Reader Mailbag: Book Recommendations for Younger Readers
In the August 2025 newsletter we asked readers for suggestions of books for younger readers.
Here were their responses:
Chris: Hi Graeme, awhile back, after reading about the Enid Blyton books in one of your newsletters, I found and read a few and loved them. That I enjoyed a book written for children as an adult just affirmed what I’ve always believed: a well-written book for young people can appeal to any age. I agree that times change and kids today may not appreciate what earlier generations liked. That said, some kids, probably girls, would still get a lot out of the Anne of Green Gables books by L.M. Montgomery, from the age of 10 and up. And, I was happy that my granddaughter, like my daughter, adored the Bunnicula series (The Celery stalks at Midnight, etc.) by James Howe. Either gender from ages 8-12 would probably also like them. And, last but not least, boys or girls ages 10 and up, would probably enjoy the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. If an adult is looking for good children’s books, these are all worth checking out, in my opinion.
Christine: I would recommend the tried and true, Nancy Drew books for ages 8-10. It still holds up to this day.
Kenicia: For early readers, 1st grade, I would recommend Frances the Badger books by Lillian Hoban. The Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and Snipp, Snapp, Snurr books by Maj Lindman are great too.
For beginning chapter readers, I recommend the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park. The Herbie Jones series by Suzy Kline is also good.
For readers who are just becoming proficient and independent, I highly recommend Beverly Cleary–any series. I also enjoyed Noel Streatfeild’s books, Sydney Taylor’s All-of-a-Kind Family series, and Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking books (specifically Pippi in the South Seas.)
I have always loved reading, so it’s hard to limit my answers. The more I think about childhood favorites, the more I want to recommend.
AJ: I just gave my grandkids (10 and 12) books from the Dear America series that I had given to their dad and aunt. I love stories with history but from a kid’s point of view. My grandson (10) absolutely LOVES the Nathan Hale series of historical-based graphic novels. My favorites as a kid included Watership Down – but haven’t reread it in years so not sure how the story holds up, and the Nancy Drew series.
Gladys: Books for younger readers:
Ages 4 – 6 (depending on reader skills)
Sandra Boynton books – any, easy to read because the words describe the picture
Cynthia Rylant – Henry and Mudge series
Crosby Bonsall – The Day I Had to Play with My Sister, etc.
Dr. Seuss – The Cat in the Hat, etc.
Mo Willems – any, ALL, There Is a Bird on Your Head
There’s a whole series of I Can Read books, but to me they are mostly boring.
Next Step Up
Peggy Parish – Amelia Bedelia books
Viorst, Judith – Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Shaw, Nancy – Sheep in a Jeep
Numeroff, Laura – If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Wood, Audrey – The Napping House
Cronin, Doreen – Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type, also Duck for President
1st/2nd grade level
Gertrude Warner – The Boxcar Children – NOT the chapter books because they have re-written and watered down the story and it’s not good; try to find an old one from the 50’s or 60’s
Beverly Cleary – all the Henry Huggins books
Dodie Smith – 101 Dalmatians – the Disney version of this is actually pretty good; the original book is 4th – 5th grade level
3rd and 4th grade level
Andre Norton – Red Hart Magic, Lavender Green Magic
Travers, P L – Mary Poppins (look for original, not the Disney version)
Mary Norton – The Borrowers
J M Barrie – Peter Pan (look for original)
Don’t be quick to go to Harry Potter; stall as long as you can. There are many, many references in there that younger children will miss, and so that makes it less enjoyable.
Many states put out book lists of recommended reading, that have newer books on them. My state is Florida, so we get the Sunshine State Readers list every year; the books on those lists are generally good, and sometimes excellent.
LInda: Of course times change, so I bet my idea of great books is outdated. I loved Boxcar Children, Enid Blyton, Laura Ingalls, and Marquerite Henry. Now into the future, the Harry Potter books are a hit. There are a lot of YA authors out there for teens and I have even read them. The days of the sweet story lines are gone. Our youth on the most part want more adult reading. They grow up too fast. They are too much into their phones and computers. As a grandma, I am sad that the joy of reading is lost on so many children now.
