Growing Reader

14 Books Ideal for Reading With Kids Ages 6 – 8

by Eliza Smith

Photo credit: Mireya Acierto, Digital Vision/Getty Images

Your child may be growing more independent every day, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up reading together any time soon. We’ve rounded up some of our absolute favorite books for reading aloud with your 6- to 8-year-old. Pass a book back and forth, let them take the lead, or travel through these kids’ books side by side. No matter how you read together, you’ll be glad you did.

Never Grow Up

Never Grow Up

by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake

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We could all use another Roald Dahl story in our lives. From the beloved author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory comes an ode to mischievous kids everywhere — the ones who want to stay young and carefree forever. This delightful picture book encourages kids to hang on to their curiosity, enthusiasm, and tenacity throughout their lives.

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Shark and Bot

Shark and Bot

by Brian Yanish

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Growing readers will love this tale of an unlikely friendship between a shark and a robot. Even though they appear to be complete opposites, Shark and Bot look past their differences to find their common interests. Kids that love humorous graphic novels like Narwhal & Jelly will enjoy reading this funny and unusual friendship story.

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Donut Feed the Squirrels

Donut Feed the Squirrels

by Mika Song

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Young readers will find plenty of sweet and silly fun in this graphic novel. When best friends Norma and Belly spot a donut food truck, they plan and execute a donut heist. But nothing goes according to plan, and the squirrels will have to think fast and get creative if they want to succeed in stealing a sweet treat.

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Jon Klassen’s Hat Box

Jon Klassen’s Hat Box

by Jon Klassen

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Laughter is an essential part of reading together, and Jon Klassen's hat trilogy will certainly do the trick. In I Want My Hat Back, an insistent bear tracks down the clues to find his missing hat. In This Is Not My Hat, a behatted fish is on the run (or should we say swim?). And in We Found a Hat, two turtles must decide what to do with their thrilling treasure. Deceptively simple yet utterly hilarious, the series has solidified itself as a reader favorite.

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Pizza and Taco: Who’s the Best?

Pizza and Taco: Who’s the Best?

by Stephan Shaskan

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Two tasty friends try to show each other up in this hilarious and topping-filled young graphic novel. Since neither can agree on who is the best, Pizza and Taco decide to hold a vote. Growing readers will get plenty of laughs from this delightfully delicious popularity contest between everyone’s favorite foods.

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Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet

Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet

by Zanib Mian, illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik

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Friendship, family, and imagination combine into an irresistible #OwnVoices story that kids will love. When Omar starts at a new school, he attracts the attention of a bully. But with his wild imagination and big, goofy family, Omar can handle anything. This award-winning novel is perfect for confident readers who are ready for a challenge.

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J.D. and the Great Barber Battle

J.D. and the Great Barber Battle

by J. Dillard, illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts

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A haircut gone wrong turns into a thriving business for a young boy in this illustrated chapter book. When embarrassment over his terrible haircut makes J.D. take the clippers to his own head, he discovers a hidden talent. Before long, J.D. has a booming barbershop in his bedroom. But when the local barber finds out where all his clients have been going, J.D.’s entrepreneurial venture could be over.

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The Girl Who Named Pluto

The Girl Who Named Pluto

by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by Elizabeth Haidle

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Did you know it was an 11-year-old girl who named the newly-discovered Pluto in 1930? This gorgeously illustrated picture book tells the story of how Venetia Burney grew interested in astronomy, and how that interest combined with her love for Roman mythology to inspire the name Pluto. The uplifting true story of a young person leaving her mark on the galaxy will have your reader looking to the stars.

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Sleepover Scientist #3

Sleepover Scientist #3

by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Nneka Myers and Vanessa Brantley-Newton

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When Jada Jones plans a sleepover, she can’t wait to do a bunch of science activities with her friends. But when the other girls lose interest, Jada will have to develop a new way to have fun. Kids that enjoy friendship stories and STEM will love this popular chapter book series.

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Daniel Finds a Poem

Daniel Finds a Poem

by Micha Archer

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What does poetry mean to you? For the squirrel Daniel speaks to, poetry is the sound of crisp leaves crunching; for the spider, it's the way morning dew glistens on a tightly spun web. As Daniel moves throughout the world, he finds poetry everywhere - and soon, you'll start discovering it too.

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A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

by Fred Rogers, illustrated by Luke Flowers

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One of the joys of reading with your children is sharing the words and characters that delighted you as a child. With this cheerfully illustrated collection of lyrics from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and The Children's Corner, you can re-experience the soothing wisdom of Mister Rogers and spark conversations about emotions and kindness, self-awareness and self-esteem, and the many invaluable topics his songs address.

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A New Kind of Wild

A New Kind of Wild

by Zara Gonzalez Hoang

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Inspired by her father's stories of moving from Puerto Rico to New York as a child, author-illustrator Zara González Hoang created a poignant story about the power of friendship and finding magic in new places. In the book, Ren has moved from his grandmother's forest home to a bustling (and decidedly not green) city, but Ava helps him find the beauty of his new surroundings. If your family is spending more time inside, perhaps A New Kind of Wild will help your reader look around their home with fresh eyes.

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Interrupting Chicken

Interrupting Chicken

by David Ezra Stein

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As Papa tries to read the little red chicken a few fairytales at bedtime, the excited little chicken can't help herself from interrupting - and inserting herself into the stories to save the day. Long-suffering Papa valiantly presses on, and the stories inside the story become more layered and amusing with each earnest revision. The shenanigans continue in Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise.

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Library Lion

Library Lion

by Michelle Knudsen

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In a quiet, small-town library, head librarian Miss Merriweather runs a tight ship. There are rules to spending time in the library, after all. But when a soft-footed lion saunters in and establishes himself as a gentle backrest for young readers, Miss Merriweather can't accuse the lion of breaking any rules. A moment of crisis and a happy ending make this story perfectly unforgettable.

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