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Booklists By Reading Level

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Book List for a Home Library
Book Resources for Parents
Collectible Books Your Child Might Like
How to Choose Books for Children
And How Could you Leave Out...
books nominated by our customers

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Book List For A Home Library
Many other book lists are available on the net and in the public library, so I've included only a few of our favorite books for each age group.

Books are arranged roughly by "listening level," the age at which a child would be interested in hearing the book read aloud. Note that the age groups overlap; if you are unfamiliar with the United States school system, Grade One means age 6-7, Grade Two, age 7-8, etc.

Despite the age grading, the books on this list can be read and loved by a child (or adult!) of any age. It's a good idea to keep "reading ahead" of your child and gradually become familiar with the literature to come. All of these books may be found in a good public library.

The books with an * comprise a short list of classic books for very young children.

Some of these books are prohibitively expensive in early edition, too rare for the average family to read aloud. We keep some modern reprints in stock, or see Book Sense on our links page. Unfortunately, turn of the century illustrators and those of the early 20th century used different printing methods and paper, so modern reproductions pale beside the originals. Consider searching online for earlier printings in poor condition and mending them for use by your children.

Picture book reading levels vary greatly . Most picture books are much too difficult for first graders to read alone. As a guide, SR, meaning Silent Reading indicates a comfortable silent reading level for an average second grade reader in December.

Nursery Books (all SR)

Ten Nine Eight by Molly Bang
The Miffy Books by Dick Bruna
Mr. Gumpy's Outing by John Burningham *
Good Night, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown *
Freight Train by Donald Crews
In the Forest by Marie Hall Ets *
Angus by Marjorie Flack *
In the Rain with Baby Duck by Amy Hest
Bedtime for Frances, and others by Russell Hoban *
Splash by Ann Jonas
The Happy Day, The Carrot Seed by Kraus *
The Little Books, all, The Little Airplane, Mr. Small, etc. by Lois Lenski *
Mother Goose Randolph Caldecott's; we also like Richardson, Willebeck LeMair, de Angeli*
Nursery Tales don't miss Leslie Brooke, Tibor Gergely, James Marshall, Paul Zelinsky *
The Great Big Fire Engine Book (large size) by Tibur Gergely *
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Max Books by Rosemary Wells
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

Early Childhood Picture Books - Preschool through Second Grade

Mostly for preschoolers:
Blackboard Bear by Martha Alexander SR
Machines at Work by Byron Barton SR
Peter in Blueberry Land and other books by Elsa Beskow, beautiful nature illustrations.*
The Mitten by Jan Brett SR
Johnny Crow's Party by Leslie Brooke * SR
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Burton * SR
The Tub People by Pam Conrad SR
Corduroy by Don Freeman SR
Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag * SR
Little Toot by Hardy Gramatky SR
Teddy Bears Take the Train and others by Suzanna Gretz SR
Tortillitas para Mama by Margot Griego/Cooney
A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho SR
Angelina Ballerina by Holabird SR
All the Trotter Street Books by Shirley Hughes
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson SR
Whistle for Willie, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats * SR
When the Sky is Like Lace by Elinor Lander/Barbara Cooney
Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka and Snipp, Snapp, and Snurr series by Maj Lindman SR
The Poky Little Puppy by Janet Sebring Lowrey SR
George and Martha by James Marshall SR
Blueberries for Sal, Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey * SR
Little Bear by Elsie Minarik/Sendak * SR
When the Root Children Wake Up by Sibylle von Olfers, fascinating illustrations.
The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper/Hauman. We like these illustrations best.* SR
Beatrix Potter, each of the original small books in Warne editions *
The Balancing Girl by Bernice Rabe/L. Hoban SR
Goodnight, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann SR
Tall Book of Nursery Tales by Feodor Rojankovsky *
Tell Me a Mitzi by Lore Segal/Pincus
Where the Wild Things Are and Nutshell Library by Maurice Sendak SR
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss * SR
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina * SR
Anna in Charge by Yoriko TsuTsui/Akiko Hayashi SR
Little Grey Rabbit Books by Alison Uttley SR
The Elephant and the Bad Baby by Elfrida Vipont/Briggs SR
The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward SR
The Bunny Planet Books, Shy Charles by Rosemary Wells SR
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen/Schoenherr SR
Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow/Sendak * SR

