Best Chapter Books For Elementary Students
There is nothing better than getting lost in a book. These chapter books for elementary students are full of adventure and fun and will captivate even the most reluctant of readers.
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I have been asked over and over again for a list of books that my kids like to read. As I thought through books to choose for this list I picked out the best chapter books we have read as a family. This list includes new releases as well as a mix of traditional novels. So many good books are not on this list, but these are our current favorites. Please note the grade reading levels are pretty variable based off of your child’s reading skills. These numbers are just a guide for you as you look for a good book for your child.
Reading out loud to your kids is an incredibly powerful tool to help your child develop imagination, build vocabulary, increase their attention span, develop critical thinking skills, strengthen family bonds and encourage reading literacy (I could go on and on and on). Here is a full article on the power of reading to your kids if you are interested :).
Books make the most perfect, screen free, gift option for loved ones. There is nothing better than getting lost in a good book and I love fostering a love of reading in my kids. Sometimes you can feel lost in a sea of toys and knick knacks after birthdays or Christmas but I don’t think I will ever feel like we have too many books!
All of the books on this list are perfect for read aloud times, whether it is in a classroom, on a road trip, at the dinner table or before bedtime. You may find yourself lost in these books just as much as your kids will be.
If you are short on time here is a recap:
- Best Book Series Overall (as voted for by my 3 children): Puppy Tales
- Favorite Book That Is Also A Movie: Magicians Elephant
- Best Chapter Book For Early Readers: Mercy Watson or Magic Tree House
- Best Read Aloud Book: The Wild Robot
- Best Fantasy Books: Story Thieves or Millie Maven
- Best Historical Fiction Books: Childhood of Famous American Series
- Our Family’s Favorite Series: The One And Only Ivan
Best Chapter Books For Kids
Grade Reading Level: 1-4
Magic Tree House is a beloved series where your child will get to go on adventures with Jack and Annie as their treehouse transports them back in time. These books are perfect for kids just starting to show interest in chapter books. They even have created a graphic novel series for kids who enjoy those more than traditional chapter books!
Grade Reading Level: 3-7
This bestselling book is full of action as a robot learns to live in the wilderness. It is a great book to read to young readers and is an excellent fit for kids more comfortable reading chapter books independently. The Wild Robot was made into a movie in 2024 and is a must see movie (after you have read the book :)). If you child loved this book there are 2 more in the series, The Wild Robot Escapes and The Wild Robot Protects.
Grade Reading Level: 3-7
It is easy to get lost in the magic of this book as orphan Peter Duchene goes on a search to find out if his sister is still living, with the help of an elephant. This charming and heartwarming story is perfect for a bedtime story with younger children or a great book for kids starting to dabble in longer chapter books. There is an adorable movie made based off of this book too.
Grade Reading Level: 3-7
This is a 4 book series that is sure to captivate an adventure seeking child. This is a great introduction to fantasy. These books highlight the importance of family and good morals, and they are is sure to bring along a few laughs too. There are a few parts that may feel scary to younger readers so I would recommend holding off on reading these with your child until at least the age of 8.
Grade Reading Level: 3-7
This heartwarming series includes 5 books that are jammed packed with the sweet adventures of 4 sisters. The chapters are fairly short, capturing the attention of kids who may have a hard time sitting through longer books. These are terrific read alouds for younger children or for independent reading for kids who love to get lost in books.
Grade Reading Level: 2-5
There are over 100 books in this series, and we have yet to read one that has disappointed us. These are great books for young readers who are wanting to start reading chapter books. They document the adventures that 4 sweet siblings go on as they search for a home (and come across a lot of mystery and adventure along the way).
Grade Reading Level: 3-7
This is one of our family’s favorite books right now and is a Newbery Award-winning novel. It is the first book in a series of 4 and is inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla named Ivan. It is told from Ivan’s point of view and will draw you from the first page. It is an excellent book to read to younger children as well. This book has been made into a movie which is a must watch after your child finishes reading the book.
Grade Reading Level: Kindergarten-3
The Mercy Watson series is a great way to introduce your child to reading books that are a little longer than picture books. Mercy Watson is a sweet pig who goes on fun (and some may say silly) adventures. These early reader chapter books contain larger text and fun illustrations making them a great pick for younger children (however my 10 year old loves these books too!). They are a perfect way to introduce the love of reading to your child.
Grade Level: Kindergarten-3
Mack Rhino is a detective who takes readers on fun adventures to try to solve his mysteries. These beginner chapter books are perfect for a young children who are ready to jump into longer books. I love these books for early readers.
Grade Reading Level: 1-4
This series is fun and lighthearted for kids of all ages. The Cul-de-Sac kids are a bunch of neighborhood friends who go on adventures and through their (often very funny) experiences they learn the value of friendship and faith. This is a great, easy bedtime read aloud story.
