Best Classic Children's Chapter Books

Billy, a poor kid from the Ozarks, saves up enough to buy himself two hunting dogs. Together this team becomes legendary for their hunting skills, forming a strong bond in the process. When the team encounters a sad accident, Billy is forced to face loss for the first time in his short life, but emerges from his despair stronger than before.

Erika Roh... said:  C.S. Lewis chronicles the adventures of 4 siblings when they stumble upon a magical wardrobe that transports them into the fantasy world of Narnia. There they meet many different creatures, talking animals, witches, etc and soon realize Narnia is world built on good versus evil. The kids must help their new friends, even in an all out battle. Just a warning, there is violence in this book and some main characters are affected by it. This is a wonderful fantasy book for kids that combines action and magic but still is appropriate for children.

Erika Roh... said:  One of the all-time best classic children's chapter books ever written is a lovely story about friendship, loyalty and love. Fern is a little girl who saves a runt pig, Wilbur, and he befriends a spider named Charlotte. Charlotte realizes that Wilbur is going to be put up for slaughter so she devises a plan to save his life. The relationships that are built between the barnyard animals are truly special and mimic our friendships as well.

Erika Roh... said:  L.M. Montgomery's heartwarming and funny tale about a fiery little red-headed girl named Anne. She is an orphan and sent to live with a family, not knowing they were looking for a boy! With her charming and witty personality and escapades, she wins their hearts and she finds the home she has always wanted. With Anne's vivid imagination and personality, any child will find joy in reading this book.

Vanessa M. said:  Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell is based on the true story of a Native American girl named Karana as she survives for 18 years alone on an island, battling wild dogs and struggling to survive. As Karana faces hardships, a quiet strength grows within her - a strength that continues to inspire readers today.

Lisa R said:  No author better captures the feeling of being a child lost in a world of arbitrary and ridiculous adult rules than Roald Dahl. The imaginative and often slightly naughty heroes in his many classic chapter books for kids consistently captivate readers with their mind bending adventures. In "James and the Giant Peach," a young orphan escapes his lonely life by setting off on a journey inside of an enchanted peach. Along the way, he meets a host of magical creatures, makes new friends, and finds the home he always wanted.

Vanessa M. said:  Laura Ingalls Wilder has a way of bringing pioneer life alive through her vividly descriptive life stories in these classic children's chapter books. Laura, along with her sisters and parents, brave the harsh and oftentimes dangerous wilds of America in the 1870s. Readers can almost taste Ma's fresh, homemade biscuits and hear Pa playing one of Laura's favorite songs on his fiddle in the beloved Little House series.

Vanessa M. said:  Generations have adored The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The story follows 10-year-old Mary Lennox as she falls under the care of her uncle in England after losing both her parents to sickness. The book is full of mystery, as Mary tries to find the source of strange sounds in the old mansion and finds a key to a secret garden that has been locked away for years.

Erika Roh... said:  Mark Twain's American classic is a must-read for its literary accolades and history. This is a story of the spirited Huckleberry Finn, who escapes his abusive father and joins up with a runaway slave on an adventure down the Mississippi River, where they learn a lot about one another and develop an unconventional friendship. A good book for teens, who are better poised to grasp it as a commentary on social issues and racism.

Erika Roh... said:  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle is an iconic book that blends together science, imagination, creativity and adventure. It follows the time travel experiences of a pair of siblings into another world where they have to battle good vs evil and also discover the fate of their missing physicist father. This is a great book to empower young children to explore math and science and for anyone to get inspired by a strong female character.

Vanessa M. said:  E.B. White's The Trumpet of the Swan is a classic children's book that will draw young readers in. Louis is a little swan who was born without a voice. With the help of his human friend, Sam Beaver, Louis learns a new way to communicate!

Vanessa M. said:  Generations of children have fallen in love with Astrid Lindgren's red-haired, freckle faced Pippi Longstocking, with her upside down braids and her wild sense of adventure. Readers will delight in Pippi's adventures with her friends and her unusual pets, a horse and monkey. The classic 80s family movie is a fun pick for movie night!

christadiserio said:  Roald Dahl's Matilda is a classic book read by millions of children everywhere. It's about a very bright young girl with special abilities who was born to some very disengaged parents. They send Matilda to a school run by a horrible principal who cannot stand children. Matilda never imagined the outcome this school would provide for her, like meeting an incredible teacher who ultimately shows Matilda a new world she never knew existed.

Vanessa M. said:  Stuart Little was celebrated author E.B. White's first children's book, and has stood the test of time among readers of all ages. Follow tiny Stuart Little, the mouse born into a human family, through all his difficulties and triumphs. The adorable illustrations scattered throughout the book's pages bring Stuart Little to life.

Vanessa M. said:  Ramona has been a favorite of children since the 1950s! The first book in the series by renowned author Beverly Cleary focuses on the relationship between loud, spunky 4-year-old Ramona and her older, more mature sister, Beezus. Ramona and Beezus is charming and relatable, and today's parents will enjoy sharing Ramona's antics with their own children.