For early elementary kids too: Older children can appreciate the artwork of all of these picture books, but the ones below also have a story line they will enjoy.
All of the Little Tim books by Edward Ardizzone*
Gabriel Churchkitten by Margot Austin
Patrick by Quentin Blake * SR
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans * SR
The Little Island by Golden MacDonald (M. W. Brown)/Weisgard * SR
Walk Together Children, spirituals illus. by Ashley Bryan.
The Little House, by Virginia Burton * SR
Caldecott's Nursery Rhymes, again, "education for the eye" Landsberg *
The Accident by Carol Carrick/Donald Carrick, others SR
In My Mother's House by Ann Nolan Clark *SR
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney *SR
Don't Count Your Chickens, Abraham Lincoln by the d'Aulaires
Babar the King by Jean de Brunhoff, better than Babar for small children *
Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola SR
The Fabulous Fireworks Family by James Flora
Buffalo Woman by Paul Goble
Katie Morag Delivers the Mail by Mairi Hedderwick
The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by Dubose Heyward/Flack *
Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas by Russell Hoban
Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling C. Holling *
Little Dumpty by Miko Imai SR
Nine Days to Christmas by Labastida and Ets *
The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse
Harriet and the Promised Land by Jacob Lawrence, Harriet Tubman, poetry.
The Story of Ferdinand by Monro Leaf/Lawson * SR
The Ice Horse by Thomas Locker
The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren/Harald Wilberg SR
Tico and the Golden Wings by Leo Lionni *SR
The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate by Margaret Mahy
Lentil, One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey * SR
Roxaboxen by McLerran/Cooney SR
Mirandy and Brother Wind by Patricia C. McKissack/Pinkney SR
High, Wide, and Handsome by Jean Merrill/Solber and others SR
Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm by Jerdine Nolan/Teague SR
Farewell to Shady Glade, and others by Bill Peet SR
Pedro of Olvera Street and other California picture books by Leo Politi
Beatrix Potter, some plots are more complex than Peter *
Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm by the Provensens *
Tree of Cranes by Alan Say
Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto/Martinez
People by Peter Spier SR
Horton Hatches the Egg, Thidwick by Dr. Seuss * SR
A Bad Case of the Stripes David Shannon SR
Boy of the Three Year Nap retold by Dianne Snyder/Say
Stevie by John Steptoe
Roland the Minstrel Pig, Brave Irene and others by William Steig
Eloise and others,Thompson/Hilary Knight
Barbapappa's Ark Annette Tison SR
Little Fox Goes to the End of the WorldAnn Tompert/Wallner
The Mellops Strike Oil, and others, all funny Tomi Ungerer
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (Bianco)/Nicholson SR
A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams SR

For some "easy ups" for beginning readers, see Betsy Hearne's guide below.

Early Elementary Chapter Books - First through Third Grade

Animal fantasies:
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Jenny the Cat Stories, School for Cats etc. by Esther Averill *
Mother West Wind's Neighbors by Thornton Burgess *
Poppyseed Cakes by Margery Clark/Petersham *
Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
Brim's Boat and others, not as well known, just great! by Michael Gaunt
Martin's Mice and other animal stories by Dick King-Smith
Just So Stories by Kipling
The Jungle Books by Kipling *
The City Under the Back Steps by Evelyn Lampman
Catwings by Ursula LeGuin
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne *
The Blue Moose by Pinkwater
Tales of Mr. Pengachoosa by Caroline Rush
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White *

People and Places:
Racketty-Packetty House by Frances Hodgsen Burnett
Beans on the Roof by Betsy Byars
Julian's Glorious Summer and others by Ann Cameron
The Family Under the Bridge, The Orphalines by Natalie Savage Carlson
Ramona Books by Beverly Cleary
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Dalgleish
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes/Slobodkin, best read aloud *
Blue Willow by Doris Gates
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord
All About Sam, earlier Anastasia Books by Lois Lowry
Homer Price, Centerburg Tales by Robert McCloskey, if read aloud *
Henry and Mudge Series and Mr. Putter Series by Cynthia Rylant
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner, the first a classic, the early ones quite good. *
Little House in the Big Woods by Wilder, later books are harder to read. *

Fantasy:
The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum, later ones harder to read *
Mushroom Planet Books by Eleanor Cameron
The Little Lame Prince by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik, best read aloud *
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett *
Twig, Big Susan by Elizabeth Orton Jones
Stig of the Dump by Clive King, best read aloud
The People in Pineapple Place by Anne Lindbergh
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren *
Dancing Cats of Applesap, Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Lisle
Finders Keepers by Emily Rodda
The Toymaker Trilogy by Ursula Moray Williams.

