Though a little out of date**, this list from the National Education Association is still a great resource for finding good reads for kids.
Books with the ^^ raised eyebrows appear on the Teacher's Top Book list too!
1. Harry Potter (series)^^Books with the ^^ raised eyebrows appear on the Teacher's Top Book list too!
by J. K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - AR 5.5
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - AR 6.7
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - AR 6.7
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - AR 6.8
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - AR 7.2
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - AR generic 7
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - AR 6.9
2. Goosebumps (series) by R. L. Stine
Wide range of stories at different reading levels. Consult your librarian or write us for AR info on a particular book.
- Beware, The Snowman by RL Stine (AR 3.2)
- The Haunted School by RL Stine (AR 3.0)
3. Green Eggs and Ham ^^by Dr. Seuss
Accelerated Reading level - 1.5
4. The Cat in the Hat ^^ by Dr. Seuss
Accelerated Reading level - 2.1
5. Arthur (series) by Marc Brown
6. Charlotte's Web^^ by E. B. White
Accelerated Reading level - 4.4
(read aloud edition)
7. Shiloh (trilogy) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
(boxed set)
Accelerated Reading level - 4.4, 4.8, 4.9
8. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Accelerated Reading level - 5.7
9. Holes by Louis Sachar
Accelerated Reading level - 4.6
10. The Giver^^ by Lois Lowry
Accelerated Reading level - 5.7
by Lois Lowry
11. The Chronicles of Narnia^^(the first book)
by C. S. Lewis
(boxed set) (Books are on the AR 5 level)
(the first book) Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (AR 5.7)
12. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (series) by Judy Blume
Accelerated Reading level - 3.3
13. Sideways Stories from Wayside School (series) by Louis Sachar
Accelerated Reading level - 3.3
14. The BFG (Big Friendly Giant)^^ by Roald Dahl
Accelerated Reading level - 4.8
15. The Boxcar Children (series)^^ by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Book 1 (Accelerated Reading level - 3.9)
The Starter Box Set of books 1-4
There is a wide range of stories and formats available now for the Boxcar Children. There are now graphic novels as well as a related series for younger children. Consult your librarian or write us for AR info on a particular book.
16. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish^^ by Dr. Seuss
Accelerated Reading level - 1.7
17. Ramona Quimby (series) by Beverly Cleary
Accelerated Reading level - 5.6
(first book)
18. Pokemon (series)
by Tracey West, Maria S. Barbo
19. The Babysitters Club (series) by Ann M. Martin
Wide range of stories at differing levels. Consult your librarian or write us for AR info on a particular book.
20. Ralph S. Mouse (series) by Beverly Cleary
Accelerated Reading level - 5's
Teacher's Guide
21. Little House on the Prairie (series)
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
first book-- Accelerated Reading level - 4.9
22. Where the Sidewalk Ends
by Shel Silverstein
Accelerated Reading level - generic 4
23. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory^^
by Roald Dahl
Accelerated Reading level - 4.8
24. The Giving Tree^^ by Shel Silverstein
Accelerated Reading level - 2.6
25. Clifford the Big Red Dog (series) by Norman Bridwell
Clifford the Big Red Dog is at AR 1.2. Other books in the series vary.
26. Stuart Little by E. B. White
Accelerated Reading level - 6.0
27. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Accelerated Reading level - 4.9
28. The Adventures of Captain Underpants (series)
by Dav Pilkey
This graphic novel series is really popular with boys. Available in Spanish.
- The Adventures of Captain Underpants (AR 4.3)
- Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets (AR 4.7)
- Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space (and the Subsequent Assault of the Equally Evil Lunchroom Zombie Nerds) (AR 4.4)
- Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants (AR 4.7)
- Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman (AR 4.4)
- Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 1: The Night of the Nasty Nostril Nuggets (AR 5.2)
- Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 2: The Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers(AR 4.9)
- Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People (AR 4.7)
30. The Berenstain Bears (series) by Jan and Stan Berenstain
Reading levels vary greatly.
31. Animorphs (series) by K. A. Applegate
32. The Witches
by Roald Dahl (AR 4.7)
33. Nancy Drew Mystery Stories (series)
by Carolyn Keene
34. The Hobbit (series)
by J. R. R. Tolkien (AR 6.6)
35. American Girls (series)
by Susan Adler, Valerie Tripp, Connie Porter, Janet Shaw, et al
36. Matilda
by Roald Dahl (AR 5.0)
37. The Call of the Wild
by Jack London
It's not clear to us if the readers were referring to the original book (AR 8.0) or one of the adaptations. We've linked to the original.