Vanessa M. said:  A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett is one of those classic children's chapter books that never goes out of style. Young Sara Crewe lives a happy life at her boarding school set in turn of the century England until word comes that her father has died in India, leaving her penniless. Sara finds herself living in the school's drafty attic, working as a maid. Her positive, determined, and imaginative outlook keeps her "a little princess" no matter what she faces.

Erika Roh... said:  Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel about adventure, pirates, and treasure has lived on for many generations and has not lost its excitement. When young Jim Hawkins finds a treasure map, he embarks on a brave adventure to find the treasure but he has to battle with the deceased pirates' shipmates to do so, specifically the charming and iconic Long John Silver. The writing style and prose might prove a bit challenging. However, Treasure Island is a fun fantasy full of pirates, money and the will to become extraordinary and should not be missed.

Lisa R said:  Based on a true story, Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry has captivated young horse lovers for decades. The novel tells the story of the annual wild pony roundup and auction in Chincoteague, Virginia that still occurs to this day. In the book, two young children dream of buying a special pony at the auction, but will they be able to earn enough money to cover the cost? Kids who are particularly taken by Henry's book can enjoy the sequels, too.

Kelly R. said:  A creative children's classic that stands the test of time, a girl and her younger brother run away from home to live in Manhattan's Metropolitan Museum of Art and become swept up in solving a mystery.

Erika Roh... said:  This is a great book for animal lovers and anyone who enjoys an adventure tale. This beloved story by Sheila Burnford is about two dogs and a cat that are forced to set off on a long adventure through the Canadian wilderness to get back home. This is a tale of love and the incredible bonds we have with our pets.

Erika Roh... said:  Enid Bagnold's classic is a beautiful story of a girl staying true to her dreams and defying the odds of her age and ability. Velvet Brown is a scrawny 14 year old girl who has big hopes of becoming a great equestrian and racing at the Grand National competition. Despite the lack of support from her dad (and her quirky family), she manages to train a fiery horse and pursue her dreams.

Erika Roh... said:  Bridge to Terabithia is a beautiful book about friendship, imagination and loss that many kids can relate to. Katherine Paterson tells the story of two unlikely friends who find themselves outcasts at school and at home. They create a safe haven in the imaginary world of "Terabithia" in their backyards, where they spend a lot of their time. This story takes a sad turn, but offers opportunities for meaningful conversations with your child about friendship and loss.

Shila said:  Four orphaned siblings make an abandoned boxcar their home in these classic mystery books, originally created in 1942, by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Everywhere this family goes, there's another mystery to solve. Young readers remain impressed at how well these amateur sleuths work to solve clues on their own, with little to no adult supervision.

Erika Roh... said:  This is the first book of a series by Walter Farley that follows the adventures of a very special horse. The iconic book starts off when a boy, Alec Ramsay, happens upon a wild horse named Black during a shipwreck and they are forced to find safety on a nearby deserted island. Their struggle to survive creates a special bond and when rescuers arrive, Alec insists that Black come with them when they set sail for Alec's home in America, where the two continue their adventures together.

Erika Roh... said:  This book by Anna Sewell is a classic set in 19th Century England and is told by the perspective of a horse, Black Beauty. It follows the horse through various owners and experiences, good and bad and sometimes violent. Black Beauty teaches the lessons of perseverance, positivity and hard work. Historically, it actually helped change the laws in England and brought awareness to animal cruelty. This book is definitely emotional, especially for an animal lover.

Alexandra F. said:  As a longtime fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic Lord of the Rings trilogy, I've tried introducing this shorter prelude to my children a couple of times - it finally stuck this year, and they loved it! The story follows Bilbo Baggins on his unexpected adventure to recover stolen treasure from an evil and greedy dragon. Though the story is fairly straightforward, the writing is more complex and difficult than what you'll find in most children's stories, so it makes an especially great book for middle schoolers.

Kelly R. said:  The Littles series is about a family of tiny mouse-like people who live inside the walls of a house. There's enough action and peril to keep it exciting, but not scary, for younger readers. We find these to be great classic chapter books for 2nd graders who are still getting comfortable reading longer books independently. I just wish all of the books in the series were easier to find!

Kelly R. said:  This classic trilogy is a wonderful first chapter book to read aloud to your kids during the preschool or early elementary years. The stories follow the adventures of a resourceful young boy who rescues a flying baby dragon.

Vanessa M. said:  Although I was an avid reader as a child, somehow I skipped reading the classic Dr. Dolittle, first published in 1920. I am reading it now with my kids, and we are all charmed and enchanted by it! Dr. Dolittle is an animal-lover and a gifted physician who speaks to animals. High adventures follow as he is called to Africa to care for sick monkeys.

Kelly R. said:  The Enormous Egg is a fun book to share with your kids if you enjoyed reading it yourself as a child. A large egg mysteriously appears in a chicken's nest, and hatches into a dinosaur!