Middle Elementary Chapter Books - Third Through Fifth Grade
Note: series books are apt to grow more difficult to read as they go along.

Family stories:
The Winter Cottage, The Pink Motel by Carol Ryrie Brink
Ramona Stories by Beverly Cleary
Kitty in the Middle, series by Judy Delton
Gone Away Lake, Melendy Family Series by Elizabeth Enright
The Moffat Stories by Eleanor Estes
The Betsy and Eddie Stories by Carolyn Haywood
Peachtree Island, Sand in Her Shoes by Mildred Lawrence
The Betsy stories, Betsy, Tacy, and Tib by Maude Hart Lovelace
The Middle Sister and others by Marian Mason
Swallows and Amazons and others by Arthur Ransome
All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

Boys' books:
Andy Buckram's Tin Man by Carol Ryrie Brink
The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
Otis Spofford by Beverly Cleary
Great Brain series by John D. Fitzgerald
Eddie stories by Carolyn Haywood
Alvin Fernald series by Clifford Hicks
Bully of Barkham Street, etc by Mary Stolz
Henry Reed series by Keith Robertson

Tales and Legends.
Aesop... King Arthur... Robin Hood...best read aloud...ask for a good version for your child.
Andersen's Fairy Tales Hans Christian Andersen
Gilgamesh by Bernarda Bryson. (ancient Mesopotamia)
Jack Tales by Richard Chase. (Appalachian)
The Cow-Tale Switch by Harold Courlander (West African)
Greek Myths, Norse Myths by Ingri and Parin D'Aulaire
Indian Tales by Jaime De Angulo (California, hard to find)
Tales of Uncle Remus (4 vol) by Julius Lester/Pinkney
The King of the Golden River by John Ruskin

Fantasy; many are series:
Oz Books by Frank Baum
Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie, not abridged
The Twenty-one Balloons by Wm Pene du Bois
Which Witch? by Eve Ibbotson
Amy's Eyes by Richard Kennedy
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
The Princess and the Goblin, the Princess and Curdy by George MacDonald
Five Children and It by E. Nesbit
The Borrowers by Mary Norton

Talking Animals:
Willie the Squowse by Ted Allan
Freddy the Pig series by Walter Brooks, best read aloud
Catfish Bend series by Lucien Ben Burman
The Bears Upstairs by Irene Haas
The Moomintroll Books by Tove Jansson
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Doctor Dolittle by Lofting, best read aloud
The Cricket in Times Square (series) by George Selden
Hugh Pine by van der Wetering

People and Places:
Sara Crewe (A Little Princess) by Burnett
The Secret Garden by Burnett, best read aloud and shared
Nekomah Creek and Nekomah Creek Christma by Linda Crew
My Side of the Mountain by Jean George
The Doll's House by Rumer Godden.
From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by Konigsberg
Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat
Soup by Robert Newton Peck
Mean Margaret by Tor Seidler
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Finding Buck McHenry by Alfred Stolz

Historical fiction:
Ben and Me and others by Robert Lawson
The Golden Goblet by Eloise McGraw
Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski
All books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell

Upper Elementary Chapter Books - Fourth through Seventh Grade

Animal books:
Sounder by William H. Armstrong
Brighty of Grand Canyon, King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry
Prince Jan, St. Bernard by Forrestine Hooker
Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls
The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Shiloh by Cynthia Rylant
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Lad, a Dog by Albert Payson Terhune

People and Places:
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, at last book to read aloud to your girl!
Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
The Not-Just-Anybody-Family, and others, by Betsy Byars
A Room Without Windows by Eleanor Cameron
The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong
A Family Project by Sarah Ellis
Yolanda's Genius by Carol Fenner
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Willie Bea..., Zeely by Virginia Hamilton
The Little Fishes by Erik Christian Haugaard
The Clay Marble by Minfong Ho
Slake's Limbo by Felice Holman
The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
Park's Quest, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
The Good Master by Kate Seredy
Baseball in April, Pacific Crossing, and others by Gary Soto
Ballet Shoes Shoes series, by Noel Streatfeild
Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, the trilogy by Mildred Taylor
A Jar of Dreams by Yoshiko Uchida
So Far From the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Watkins

