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Did this specific Top Picks list help you decide to do any of the following?

Did this specific Top Picks list help you decide to do any of the following?

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Books for Reluctant Readers

Not every kid is a born bookworm. But some books can help convert reluctant readers into kids who will beg for one more chapter before bedtime. Check out some of our favorites.

Browse Books for Reluctant Readers

Fantastic Mr. Fox Book Poster Image
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Fantastic Mr. Fox
age 6+
Dahl's satisfying Robin Hood tale.
By Roald Dahl
(2007)
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Bookmarks Are People Too!: Here's Hank, Book 1 Book Poster Image
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Bookmarks Are People Too!: Here's Hank, Book 1
age 6+
Boy finds smart ways to overcome challenges in fun story.
By Henry Winkler, Lin Oliver
(2014)
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Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers: Captain Underpants, Book 9 Book Poster Image
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Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers: Captain Underpants, Book 9
age 7+
Fun, clever time-travel plot mixes with usual potty jokes.
By Dav Pilkey
(2012)
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The Magic School Bus Series Book Poster Image
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The Magic School Bus Series
age 7+
Smart science-based series mixes facts and fun.
By Joanna Cole
(2012)
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Squish Book Poster Image
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Squish
age 7+
Cute, clever start to series from Babymouse authors.
By Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm
(2011)
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Stick Cat: A Tail of Two Kitties: Stick Cat, Book 1 Book Poster Image
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Stick Cat: A Tail of Two Kitties: Stick Cat, Book 1
age 7+
Sweet tale of kind cat is daffy fun for reluctant readers.
By Tom Watson
(2016)
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Stick Dog, Book 1 Book Poster Image
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Stick Dog, Book 1
age 7+
Warm-hearted dogs in silly Big Nate-style adventure.
By Tom Watson
(2013)
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Lowriders in Space, Book 1 Book Poster Image
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Lowriders in Space, Book 1
age 8+
Pedal-to-the-metal graphic novel celebrates Latino culture.
By Cathy Camper
(2014)
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Lunch Money Book Poster Image
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Lunch Money
age 8+
Delightful page-turner with rock-solid values.
By Andrew Clements
(2005)
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No Talking Book Poster Image
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No Talking
age 8+
Ear-to-ear-grinningly delightful school story.
By Andrew Clements
(2008)
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The Big Field Book Poster Image
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The Big Field
age 9+
Action-packed, emotional dad-son baseball story.
By Mike Lupica
(2008)
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Big Nate Out Loud Book Poster Image
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Big Nate Out Loud
age 9+
Will appeal to Wimpy Kid fans and reluctant readers.
By Lincoln Peirce
(2011)
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book Poster Image
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid
age 9+
Laugh-out-loud-funny series start tucks lessons in stories.
By Jeff Kinney
(2007)
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Infinity Ring: A Mutiny in Time, Book 1 Book Poster Image
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Infinity Ring: A Mutiny in Time, Book 1
age 9+
Gripping multimedia time-travel adventure series debut.
By James Dashner
(2012)
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Lawn Boy Book Poster Image
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Lawn Boy
age 9+
Perfect summer reading for reluctant readers.
By Gary Paulsen
(2007)
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Middle School: Get Me Out of Here! Book Poster Image
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Middle School: Get Me Out of Here!
age 9+
Real middle school issues mix with lots of humor.
By James Patterson, Chris Tebbetts
(2012)
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The Misadventures of Max Crumbly 1: Locker Hero Book Poster Image
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The Misadventures of Max Crumbly 1: Locker Hero
age 9+
Fun middle school adventure perfect for reluctant readers.
By Rachel Renee Russell
(2016)
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Half-Moon Investigations Book Poster Image
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Half-Moon Investigations
age 10+
Clever detective fiction for middle-graders.
By Eoin Colfer
(2006)
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Monster Hunters: Nightmare Academy: Book 1 Book Poster Image
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Monster Hunters: Nightmare Academy: Book 1
age 10+
Familiar and predictable but lots of fun.
By Dean Lorey
(2009)
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Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made Book Poster Image
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Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
age 10+
Offbeat imagination rules in funny, poignant graphic novel.
By Stephan Pastis
(2013)
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The Unwanteds, Book 1 Book Poster Image
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The Unwanteds, Book 1
age 10+
Magical fantasy has peril, battles, positive messages.
By Lisa McMann
(2011)
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The Wish List Book Poster Image
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The Wish List
age 10+
Wicked is the key word here, in all its senses.
By Eoin Colfer
(2004)
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The Outsiders Book Poster Image
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The Outsiders
age 12+
Story of ostracized kid a timeless fave of teens, preteens.
By S. E. Hinton
(2003)
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The Kill Order Book Poster Image
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The Kill Order
age 13+
Action-packed prequel to popular Maze Runner trilogy.
By James Dashner
(2012)
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Rumble Fish Book Poster Image
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Rumble Fish
age 13+
Realistic portrait of a kid with no future.
By S. E. Hinton
(2004)
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Other great lists from our editors

Harry Potter Book Series
Percy Jackson Book Series
Funny Books for Kids

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