Booklists for Kids: Longer/Middle Grade Chapter Books
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I focus a little more on the chapter books/book series, because I’ve found it’s helpful to have recommendations for books that your kid is going to read independently. When my kids were very young and we’d go to the library to pick books, I could flip through picture books quickly to see if I liked them. However, once you get into chapter books, they are obviously longer and that’s not an option. I often read a couple pages to get the feel for it, but once your kid’s reading starts to take off, you probably won’t get the chance to pre-read any of the books.
So, I’ve listed some series that I have either read with the kids, or the kids have enjoyed solo. Or, a lot of times, I’ve started reading a book in the series to the kids, and then they finish the book or start the next book on their own. Which is actually a great way to get your kid into a book they may not think they’d like.
This page focuses on Longer/Middle Grade Chapter Books, but take a look at my Picture Books, Early Reader, Short Chapter Books, and Magazine pages.
Below the list, I included a link to the same book list in my Bookshop.org shop. Every purchase at Bookshop.org directly supports independent bookstores, which I think is pretty cool!
Longer/Middle Grade Chapter Books
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner: We read so many of these books, first together, then my kids read them on their own. These are sort of between early chapter books and longer ones.
The Wild Robot books by Peter Brown
The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters by Kara LaReau: These books are hilarious. Wish they made more!
Encyclopedia Brown books by Donald J. Sobol
The Math Kids books by David Cole. Entertaining mysteries, and some pretty cool math. In third grade, my kid was into the Fibonacci sequence and factorials thanks to these books.
Unicorn Rescue Society series by Adam Gidwitz and others: these are fantastic books. So funny, and teach kids about other places to broaden their world.
Wayside School and other books by Louis Sachar: I read these as a kid and they still make me laugh.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and other Fudge books by Judy Blume
Ramona books, Henry Huggins books, Ralph Mouse books, all by Beverly Cleary
Tank & Fizz books by Liam O’Donnell
Harry Potter books: can’t tell you how many times my kids have read and reread these books. Also, the illustrated books are beautiful and lovely to read together.
A Series of Unfortunate Events books by Lemony Snicket
The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
Mac B., Kid Spy series and Terrible Two series, both by Mac Barnett
I Funny: A Middle School Story books by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
Mr. Lemoncello’s Library books and Welcome to Wonderland books by Chris Grabenstein
Books by Stuart Gibbs: Charlie Thorne series, Spy School series (my kids especially loved these), Fun Jungle series, and Moon Base Alpha series.
The Academy books by T.Z. Layton: especially good for soccer lovers.
Roald Dahl books.
Emily Windsnap books by Liz Kessler.
Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer, and spinoff series The Fowl Twins.
City Spies books by James Ponti. This author also has other series we’ve enjoyed: Sherlock Society and Framed!
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. A classic for a reason; such a creative book filled with wordplay.
I Survived books by Lauren Tarshis. These are historical fiction books about terrifying events like the Titanic sinking, Pearl Harbor, Hurricane Katrina, etc. It might be good to have conversations with you kids before/during/after reading these books, especially if they are younger or more sensitive.
Gordon Korman has so many books my kids liked: The Unteachables, Unplugged, Restart, Ungifted, Snoop, Slacker, the Masterminds series, Slugfest, etc.
Nicola Berry books by Liane Moriarty
You can also view this Longer/Middle Grade Chapter Books booklist on my Bookshop.org page here.