Best Books for 6, 7 and 8 Year Olds: Early Chapter Books and Funny Series
Books for children learning to read on their own: early chapter books, funny series, comics and classic animal tales. Every book here is in the Tori catalog, and each line says why it fits.
Playful and funny reads
1992Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly BusBarbara Park
Children’s Books · LightKindergartener Junie B. is not sure about riding the bus to school.
2005Mercy Watson to the RescueKate DiCamilloChildren’s Books · LightA pig who loves buttered toast saves the day when the bed falls through the floor.
- 1963Amelia BedeliaPeggy ParishChildren’s Books · Light
A housekeeper does everything exactly as she is told, and chaos follows.
2007Diary of a Wimpy KidJeff KinneyChildren’s Books · LightGreg Heffley records middle-school life in a journal full of doodles.
1997Captain UnderpantsDav PilkeyChildren’s Books · LightTwo pranksters hypnotize their principal into a superhero in his underwear.
2016Dog ManDav PilkeyChildren’s Books · LightA police officer with a dog’s head fights crime in a comic-book adventure.
1970Fantastic Mr FoxRoald DahlChildren’s Books · LightMr Fox outwits three mean farmers who are determined to catch him.
1978The Enormous CrocodileRoald DahlChildren’s Books · LightA greedy crocodile tries one trick after another to catch children for lunch.
1964Flat StanleyJeff BrownChildren’s Books · LightAfter a bulletin board falls on him, Stanley is only half an inch thick.
1972Nate the GreatMarjorie Weinman SharmatChildren’s Books · LightA pancake-loving detective solves a case of a missing picture.
2014Dragon Masters: Rise of the Earth DragonTracey WestChildren’s Books · HopefulA boy is called to the king’s castle to train an earth dragon.
2010Press HereHerve TulletChildren’s Books · LightPress the yellow dot, shake the book, and the dots change on the page.
1992The Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before DarkMary Pope OsborneChildren’s Books · LightJack and Annie climb into a tree house and land in the age of dinosaurs.
2003The Tale of DespereauxKate DiCamilloChildren’s Books · HopefulA tiny, brave mouse sets out to rescue a princess.
Calm, cozy and heartfelt reads
1972Frog and Toad TogetherArnold LobelChildren’s Books · WarmFive new stories of two friends and their gardens, cookies and courage.
- 1987Henry and Mudge: The First BookCynthia RylantChildren’s Books · Warm
A lonely boy and his enormous dog become best friends.
1942The Boxcar ChildrenGertrude Chandler WarnerChildren’s Books · WarmFour orphans make a home in an abandoned boxcar in the woods.
1968Ramona the PestBeverly ClearyChildren’s Books · WarmRamona starts kindergarten full of big ideas and sometimes gets into trouble.
