As your child progresses from lower elementary grades into the upper grades, they tackle more complex texts that engage their critical thinking and analytical skills. You can support your young reader’s progress at home by introducing chapter books into your daily reading routine. (Here are reasons to read to your elementary schooler every night.)
Teachers recommend starting with beginner chapter books that feature relatable characters and fast-paced plots. These books are a mix of classic fiction titles and contemporary graphic novels that build on reading comprehension and social-emotional learning skills introduced in kindergarten.
Creating your own collection of chapter books at home will anchor your child's bookshelf with incredible storytelling and exciting characters — all while building their love of reading. Here’s a short but in-demand list of the chapter books teachers are stocking their shelves with right now.
Want even more book and reading ideas? Sign up for our Scholastic Parents newsletter.
Engrossing Nonfiction and Historical Fiction Books
Learning about geography, animals, and historical events has never been more fun with immersive series like Who Would Win and I Survived.
In the Who Would Win series, various species from the animal kingdom are pitted against one another in mock-battle royales that teach readers the strengths and defining features of each.
I Survived is a set of volumes highlighting significant events in global history — natural disasters, terrorist attacks, military conflicts — as seen through the eyes of fictional characters who “lived through” them.