Handpicked by Our Editors

Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson
Age 5+
4

Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson

Why We Recommend It

Jackie Robinson was special on the baseball field and off. His daughter's bio of the slugger-as-dad emphasizes courage.

Read our full review
Finding great books for children makes them lifelong readers.

When you give your children books they love, you give them a gift that lasts forever. But finding books that appeal to kids when there's so much else competing for their time has become really tough. Our recommended lists by theme and topic will help you find books for children of all ages and interests, from All Things Harry Potter to the best books to share with dads.

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I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb
Parents Need to Know...

that they'll find lots of pranks against students and teachers in this book, as well as plenty of sarcastic quips and negative words for others. But that's the brand of humor in this first kids book by one of the Daily Show executive ... read more

Age 11+
I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President
4
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney
Parents Need to Know...

this is the mildest Wimpy Kid yet. Greg still has a little trouble with honesty and good intentions, and some of his actions are those of a younger child. He has a crush on a high school senior who is a lifeguard, and he follows her ... read more

Age 9+
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
3
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There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a rendition of the old song most kids have heard, and enjoy singing. The woman dies in the end, and in this book a tab pulls the eyes closed to show it. That interactive playfulness might add to the silliness for some kids, ... read more

Age 5+
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
3
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Vamped by Lucienne Diver
Parents Need to Know...

that there is certainly a lot of gore in this vampire book, but the narrator's a bit of an airhead, which makes the violence seem more yucky than horrific. The main characters do share some smokin' kisses -- and even wake up together ... read more

Age 13+
Vamped
3
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The Yggyssey by Daniel Manus Pinkwater
Parents Need to Know...

that there is little to be concerned with here: a few brands mentioned and a reference to rolling cigarettes. read more

Age 9+
The Yggyssey
3
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Nasty Book by Barry Yourgrau
Parents Need to Know...

that this book is specifically designed to entertain in a campy, horror style. There are killer pets, ghosts, uncaring parents, decapitations, murders, thefts, and other unpleasant events. The stories are designed to be unnerving, so if ... read more

Age 9+
Nasty Book
3
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Melonhead by Katy Kelly
Parents Need to Know...

that Melonhead and Sam get into trouble because they don't think about consequences. The boys don't mean any harm, but they don't think about dangers that could come to them or others by their actions. Parents talk with the boys about ... read more

Age 8+
Melonhead
4
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Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look
Parents Need to Know...

that there is little to be concerned with here, aside from a girl punching a boy once. read more

Age 6+
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things
4
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
Parents Need to Know...

that while there is none of the usual kind of objectionable content, every character, both adult and child, behaves badly, and often dishonestly. Humor centers around siblings tormenting each other and friends manipulating, lying to, and ... read more

Age 8+
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
3
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Science Fair by Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson
Parents Need to Know...

that this story involves a terrorist plot to cause widespread panic through power outages -- the motives are silly ones, however, and not revealed until close to the end. A fake third-world country is also depicted in a very silly manor ... read more

Age 10+
Science Fair
4
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Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger by Kevin Bolger
Parents Need to Know...

that this book isn't all bathroom humor; there are far more clever jokes mixed in. Plus, the main character, Prince Harry, starts out as a big practical jokester but comes to regret it when he gets to like Sir Fartsalot and finally admits ... read more

Age 8+
Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger
4
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Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
Parents Need to Know...

that Pippi, a child living alone (her mother is dead and her father disappeared at sea), not going to school, and often behaving rudely, is not the best role model, but she is generous and means well. read more

Age 7+
Pippi Longstocking
4
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Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley
Parents Need to Know...

that the main character chokes to death on a gummy bear at the very beginning and proceeds to meet other dead teens. While the mood stays pretty light and darkly humorous (think Beetlejuice), the language can get pretty salty, especially ... read more

Age 12+
Ghostgirl
4
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The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
Parents Need to Know...

that the black humor here will not be to everyone's taste. Some adults, and even a few kids, may find parents and children who despise each other to be disturbing rather than funny. read more

Age 8+
The Willoughbys
3
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Attack of the Growling Eyeballs: Who Shrunk Daniel Funk? Book 1 by Lin Oliver
Parents Need to Know...

that this book is trying to be edgy for its young target crowd, but it's mostly about attitude. Daniel does lie to his mother and teacher. When Daniel shrinks, he and his tiny brother engage in some potentially dangerous acts, like ... read more

Age 8+
Attack of the Growling Eyeballs: Who Shrunk Daniel Funk? Book 1
2
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Oggie Cooder #1 by Sarah Weeks
Parents Need to Know...

that one mean character tells lies but suffers the consequences. read more

Age 7+
Oggie Cooder #1
4
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The Ugly Guide to the Uglyverse by David Horvath
Parents Need to Know...

that this book is ideal for kids who love Uglydolls and can't quite get into the groove of reading. Kids may miss some of the offbeat humor (which is fairly harmless), but will find themselves engaging with the characters they know and ... read more

Age 6+
The Ugly Guide to the Uglyverse
3
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Kaline Klattermaster's Tree House by Haven Kimmel
Parents Need to Know...

that parents are portrayed poorly here. Kaline's father, who abandons the family and doesn't communicate until the end, is obsessive. His mother is distant, uncommunicative, inept at performing the most basic functions of daily existence, ... read more

Age 7+
Kaline Klattermaster's Tree House
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Gert Garibaldi's Rants and Raves: One Butt Cheek at a Time by Amber Kizer
Parents Need to Know...

sex, masturbation, dating, sexually transmitted disease, condom usage, and gay relationships are talked about in this book. It's a coming-of-age story and deals with most topics in a frank and sometimes humorous way. read more

Age 14+
Gert Garibaldi's Rants and Raves: One Butt Cheek at a Time
5
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney
Parents Need to Know...

this book has sibling rivalry, one wild party, and some scheming to cheat on tests and get out of chores. The great thing is, like most middle school kids, the characters get caught and are punished. read more

Age 8+
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
4
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The Discovery of Dragons by Graeme Base
Parents Need to Know...

that this may be in picture book format, but it's geared toward tweens and teens. Younger children won't get the humor and may be frightened by some of the dragon paintings. Several deaths are mentioned, mostly from encounters with ... read more

Age 8+
The Discovery of Dragons
4

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