The years from 6 to 8 year old are more often than not the magical years during which children build their confidence in reading independently. No longer will they have to rely on someone reading to them – although they may still enjoy it sometimes – but they can immerse themselves in a good book!
As reading level can vary tremendously across different children, you’ll find that some may still be enjoying picture books, but some will be moving on to graphic novels and chapter books. As such, paying close attention to your child or student’s individual reading progress is critical in order to provide the right level of reading materials for them.
Thankfully, there are plenty of graphic novels and short chapter books to get your young reader into the grind, from fantasy and fairy stories to stories about animals or school. Here’s our list of recommendations for readers aged 6 to 8 year old.
1. Nate the Great (Marjorie Weinman Sharmat)
Little boy Nate goes around his neighbourhood solving mysteries in this entertaining and enchanting book series. Children will love following along the relatable yet quirky adventures, some of which involve a missing pet snake, a lost turkey, and an evil book page monster.
These books aren’t just a lot of fun to read; they also prove a workout for young readers’ brain juices as they pick up problem-solving and logical thinking skills while playing detective with Nate our beloved detective!
Suitable for: Kids who enjoy mystery and detective stories
You may also like: Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol – another detective adventure series for budding readers.
2. The Magic Faraway Tree (Enid Blyton)
Imagine travelling to magical and fantastical lands – just by climbing up a tree! Not only that, The Faraway Tree transports climbers into various lands unlike the one we know, like the Topsy-Turvy Land, the Land of the Spells, and the Land of Toys. Unable to resist their curiosity, Jo, Bessie, Frannie, and Rick meet pixies, discover new places, and embark on numerous adventures thanks to the magical tree.
Throw all sense of the natural laws of physics away as you delve into this series! Young readers will be whisked away for the ultimate adventure, and with these books, their imagination’s their limit.
Suitable for: Lovers of fantasy and mystical realms.
You may also like: The Adventures of the Wishing Chair (Enid Blyton) – if you like Enid Blyton, you’re in for a treat, because the author has plenty of other children’s fantasy stories, all very suitable for beginning readers.
3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)
A well-known classic with a movie to its name, this Roald Dahl favourite isn’t just a story about a crazy chocolate factory. It ties together themes of what’s right and wrong, and opens the reader’s eyes to the consequences of their actions.
All these are encapsulated into a wild story about finding a golden ticket in chocolate, winning a visit to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, and meeting all sorts of strange and unbelievable people and creatures.
Suitable for: Kids looking for a read that’s humorous yet with depth.
You may also like: James and the Giant Peach; The BFG; Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl – These are just a few of the other whimsical titles by Roald Dahl that are suitable for the upper end of this age range.
