Choosing the best books for 9- to 10-year-olds can be overwhelming, given the sheer number of options available in the market. Thus, to help you narrow down your search, we bring you a list of the best options available online. You can choose a book based on the genre your child is inclined towards—it could be fairytale, suspense, comedy, or science fiction. Whether your little one is an avid reader or one who loves looking at the images in the book, it is always a good idea to inculcate the reading habit in them. So, keep scrolling and add some of the books listed here to your shopping cart.
17 Books For Nine To Ten-Year-Old Kids
Here, we have listed the books along with the summary for each, to help you pick the right one.
1. Best Award-Winning: Frindle
Author: Andrew Clements A fifth grader named Nicholas Allen, or One day, he comes across a pen on the street and decides to call it ‘Frindle’ instead of a ‘pen,’ just to liven things up. His friends love his idea and start using the word a lot, but his teacher Mrs. Granger doesn’t. Soon, the new word gains popularity, and before Nick knows it, the word is being used nationwide. Thanks to this new word, Nick becomes a celebrity and his school becomes popular. While his teacher wants to put an end to this nonsense, the ‘word’ spreads like fire, and it is beyond Nick’s control to stop it now. This fiction book inspires the kids to get creative with language and even improve their vocabulary while adding new words to it! This video review will help you learn more about the product.
2. Best Comedy: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Author: Jeff Kinney It is the beginning of a new school year, and Greg Heffley goes to middle school, where the weak and undersized kids share the same hall with the taller and meaner ones. Greg records his pain of growing up in the form of words and drawings in a dairy. However, Greg is happy to have Rowley as his best friend. The duo kicks off a chain of events that hilariously test their friendship. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a book series that combines fun and humor into easy-to-read stories about two friends and their life as middle-schoolers. The book makes an ideal pick for a 9-year-old.
3. Best For Young Boys: Nate Rocks the World
Author: Karen Pokras Toz The story is about ten-year-old Nathan Rockledge, who is having a tough time balancing all the things that fourth graders have to do. Between finding time for his science projects and football games, he also has to deal with his annoying older sister and parents who are always in their own world. Nathan tries to escape the mundane of his life using his imagination and his love for drawing. His passion and wits lead him to unique situations in life and let him accomplish great things against all the odds. It is an excellent chapter book for 9 to 10-year-old boys.
4. Best Autobiography: Little House in the Big Woods
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder It is an autobiographical book for children, featuring the four-year-old Laura Ingalls Wilder, who is the author of the book. The story takes place in the year 1871 when the Ingalls family is busy preparing for the fall. Laura lives in a log cabin in Big Woods of Wisconsin, with her mother, father, sisters Mary and Carrie, and their lovable dog Jack. Their life is not easy, but they still make the best of it. It is an excellent book for 9-year-old girls as it depicts the real-life adventures of the little Laura.
5. Best Engaging: Half Magic
Author: The book is about four siblings: Katharine, Mark, Jane, and Martha, who are going through the worst and most boring summer ever. The dull summer becomes better when Jane finds a magical coin. They find out that the coin can grant half of a wish made by its possessor and desire for something exciting to happen. The ‘half magic’ leads to a chain of events that become challenging for the kids, until they learn to double the wishes made and get exactly what they want. This magical, fantasy story will keep the young readers absorbed throughout. This video will help you make an informed decision about your purchase.
6. Best Fantasy: Mary Poppins
The story is about the Banks family that lives at Number Seventeen, Cherry Tree Lane, London, and how their life changes forever with the arrival of the nanny, Mary Poppins. Jane and Michael, and baby twins John and Barbara, the children of the Banks couple soon learn that their nanny has a magical touch that makes her special. This magical fantasy narrates the adventures that she takes the children on while disciplining them in her own way. This is a great book that enthralls 9 to 10-year-old kids throughout.
7. Best Fiction: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Author: Roald Dahl Mr. Fox is a clever fox who visits the farms of three mean farmers named Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. He raids the farms at night and steals their livestock to feed his family. Once they find out who is behind the missing livestock, the three farmers team up and surround the fox and his family. Little do these farmers know what the Fantastic Mr. Fox has planned for them and are soon outwitted by him! It is an exciting fiction book that will keep the kids hooked until the last page.
8. Best For Beginners: Stuart Little
Author: E.B. White Born into a human family, Stuart Little is not an ordinary mouse. He lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George, and Snowbell, the cat. Though his parents are worried about his survival in the human world, Stuart starts to think and behave like a human by the age of seven. One day he finds that his friend, a songbird named Margalo, has disappeared from the nest. Stuart then embarks on a quest to find Margalo that takes him on an adventurous ride. Stuart Little is a popular classic for children and an excellent choice for beginners.