Funny books:
The Snarkout Boys and The Avocado of Death by Pinkwater
Frindle by Andrew Clements
The Bagthorpe Series by Helen Cresswell
Half-Magicand others, Edward Eager
When the Circus Comes to TownPolly Horvath
Homer Price, Centerburg Talesby Robert McCloskey (read it again!)
Dog Friday by Hilary McKay
They Shoot Canoes, Don't They? by Patrick McManus
The Dog Who Wouldn't Be by Farley Mowat
Mary Poppins and others, by P. L. Travers

Time-shift fantasies:
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Children of Green Knowe by Lucy Boston
The Watchers by Jane Louise Curry
Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer
Linnets and Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge
The Root Cellar by Janet Lunn
Earthfasts by William Mayne
Playing Beattie Bow by Ruth Park
The Minnow on the Say by Philippa Pearce
The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Pope
A Chance Child by Jill Paton Walsh

Some good older Australia/New Zealand books:
Devil's Hill by Nan Chauncy
Scrub Fire by de Roo
The Runaway by Ruth Morris
Boy Alone; The Roan Colt; Rain Comes to Yamboorah by Reginald Ottley
Threat to the Barkers by Joan Phipson
The Switherby Pilgrims by Eleanor Spence
I Own the Racecourse by Patricia Wrightson

Historical Fiction/Adventure:
El Guero by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino, Mexico
My Daniel by Pam Conrad, Westward Movement
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli, Medieval Europe
Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark, Peru: Incan Heritage
Hitty by Rachel Field. Really American History, not just a doll story
Johnny Tremaine by Esther Forbes, American Revolution
Smith by Leon Garfield, Victorian London
Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Jane Gray, Medieval Europe
North to Freedom by Ann Holm, Cold War
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, WWII
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan, WWII
Lost in the Barrens by Farley Mowat, Canada
The Island on Bird Street by Uri Orlev, WWII
The Silver Sword (Escape from Warsaw) by Ian Serraillier, WWII
Warrior Scarlet by Rosemary Sutcliff, Early Britain
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain, Medieval Europe
Dragonwings by Laurence Yep, Aviation San Francisco Earthquake

Science Fiction/Fantasy:
Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander
Green Knowe Books by L. M. Boston
Alice Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
The Boggart, Over Sea Under Stone, etc., by Susan Cooper
The Ear, the Eye and the Arm by Nancy Farmer
Escape of the Giant Hogstalk by Felice Holman
Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones
The Gammage Cup by Carol Kendall
Ronia the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren
Tom's Midnight Garden by Phillipa Pearce
His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
Harry Potter books by Rowling
Holes by Louis Sachar

Middle School Novels:Fifth through Eighth Grade
Some of these would be classified as "Young Adult", some not, but they are all content, rather than adolescent-relationship, oriented. Just a few....

Science Fiction/Fantasy:
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
Westmark series by Lloyd Alexander
The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle
The White Mountains, Tripod Series by John Christopher
The Changes Trilogy: The Devil's Children etc., by Peter Dickinson
Weather Eye by Lesley Howarth
The Walking Stones by Mollie Hunter
The Wizard of Earthsea Trilogy andTehanu by Ursula Le Guin
The House at Nordham Gardens by Penelope Lively
The Last Guru and other Pinkwaters
Lord of the Rings Trilogy by Tolkein

People and Places:
Ganesh by Malcolm Bosse
The Moves Make the Man by Bruce Brooks
Where the Lilies Bloom by Vera and Bill Cleaver
A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas/Ardizzone

Historical Fiction/Adventure:
Prairie Songs by Pam Conrad
The Flight of the Sparrows by Buss and Cubias
Kim by Rudyard Kipling
Valley of the Broken Cherry Trees by Namioka
The Master Puppeteer by Katherine Paterson
A Handful of Time by Kit Pearson
Queen without Crown by Polland
Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman
Frederich by Conrad Richter
The Ramsey Scallop by Frances Temple
Viking's Dawn by Henry Treece
The Emporer's Winding Sheet by Jill Paton Walsh

But How Could You Leave Out?...Books Nominated By Our Readers. Please send us what we missed...

