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The Kids Need to Read Official Book List

It's oddly terrifying for me to consider the years during my childhood before I discovered reading. The world was a duller place, less ALIVE. The transformation happened when a gifted teacher knew which story to give me. To this day, I can't explain why discovering fantasy novels made me come to life, but I changed in a few brief months from a mediocre student to top of my class. All because of a book. Perhaps it was because I'd discovered something to care about, something that was ME. Novels aren't just happy escapes; they are slivers of people's souls, nailed to the pages, dripping ink from veins of wood pulp. Reading the right one at the right time can make all the difference.
Brandon Sanderson, Alcatraz and the Evil Librarians Series

Gray Griffins     PJ Richelle    KK James Mali

(Pictured above: authors J.S. Lewis and Derek Benz; KNTR volunteer with author PJ Haarsma; KNTR volunteers with author James A. Owen)


Categories: FictionNonfictionGraphic NovelsMagazines

Fiction

Preschoolers (Ages 0-4)
Ferri, Francesca Peek-A-Boo
Foley, Greg Thank You Bear
Foley, Greg Don't Worry Bear
Foley, Greg Good Luck Bear
Katz, Karen Where is Baby's Belly Button?
McGhee, Allison Someday
McGhee, Allison Little Boy
Portis, Antoinette Not A Box
Portis, Antoinette Not A Stick
Ringgold, Faith Cassie’s Word Quilt
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro First the Egg
Children (Ages 5-7)
Choi, Yangsook The Name Jar
Dewdney, Anna Llama Llama Red Pajama
French, Jackie Diary of a Wombat
Gall, Chris Dinotrux
Harris, Robie H. Maybe A Bear Ate It!
Jeffers, Oliver Lost and Found
Johnson, Angela A Sweet Smell of Roses
Johnson, Angela Lily Brown's Paintings
Kirk, Daniel Library Mouse
Levine, Ellen Henry's Freedom Box
McKissack, Patricia C. Goin’ Someplace Special
McKissack, Patricia C. & Cabrera, Cozbi A. Stitchin' and Pullin': A Gee's Bend Quilt
Morris, Jackie The Snow Leopard
Morris, Jackie Tell Me a Dragon
Muth, Jon J Zen Series (2 books)
Zen Shorts
Zen Ties
Otoshi, Kathryn One
Rodman, Mary Ann My Best Friend
Troiano, Joe The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin
Weatherford, Carole Boston Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins
Willems, Mo Elephant and Piggie Series (11 books)
My Friend is Sad
Today I will Fly!
I Am Invited to a Party!
There Is a Bird on Your Head!
I Love My New Toy!
I Will Surprise My Friend!
Are You Ready to Play Outside?
Watch Me Throw the Ball!
Elephants Cannot Dance!
Pigs Make Me Sneeze!
I Am Going!
Woodson, Jacqueline Coming on Home Soon
Middle Readers (Ages 8-9)
Barnes, Derrick D. Ruby and the Booker Boys Series (4 books)
Brand New School, Brave New Ruby
Trivia Queen, 3rd Grade Supreme
Slumber Party Payback
Ruby Flips for Attention
Benton, Jim Dear Dumb Diary Series (9 books)
Let's Pretend This Never Happened
My Pants are Haunted
Am I the Princess or the Frog?
Never do Anything, Ever
Can Adults Become Human?
The Problem with Here is that it's Where I'm From
Never Underestimate Your Dumbness
It's Not My Fault I Know Everything
That’s What Friends Aren’t For
Codell, Esme Raji Sahara Special
Draper, Sharon M. Sassy Series (3 books)*
Sassy: Little Sister Is NOT My Name!
Sassy: The Birthday Storm
Sassy: The Silver Secret
Flake, Sharon G. The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street
Goldberg, Whoopi Sugar Plum Ballerinas Series (3 books)
Plum Fantastic
Toeshoe Trouble
Perfectly Prima
Johnson, Angela Just Like Josh Gibson
Kinney, Jeff Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series (5 books)*
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Novel in Cartoons
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
McNamee, Graham Nothing Wrong with a Three-Legged Dog
Richardson, Charisse K. & Nelson, Kadir The Real Slam Dunk
Robinet, Harriet Gillem Walking to the Bus-Rider Blues
Various authors Actionopolis Series (7 books)*
Beechen, Adam & Hipp, Dan What I did on my Hypergalactic Interstellar Summer Vacation
Hart, J.J. & Meugniot, Will Zombie Monkey Monster Jamboree
Long, Christopher E., & Geiger, Michael Blackfoot Braves Society: Spirit Totem
Mishkin, Dan & Mandrake, Tom The Forest King: Woodlark’s Shadow
Reed, Gary & Hoberg, Rick Spirit of the Samurai: Of Swords and Rings
Worley, Rob M. & Dubisch, Mike Heir to Fire: Gila Flats
