Want to get your kids addicted to reading all summer? Sometimes it just takes finding the right book or series of books. I’ve rounded-up my favorite books, ideas beyond Harry Potter. Many are in a series; many just recently published. These are so good, you’ll want to read them, too.
Addictive Summer Reading Lists
Picture Books
- Jumpy Jack and Googily by Meg Rosoff
- Always Listen to Your Mother by Florence Heide
- Captain Buckleboots and the Naughty Step by Mark Sperring
- ABC Kids by Basher
- You’re Finally Here! by Melanie Watt
K – 2nd grade
- National Geographic Readers
- Zig Zag Kids by Patricia Reilly Giff
- Zapato Power series by Jacqueline Jules
- Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo
- Stink series by Megan McDonald
1st – 3rd grade
- Weird but True! 3 – 300 Outrageous Facts by National Geographic Kids
- Frannie K. Stein series by Jim Benton
- Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
- Frankie Pickle series by Eric Wight
- Mal and Chad: The Biggest, Bestest Time Ever! By Stephen McCranie
3rd – 6th grade
- Nathaniel Fludd Beastologist series by R.L. LaFevers
- Araminta Spookie series by Angie Sage
- The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall
- The Popularity Papers series by Amy Ignatow
- Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
- The Sisters Eight series by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
6th – 9th grade
- Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi
- Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
- Erec Rex series by Kaza Kingsley
- Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
- Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
- The Red Blazer Girls series by Michael Beil
High School
- Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
- Soulless series by Gail Carriger
- Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala
- Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
- The Indigo Notebook by Laura Resau
- Curse Workers by Holly Black
You might consider a summer book club – it’s a fantastic way to get kids motivated to read and, if it’s a mother-daughter book club, a fun way to spend quality time together, for all ages.
Happy reading!
Melissa Taylor writes about education-related topics at her award-winning playful learning blog, Imagination Soup, and for publications such as Scholastic Parent and Child, Babble.com, Colorado Parent Magazine and others. She’s the Book Editor-at-Large for Colorado Parent Magazine, writing their book review blog, Bookmarkable and is a certified teacher with a M.A. in Education.
*Disclosure: All books are linked to Amazon for your convenience. Amazon is an affiliate of M&T.
Thank you so much for this! As my boy is a new reader I’m having trouble keeping up with the right sort of materials for his newly acquired veracious apetite. He is going to LOVE the 1st to 3rd grade list, I know it. Off to the library! Thank you again.
: )
Great lists! Also, for middle grade you should definitely check out Sparrow Road by Sheila O’Connor and The Year We Were Famous by Carol Estby Dagg (based on a true story!) and for YA some of the other great reads from the Class of 2K11 http://www.classof2k11.com/
Stupid Fast (OMG, a great boys’ book! Hopefully mine, The Pull of Gravity, too (written up in this past week’s NY Newsday as a great summer read: http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/books/summer-reads-for-kids-of-all-ages-1.2924969). Anyway, hope you’ll check us all out. :) (all major publishers, btw).
Gae Polisner
The Pull of Gravity
We just finished the Ranger’s Apprentice series (10 books–that will keep them busy for a while) and loved it. Even my husband was hooked. I would say 5th grade and up, but they are also fun to read to the 3-4 graders. Loved these books and the main kids are good kids/role models.
I’m so glad you told me! I’ve been procrastinating on that series.
Holland – thank you for the suggestions! I just finished The Emerald Atlas and loved it so much. Then, hated it because I want the next book now! How can I wait?
I always struggle with finding great books my kids will dive into. Thanks for sharing!
This is an excellent list and so many commenters added great books too! I just placed a huge order at amazon. The kids and I are so excited.
Best series ever is JUNIE B JONES by Barbara Parks. Started my 1st grader reading and we still read for enjoyment (she is in 5th grade).
LOVE LOVE LOVE this list but I would also add (For 3rd – 6th grade):
The Jaguar Stones series by J&P Voelkel 1st Book – Middleworld
Dormia by Jake Halpern & Peter Kujawinski
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
These have been flying off the shelf at our local, independent bookstore.
Also, here were my suggestions for spring book picks for adults and I’d add ‘Heads You Lose’ by Lisa Lutz & David Hayward that I just finished. http://lifesimplifiedforyou.com/2011/04/02/spring-into-reading/
Schweeet! Just what the kiddos need.
The Mysterious Benedict Society series – (High 3rd and up) it even hooked in my 70+ yr old mom
Thanks for the additional suggestions – believe me, I could have kept going! I hope I gave you some new ideas for your kiddos. I’d love to hear more about what your children prefer to read. Anyone reading eBooks yet?
We also love Ivy + Bean books and The “Mallory” books.. also the good ole’ favs: Junie B Jones and Judy Moody! :)
So, SO happy my 7 yo loves to read! Makes me one proud Mamma!
What a great list of books, I can’t wait to get reading. We started reading The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. My son (5) loves them. My daughter (4) listens but doesn’t enjoy them quite as much. It’s a nice jump into chapter books.
Wait till they shred through the chapter books. My eleven year old can read one in an hour. Loving this list looking for new ideas for books. Have been looking at lists for what they should read for college. And I always like looking at Sonlight catalog they always have good readers listed. My son is now an R.L. Stine fan.
don’t forget The Hunger Games for high school!
Oh, YEA! We always look forward to Melissa’s book recommendations…they never disappoint! One of our favorite series is the Good Knight books by Shelley Moore Thomas, a.k.a. “The Story Queen” (and elementary teacher). I can’t wait for summer to settle into these good summer reads! Thank you, thank you!
These look great! Thank you for compiling this list – it’ll make my trip to the book store or library much quicker.