Chapter Books for Kids

First Chapter Books (ages 5-7)
Popular Easy Readers (ages 7-10)
Popular Chapter Books (ages 10-12)

When I was young, chapter books for kids were a lot different than they are now. Before I ever read my first chapter book, I had already been reading for several years. Since kindergarten, if not earlier. Thanks to learning phonics in 1st grade, I finally learned how to “decipher” words (the key to reading that still works today). Before that, I was just memorizing.

I remember HATING the Dick and Jane books I was required to read in 2nd grade. I always looked forward to getting back to more exciting books once I got home. But that was before Easy Readers had come out. If I were a child today, I’d probably enjoy some of those, especially the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel.

These days, easy readers provide the perfect transition from picture books to chapter books for kids. Some children may be able to transition directly to easy chapter books, but there’s such a wide variety of choices in the marketplace today, it’s easy to find easy readers and early chapter books for kids that will appeal to almost any child’s tastes. Reading books online is another option for youngsters who are comfortable with a computer.

Key Ingredient: Humor

As with any other genre, one of your best resources in looking for good chapter books for kids is the children’s librarian. Sales people working in the children’s section of local booksellers can also be helpful. And, of course, online resources are always easy to find. (See Getting Kids to Read for information on children’s book clubs – a great way to get your own child more excited about reading.)

Popular Easy Readers

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (by Judith Viorst)

Days with Frog and Toad (by Arnold Lobel) This book is part of the I Can Read Book series.

Little Bear (by Else Holmelund Minarik)

The Cat in the Hat (by Dr. Seuss) For more information on this and other books by Dr. Seuss, see The World of Dr. Seuss.

To see more Easy Reader books, see our Easy Reader Books page.

Popular Early-Reader Chapter Books

The Bald Bandit (by Ron Roy) This book is the second in a series of 26 alphabetically titled chapter books, known as A to Z Mysteries. This one just happens to have been one of my son's favorites in this series.

Amelia Bedelia Collection (by Peggy and Herman Parish) This particular set contains three of the most popular books in the series: Amelia Bedelia, Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia, and Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower.

The Boxcar Children Mysteries (by Gertrude Chandler Warner) There are a total of 119 books in this series, the first of which was published over 80 years ago!

Charlotte’s Web (by E.B. White)

Flat Stanley (by Jeff Brown) There are several books in this series, which can be purchased as sets.

Geronimo Stilton (by Elisabetta Dami, published by Edizione Piemme) is a series about a journalist who’s a mouse. Currently, there are over 40 books in the series, but since a new one comes out almost every month, that number is climbing rapidly. (For more info, see my page on Geronimo Stilton.)

Little House in the Big Woods (by Laura Ingalls Wilder) is the first in a series of seven books, and was originally published in 1932. The books follow the life of a little girl living in pioneer days, and have become a classic with young girls everywhere. (This series was one of my personal favorites!)

Popular Chapter Books

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (by Lewis Carroll)

Black Beauty (by Anna Sewell)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (by Jeff Kinney)

Holes (by Louis Sachar)

The Children of Noisy Village (by Astrid Lindgren)

The Witch of Blackbird Pond (by Elizabeth George Speare)

Writing Chapter Books

Aspiring authors of chapter books need to remember to keep the plot simple, use lots of dialogue, include humor and action, and keep sentences short. For more details on writing for children see my page on that subject.

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