1. Bambi, by Felix Salten
2. The Fairy Caravan, by Beatrix Potter
3. Poor Cecco, by Margery Williams Bianco
4. The Animal Garden, by Ogden Nash
5. Many Moons, by James Thurber; also: The Thirteen Clocks, and, The Wonderful "O" by Thurber.
6. The Arabian Nights (1001 Nights)
7. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norman Juster
8. The Once and Future King by T. H. White
9. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
10. Nonsense Verse, by Edward Lear (including "The Owl and the Pussycat" and "The Jumblies", among others)

Contributors: Joel Eatmon

Also consider select passages from the Bible, like Psalm 23, the entire contents of which are available for free at OnlineBibleTalk.com

Choosing Books for Children

Please respond to the questions below and email us.. We'll send you a list of books for your child to consider, whether they are ones we stock or not. Library summer book clubs, and many teachers, require children to list the books they have read. It's easy then, to look over your child's list as you discuss these questions. (I was an elementary school teacher for many years--Suzanne Price)

Questions for children:

What books have you liked recently? We'll list other related books your child might enjoy.

What books have you had a hard time finishing recently? Why? Don't skip this one; it can provide the most information. Sometimes a book has been at the wrong emotional level or reading skill level; sometimes the tone or subject is one the child dislikes.

What do you like to read stories about? Cats, sports, planes.... This question may lead to ideas; however, many children prefer nonfiction for subject reading! Usually children will tell you that what they like is "a good book." i.e. good writing matters, content doesn't matter as much as one might think.

What kinds of stories do you like? Mystery, adventure, animal fantasy, historical fiction, horse books, etc.....

Questions for adults:

If you're picking a book for the child to read on his or her own, please tell us the child's grade and give us a rough idea of how well the child reads: "Advanced reader in grade three" "Average reader in grade five", "Reads with difficulty in grade six" are the most useful ways to describe your child's reading skill level. If there is a big gap between your child's understanding when reading silently and his/her performance when reading aloud, tell us.

If you will be reading aloud to your children, please list some books you loved as a child and some types of children's books you do not like. Only read books aloud that you personally enjoy!

If you want to be forewarned about "problem situations" please tell us. Many modern books, even ones that are not "problem books," make references to situations which would have been unacceptable in a young child's book 30 years ago.

Thoughts about choosing books for children:

Please don't rush your child to a "Higher Level". A bright child at seven can listen to books written with more complicated syntax and vocabulary, but the books should be on a young child's emotional level: i.e. read "The Jungle Books", not "Kidnapped." What children pick up to read spontaneously is another matter.

Try modern literature as well as "Classics". This century has seen some wonderful books for children, beautifully written and illustrated. Some of these, like Millions of Cats, are considered classics in our time.

Encourage your older child to skim the original versions of classic novels, rather than buying them abridged books. Many books written in the 19th century contain preachy digressions and wordy descriptions which can well be skipped on the first reading. Others contain beautiful passages which are simply too sophisticated for a child. Encourage your child to skim these. If a book is good enough, it will be reread many times.

Resources For Parents:

In choosing recommended books from a published list or "book on children's books", find a writer whose tastes you like, then see what else that author recommends. The same applies when asking your children's librarian and teacher for recommendations. This method works much better than having your child read all the Newbery books or books from other award lists.

We always have the following books in stock. You'll also find a bibliography of interesting material on Children's Literature in the Collector's Corner and in our Booklinks page.

Michele Landsberg's Guide to Children's Books sold in the US as Reading for the Love of It, a treasury of more than 350 great children's books and a beautifully written essay/guide by a Canadian critic who knows her books well and holds passionate convictions about children's literature.

Choosing Books for Children by Betsy Hearne. This book's subtitle is "A Commonsense Guide" and it offers just that, common sense. The author Betsy Hearne, a former editor of BCCB, looks at the whole range of children's books and helps modern parents guide their children's reading.

Jim Trelease's Read Aloud Handbook has excellent advice about bringing children and books together and reading aloud with children. He presents comments on selected books which include clusters of related titles.

Also look at the New York Times Parents' Guide to Best Books for Children.

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