I have such fond memories of making the transition from picture books to chapter books with my young kids. There’s something really special about the first few times you make it through a real chapter book together. And I must confess, there are certain books my kids are entirely capable of reading on their own that I try to save for us to enjoy together as a family. If you’re looking for one of those captivating stories to share with your young family, here’s a list of favorites that were a hit in our house when my kids were around 4 to 8 years old:
- All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
- A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
- The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh
- The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warren
- Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
- Heidi by Johanna Spyri
- Henry Huggins Series by Beverly Cleary
- The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
- Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
- Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
- My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
- Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
- Ramona Series by Beverly Cleary
- Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary
- The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright
- The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
- Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
- Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
(Not quite ready to tackle a full chapter book? Here are some books that helped us make the transition from picture books to chapter books.)