Great Books for Boys {43 Reader Recommended Series}

boybooks

John is an extremely capable reader and we struggle with finding “just right” books (content and level wise) for him.  Add to the mix that he doesn’t even like reading (or so he claims) and we’ve been in quite a pickle.  You see, Honey and I are both avid readers and would love to see our boys follow suit… not to mention I would really love to see him sit down and read for the required time each night without badgering and cajoling.  At the beginning of summer, I reached out for recommendations on great books for boys and I have made it my MISSION in second grade to help show the boy how intriguing and entertaining and wonderful reading can be!

To that end, I have compiled all of your comments and emails with some of our own favorites in the master list below.  I even looked up appropriate grade levels (per amazon) as I was going along because there were some that wasn’t familiar with but didn’t want to forget down the road.  I printed my list and we keep it in our library bag for quick reference.

Grade Series Author
1st – 4th Andrew Lost JC Greenburg
3rd – 6th Animal Stories Thornton Burgess
1st – 4th A-Z Mysteries Ron Roy
2nd – 5th Bailey School Kids Marcia Thornton
1st – 4th Ballpark Mysteries David Kelly
5th + Baseball Card Adventures Dan Gutman
2nd – 5th Boxcar Children Gertrude Warner
2nd + Captain Underpants Dav Pilkey
2nd + Choose Your Own Adventure RA Montgomery
2nd + Diary of a Wimpy Kid Jeff Kinney
1st – 4th Dragon Slayer’s Academy Kate McMullan
2nd + Encyclopedia Brown Donald Sobol
1st – 5th Flat Stanley Jeff Brown
2nd + Fudge Judy Blume
2nd – 5th Geronimo Stilton Geronimo Stilton
3rd + Hardy Boys Franklin Dixon
4th + Harry Potter JK Rowling
2nd – 4th Horrible Harry Suzy Kline
3rd – 7th Humphrey the Hamster Betty G Birney
2nd – 5th I Survived Lauren Tarshis
1st – 4th Junie B. Jones Barbara Park
3rd – 7th Little House on the Prairie Laura Ingalls Wilder
3rd – 7th Magic Tree House Mary Pope Osborne
1st – 4th Marvin Redpost Louis Sachar
3rd – 7th Million Dollar Dan Gutman
2nd + My Father’s Dragon Ruth Stiles Gannett
1st – 5th My Weird School Dan Gutman
1st – 4th Pee Wee Scouts Judy Delton
3rd – 7th Ralph S. Mouse Beverly Cleary
3rd – 7th Ramona Beverly Cleary
K – 3rd Ready Freddy Abby Klein
3rd – 7th Redwall Brian Jacques
3rd – 7th Shadow Children
3rd + The Chronicles of Narnia CS Lewis
3rd – 7th The Enormous Egg Oliver Butterworth
1st – 5th The Invisible Inkling Emily Jenkins
2nd – 5th The Littles Jon Peterson
3rd – 7th The Mysterious Benedict Society Trenton Lee Stewart
K – 3rd The Prince of the Pond Donna Jo Napoli
2nd – 4th Time Warp Trio Jon Scieszka
2nd – 5th Toys Go Out Emily Jenkins
3rd – 7th Wayside School Louis Sachar
2nd – 6th Zack Files Dan Greenburg

 
I sure hope I can report back with good news by the end of the year.  Happy reading, y’all!
xoxo

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21 thoughts on “Great Books for Boys {43 Reader Recommended Series}

  1. Hello! I recently found your site and am so happy that I did. I just love your decorating style!
    I just read your post and wanted to share a couple of reading sites that may help. Scholastic has a wonderful site that includes something called the Book Wizard. It allows you to search for books based on genre, age, grade level, and whatever leveling system your school uses (DRA, Lexile, etc.). Also, the website, Guys Read, provides many book suggestions for boys. I hope these help. Good luck!

