When your kid reaches the age of seven and eight, they will get used to reading by themselves. However, if they enjoy reading books, you need to get your hands on the best books for 7- and 8-year-olds. We help you find some useful books that can strengthen the practice of reading and drastically improve your children’s language skills. In addition, exposing your kids to various genres can help them develop a great interest in reading. So if you are looking for age-appropriate books for them, we have got you covered. Read through the post to get the most interesting book for your child.
Best Books For Seven- And Eight-Year-Old Children
1. Best Lighthearted: The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Author: Beverly Cleary Ralph is a tiny mouse who lives in a second-floor hotel room. One day, a young boy named Keith and his family move into the room. Keith has a small red motorcycle, and Ralph is immediately enticed by it. The discovery of the motorcycle marks the beginning of Ralph’s adventures with it. Soon Ralph and Keith become best friends and go on several adventures together. The story is lighthearted and entertaining thanks to the motorcycle-riding mouse. This video will help you make an informed decision about your purchase.
2. Best Mystery: Ginger Pye
Author: Eleanor Estes The story is about the Pye family and their smart and adorable dog Ginger Pye. Everyone in the neighborhood loves him. But one day, Ginger disappears, and the Pyes suspect that someone has kidnapped him. The disappearance of Ginger coincides with the appearance of a new resident of the neighborhood, a man with a yellow hat. ‘Ginger Pye’ is a simple story of whodunit that seven and eight-year-olds will enjoy reading.
3. Best Graphic Novel: Big Nate: From the Top
Author: Lincoln Peirce It is a graphic novel that tells the story of Nate Wright, a middle school student going through the usual grind and challenges of school life. In one episode, he is shopping for school clothes with his father who always picks something boring. In another story, Nate is so scared of his teacher that he sees her face everywhere. ‘Big Nate: From the Top’ is a witty, funny, and humorous story that young children will love.
4. Best Superhero Story: Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure!
Author: Jeff Brown This funny story begins with the bulletin board falling on Stanley, the protagonist. When Stanley’s family members take the board off of him, they realize that Stanley has turned flat – like a piece of paper! Stanley can be rolled, mailed, and even be flown like a kite. The new physical form gives the boy near superhuman power, which he puts to good use.
5. Best Easy-To-Read: Dinosaurs Before Dark
Author: Mary Pope Osborne Jack and his younger sister discover a treehouse while venturing in the woods. The treehouse is a magical one, and it transports them into the time of dinosaurs. It is all exciting until the brother and sister duo realize that there seems to be no way to return to the present. The story is thrilling, exciting, and is written in a language that is easy to understand.
6. Best All-Time Classic: Calvin and Hobbes (The First Book)
Author: Bill Watterson Calvin and Hobbes is an all-time classic. The first book in the comic series tells the adventures of the boisterous six-year-old named Calvin and his stuffed toy tiger Hobbes who comes alive in Calvin’s imagination. The series is known for its witty humor and is loved by children as well as adults.
7. Best Illustration: Dog Man
Author: Dav Pilkey ‘Dog Man’ is a funny graphic novel that tells the story of Dogman, a crime fighter with the head of a dog and body of a human. The adventures are illustrated in artwork that has a child-like drawing style. The language is elementary so that it is easy for children to understand. The artwork and humor make this a highly entertaining book for children.
8. Best Educational: Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs
Author: Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart The book is both educational and entertaining. Each page in the book provides information about the different kinds of dinosaurs, with the help of a foldable paper cutout that pops out when you open the page of the book. The pop-ups give a three-dimensional effect that makes the reading experience exciting.
9. Best For Reading Practice: Meet Yasmin!
Author: Saadia Faruqi Yasmin is in her second-grade, but that does not stop her from thinking about new adventures. In one chapter, she decides to become an explorer and draws a map of her neighborhood. We see Yasmin as a painter in another story. ‘Meet Yasmin!’ is a wonderful book for children thanks to its simple language and lovable main character.