Pam: I would suggest books for younger readers, wait, I wasn’t going to list any, but my brain said, oh yes, you need to mention a few so here I go back to the list.
Beverly Cleary (the Quimby family and Henry Huggins),
Robert McCloskey’ Homer Price,
Jim Kjelgaard whose books I dearly loved. I just bought Fire Hunter, one of my favorites a few years ago in paperback just to have it on the shelf. Wouldn’t try to read it, since I’m pretty sure it would fall apart. Just checked my Kindle for his books and discovered that his books like so many others have writers following in his footsteps continuing the series long after the original writer has passed, I think I’m gong to get the sequel to Fire Hunter by David Drake since I just found it. I’ve been doing that with Doc Savage and Tarzan since I found they have been continued by other writers.
L Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz books – read all of them back in the day.
Sewell’s Black Beauty
Walter Farley’s The Black Stallion series
Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague, King of the Wind, Justin Morgan Had a Horse, Brighty of the Grand Canyon, Born to Trot, Black Gold and so many more.
I stumbled across Tui T. Sutherland’s The Dragonet Prophecy a couple of months ago – I think it was in a reading challenge title. Both graphic novel and an audible book.
Many fondly remember Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys – those are great, but my young female detective book was the Trixie Belden series the first six written by Julie Cambell and then by various other writers in the publisher’s employ. (I didn’t know that and don’t care because I probably started reading them when I was ten or so since they were readily available at our Duckwalls. Just checked and, of course, there they are available from Amazon.
Must stop listing now. One book reminds me of others, so I must climb back out of the rabbit hole and get some things done that are sitting patiently or not so patiently for a little attention.
Hollins: It is hard to remember precisely when I read these books, but I know before I started 7th grade, I was reading several of the following series.
1) The Hardy Boys
2) Doctor Dolittle
3) Freddy the Pig
I also remember reading various western cowboy fiction, but cannot remember the names of the books or authors. I do remember a substitute teacher in the third grade prohibiting me from checking one of these books out from the school library because she thought it was too advanced for me. Grrr!
Bruce: Back in the 50’s when I was in the elementary grades (I’m obviously not a youngster now!), I developed my interest in reading by reading a series of books on animals (mostly dogs) and the outdoors written by Jim Kjelgaard. He became my first in a long line of favorite authors. He wrote at least 45 children’s books, but unfortunately passed away at the young age of 48 years. His books would be most appropriate for children ages 9 – 13 years of age. Because his books were written in the 40’s and 50’s, they might not be readily available in some libraries, but I was surprised to see that our local library system lists five of them that are available. His most popular book was “Big Red.”
Scott: I would wholeheartedly recommend that youths aged 8-14 read the Hardy Boys series. These were the books that got me started when I received some for my ninth birthday almost seventy years ago. Read them all way back when. I eventually inherited a few of them that are now a hundred years old!
Harry Potter is great too!
Julie Erin: Depending on age from 4 to 5 to second to third grade Maybe even Beyond I still like them LOL turn 65 into but she’s adorable my favorites are the Junie B Jones books as well as the classics like Beverly Cleary. The local librarians are the best resources and I highly recommend all their resources like hoopla and get a good supply of used books around town at garage sales because kids books are always getting passed around and sold. My daughter born in 1993 at a huge library and we still went to the library every week at least. If your child isn’t interested in books by the ages 3 to four, it doesn’t bode well for their future I honestly think that but just my opinion.
Deborah: The Perry Mason series by Erle Stanley Gardner. I don’t remember how old I was when I started reading them but I’m pretty sure it was before I turned ten (prior to 1983). They’re good for any age really. They are clean mysteries that aren’t filled with gore. Those books, and later the shows, got me hooked on mysteries.
