Updated 5-1-2013 recommended books The following list contains books that are categorized by developmental age level as well as genre. The “developmental age” refers to the appropriateness of both content and reading level for that age. The book titles included here have been compiled from various other lists. Inclusion on this list does not mean that NACD has reviewed and endorsed the content of a particular book. Parents must determine the appropriateness of content of any book for their individual child. You and your child can choose books both for shared reading (you read a page to them, they read a page to you) and for independent reading. For independent reading, be sure to choose a book that does not have challenging vocabulary—something they can move through quickly and enjoy. For more challenging content, consider shared reading or providing audio books that they can read along with as they listen. Age groups: • Primary—includes Pre-K through 2nd grade • Elementary—includes 3rd-5th grade • Tween—includes 5th-8th grade • Young Adult—includes 7th-12th grade + When determining which age group your child fits into, consider not only age, grade, and reading level, but also developmental level and maturity. There will sometimes be crossover between categories, especially for older “Elementary” and younger “Tween.” Within the age groups, this list organizes books into the following genres: • Picture Books • Classic Fiction • Contemporary Fiction • Biographies • Hi-Lo (high interest, low reading level) (Note: This is for low level readers who are older and therefore need a more mature content than the beginning readers.) • Graphic Novels Please note that this is a dynamic list. We will update the list periodically. © 2013 NACD - The National Association for Child Development • 549 25th Street, Ogden UT 84401 • 801.621.8606 • www.nacd.org 1 table of contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 Table of Contents .................................................................................................................. 2 Primary ................................................................................................................................... 3 Picture Books-Classic Children’s Literature ................................................................. 3 Picture Books—Contemporary ................................................................................... 6 Elementary .......................................................................................................................... 10 Picture Books ............................................................................................................ 10 Classic Fiction ........................................................................................................... 11 Contemporary Fiction ............................................................................................... 13 Biographies ............................................................................................................... 15 Graphic Novels ......................................................................................................... 17 Tween .................................................................................................................................. 19 Classic Fiction ........................................................................................................... 19 Contemporary Fiction ............................................................................................... 23 Biographies ............................................................................................................... 26 Graphic Novels ......................................................................................................... 28 Hi-Lo (for reluctant readers) ...................................................................................... 30 Young Adult ......................................................................................................................... 34 Classic Fiction ........................................................................................................... 34 Contemporary Fiction ............................................................................................... 37 Biographies ............................................................................................................... 41 Graphic Novels ......................................................................................................... 44 Hi-Lo (for reluctant readers) ...................................................................................... 47 © 2013 NACD - The National Association for Child Development • 549 25th Street, Ogden UT 84401 • 801.621.8606 • www.nacd.org 2 primary Picture Books-Classic Children’s Literature Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst Amelia Bedelia, by Peggy Parish, ill. by Fritz Siebel Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock, by Eric Kimmel, ill. by Janet Stevens Andy and the Lion, by James Daugherty Bark, George, by Jules Feiffer A Bear Called Paddington, by Michael Bond The Biggest Bear, by Lund Ward Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss A Chair for My Mother, by Vera B. Williams Chicken Sunday, by Patricia Polacco Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, by Judy Barrett, ill. by Ron Barrett Color Zoo, by Lois Ehlert Corduroy, by Don Freeman Curious George, by Margaret Rey, H.A. Rey Doctor De Soto, by William Steig Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, by Eileen Christelow Frog and Toad Are Friends, by Arnold Lobel George and Martha, by James Marshall Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley Good Night, Gorilla, by Peggy Rathmann Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise, ill. by Clement Hurd Harold and the Purple Crayon, Crockett Johnson Horton Hears a Who, by Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr. Seuss © 2013 NACD - The National Association for Child Development • 549 25th Street, Ogden UT 84401 • 801.621.8606 • www.nacd.org 3 primary Picture Books-Classic Children’s Literature (cont.) If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, by Laura Numeroff, ill. by Felicia Bond Jumanji, by Chris Van Allsburg Library Lil, Suzanne Williams, ill. by Steven Kellogg Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik The Little Engine That Could, Watty Piper The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, by Linda Williams, ill. by Megan Lloyd Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, Bernard Waber Madeline, Ludwig Bemelmans Make Way for Ducklings, Robert McCloskey Martha Speaks, by Susan Meddaugh Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, by Virginia Lee Burton Millions of Cats, by Wanda Gag Miss Nelson is Missing, by Harry Alard, ill. by James Marshall Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney Mouse Tales, by Arnold Lobel The Napping House, by Audrey Wood, ill. by Don Wood Nate the Great, by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, ill. by Marc Simont Officer Buckle and Gloria, by Peggy Rathmann Pat the Bunny, by Dorothy Kunhardt Peace at Last, by Jill Murphy Piggie Pie, Margie Palatini, ill. by Howard Fine Pinkerton, Behave, by Steven Kellogg The Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Jon Scieszka, ill. by Lane Smith © 2013 NACD - The National Association for Child Development • 549 25th Street, Ogden UT 84401 • 801.621.8606 • www.nacd.org 4 primary Picture Books-Classic Children’s Literature (cont.) The Story About Ping, Marjorie Flack The Story of Ferdinand, Munro Leaf Strega Nona, by Tomie DePaola Swimmy, by Leo Lionni Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, by William Steig The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter, David McPhail The Talking Eggs, by Robert D. San Souci, ill. by Jerry Pinkney There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, by Sims Taback Tikki Tikki Tembo, by Arlene Mosel Tops & Bottoms, by Janet Stevens The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, by Jon Scieszka Tuesday, by David Wiesner The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen, ill. by Helen Oxenbury The Wheels on the Bus, by Paul Zelinsky Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak Why Mosquitos Buzz in People’s Ears, by Verna Aardema, ill. by Leo Dillon and Diane Dillon Yo! Yes? By Chris Raschka © 2013 NACD - The National Association for Child Development • 549 25th Street, Ogden UT 84401 • 801.621.8606 • www.nacd.org 5 primary Picture Books—Contemporary The Adventures of Spider, by Joyce Cooper Arkhurst & Jerry Pinkney Bailey, by Harry Bliss A Ball for Daisy, by Chris Raschka A Balloon for Isabel, by Deborah Underwood, ill. by Laura Rankin Banana! By Ed Vere Because, by Richard Torrey Bear’s Loose Tooth, Karma Wilson, ill. by Jane Chapman and Margaret K. McElderry Being a Pig is Nice, by Sally Lloyd-Jones, ill. by Dan Krall Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake, by Michael B. Kaplan, ill. by Stephane Jorisch The Birthday Pet, by Ellen Javernick, ill. by Kevin O’Malley Blackout, by John Rocco Blue Chicken, by Deborah Freedman Boo to You! by Lois Ehlert Born Yesterday: The Diary of a Young Journalist, by James Solheim, ill. by Simon James Bubba and Beau series by Kathi Appelt City Dog, Country Frog, by Mo Willems, ill. by Jon J. Muth Cloudette,