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Best Kids' Chapter Books
15
items I have spent the summer reading chapter books made for kids grades 3-8 (PTO School Librarian!) - here are my FAVORITES.
I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down. And neither could my 4th grader! This heartwarming story of resilience and love will have readers of all ages hooked.
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
I love a multi-viewpoint story but this one had me especially hooked. I loved that the present day character was a boy learning about his grandmother's past as a girl. A fantastic and gripping read.
The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine (National Book Award Finalist)
I sometimes struggle with graphic novels, but this one had me cracking up! I loved the heart and resilience in the storyline. Girls have often asked me for a graphic novel “for me” and I’m excited to add this great story to our shelves.
Jacky Ha-Ha: A Graphic Novel
I am so excited at how well done this graphic novel is! I loved the novels and Netflix and the graphic novel is a great addition to our library.
Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels
Oh my gosh - I wasn’t sure what to expect but I fell in love with the main character as she found her way through middle school. Her brilliance and awkwardness is so relatable for anyone who has ever wanted to carve out a piece of the world for thems...
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
Exciting, funny, improbable and mysterious - it's the modern day Willy Wonka! But with books and tenacity. My son found this book first and loved it, I followed suit and have pursued the whole series!
Mr. Lemoncello's Library
Perfect for ages 8-36. My son and I co-read this on spring break and the number of times we stopped to stair at the other after a chapter. It was so much fun. The perfect caper for third graders who love to read and up.
Loot: How to Steal a Fortune
I loved Coyote Sunrise and the sequel did not disappoint! So excited for my students to find out her story continues!
Coyote Lost and Found: Gemeinhart, Dan
Kate DiCamillo is a modern treasure. This is one of the first chapter books my boys and I read aloud at bedtime when they were 4 and 6. I loved reading it as much as they loved listening. Now I recommend it to my whimsical students and find that even...
The Magician's Elephant
My love for Kate D is no secret, but it is especially ferverent for this book. We read it allowed when my sons were 5 and 7 and honestly, I got as much out of it as I did. Filled with gentle lessons of life, bravery and the disastrous results of lead...
The Beatryce Prophecy
The Ickabog is such a great story of adventure, woe, resilience and hope. Young readers will ask important questions about WHY the events are transpiring in such a way - and what happens when a lie becomes accepted as fact.
The Ickabog
Easy to read and understand - but gripping enough to hold even an adult's attention. I added these to my shelves to help my kids who think they're “sports kids” instead of “readers” find something to check out, but we all love them.
Track Series by Jason Reynolds
It goes without saying that we all benefit when stories like these are shared, but I especially like recommending this to students looking for something “real life.” The subjects' journey is remarkable and the writing is wonderful.
Hidden Figures
As a long time lover of Woodson's works (The Day You Begin is my favorite back-to-school book), I'm not surprised at how much I loved this book. Her story is captivating and wonderfully written, its perfect for students looking for modern biographies...
Brown Girl Dreaming
Perfect for middle schoolers trying to feel at home in their own skin and butting up against peer/societal expectations. Lisa Fipps does a wonderful job helping the reader emphathize with Ellie and celebrate her journey.
Starfish