Zick, Bruce The Anubis Tapestry: Between Twilights
Weatherford, Carole Boston Birmingham, 1963
Weatherford, Carole Boston Racing Against the Odds: The Story of Wendell Scott, Stock Car Racing's African-American Champion
Williams, Mary Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan
Woodson, Jacqueline Show Way
Middle Readers (Ages 10-12)
Beddor, Frank The Looking Glass Wars Series (3 books)
The Looking Glass Wars
Seeing Redd
ArchEnemy
Benz, Derek & Lewis, J.S. Grey Griffins Series (3 books)*
The Revenge of the Shadow King
The Rise of the Black Wolf
The Fall of the Templar
Curtis, Christopher Paul Bud, Not Buddy
Curtis, Christopher Paul Elijah of Buxton
Draper, Sharon M. Out of My Mind
Forester, Victoria The Girl Who Could Fly
Frazier, Sundee T. Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in It*
Gantos, Jack Joey Pigza Series (4 books)
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
Joey Pigza Loses Control
What Would Joey Do?
I Am Not Joey Pigza
Grimes, Nikki The Road to Paris
Haarsma, PJ The Softwire Series (4 books)*
The Softwire: Virus on Orbis 1
The Softwire: Betrayal on Orbis 2
The Softwire: Wormhole Pirates on Orbis 3
The Softwire: Awakening on Orbis 4
Jimenez, Francisco The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child
Johnson, Angela A Cool Moonlight
Johnson, Angela Bird
Kingsley, Kaza Erec Rex Series (3 books)*
Erec Rex: The Dragon’s Eye
Erec Rex: The Monsters of Otherness
Erec Rex: The Search for Truth
Landy, Derek Skulduggery Pleasant Series (2 books)*
Skulduggery Pleasant
Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing with Fire
Lorey, Dean Nightmare Academy Series (2 books)*
Nightmare Academy: Monster Hunters
Nightmare Academy: Monster Madness
MacHale, D. J. Pendragon Series (10 books)*
Pendragon Series: The Merchant of Death
Pendragon Series: The Lost City of Faar
Pendragon Series: The Never War
Pendragon Series: The Reality Bug
Pendragon Series: Black Water
Pendragon Series: The Rivers of Zadaa
Pendragon Series: The Quillan Games
Pendragon Series: The Pilgrims of Rayne
Pendragon Series: Raven Rise
Pendragon Series: The Soldiers of Halla
Resau, Laura Red Glass
Rex, Adam The True Meaning of Smekday
Ryan, Pam Munoz Esperanza Rising
Sanderson, Brandon Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians Series (3 books)*
Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians
Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones
Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia
Selznick, Brian The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Stead, Rebecca When You Reach Me
Stewart, Trenton Lee The Mysterious Benedict Society Series (3 books)
The Mysterious Benedict Society
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma
Woodson, Jacqueline Locomotion Series (2 books)
Locomotion
Peace, Locomotion
Woodson, Jacqueline Feathers
Yee, Lisa Millicent Min, Girl Genius
Yee, Lisa Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time
Teens (Ages 13+)
Alexie, Sherman The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Contains Mature Content)
Brande, Robin Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature
Brande, Robin Fat Cat
Clement-Davies, David Fire Bringer
Curtis, Christopher Paul Bucking the Sarge
Davis, Tanita A la Carte
Draper, Sharon M. Copper Sun
Draper, Sharon M. Fire from the Rock
Draper, Sharon M. The Battle of Jericho Series (3 books) (Contains Mature Content)
The Battle of Jericho
November Blues
Just Another Hero
Flake, Sharon G. The Skin I’m In
Flake, Sharon G. Money Hungry Series (2 books)
Money Hungry
Begging For Change
Friesner, Esther Nobody’s Princess
Friesner, Esther Nobody’s Prize
Galante, Cecilia The Patron Saint of Butterflies
Grimes, Nikki Bronx Masquerade
Grimes, Nikki Dark Sons
Hale, Shannon Book of a Thousand Days
Johnson, Angela The First Part Last (Contains Mature Content)
Kluger, Steve My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins & Fenway Park
Leveen, Tom Party (Contains Mature Content)*
McKinley, Robin Dragonhaven
McMann, Lisa Wake Series (3 books) (Contains Mature Content)
Wake
Fade
Gone
Myers, Walter Dean Harlem Summer
Owen, James A. The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica Series (4 books)
Here, There be Dragons
The Search for the Red Dragon
The Indigo King
The Shadow Dragons
Pike, Aprilynne Wings Series (2 books)
Wings
Spells
Rallison, Janette My Double Life*
Shulman, Polly Enthusiasm

