Book List for Older Elem and Jr. High readers

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Book list for older elementary readers

I am somewhat of a children's book connoisseur. I love them, I collect good ones. I read them because I love them. Here is a book list for kids in later elementary years. I think some may be good in second grade too, but usually third to sixth grades, or maybe a bit into Jr. High/Middle School too. I will try to note if it is fantasy with magical creatures or magic as I know some to be opposed to this for their own good reasons. I am not really putting classics on here, but there are many good ones. If you have some books you love and think I should add please comment!!!

Books by Avi, such as the Poppy Series. This is a very good author and she holds the attention of kids.

Cornelia Funke is a good author and we have enjoyed Igraine the Brave. She has other good books too, but not the gory ones like Ghost Busters, not appropriate by my standards.

Kate DiCamillo is an awesome author with books like Because of Wynn Dixie, The Journey of Edward Tulane and The Tale of Desperoux.

Roald Dahl is the wonderful author of Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Enormous Alligator, etc... Great books.

The Indian in the Cupboard
Julie of the Wolves
The Cay
How to Eat Fried Worms
Island of the Blue Dophins
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Dr. Doolittle

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull
I also LOVE his Fablehaven series, it is fantasy with magical creatures, but no magic for people. I think he is the BEST NEW AUTHOR.

The Hall Family Chronicles by Jane Langton

Spiderwick books are great. The second series after Spiderwick are not so great. Again this is fantasy with fantastical creatures and magic of sorts, but no magic for people.

Fires of Merlin books by T.A. Barron. Mytical magical but in a mythological way, you know Merlin.

The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper, again this is magical and the boy does find that he has some magical powers. Nothing like Harry Potter.


Harry Potter series by JK Rowlins, I LOVE these books and so does my oldest, but there is magic in here used by people.

Lowthers Blade series by RL LaFevers, wonderful fantasy books without magic for people.

Peter and the Starcatchers series by Dave Barry. Great books taking off from Peter Pan and in the same vein but more grown up and not at all Disneyfied.

Robert Newton Peck has written a fabulous and funny series of books about a boy named Soup, a girl named Trig and another boy named Banjo. Younger readers. May be out of print.

The Three Investigators mystery series for kids by Alfred Hitchcock. I think they are great mysteries. Out of print.

Some other books I love that may be out of print are the All-of-a-kind Family books. I loved those as a kid and still think they are great. A bit slow for my kids but good none the less.

Of course CS Lewis' Narnia series is a hit for all sorts of ages and is a classic now.
Also the Lord of the Ring series by Lewis' friend JR Tolkien are superb for older kids.

The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud,  fantasy, but not people magic.

Redwall books by Brian Jaques

Books by Jane Yolen are great. Again, magic in the vein of Merlin not Potter.

The Edge Chronicles by Chris Riddell, Paul Stewart, fantasy, but not people magic.

Land of Elyon series by Patrick Carman  fantasy like Narnia

Books by Lloyd Alexander

The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Penderwicks By Jeanne Birdsall

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Cooper

Mistmantle Chronicles by MI McAllister

Wilderking Trilogy is a wonderful book series by Jonathan Rodgers. (a tale of David set in another world and time) He is a really captivating author.

Ok, if you have others that you or your kids love, please comment!