10. Best Funny: Silly Jokes for Silly Kids
Author: Silly Willy The book contains a collection of funny jokes and riddles primarily written for young children. Several hilarious illustrations complement the jokes and complete the funny theme of this book for seven and eight-year-olds.
11. Ricky, the Rock that Couldn’t Roll
Author: Jay Miletsky The story is about a group of rocks that play together on a hill. One day, all the rocks except one named Ricky decide to roll down the hill. Ricky is flat on one side and thus cannot roll. But the rocks do not leave their friends behind and decide to help Ricky. ‘Ricky, the Rock that Couldn’t Roll’ is an adorable tale of perseverance and true friendship.
12. Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot
Author: Dav Pilkey Ricky Ricotta is a young mouse who lives in a town called Squeakyville. Ricky does not have many friends at school, and the neighborhood bullies do not make it easy for him to play outside. One day, Ricky rescues a big robot sent by a mad scientist who wants to destroy Squeakyville. But the robot is a kind one and becomes Ricky’s best friend. It marks the beginning of an unusual yet adorable friendship between a mouse and a robot.
13. Zoey and Sassafras – Dragons and Marshmallows
Author: Asia Citro The book is the first one in the Zoey and Sassafras series. It is about the adventures of a young girl named Zoey and her cat Sassafras. In ‘Dragons and Marshmallows,’ the duo notices that injured mythical animals seem to visit their backyard. One day, they are visited by a cute baby dragon who is unwell. Zoey and Sassafras have to figure out what’s wrong with the dragon while also watching out for other magical creatures.
14. Zita the Spacegirl
Author: Ben Hatke Aliens abduct Zita’s friend Joseph, and Zita decides to rescue him. But when she lands on the alien planet, she realizes that everything there is strange. There are humanoid chickens and weird robots. But Zita is determined and takes the role of an intergalactic superhero to save the day. The story is told in a graphic novel style, with colorful illustrations and a relatable main character that children will love.
15. Are You My Mother?
Author: P.D. Eastman A bird lays an egg in the nest, and a few moments later, the egg starts to bounce. The mama bird flies hurriedly to get something for the chick to eat. But as she leaves, the baby bird pops out of the egg. He searches for his mother and even asks some other animals if they are his mother. Ultimately, the mama bird and baby bird unite, but not before the little bird had an adventure of his own.
16. Magic Faraway Tree
Author: Enid Blyton The story is about three siblings namely Joe, Beth, and Frannie, who discover an enchanted forest with a magical tree. The magical creatures living on the tree lead the children to other magical lands for fun and adventure. ‘Magic Faraway Tree’ is an original story written by the popular children’s books author Enid Blyton. Children will love the simple yet exciting story of this book, which was first published more than 75 years ago.
17. The Story of Ferdinand
Author: Munro Leaf A classic tale that was first published in 1936, ‘The story of Ferdinand’ is about a bull who loves nature and smelling flowers over bull-fighting. But Ferdinand is also the strongest bull among his siblings and is eventually selected for a bullfight. But the gentle bull chooses to be calm rather than fight the matador, to the amazement of the audience. ‘The Story of Ferdinand’ is a classic children’s tale that conveys a message of peace, love, and compassion.
How To Choose The Right Books For 7- And 8-Year-Olds?
Here are some important points to consider when buying books for seven- and eight-year-olds. H Shamsi, book reviewer and founder of Book Nerdection, says, “Children aged around seven to eight years enjoy looking at pictures. Thus, graphic novels and comics are excellent choices for this age group. The short texts scattered across picture frames gives them the illusion that they are not reading much, which builds their reading stamina and keeps them engrossed.”
Why Trust MomJunction?
Wedetso Chirhah is a keen product writer, covering books, household items, electronics, and more. He is well-versed with quality books and ensures his lists contain items that can help his readers. He has compiled this list of the best books for 7- and 8-year-olds that contain inspiring and amusing stories to pique your child’s interest in reading.
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