STAY CONNECTED

Sign up for the Brightly newsletter to get book recommendations, reading tips, and seasonal inspirations.

By clicking “Join Us!”, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.

YOU'RE SIGNED UP

Keep an eye out for Brightly, coming to your inbox soon.

books-about-middle-school
Tween

20 Books for Middle Schoolers

Here are 20 books for kids — ranging from funny to sad to dramatic — that accurately portray the ups and downs of middle school life, and how to survive it.

best-chapter-books-fifth-graders
Tween

20 Fantastic Chapter Books for Fifth Graders

Fifth grade is an in-between time when kids should just be kids — and dip their toes into deeper waters, too. With a mix of heartfelt and humorous, fantastical and familiar, the books on this list allow them to do just that.

best-fourth-grade-chapter-books
Tween

17 Fantastic Chapter Books for Fourth Graders

There are tons of fantastic titles available to fourth graders, whether they’re looking for humor, fantasy, or realistic stories. Here are just a few to choose from!

best-books-for-third-graders
Growing Reader
Tween

20 Great Chapter Books for Third Graders

Help your third grader fall in love with reading with these engaging chapter books featuring adventure, friendship, humor, mystery, and magic.

best-books-for-second-graders
Growing Reader

20 Superb Chapter Books for Second Graders

Second graders need books that hold their interest but aren’t so difficult they turn them off to reading altogether. These books are surefire winners.

back-to-school-resources
Pre-K
Growing Reader
Tween

Back to School Books & Resource Reads for Parents

Get set for the new school year! Find age-specific reads and helpful insights to prepare kids and parents for the year ahead.

picture-books-help-get-ready-preschool-kindergarten
Pre-K

20 Smart Books To Help Get Your Kids Ready for Preschool or Kindergarten

Whether you’re helping your child prepare for preschool or kindergarten, these books are great tools to talk about all the fun and learning that’s ahead.

mermaid-books
Baby & Toddler
Pre-K
Growing Reader
Tween

Enchanting Mermaid Books for Kids

Books about mermaids are guaranteed to add a little magic to any storytime, and we’ve put together a list of stories that are sure to make a splash.

funny-middle-grade-adventure-books
Tween

Funny Adventure Books for Kids Ages 8–12

These hilarious adventure books will keep middle grade readers on the edge of their seats — and laughing as they flip the pages.

best-middle-grade-chapter-books-2026-so-far
Growing Reader
Tween

The Best Middle Grade and Chapter Books of 2026 (So Far)

The first half of 2026 has given us an amazing collection of middle grade and chapter books to enjoy. Here are our top picks.