9. Best Narrative Style: Wonder
Author: R. J. Palacio August Pullman, or Auggie is a little different from the other kids. Owing to a medical condition, Auggie has a facial deformity which prevents him from going to a mainstream school. But he finally makes it to Beecher Prep, as a fifth grader. There, he doesn’t have a very good time and lands up in trouble constantly. But against all the odds, August emerges as a Wonder kid. With its unique narrative style and storyline, Wonder is one of the bestsellers in the children’s books category.
10. Best For Moral Lesson: From Riches to Rags
Author: Jaclyn Howel The story is about a girl who goes from riches to rags. Meet Serendipity a.k.a. Serene, who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but looks down upon others who do not meet her standards. She is known for being a bully and attracts the wrath of others for getting away with it, thanks to her father’s high-profile connections. Will she ever become humble? The book shows how her life turns upside down and how she learns the purpose of her life. Riches to Rags has a lesson for every kid, one that teaches them not to be haughty or a bully and that all actions have consequences.
11. The Witches
Author: Roald Dahl A seven-year-old boy loves listening to his grandma’s stories, especially the ones about the witches – the real ones. As explained by his grandma, the witches are terrible creatures that loathe children more than anything. She convinces him that they will do anything to eradicate kids. The boy is fascinated by the story, but little does he expect to come face-to-face with a real witch. The rest of the book is about his encounter with the witch and if they are actually as bad as his grandma has made them out to be.
12. George’s Marvelous Medicine
Author: Roald Dahl Eight-year-old George is bullied and bossed by his grandmother. Tired of her tantrums, he thinks of punishing her by replacing her medicine. He decides to make an unusual medicine from various ingredients that create miracles. George’s parents and the grandmother are taken aback by the results of the magical mixture. This is a fantasy children’s book that combines the elements of humor and adventure.
13. Treasure at Lure Lake
Author: Shari L. Schwarz Bryce stumbles upon a treasure map in his grandfather’s barn and plans an adventurous trip to find the treasure. But that’s not all that the map has to reveal – it also leads him to an old family secret. Come what may, Bryce is determined to follow the clues and dig out the truth. With his brother, he embarks on an exciting journey that turns out to be the biggest adventure of his life.
14. Where the Red Fern Grows
Author: Wilson Rawls A team of an awesome threesome – Billy, Dan, and Ann are on an adventurous journey. No matter how tough it gets, they are determined to roam the hills of Ozarks at night. They become famous as a great hunting team as the story of their achievements spreads across the region. The old Dan’s brawn, the little Ann’s intelligence, and Billy’s determination put together, always lead them to victory and glory. A story that depicts friendship and teamwork will surely capture the young hearts. It is an excellent pick for 10-year-old children.
15. The Enchanted Castle
Author: Three children named Jerry, Jimmy, and Cathy happen to visit a mysterious castle. They stumble upon a magic ring, a beautiful princess who is now invisible, and many more adventures in the castle. Soon they realize that the princess is not a real princess, but is the niece of the housekeeper. That is because of the magic ring, a treasure they find in the castle, which turns an ordinary story to magical fantasy. It is a great book and can have the kids hooked to it until the last page.
16. Follow My Leader
Author: James B. Garfield Jimmy loses his eyesight when he is hit with a firecracker. Forced to learn to live with a disability, Jimmy relearns everything he once knew. He learns to use a cane and read Braille with the help of Miss. Thompson. He also gets accepted into a school after he gets a guide dog, which he names ‘Leader’. Jimmy is more confident with his guide dog. Though it is difficult to work with Leader, Jimmy tries his best to come over all the obstacles. It is a fascinating story rendering a good message that a disability should never limit you.
17. The Secret of the Ruby Ring
Author: Yvonne MacGrory The story centers around an 11-year-old girl named Lucy, who gets a Ruby ring as a special birthday present from her grandma. Accidentally, Lucy discovers the magical power of the ring and makes her first wish that takes her to another age. She is transported to Ireland during the turbulent times of the year 1885. As she starts missing her family, Lucy decides to get back to her home by making a wish. Suddenly, she realizes that the ring is missing. This rest of the story is about Lucy finding the ring and a way back home to her parents. It is a combination of historical details and valuable lessons for life, which makes it a good pick for 10-years-old kids.
How To Choose The Right Books For 9- To 10-Year-Olds?
Here are some significant points to consider when buying a suitable book for your child.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Wedetso Chirhah is experienced in choosing suitable books for every age group. In this post, he has selected books ideal for the age groups of nine and ten. The books added to this list have interesting illustrations and explain the struggles of most ten-year-old’s. In addition, the book’s storylines and moral values remain inclined throughout. He has also described briefly why these books are worth reading. Do you have any more books to add to our list? Let us know in the comments section below.
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