Mercy Watson to the Rescue
Kate DiCamillo; illustrated by Chris Van Dusen · 2005
Mercy, a pig who loves hot buttered toast, accidentally saves the day when her owners' bed starts falling through the floor.
Books by topic
Chapter Books
Chapter books bridge the gap between early readers and full-length middle-grade novels. Chapters are short, illustrations are frequent, and characters often return across a series — which helps children predict, follow and finish a whole book on their own.
Series are especially useful at this stage. Once a child knows the characters and the shape of the story, more of their attention is free for the reading itself.
- Picture Books
- Early Readers
- Chapter Books
- Middle Grade
- Graphic Novels
- Nonfiction & Biography
- Science & Nature
- History & Biography
- Fantasy & Imagination
- Diverse Books
- Feelings & Social-Emotional Learning
- Classroom Favorites
- Teen Reading
8 books
Sorted from youngest suggested age. Age ranges are editorial estimates.
Clementine
Sara Pennypacker; illustrated by Marla Frazee · 2006
Third-grader Clementine has a hard week at school and at home, but her inventive mind keeps getting her in — and out of — trouble.
Dinosaurs Before Dark
Mary Pope Osborne; illustrated by Sal Murdocca · 1992
Siblings Jack and Annie discover a magic tree house full of books that transports them to the time of the dinosaurs.
Ivy and Bean
Annie Barrows; illustrated by Sophie Blackall · 2006
Two girls who expect not to like each other become best friends after Ivy helps Bean hide from her sister.
My Father's Dragon
Ruth Stiles Gannett; illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Gannett · 1948
Elmer Elevator sneaks onto Wild Island to rescue a young dragon, outwitting animals with the supplies in his knapsack.
The Stories Julian Tells
Ann Cameron; illustrated by Ann Strugnell · 1981
Julian, his little brother Huey, and their father in a collection of linked stories about family life and Julian's imagination.
Ways to Make Sunshine
Renée Watson; illustrated by Nina Mata · 2020
Ryan Hart tries to stay positive through a move and her family's changing circumstances, finding ways to "make sunshine" for herself and others.
Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
Bonnie Bader; illustrated by Elizabeth Wolf · 2007
A short illustrated biography in the "Who Was" series covering King's life and the civil rights movement.
Related guides
Books for Ages 6 to 8: From Picture Books to Early Readers and Chapter Books
How children move from picture books to early readers and first chapter books, how to spot a good beginning reader, and how to keep reading aloud.
Helping Reluctant Readers: What to Try When a Child Says They Hate Reading
How to tell 'won't' from 'can't', use choice, graphic novels, humor and series, lower the pressure, and know when to ask the school about a reading evaluation.