxcar Children Series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
  4. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
  5. The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
  6. The Complete Adventures of the Borrowers by Mary Norton
  7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
  8. The Fledgling by Jane Langdon
  9. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
  10. The Giver by Lois Lowry
  11. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
  12. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
  13. Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Patterson
  14. Jennifer, Hecate, MacBeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth by E.L. Konigsburg
  15. Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie
    by Julie Sternberg
  16. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
  17. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald
  18. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
  19. Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
  20. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Mildred D. Taylor
  21. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
  22. Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

  23. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

  24. Follow My Leader
    by James B. Garfield
  25. What book would you choose for the last spot?

 

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Andie Jaye

Andie Jaye is a former preschool teacher turned stay-at-home mom of 3 kiddos. Her blog, Do.Play.Learn., (formerly named Crayon Freckles), focuses on creative learning and play ideas, as well as parenting topics. Andie strives to be honest in her approach and experiences in parenting to let other moms know that they are not alone in their struggle. In her free time, she writes children’s books in hopes of publishing someday.

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6 Comments

  1. I am pinning this! There are so many great books on this list that were my favorites as a kid…Boxcar Children, Sara,Plain & Tall, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Sideways Stories, Number the Stars! Great selections! I've been wanting to read chapter books to the kids, so this will give me a great start on what to choose! All my favorites are on the list, so I can't think of one for #25!

  2. Great list, Andie! My daughter wants to add, the Fudge books by Judy Blume for #25. My son says, any of the Goosebumps books by RL Stine.

  3. I've read a lot of these, but there's a lot I haven't. I would add 5 Little Peppers. I loved that series.:)

  4. Mrs. Pepperpot or The Girl Who Owned a School.

  5. Laura says:

    Here are three that I loved back then and I still love now: "Summer of My German Soldier", "That was Then, This is Now" and 'Flowers for Algernon.'

  6. Phantom Tollbooth

Comments are closed.