  2. Our "girls" read books from many of these series as well. I also remember a teacher once telling us that if we could even find "wholesome" magazines that would get them reading…that worked too. Our girls loved the American Girl magazine, and we felt comfortable with the content. I agree…they are more likely to become avid readers if they don't feel forced. My girls both loved reading from a very early age. However, it became a chore in middle school when they HAD to have so many A.R. (accelerated reader) points each month for a grade. My girls are slower reader, take longer to comprehend and would get sooo frustrated. Fortunately, now that they are older, they are enjoying reading for pleasure again.

  3. As a former teacher, I often found finding books for boys in my 3rd and 4th grade classrooms was always a challenge! I found that Matt Christopher books were great for boys of this age- sports related. I didn't see these books on your list, so I thought I would pass it along!

    Leigh Anne B

  4. I just retired as a pre-kindergarten teacher, and my boys (now adults) used to love Matt Christopher books too..based on sports. Our sons were like..on a 5th grade reading level in K and grade 1..so it was hard to find the proper content and the proper level in one! They also read the Hardy Boys in first grade..not sure if the content is totally ok.

  5. Having worked in the Media Center at the school your son attends I would suggest that he ask about "graphic novels". It was my experience that students who weren't madly in love with reading enjoyed what they called "comic books". I really think that they thought they were getting away with something. They're not great literature but any type of reading is better than no reading at all. A lot of parents are concerned about the content of the Captain Underpants series. Again, the kids thought they were hysterical because adults didn't care for them. Who knew that second graders could be such rebels

  6. You must read "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" with your boys. It's probably a bit above the baby's range, but your older son would love it. It's a great one to read together because it brings up many thoughtful themes and YOU'LL enjoy it too. It's a deep book with some really sad moments, but a beautiful ending. I can't recommend it enough. I read it every year to my 3rd graders and they stil mention it years later when they see me.

  7. Thanks for a great list. Just a heads up…my daughter is in 4th and read one of the Judy Blume Fudge books last year. I believe the "Double Fudge" has the characters talking about Santa and how he is not real……but an end to reading those right quick!! Just don't want it to end for a child due to a book!! We are going to hold onto that little bit of magic as long as we can!!

  8. Thanks for the helpful list!

    My 6.5 yo has gotten into listening to books on cd and audible. Nice way to chill out for a non-yet independent reader (as well as readers)

    I think boys would like listening to "Lunch Money" and "Alvin Ho"

  9. I have recently found your blog and love it! I am from Texas and just found out we are going to Florida in mid October. We are going to go to Disney World, but will only be there for maybe 2 days. I was wanting your suggestion on what would be must sees for my 7 year old daughter. I have read all your Disney blogs and have figured Magic Kingdom is the best. If you don't mind giving me your input. I have never been and after reading your blogs it seems like your trips are top notch. Thank you so much!

  10. Pam suggests Kate DiCamillo's "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane", and it one of my all time favorites! My younger son read in kindergarten, but it does have elements that are sad be forewarned.

    I forget if I mentioned George Selden's Cricket series earlier in the summer? It is a favorite of my 8 year old, along with the Freddy series by Walter Brooks. Again, not sure if I mentioned it to you already. Freddy Goes to Florida is the 1st in the series.

    My oldest is 14 and a reluctant reader, though he started enjoying non-fiction in the 5th grade.

    Happy Reading!

  11. Thanks so much for putting this on your blog. I emailed you about it a month or so ago and used your list to make some wishes on the amazon wish list. Love it!

  12. great list and some good series for girls on here, too! I'll have to save this for Hudson in a few years. Does your school have a reading counts type program where they get points and awards for reading books and taking quizes on them? I have to credit this program with turning my girls into the biggest book worms. They have a slightly competitive nature (not sure where that came from…..haha) and this keeps them constantly reading and always trying harder books with higher points for taking quizes. Their teachers keep a running display of how many points every one has, so some kids care more than others to have the most.

  13. Instead of Little House- which I LOVE (& so do the boys in my 4th grade class), start with Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Your guys will probably prefer it as an introduction to her work.

  14. Great list, thank you! Add Andrew Clements books to your list, he's great! Also the Geronimo Stilton series, and James Howe's series, Tales from the House of Bunnicula — so funny. I'm also getting great interest from my 8 y.o. in books illustrated like a comic book (Hobbit has a good one and of course any superhero you can think of.) Lilly

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