Children's books for early middle grade (7–9)
Books for children aged 7–9: the gateway years where independent reading takes off. Early chapter books, heavily illustrated fiction and graphic novels carry most of the freight here — funny enough to pull a child through, structured enough that they finish feeling capable. The list to recommend a confident reader into the deep end.
Graphic novel
Amulet: The Stonekeeper
by Kazu Kibuishi · age 8–12
Graphic novel
Picture book
Big Bright Feelings: Ruby's Worry
by Tom Percival · age 3–7
Picture book
Graphic novel
Bone 1: Out from Boneville
by Jeff Smith · age 7–12
Graphic novel
Illustrated
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets
by Dav Pilkey · age 7–10
Illustrated
Illustrated
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part One
by Dav Pilkey · age 7–10
Illustrated
Illustrated
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part Two
by Dav Pilkey · age 7–10
Illustrated
Illustrated
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space
by Dav Pilkey · age 7–10
Illustrated
Illustrated
Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants
by Dav Pilkey · age 7–10
Illustrated
Illustrated
Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People
by Dav Pilkey · age 7–10
Illustrated
Illustrated
Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers
by Dav Pilkey · age 7–10
Illustrated
Illustrated
Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot
by Dav Pilkey · age 7–10
Illustrated
Illustrated
Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers
by Dav Pilkey · age 7–10
Illustrated
Illustrated
Captain Underpants and the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000
by Dav Pilkey · age 7–10
Illustrated
Illustrated
Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman
by Dav Pilkey · age 7–10
Illustrated
Graphic novel
Cat Kid Comic Club
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Chapter book
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
by Roald Dahl · age 7–11
Chapter book
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Överlöde
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Illustrated
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball
by Jeff Kinney · age 8–12
Illustrated
Graphic novel
Dog Man
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Graphic novel
Dog Man Unleashed
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Graphic novel
Dog Man and Cat Kid
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Graphic novel
Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Graphic novel
Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Graphic novel
Dog Man: Fetch-22
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Graphic novel
Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Graphic novel
Dog Man: Grime and Punishment
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Graphic novel
Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Graphic novel
Dog Man: Mothering Heights
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Graphic novel
Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Graphic novel
Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea
by Dav Pilkey · age 6–10
Graphic novel
Illustrated
Fantastic Mr Fox
by Roald Dahl · age 6–9
Illustrated
Chapter book
George's Marvellous Medicine
by Roald Dahl · age 7–10
Chapter book
Graphic novel
Guts
by Raina Telgemeier · age 8–12
Graphic novel
Chapter book
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
by J.K. Rowling · age 8–12
Chapter book
Chapter book
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
by J.K. Rowling · age 8–12
Chapter book
Chapter book
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by J.K. Rowling · age 9–13
Chapter book
Picture book
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
by Oliver Jeffers · age 3–7
Picture book
Graphic novel
Hilda and the Troll
by Luke Pearson · age 7–11
Graphic novel
Picture book
I Want My Hat Back
by Jon Klassen · age 3–7
Picture book
Chapter book
James and the Giant Peach
by Roald Dahl · age 7–10
Chapter book
Picture book
Lost and Found
by Oliver Jeffers · age 3–7
Picture book
Chapter book
Matilda
by Roald Dahl · age 7–11
Chapter book
Chapter book
Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth
by Rick Riordan · age 9–13
Chapter book