Recommended Reading for English Learners

Age 8-12

These are popular chapter books for young readers. Many of these can be enjoyed by all ages and are fun to read aloud.

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
  A small group of children win an adventure into the mysterious chocolate factory. Their chaperones are shocked by the eccentric tour guide.
• Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
  A young girl adopts a baby pig and becomes attached to her barnyard friends.
• Dear Dumb Diary (diary series) by Jim Benton
  Jamie Kelly tells her diary everything about middle school.
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid (diary series) by Jeff Kinney
  Greg Heffley is a middle schooler who is always getting into trouble. He confesses his worst experiences to his trusty diary.
• Fudge (series) by Judy Blume
  A funny series about a young family. The main character starts out in fourth grade. His classmates are memorable characters.
• Goosebumps (mystery) by R. L. Stine
  A children's horror fiction series. Features the supernatural world.
• Harry Potter series (fantasy) by J. K. Rowling
  A fantasy series about a wizard and his friends and foes.
• James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
  A funny adventure about a child who finds a family in the most unexpected place.
• Journey Through Oz by L. Frank Baum
  An adventure of a young girl who gets swept away in a tornado. The story features Dorothy's imaginary friends, including the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion.
• Little House on the Prairie (series) by Laura Ingalls Wilder
  A series about a young American family living on a farm in Minnesota. Set in the 1870s and 80s.
• Magic Treehouse (series) by Marie Pope Osborne
  A fantasy series about two young American children who go on adventures, missions, and quests. They often travel back in time and learn interesting history.
• Nancy Drew (mystery series) by Carolyn Keene
  A series about a young female detective who solves mysteries.
• Ramona (series) by Beverly Cleary
  A funny series about a young elementary school girl and her friends and family.
• Stuart Little by E. B. White
  Adventures of a talking mouse who is born to human parents.
• The BFG by Roald Dahl
  A funny tale about an illiterate giant who befriends a young orphan. Lots of word play. Fun for pronunciation and sentence structure practice.
• The Dragon’s Egg by Alison Baird
  Ai Lien's special stone from China turns out to be a dragon's egg. The girl and the dragon enjoy some fun adventures together.
• The Hardy Boys (mystery series) by Franklin W. Dixon
  American teenage boy detectives work together to solve mysteries.
• The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
  A swan is born with a voice. His life changes when he learns to play the trumpet.