Children’s Books: Top Ten Chapter Books (Ages 7-9)
Unlike picture books for younger readers, a chapter book tells the story more through the use of prose than through illustrations. Unlike books for older readers, chapter books typically contain a varied number of pictures, but also more words than a standard picture book. The name refers to the fact that the stories are often divided into short chapters. This gives children the opportunity to stop and then continue reading if there is a break or their attention span is not enough to finish the book in one sitting. Chapter books are typically works of fiction, but extend into nonfiction as well. Page numbers vary, but are longer than the typical 32-page picture book.
From the Confused Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, EL Königsburg: Claudia lives a typical life in the suburbs, but she despises him. She doesn’t feel like her parents really appreciate her for who she is or could be. She dreams of going somewhere impressive and elegant. She ultimately chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art and drags her younger brother Jamie along. Living in the museum, they are drawn into a mystery surrounding a statue that was possibly created by Michelangelo. In her quest to discover more about the sculpture, Claudia meets the incredible Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler: the woman who first delivered the statue to the museum. Through this experience, Claudia discovers more about the statue, but, much more important, she learns more about herself.
The Phantom Toll, Norton Juster: One day, a listless boy named Milo is given a magical tollbooth, through which he decides to drive his toy car. The tollbooth then transports him to the Wisdom Realm, where he has many fantastic adventures, including a quest to rescue two princesses, Princess Rhyme and Princess Reason. The author includes lots of puns and funny idioms (for example, Milo literally jumps to the Island of Conclusions) that add a double layer of entertainment for readers.
Sarah, simple and tall, Patricia MacLachlan: A quiet farmer, a widower with two children, Anna and Caleb, advertises for a wife. When Sarah arrives, she is homesick for Maine. The children fear she won’t stay, and when she leaves for town alone, young Caleb, whose mother died in childbirth, fears she is gone forever. But he returns with crayons to illustrate the beauty of Maine and explain that although she misses home, she will miss them more. The short story gently explores themes of abandonment, loss, and love.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl: Charlie lives in the poorest part of the city with his mother and both grandparents. His town is one of those where you’re always surprised wondering why he hasn’t already collapsed. Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory rises above the town. It looks like it has absolutely no staff running it, but it still produces loads of the most tempting chocolate candies. One day there is an announcement that buried in several chocolate bars will be a golden ticket. This ticket will allow the lucky recipient to enter Wonka’s Factory. Inside the factory, one finds the strangest cast of characters and wacky inventions, all witnessed by modern man. This is one of the favourites.
holes, Luis Sacar: Stanley Yelnat’s great-great-grandfather was cursed, leaving his grandson, Stanley, with the worst luck imaginable. After being wrongly accused of a crime, he is sent to Camp Green Lake, a correctional facility. In this facility for the sick, under the watchful eye of a brutal warden, children are forced to dig holes in the ground under the blazing sun all day. Finally, the boys realize that the warden is looking for something specific. As the plot unfolds, three different subplots intertwine as Stanley tries to figure out what the warden is so desperately looking for and why he wants it so badly.
Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinolli: Jeffery Magee’s parents are killed on a trolley bus when a drunk driver collides with them. At just three years old, Jeffery is sent to live with his strict Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan, who seem to be always arguing about something, even the child. When Jeffery is old enough, he runs away. Finally, he finds himself some two hundred miles away in a town that is divided according to race and color. It is here that he earns the nickname Maniac and you will soon find out why. His physical prowess are legendary and he hasn’t built ugly racial lines.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney: Suddenly, Greg learns the dangers of high school, where short wimps share the halls with kids who are taller, nastier, and already shaving. His mom makes him start keeping a journal, and she does so despite her misgivings.
Greg is a conflicted soul: he wants to do the right thing, but the budding drive for status and girls seems to be unduly tempting. He wants to be a winner in the popularity race (where he thinks he’s ranked 52 or 53), but there’s always an obstacle that trips him up. Readers cheer for Greg because he is vulnerable and identify with his struggles, even though he doesn’t realize his enormous weaknesses.
The Children in the Wagon, Gertrude Warner: This book was written decades ago, but its story has stood the test of time. It’s amazing how many, now adults, tell how this book turned them into avid readers. And they have passed the series on to their own children. The story is about four children who travel in an empty van without the supervision of their parents, a captivating story for children who are constantly reigned and directed by adults. Somehow the kids find ways to survive through chance or ingenuity.
Frindle, Andrew Clements:Nick Allen once again annoys his teacher and she assigns him an additional report on how new words are added to the dictionary. Suddenly this triggers the best idea for Nick. He coins his own new word “frindle”. The new word from him bothers his teacher a lot. The war of words escalates, resulting in after-school detention, a visit to the principal’s home, national publicity, even profits for local businessmen, and eventually the addition of frindle in the dictionary. Amazing!
Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson: Jess Aarons dreams of being the fastest runner in the fifth grade. He practices all summer running in the fields of the country. Then a tomboy named Leslie Burke moves into the farmhouse next door and she gets to run. After getting over being hit on by a girl, Jess begins to think that Leslie might be okay. The two create a secret kingdom in the forest called Terabithia, where the only way to enter the castle is by swinging over a ravine on an enchanted rope. Here they are the king and queen, fighting imaginary giants and undead, sharing dreams and plotting revenge on unsavory children. Jess and Leslie find solace in the Terabithian sanctuary until tragedy strikes and the two are separated forever. An important book on loss.
Dahl’s Matilda and Gardiner’s Stone Fox are also highly recommended.