38. The Foot Book
by Dr. Seuss (AR 0.6)
(boardbook)
39. How the Grinch Stole Christmas^^
by Dr. Seuss (AR 3.0)
40. James and the Giant Peach
by Roald Dahl (AR 4.8)
41. Junie B. Jones (series)^^
by Barbara Park
The Junie B. books generally are at the higher 2-level up to AR 3.0
42. Stone Fox
by John Reynolds Gardiner (AR 4.0)
43. Falling Up
by Shel Silverstein (AR generic 3)
44. A Wrinkle in Time (series)^^(first book)
by Madeleine L'Engle
(first book)
45. Brian's Winter
by Gary Paulsen (AR 5.9)
46. Amber Brown (series)
by Paula Danziger
47. The North Star
by Peter H. Reynolds (AR 3.3)
48. Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks
by Mick Foley (Mankind) (AR 4.8??)
49. Number the Stars
by Lois Lowry (AR 4.5)
50. The Outsiders
by S. E. Hinton (AR 4.7)
51. A Light in the Attic
by Shel Silverstein (AR generic 4)
52. Chicken Soup for the Soul (series)
by various authors
53. Curious George (series)
by Margret and Hans Augusto Rey
54. The Teacher from the Black Lagoon (series)
by Mike Thaler
55. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
by Laura Joffe Numeroff (AR 4.7)
56. The Bailey School Kids (series)
by Debbie Dadey, et al
57. The Hardy Boys (series)
by Franklin W. Dixon
58. The Mitten^^
by Jan Brett (AR 3.9)
59. Amelia Bedelia (series)
by Peggy Parish
60. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
by Robert C. O'Brien (AR 5.1)
61. Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell (AR 5.4)
62. Little Women^^
by Louisa May Alcott (AR 7.9 although there are versions at lower levels)
63. Mr. Popper's Penguins
by Richard Atwater (AR 5.6)
64. The River
by Gary Paulsen (AR 5.5)
65. Magic Tree House (series)
by Mary Pope Osborne
66. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs^^
by John Scieszka (AR 3.0)
67. Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson (AR 4.6)
68. Hop on Pop^^
by Dr. Seuss (AR 1.5)
69. The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh
by A. A. Milne (AR generic 4)
70. Tuck Everlasting
by Natalie Babbitt (AR 5.0)
71. Redwall
by Brian Jacques
(this is a popular series) (First book in the series AR 5.6)
72. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson (AR 5.1)
73. Where the Wild Things Are^^
by Maurice Sendak (AR 3.4)
74. Wringer
by Jerry Spinelli (AR 4.5)
75. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
by Judy Blume (AR 3.6)
76. Dear Mr. Henshaw^^
by Beverly Cleary (AR 4.9)
77. Summer of the Monkeys
by Wilson Rawls (AR 4.8)
78. Sweet Valley High (series)
by Francine Pascal
79. The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley (series)
by Judy Katschke, Cathy Dobowski, Lisa Eisenberg, Nancy E. Krulik, Nina Alexander, Frances Lin Lantz, et al
80. Garfield (series)
by Jim Davis
81. Magic School Bus (series)
by Joanna Cole
82. Math Curse
by John Scieszka (AR 3.7)
83. White Fang
by Jack London (AR 7.4)
84. I Spy (series)
by Walter Wick, Jean Marzollo, Diana Noonan, et al
85. Love You Forever^^
by Robert N. Munsch (AR 3.4)
86. My Side of the Mountain^^
by Jean Craighead George (AR 5.2)
87. The Trumpet of the Swan
by E. B. White (AR 4.9)
88. Walk Two Moons
by Sharon Creech (AR 4.9)
89. Draw 50 Airplanes, Aircraft and Spacecraft (series)
by Lee J. Ames
90. Goodnight Moon^^
by Margaret Wise Brown (AR 1.8)
91. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
by Mark Twain (AR 8.1)
92. The Rock Says
by Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) (AR 6.3)
93. Tikki Tikki Tembo^^
by Arlene Mosel (AR 4.2)
94. To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee (AR 5.6)
95. All About Sam
by Lois Lowry (AR 4.0)
96. Black Beauty
by Anna Sewell (AR 7.7)
97. Ella Enchanted
by Gail Carson Levine (AR 4.6)
98. Hank the Cow Dog (series)
by John R. Erickson
99. Piggie Pie^^
by Margie Palatini (AR .)
100. Sarah, Plain and Tall
by Patricia MacLachlan (AR 2.5)
** These come from an online survey that ran from November 1, 1999 through February 1, 2000.
If you are curious as to what books Teachers and Parents chose for their Top 100 Books, click here.