I started reading the Perry Mason series because the library limited the number of books we could check out. Mom got her books (almost always Perry Mason) and I’d get mine. I’d finish reading mine before mom was ready to return the books so I’d read hers. She had to be careful what she got because of that LOL.
Toni: I have 2 sons. The oldest was a huge reader. He loved the Charlie Bone series written by Jenny Nimmo, Suzanne Collin’s Gregor the Overlander (Hunger Games author). He read Hunger Games when he got older. The Maze Runner series by James Dashner, Pendragon by DJ MacHale, Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan and many more. As a high schooler, he read Eragon by Christopher Paolini, who he still reads today. My younger son never liked reading but he did love nonfiction books and would read about Vikings, Flags, and Castles. As an adult, he read Dune. So really, it’s a matter of finding what subjects inspire them to read. As a child, I read anything about dogs or horses.
Stacie: My favorite childhood book The Lions Paw by Robb White was read to my 6th grade class by our teacher Mrs. Paige. I remember being thrilled with the book and its characters. I even went to Barnes and Noble to have them order one, so that I could read it myself back in 2008 and then forwarded it to my grandson for reading. I’m thinking this book is for children 7 and up. I’m not sure I related to the story because it’s set by and in the Ocean, which is my favorite place or the children that are strong and capable. I reread it in my 50’s. Still enjoyed the characters and plot.
Max: For young readers, I highly recommend Richard Adam’s great novel, “Watership Down.” It is both thrilling and inspirational!
And if they enjoy that one, Adam’s second novel, “The Plague Dogs,” is just as good.
Caryn: I suggest the engaging, timeless stories of the bond between horses and children by Walter Farley: The Black Stallion series, and Marguerite Henry: Misty of Chincoteague, Born To Trot, King of the Wind, and many others. Most of these books are so popular they have been reprinted over and over for decades.
I adored these stories, especially Misty of Chincoteague which I reread every July for many of my childhood years.
Jenny: Books I would recommend to youngsters – some are from my generation, some from my kids*, and some from my grandkids**. I could have listed hundreds so with difficulty I narrowed it down. Jenny from Ohio
picture books and young readers
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Where the Wild Things Are
The Snowy Day
Paddle to the Sea
*Little Rabbit Books by Alan Baker
*Goodnight Gorilla
*If you Give a Mouse a Cookie
**All Along the River
**The Magnificent Thing
Chapter books and older readers
The Phantom Tollbooth
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Hobbit
Homecoming
The Endless Steppe
*Chasing Vermeer
*Mysterious Benedict Society
*Gregor the Overlander
*Inkheart
Joanne: As a retired school librarian, I have quite a few titles for this category. And yes, some do not transition over the years as well as others. But these were favorites. Grade level 1-2.
Cynthia Rylant has three excellent series: Mr. Putter and Tabby, Henry and Mudge, and Poppleton. Each series has multiple books.
Barbara Park’s series Junie B Jones. She’s a pistol
Kate DiCamillo has a series about a pig named Mercy Watson who loves buttered toast
David Adler. Cam Jansen series
Osborne, Mary Pope. Magic Tree House. Might be more suitable for 2-3 grade.
just a few titles.
Phillip: Suggested reading for the man whose son is learning to read. Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. It’s a children’s classic! And he wrote many other books for kids.
I was just thinking about Enid Blyton yesterday. I was wondering if I could possible find one, just to see how they were 75 years later. I loved her books when I was a kid.
I feel they stand up very well. Absolutely love going through the adventures of George, Timmy, Julian etc again. There’s something so quaint about it too but the mysteries and stories themselves are really fun
I remember reading and enjoying an older series of books by Willard Price eg Elephant Adventure, they are set in Africa written I think in the 70’s. Not sure if they wrre aimed at girls but I enjoyed them.I have been looking for them but not been able to find any. Iassume they are out of print.
Amazon seems to have second hand collections available for them