The best chapter books for kids

This isn’t your typical fairy tale book, or chapter book. Instead it is a series of spoofs of classic tales such as Cinderumpilstiltskin and Little Red Running Shorts. The stories are funny to both children and adults, so everyone enjoys story time. Each story is its own little chapter with many pictures, making this the perfect transition from picture books to chapter books.

Another fun transitional book is Shel Silverstein’s book of poetry. This features children and adults who face strange circumstances with often hilarious results. Dentists work on crocodile teeth. One little girl refuses to take the garbage out until she becomes lost in the trash. You and your child will laugh out loud to the rhythm and rhyme of Silverstein’s poetry.

In this series of five short stories, Frog and Toad explore their world and their friendship. They deal with things that many children suffer such as worry over clothing, waiting for a friend, or trying to write a letter or make up a story. The simple illustrations go along with each story, helping the child to expand his, or her imagination.

This book follows the adventures of Mary Lennox, an orphan who has grown up in India, as she adjusts to living in an English manor house. There are many mysteries in the house, including the sound of crying in the night and a secret garden that hides behind a brick wall and a locked door. When she discovers her cousin, hidden away just like the garden, Mary takes matters into her own hands not knowing, or caring, whether it will destroy her uncle or heal the entire household.

This world-famous book is a staple of many schools. While Harry faces some threats that might frighten some younger listeners, the world Rowling creates draws listeners of all ages. In the first book of the series, Harry discovers that he is a wizard and begins his education at the magical school of Hogwarts. There he discovers that Lord Voldemort, the evil force behind his parent’s death, is still plotting to take over the wizarding world. With the help of his new friends, Ron and Hermione, he stops Lord Voldemort from taking shape and threatening the world again.

Who doesn’t love a book about a 9-year-old who lives on her own and is so strong she can pick up a horse. Her mother is dead and her father is a sea captain who has been captured by distant natives and made king of their island nation. She completely turns the lives of Tommy and Annika, her new neighbors, upside down. The short chapters are great for younger children.

The first book of the Narnian Chronicles follows the adventures of four children, two brothers and their two sisters, who have been evacuated from London during WWII. The youngest, Lucy, hides in a big old wardrobe and finds another country inside. The land is called Narnia and it’s ruled by a witch who keeps the land in a perpetual state of winter. With the help of her brothers and sister and a talking lion named Aslan, the family frees the land. There is some peril, but a safe read for younger children.

Matilda is a brilliant little girl who goes completely unappreciated in her family. She has raised herself, taught herself how to read, and is clearly the adult in a family of nitwits. When she finally goes to a school run by a cruel headmistress, she uses magic to save her beloved teacher and find her own place in the world. The only danger or cruelty in this book is of the wildly fantastic type, such as when the headmistress throws children like a shotput, making this a fun book for even younger listeners.

Not to be confused with the movie trilogy, the book was clearly written for younger listeners. Tolkien himself wrote the book from stories that he told his own young sons at bedtime. The book follows Bilbo Baggins as he becomes the unlikely hero of a quest for adventure. Like Narnia, the peril is largely fantastic, so it excites rather than frightens young listeners. However, because the chapters are longer, consider reading this to children seven and older.

Jess Aarons doesn’t always feel as though he fits in. He is one of the smallest in his class. He loves to draw, and neither his art, nor his imagination is appreciated in his struggling family. Everything changes when Leslie Burke moves in nearby. Together, they explore the woods that separate their homes and create the imaginary world of Terebithia. This gives Jess a whole new view of the world and his own possibilities. But when tragedy strikes, Jess has to learn to keep his imagination alive without Leslie to help him. Many parents tend to avoid this gem of a book, since it deals with the death of a child and a friend. But reading this book with your child can open up the lines of communication and help both of you learn to talk about tough topics.