If there’s one thing I’ll happily buy my kid over and over again, it’s books. Toys get forgotten. Random little gadgets mysteriously disappear. But a good book? Somehow those are the things we keep coming back to.
Elementary school is such a fun age for reading because kids are starting to develop their own opinions about what they actually like. Some want funny books. Some want adventure. Some want mysteries, animals, graphic novels, or stories that make them laugh until they’re reading the same page three times.
If you’re looking for books to add to your child’s bookshelf, classroom library, birthday gift, or summer reading pile, I put together some of my favorite types of books to look for. These are the kinds of books that can make reading feel less like homework and more like something kids actually want to do.
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Funny Books Kids Actually Want to Read
Let’s be real. Sometimes the easiest way to get a kid interested in reading is to give them something that makes them laugh. Funny books are especially great for elementary school kids because they don’t feel quite as much like “reading practice.” They’re just fun. And once a child finds a series or author they love, you might suddenly find yourself ordering book number six because they finished the first five way too quickly.
My son's recommended list:
Books like the above mentioned are popular for a reason. They have silly characters, funny situations, illustrations, and plenty of action to keep kids turning the pages.
I also love funny books for reluctant readers. If your child isn’t exactly begging to curl up with a chapter book, don’t force it. Start with something they think is hilarious. A kid who wants to find out what happens next is a kid who wants to keep reading.
Adventure and Fantasy Books
For the kid who would rather be fighting dragons, solving mysteries, or exploring a completely different world, adventure and fantasy books are where it’s at.
Elementary school is a great time to introduce kids to longer stories with bigger plots. They can start following characters from one book to the next and get completely invested in what happens to them. There’s something pretty special about watching a child get excited about a fictional character.
My son's recommended list:
- The Magic Tree House
- Dragon Masters
- Press Start!
- The Wild Robot (SUPER cute movie too!)
- So...We Accidentally Saved The World
My favorite thing about adventure books is that they can turn reading into an escape. Maybe your kid has had a long day at school. Maybe they’re bored on a rainy afternoon. Give them a book about a magical world or a wild adventure, and suddenly they’re somewhere completely different. I think adults could use that trick sometimes too.
Books That Help Kids Grow
Not every book needs to be silly or adventurous. Some of the best books for elementary school kids are the ones that help them understand themselves and the people around them.
Stories about friendship, kindness, confidence, family, emotions, and growing up can give kids a way to talk about things they might not know how to explain themselves. Sometimes it’s easier for a child to say, “That character felt left out,” than to say, “I felt left out today.”
My son's recommended list:
I also like having a mix of books on the shelf. A few that make them laugh. A few that challenge them. A few that are comforting. A few that they’ve read so many times they practically have the story memorized.
The goal doesn’t have to be building the world’s most impressive bookshelf. It’s simply helping your child find books they genuinely enjoy.
Let Them Pick Their Own Books
One of the best things you can do is let your child have a say in what they read.
I know it can be tempting to choose books based on reading level, educational value, or what we think they “should” be reading. Those things have their place. But if your kid wants to read a graphic novel about superheroes for the tenth time, I say let them. Reading is still reading.
Take them to the library and let them wander around. Give them a budget at the bookstore. Let them pick a book because they like the cover. Let them grab something that looks completely ridiculous. You never know which one will become their new favorite.
I’ve found that kids are much more likely to read when they feel like the choice is theirs. And once they discover a book or series they love, you can use that as a starting point for introducing them to something similar.
Building a Bookshelf They’ll Actually Use
You don’t need hundreds of books to create a great little home library. A small collection of books your child actually enjoys is so much better than a giant shelf of books they never touch.
I like having a mix of independent reading books, books that are a little above their current level for reading together, funny books, nonfiction, graphic novels, and old favorites. It gives them options depending on their mood.
And don’t underestimate rereading. Kids love repetition, and there’s nothing wrong with reading the same favorite book over and over again. Eventually, they might start reading it to you. That’s one of those little parenting moments I wish I could bottle up.
Whether your elementary schooler is already a bookworm or you’re still trying to convince them that reading can actually be fun, start with their interests. Dinosaurs, sports, magic, animals, mysteries, jokes, superheroes, whatever gets them excited.
The perfect book is the one that makes your kid say, “Can I read one more chapter?” And if that turns into staying up five extra minutes because they’re too invested in the story to stop, well... I’m not saying I’d encourage it. But I’m not saying I wouldn’t either ;)
