Top Ten Children's Chapter Books

One of my favorite things to do with my class each year is to read my favorite chapter books to them. I never get to read all of my favorites, but at least one or two. It always depends on what else is going on with the curriculum. It is a shame, too, because we all get such enjoyment out of these books. They can be great teaching tools, too, but because of strict government guidelines, they tend to be shoved to the side.

Here are my favorite top ten children's chapter books:

Number Ten

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Yes, it is a book. So many of my students think that the movie came first, that I spend a lot of my time getting them to understand the book came first.

Written so many years ago by an author with an unlimited imagination, it's a shame it isn't read more. The book is full of a lot more detail than the movie. In fact, I get greater fulfillment out of the book and less from the movie. By the time I finish reading this to my class, they usually agree with me. With Dahl's descriptive detail you can "see" things from your own point of view.

Number Nine

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Another great piece of work by Dahl. And again, I love to read it to my class because of the vivid wording. The Johnny Depp movie version follows the book much better than the older, Gene Wilder version. This book is just a classic and should be read to every child before they are even aware that there is a movie.

Number Eight

Left Behind: The Kids by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye

This series is very serious and thought-provoking. I would only suggest this to be read by those children firm in their beliefs. It is very frightening since it is about the end of days on Earth. This is one series that I have not read to my class, simply because I am not at liberty to do so. If I worked in a private Christian school, then it would be a great way to open up to the subject of the Rapture and the Seven Years of Tribulation. Since it cannot be read aloud to a class in a public school, it is best that parents share this series with their children.

Number Seven

Worth by A. LaFaye

This is a fantastic historical fiction about a boy adopted during the depression and when the Orphan Train existed. It is a sad part of American History, but it is a fact, that orphans were pretty much just sold to be used like a farm animal. Even though this exact story didn't really happen, we can only imagine what it was like for those unwanted children.

This is a perfect book to be used in the Social Studies classroom. It brings that time period to life for the students. This story is a winner of the Scott O'Dell award for historical fiction.

Number Six

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

This is a favorite in my classroom. It is an excellent book to discover how characters can change from the beginning of the story to the end. The adventure of the china rabbit is fascinating for the students and encourages them to use their imagination when writing. The artwork is also something that needs to be closely examined. No detail is left untouched in this wonderful story.

Number Five

Fudge-a-mania by Judy Blume

Judy Blume is one of my favorite authors. She writes simply and clearly so that a child can easily understand it. It is as if she is a child, herself. My students roar with laughter at the antics of Fudge in this book. Every time I read it, I burst out laughing at the hilarious events that take place. It's simple, relaxing and easy to read. Of all of Blume's Fudge books, I pick this one as my favorite.

Number Four

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

This story is very touching. Hollis Woods is a girl that was abandoned as a baby and has been shuffled through the foster care system all of her life. One of my students could totally relate to this story. He had not been abandoned, but neglected by his parents and was actually being taken from them and placed in foster care while I was reading this book to the class. It never upset him, but I think it made him realize that maybe our biological parents aren't always what's best for us. He, along with the rest of the class, thoroughly enjoyed the story. We had a lot of deep conversations about the topic of foster care. It is also full of wonderful vocabulary that is new to the students. It is an excellent book for any child to read.

Number Three

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

As far as adventure books for boys go, this is an excellent choice. Paulsen's words make the story come to life with clear pictures in your mind of what is actually occurring. Although a little gruesome in parts, this is a great book to be read to a class. Any child that likes to fish, hunt or go camping would love this book. It is for the outdoor enthusiast.

Number Two

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

This is another great outdoor adventure book. George is very experienced in her outdoor living and it shines through in this book. The main character learns how to live off of the land in order to survive. George is also a great falconer and she uses this experience in the book as well. This story will have you cheering for the underdog all the way through.

Number One

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

This book is about a boy living in the Ozark Mountains in North East Oklahoma. Based a lot on how Rawls, himself, was raised. It can be used in the classroom as a historical fiction. It demonstrates how life used to be. This book will play with the readers' emotions, too, especially dog lovers. I've only read it to one class and I'm not sure I will again, although it is a fantastic book. It was very difficult for me to read the last few chapters because I was crying so hard. Most of my students shed several tears, as well. But that's the reason I have this book as my number one. The words are vivid and Rawls makes you feel as if you are right there actually living the story with him. It is an amazing piece of writing and I encourage you to read it and share it with your children.

Conclusion

I love so many books that it is hard for me to say these are my exact top ten. They are the ones I share the most with my students. Reading books aloud to classes and discussing them is a great way to get to know the students better. You can key in on interests that they may share with the characters in the book and you'll hear whether they like the characters or not. Students are very opinionated and that is a good thing. These books get them to thinking about more than just themselves. They open up a whole new world for them to explore.