Chapter books tell the story primarily through prose rather than pictures. They help build a strong foundation for literacy by increasing a child's attention span for longer stories and strengthening vocabulary and comprehension. These books introduce widely-loved narratives, unforgettable characters, and important life lessons, all while boosting children's reading comprehension skills.

Mrs. Asmus recommends reading The miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo.

Ms. Kennedy recommends reading Wish by Barbara O'Conner.

Sra. Williams recommends reading Dreamers by Yuri Morales.

Ms. Hopkins recommends reading Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

by Kate DiCamillo

The adventures of an elegant china rabbit named Edward.

Wish by Barbara O'Conner

A girl who, with the help of a true-blue friend, a big-hearted aunt and uncle, and the dog of her dreams, unexpectedly learns the true meaning of family in the least likely of places.

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

A celebration of making your home with the things you always carry: your resilience, your dreams, your hopes and history.

*also has a Spanish edition!

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Billy has long dreamt of owning not one, but two, dogs. So when he’s finally able to save up enough money for two pups to call his own—Old Dan and Little Ann—he’s ecstatic. It doesn’t matter that times are tough; together they’ll roam the hills of the Ozarks.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Is eternal life a blessing or a curse? That is what young Winnie Foster must decide when she discovers a spring on her family's property whose waters grant immortality.

*Recommended by Ms. Kennedy

The New Kid by Jerry Craft

A 12-year-old boy, Jordan Banks, experiences culture shock when he enrolls at a private school.

Stargazing by Jen Wang

Stargazing tells the unlikely friendship story of elementary schoolers Christine and Moon.

Inside Out & Back by Thanhha Lai

For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope.

Recommended by Ms. Parsons

Donovan's Word Jar by Monalisa Degross

Donovan loves words so much he keeps them on slips of paper in a jar. When he sees a new word, he drops it in his jar.

Restart by Gordon Korman

A boy who's been a bully and hanging out with the wrong friends gets a new start after a memory-loss-inducing accident.

*Recommended by Mrs. Hoban

Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks

Joe and Ravi don't think they have anything in common — but soon enough they have a common enemy (the biggest bully in their class) and a common mission: to take control of their lives over the course of a single crazy week.

The Lemonade War (series) by Jacqueline Davies

The story of an exciting summer spent by a loving but competitive pair of siblings, Evan and Jessie Tresk.

Ruby in the Sky by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo

When twelve-year-old Ruby Moon Hayes and her mother move to Vermont, Ruby's goal is to stay as silent and invisible as a new moon in the frozen sky.

A Boy Called Bat (series) by Elana K. Arnold

A third-grader tries to convince his veterinarian mom to let him keep the baby skunk she brings home.

Bee the Change! by James Preller

With the help of Connor and Deon, Kym and Lizzie set out to show their school the beauty of bees, and use their powers of persuasion to make a difference in the world.

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

A moving story of the extraordinary friendship between a boy and his fox, and their epic journey to be reunited.

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Explores how one little girl overcomes language barriers, discrimination, and her own lack of confidence to find her voice – and use it to make a difference.

Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech

Louie doesn't have the best luck when it comes to nurturing small animals - not even lightning bugs, worms or goldfish. So when his father brings home a sickly newborn little donkey, he's determined to save him.

Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead

It’s been five years since Livy and her family have visited Livy’s grandmother in Australia. Now that she’s back, Livy has the feeling she’s forgotten something really, really important about Gran’s house.

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

A 10-year-old Muslim girl named Samar and her parents move into a house in a suburban neighborhood, hoping for a new life.

Nikki On The Line by Barbara Carroll Roberts

Nikki wants to be a basketball star . . . but between school stress, friend drama, and babysitting woes, will she be able to make it on her new team?

Cog by Greg van Eekhout

Cog looks like a normal twelve-year-old boy. But his name is short for “cognitive development,” and he was built to learn. But after an accident leaves him damaged, Cog wakes up in an unknown lab—and Gina, the scientist who created and cared for him, is nowhere to be found.

Ungifted (series) by Gorman Korman

Donovan Curtis, a troublemaker that gets wrapped up in a major prank gone wrong. Due to an accident caused by the superintendent, Donovan gets sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction; a school for gifted and talented students.

Speechless by Jennifer Mook-Sang

Joe Alton Miles would rather be playing video games with his best friend P.B, if it were not for a speech competition.

Lifeboat by Susan Hood

13-year old Ken is sent with a group of children from London to Canada during World War 2 to escape the war.