Reading with your child is a great way to increase her interest in books and create a bonding experience. But sadly, 250 million children aren’t learning basic reading skills, and today’s International Literacy Day is shining a light on the issue. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, reading aloud daily to children helps build language acquisition and literacy skills. With every passing paragraph, you connect with your child through new worlds, crazy characters, and shocking plot twists. When they start to progress from picture books to more complex stories, the themes found in literature become even more vital to your kids’ personal development. To ensure an amazing time during your readings, choose books that entertain both you and your child; when both reader and listener are fully engaged, the valuable lessons found in literature become much more captivating! Here are the very best chapter books to read as your kids grow.
- Holes
The story of Stanley Yelnats and his experiences at Camp Green Lake will make you laugh, cry, and ponder the concept of destiny with your child.
Appropriate For Ages: 10+
Click to Buy: Holes ($7)
2. Charlotte’s Web
The cast of beloved farm animals in this children’s novel makes for a wonderful read.
Appropriate For Ages: 8+
Click to Buy: Charlotte’s Web ($8)
3. The Secret Garden
You and your kids won’t want to put down this tale about an enchanted garden getaway.
Appropriate For Ages: 7+
Click to Buy: The Secret Garden ($5, or hardcover classic for $25)
4. James and the Giant Peach
This story about a boy traveling the world in a large fruit will make Roald Dahl’s novels a family favorite.
Appropriate For Ages: 6+
Click to Buy: James and the Giant Peach ($7)
5. The Giver
Use this gripping novel to spark conversations with your child about truth, destiny, and the value of history.
Appropriate For Ages: 10+
Click to Buy: The Giver ($9)
6. The Harry Potter Series
The adventures of a boy wizard and his beloved friends will have you as enchanted as your little ones.
Appropriate For Ages: 9+
Click to Buy: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone ($11)
7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
This classic tale of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory will have your kids on the edge of their seats.
Appropriate For Ages: 8+
Click to Buy: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ($7)
8. Because of Winn-Dixie
As Opal (the protagonist of this tale) and her adopted dog learn more about her family history, your kids will fall in love with this touching novel.
Appropriate For Ages: 8+
Click to Buy: Because of Winn-Dixie ($7)
9. A Series of Unfortunate Events
The dark humor and fantastical plot of Lemony Snicket’s series will have your kids hooked from page one.
Appropriate For Ages: 11+
Click to Buy: The Bad Beginning ($7)
10. Little House in the Big Woods
Transport your kids into pioneering times with this novel about a loving family.
Appropriate For Ages: 8+
Click to Buy: Little House in the Big Woods ($9)
11. Matilda
Your kids won’t feel alone in their love of reading once they hear about Matilda, the bookworm with a uniquely superhuman ability.
Appropriate For Ages: 7+
Click to Buy: Matilda ($7)
12. The Boxcar Children
Your little one will love hearing about four siblings living in an abandoned train car, and you’ll enjoy the nostalgia of reading this classic childhood favorite.
Appropriate For Ages: 6+
Click to Buy: The Boxcar Children ($6)
13. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
A trip to your favorite museum would be a great accompaniment to this story about siblings living in the Met.
Appropriate For Ages: 8+
Click to Buy: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler ($10)
14. The Phantom Tollbooth
Creative characters and a fun authorial voice are only a few of the reasons why this children’s book is simply magnificent.
Appropriate For Ages: 8+
Click to Buy: The Phantom Tollbooth ($7)
15. Pippi Longstocking
Teach your child to embrace their quirks by enjoying this novel about a zany girl named Pippi.
Appropriate For Ages: 7+
Click to Buy: Pippi Longstocking ($7)
16. Where the Sidewalk Ends
While this collection of poems is not a chapter book, Shel Silverstein’s lessons are relevant to readers of any age.
Appropriate For Ages: 4+
Click to Buy: Where the Sidewalk Ends ($19)
17. Bridge to Terabithia
This heartwarming novel is an excellent way to explore the concept of loss and grief with your children. Don’t be surprised if they (or you!) shed a few tears.
Appropriate For Ages: 8+
Click to Buy: Bridge to Terabithia ($7)
18. The Magician’s Nephew
The first in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series, this novel is written in a way that will captivate you from start to finish.
Appropriate For Ages: 9+
Click to Buy: The Magician’s Nephew ($4)
19. The Magic Treehouse Series
These novels, starting with Dinosaurs Before Dark, make history a fun adventure!
Appropriate For Ages: 6+
Click to Buy: Dinosaurs Before Dark ($5)
20. A Wrinkle in Time
This science-fantasy novel has been a children’s literary favorite since the 1960s, and once you read it you’ll know why.
Appropriate For Ages: 11+
Click to Buy: A Wrinkle in Time ($7)
POPSUGAR has joined Thrive Global in celebration of Screen-Free Week, May 1–7, 2017. Check out our Digital Detox Challenge and inspiration for offline activities like this post.
Originally published at medium.com