Grade Reading Level: 4-7
Stewart, a mouse born to a human family, goes on adventures in New York City and brings you along as he searches for his friend Margalo, his beloved bird. This book is perfect for slightly older kids and is a fun read!
Grade Reading Level: 2-6
In this chapter book series each book is a new adventure that your child gets to embark on with main characters, Patrick and Beth who are cousins who journey around the world and back in time. These early chapter books are perfect for budding readers who are looking to start reading chapter books.
Grade Reading Level: 1-4
My son was gifted this series and it has remained a favorite in our home. In these books you get to read about siblings Peter, Mary and their dog as they transport back to key moments in biblical history. As they work to solve the secret of the scrolls they come across adventure and even danger at times. These action packed books are also fabulous read-alouds.
Grade Reading Level: 2-7
These books are ones your child won’t be able to put down and are perfect for kids who are fantasy seekers. Mille Maven, a 12 year old orphan, embarks on adventures that in the end teaches kids that good prevails over evil. There are a few parts that may be a little scary for younger children so I would encourage reading these with your young kids so you can discuss these events. If you have a child that likes faster-paced stories this is a great pick!
Grade Reading Level: 3-7
C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia is a classic book set for kids. As you read these books you will get lost in the fantasy plots, experiencing magical doorways into new lands and battles between good and evil. This set contains books that not only your kids will love, but you may also find yourself immersed in these stories as well.
Grade Reading Level: 2-6
If you have an animal lover in your life, these books are a must. These books are sweet, endearing tales of puppies that all have special purposes. They are fairly easy reads and appeal to a range of readers, however if your child is a young reader they may appreciate reading these with you.
Grade Reading Level: 2-5
This Newberry Award winning book is a great pick for kids of all ages! This silly story of a family of 12 penguins is sure to bring about giggles. If you have little kids this is a perfect book to read to them and your older children will love reading it as well. The chapters are short, keeping the attention of even the squirmiest of kiddos. If your family loves this book there is a sequel you will also enjoy, The Popper Penguin Rescue.
Grade Reading Level: 2-5
This sweet, endearing story of a lost rabbit is one your kids will love. The characters in this book are engaging and many kids may find themselves relating to them as they learn about love and joy. The illustrations are well done and almost a bit “old fashioned” which makes this book even more enchanting. The author, Kate Dicamillo, has so many wonderful children’s books that I would highly recommend.
Grade Reading Level: 3-7
I couldn’t pick between these 3 classic chapter books (Mouse and a Motorcycle, Runaway Ralph and Ralph S. Mouse) so this collection makes the list as a whole! These books are so fun and one my kids couldn’t put down. Ralph is a rascal of a mouse that goes on adventures that are sure to give any kids a giggle. If your child is a reluctant reader these books are sure to captivate them and really turn reading into a full on adventure.
Grade Reading Level: 4-8
This magical adventure of a few animals traveling to Noah’s ark is captivating. The animals encounter mysteries, adventures and some challenges along the way as they learn about faith, friendship and courage. This is the first book in a series of 9 and are a great book for kids who are looking for a more challenging read.
Grade Reading Level: 3-6
This series of books is perfect for kids who love learning about history. As the books uncover the childhood of famous people throughout history, the reader often realizes that these people aren’t much different then themselves, just regular kids. I have linked Babe Ruth in this post, however there are so many great options to choose from in this series from presidents, athletes, influential leaders and major figures in history.
Grade Reading Level: 3-7
The Green Ember is the first in a series of 4 books, all of which are great books for kids. Green Ember is a great book to feed little imaginations and is full of joy. The message is positive and uplifting making it a great read aloud book to younger kids as well.
Grade Reading Level: 3-7
If you have a child with a deep love of fantasy this set of books is a perfect fit! Owen and his classmate, Bethany, take adventures jumping into any book they want and going on adventures one can only dream about. These books are captivating and your child will not be able to put them down. They make great gifts for those hard to buy for kids!
Grade Reading Level: 2-6
These historical fiction books are jammed packed with adventure, peril and bravery. These books are ones that my children don’t want to put down, it’s as if they get lost in the story when reading them. These books do cover some intense stories in history so if you have a child who may be more prone to being scared when reading books I’d recommend reading them with your child so you can have dialogue about the plot.
Grade Reading Level: 3-7
This book by Roald Dahl is a classic children’s book. It is easy to read and engaging for even the most reluctant reader. It takes your imagination on a wild ride and independent readers will get lost in the pages. The movie Wonka is a perfect pairing to this book (my kids love watching moves based off of books they have read!).
Grade Reading Level: 3-7
In this #1 New York Times bestseller series your child will be whisked away into the fairy tales they heard growing up. This is a series of 6 books, all of which have their own adventures packed into them. These books are full of fantasy and are perfect for higher level readers.
Happy Reading!
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