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Nonfiction

Children (Ages 5-7)
Barretta, Gene Now and Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin*
Bolden, Tonya The Champ: The Story of Muhammad Ali
Coles, Robert The Story of Ruby Bridges
Editors of Time for Kids with Skelton, Renee Harriet Tubman: A Woman of Courage
Edwards, Roberta Who Was Leonardo da Vinci?
Giovanni, Nikki Rosa
Grimes, Nikki Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope
Holub, Joan Vincent Van Gogh: Sunflowers and Swirly Stars
Hughes, Langston and Smith Jr., Charles R. My People
Napoli, Donna Jo & Nelson, Kadir Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya
Rodriguez, Rachel Victoria Through Georgia's Eyes
Middle Readers (Ages 8-9)
Colbert, David Michelle Obama: An American Story
Grimes, Nikki Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman
Grogan, John Marley: A Dog Like No Other*
Hausfater, Rachel The Little Boy Star: An Allegory of the Holocaust*
Shange, Ntozake Coretta Scott
Shange, Ntozake Ellington Was Not a Street 
Weatherford, Carole Boston Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane
Weatherford, Carole Boston I, Matthew Henson: Polar Explorer
Weatherford, Carole Boston Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive
Weatherford, Carole Boston Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
Winter, Jeanette The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq
Wolfe, Gillian Look! Art Series (2 books)
Look! Drawing the Line in Art
Look! Seeing the Light in Art
Middle Readers (Ages 10-12)
Bolden, Tonya M.L.K.: Journey of a King
Bolden, Tonya Tell All the Children Our Story: Memories and Mementos of Being Young and Black in America
Clements, Gillian The Picture History Series (3 books)
The Picture History of Great Inventors
The Picture History of Great Buildings
The Picture History of Great Explorers
Medina, Tony Love to Langston
Morrison, Toni Remember: The Journey to School Integration
Mortenson, Greg & Relin, David Oliver Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World... One Child at a Time
Pinkney, Andrea Davis Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters
Reit, Seymour Behind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy
Robinson, Anthony ; Young, Annemarie & Allan, June Mohammed’s Journey
Rockwell, Anne Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth
Smith Jr., Charles R. Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali
Smith Jr., Charles R. Hoop Kings: Poems
Smith Jr., Charles R. Hoop Queens: Poems
Smith Jr., Charles R. Perfect Harmony: A Musical Journey with the Boys Choir of Harlem
Zullo, Mara Bovsun Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust
Teens (Ages 13+)
Gantos, Jack Hole in My Life (Contains Mature Content)
Houston, Jeanne Wakatsuki & Houston, James D. Farewell to Manzanar
Jiang, Ji-li Red Scarf Girl: a Memoir of the Cultural Revolution
Myers, Walter Dean Bad Boy*
Perl, Lila & Lazan, Marion Blumenthal Four Perfect Pebbles: A Holocaust Story
Pfetzer, Mark & Galvin, Jack Within Reach: My Everest Story

