Wondering what to get that young reader on your gift list? I interviewed my favorite 9-year-old girl for recommendations. Many of those noted below are a series, or the first of a series of books, and a few of them have the first books available as a boxed set. Books are a great gift – you can set the tone for a love of reading for the rest of their lives. Without further ado, here are my daughter's recommendations.
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10 Great books for girls in Kindergarten - 3rd grade
What is better for your young unicorn fan than a book that comes with a stylus so you can scratch along the lines on each page and color in the picture?
“You can make the picture and read a book at the same time!”
Kids love jokes, and they love it even more when they can make YOU laugh. This joke book is a favorite in our house.
“They’re really fun on a car trip! I made my dad laugh with this one: ‘What do triceratops sit on? –Their tricerabottoms!’”
- Eerie Elementary series: The School is Alive! (book 1)
This is the first in a series geared toward kids that are strong enough readers to make it through those stage 1-2-3 reader books and need to move on to their first chapter books.
“It’s a mystery and an adventure. It seems scary, but then you read more and find out that it’s really not! ‘The Locker Ate Lucy’ (#2) is the funniest one.”
- Notebook of Doom series: Rise of the Balloon Goons (book 1)
You know those “wavy tubey guys” out in front of car dealerships? Alexander moves to a new town and discovers a notebook with “DOOM” inscribed on the front, which contains secret monster information. My daughter frequently comes up to me and reads the stats on the monsters, laughing the whole time. They really are clever. With lots of illustrations and humor, she can’t put these down.
“It’s funny and mysterious. There’s all sorts of monsters that they’re trying to defeat, but they’re all funny… like the meat-eating vegetables in book two!”
- The Princess in Black (+ series)
She’s a proper princess with a secret identity as a superhero. With action and adventure, this short book keeps them entertained and engaged.
“She defeats monsters! The boy who guards the sheep wants to be a superhero – LIKE HER!”
Daisy’s imaginary friend is actually real! Daisy and Posey go on all kinds of adventures and learn valuable lessons along the way, like how to be a good friend or how to get along with others. This book was my younger daughter’s very first chapter book that she read on her own, and we had to read each of the others in quick succession once she finished it.
“With your imagination, you can come up with anything!”
- Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute (Lunch Lady series, book 1)
There’s something afoot with the new substitute teacher at school, and the Lunch Lady and her assistant Betty are on the case. This is a graphic novel that’s a quick and entertaining read. I heard my daughter laughing out loud while reading it.
“These are SO good! The kids know there’s something wrong, and wonder why the lunch ladies are always there, outside of the cafeteria. They don’t know the lunch ladies have secret identities!”
Remember those books where you make a choice at the bottom of the page and turn to the corresponding page that follows what you want the characters to do, essentially writing your own adventure? They’re doing these now with Scooby Doo books. My kids are loving them.
“You follow different people and make your own story. Plus there are jokes in the back where you can choose different parts of the joke to turn one joke into a bunch of them!”
- Heidi Hecklebeck Has a Secret (Heidi Heckelbeck series, book 1)
Heidi Heckelbeck is transitioning from homeschool to public school, joining the second grade. Not only does she have to figure out a new school, she’s got a secret – she’s actually a witch! Kids read along with Heidi as she encounters the mean girl in class and has to figure out how to handle the situation.
“They’re funny books, and she has a big personality. And she’s a witch!”
A magician taught his daughter some tricks, and she went on to win local talent competitions – then they wrote a book together to teach more kids. There are links to online video demonstrations and how-to’s for props.
“My dad taught me how to do a magic trick. Once I figured it out, I laughed so hard! It’s fun to do the tricks.”
There you go – ten books to keep your favorite 6 to 10-year-old girl entertained for days, reviewed by a girl who loves them all.
Check them out today and make your young reader very happy!
I love your favorite 9 year old!! She gives great reviews, and takes after her articulate Mama!