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Graphic Novels

Children (Ages 5-7)
Cammuso, Frank Knights of the Lunch Table Series (2 books)*
Knights of the Lunch Table: The Dodgeball Chronicles
Knights of the Lunch Table: The Dragon Players
Holm¸ Jennifer L. & Holm, Matthew Babymouse Series (12 books)*
Babymouse: Queen of the World!
Babymouse: Our Hero
Babymouse: Beach Babe
Babymouse: Rock Star
Babymouse: Heartbreaker
Camp Babymouse
Babymouse: Skater Girl
Babymouse: Puppy Love
Babymouse: Monster Mash
Babymouse: The Musical
Babymouse: Dragonslayer
Babymouse: Burns Rubber
Morse, Scott Magic Pickle Series (5 books)*
Magic Pickle
Magic Pickle vs. the Egg Poacher
Magic Pickle and the Planet of the Grapes
Magic Pickle and the Creature from the Black Legume
Magic Pickle and the Garden of Evil
Steinberg, D. J. The Adventures of Daniel Boom AKA Loud Boy Series (3 books)*
The Adventures of Daniel Boom AKA Loud Boy: Sound Off!
The Adventures of Daniel Boom AKA Loud Boy: Mac Attack!
The Adventures of Daniel Boom AKA Loud Boy: Game On!
Trine, Greg Melvin Beederman, Superhero Series (7 books)*
Melvin Beederman, Superhero: The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich
Melvin Beederman, Superhero: The Revenge of the McNasty Brothers
Melvin Beederman, Superhero: The Grateful Fred
Melvin Beederman, Superhero: Terror in Tights
Melvin Beederman, Superhero: The Fake Cape Caper
Melvin Beederman, Superhero: Attack of the Valley Girls
Melvin Beederman, Superhero: Brotherhood of the Traveling Underpants
Middle Readers (Ages 8-9)
Kruse, Jason T. The World of Quest Series, Volumes 1-2 (2 books)*
Smith, Jeff Bone Series (9 books)*
Bone: Out from Boneville
Bone: The Great Cow Race
Bone: Eyes of the Storm
Bone: The Dragonslayer
Bone: Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border
Bone: Old Man’s Cave
Bone: Ghost Circles
Bone: Treasure Hunters
Bone: Crown of Horns
Middle Readers (Ages 10-12)
Kibuishi, Kazu Amulet Series (2 books)*
Amulet: The Stonekeeper
Amulet: The Stonekeeper’s Curse
Teens (Ages 13+)
Castellucci, Cecil & Rugg, Jim The Plain Janes Series (2 books)*
The Plain Janes
Janes in Love
Gaiman, Neil Coraline*
Hale, Shannon; Hale, Dean & Hale, Nathan Rapunzel's Revenge*
Hale, Shannon; Hale, Dean & Hale, Nathan Calamity Jack*
Hatori, Bisco Ouran High School Host Club Series, Volumes 1-13 (13 books)*
Satrapi, Marjane Persepolis Series (2 books) (Contains Mature Content)*
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return
Schreiber, Ellen Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives, Volumes 1-3 (3 books)*
Tan, Shaun The Arrival*
Various authors All-Action Classics Series (2 books)*
Stoker, Bram All-Action Classics: Dracula
Twain, Mark All-Action Classics: Tom Sawyer
Yang, Gene Luen American Born Chinese*

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Magazines

Highlights High Five*
Highlights*

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*Excellent for Reluctant Readers

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Kids Need to Read Official Book List