Homeschooling  |  December 27, 2020

2021 Booklist Recommendations: Best Books to Read With Your Kids

2021 Booklist Recommendations: The Best Books to Read With Your Kids

Ready for a booklist for your family book club in 2021?

With online classes for school ending all around the country soon, parents are worried about how they will manage to keep their kids entertained and engaged in healthy habits during a long summer stuck inside. It might be easy to let your child run amok with their favorite electronic device. However, conscientious parents know that the best way to keep their children engaged is through fun activities that make their brains work.

 

Also Read: Coronavirus Quarantine: How to Keep Your Child Active

 

A book club for the whole family will pass the time away. At the same time, it will ensure that your child’s brain and intelligence develop throughout the summer. Without further ado, here are our top picks for 2021.

The author’s personal favorites are marked with an *.

2021 Booklist Recommendation for Kids

Kindergarten to Second Grade

During the 2018–2019 school year, 231,799 kindergartners each read, on average, 22.4 books and 7,234 words. Overall, approximately 45% of books were read to students, 22% were read with students, and 33% were read independently.  (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

2021 Booklist Recommendations: top pick for kindergarten

The Biscuit series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

  1. Biscuit Series, Alyssa Satin Capucilli (0.7–1.6, LG, 140L–500L)

  2. Dr. Seuss Collection, Dr. Seuss (0.6–5.2, LG, 180L–1000L) *

  3. Pete the Cat Series, James Dean (1.2–4.3, LG, 160L–640L)

  4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle (2.9, LG, 460L) *

  5. Elephant & Piggie Series, Mo Willems (0.5–1.4, LG, 40L–330L)

  6. Pigeon Series, Mo Willems (0.7–1.5, LG, 280L–470L)

  7. Big Egg, Molly Coxe (0.4, LG, 220L)

  8. David Series, David Shannon (0.9, LG, 210L)

  9. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Bill Martin Jr. (1.5, LG, 200L) *

  10. Itchy, Itchy Chicken Pox, Grace Maccarone (0.7, LG, 280L)

As you can probably guess by our summer quarantine booklist, reading about friendly and adorable animals is a favorite past-time for equally friendly and adorable kindergarteners.

During the 2018–2019 school year, 798,874 first graders each read, on average, 46.8 books and 27,971 words. Overall,approximately 15% of books were read to students, 15% were read with students, and 70% were read independently. (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

2021 Booklist Recommendations: top pick for 1st grade

Dr. Seuss’s Book Collection by Dr. Seuss

  1. Dr. Seuss Collection, Dr. Seuss (0.6–5.2, LG, 180L–1000L) *

  2. Fly Guy Series, Tedd Arnold (1.2–2.7, LG, 270L–530L)

  3. Biscuit Series, Alyssa Satin Capucilli (0.7–1.6, LG, 140L–500L)

  4. Pete the Cat Series, James Dean (1.2–4.3, LG, 160L–640L)

  5. Elephant & Piggie Series, Mo Willems (0.5–1.4, LG, 40L–330L)

  6. Pigeon Series, Mo Willems (0.7–1.5, LG, 280L–470L)

  7. David Series, David Shannon (0.9, LG, 210L)

  8. If You Give… Series, Laura Numeroff (1.0–2.7, LG, 170L–590L) *

  9. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle (2.9, LG, 460L) *

  10. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Bill Martin Jr. (1.5, LG, 200L) *

As you can see above, many of the popular books from kindergarten and first-grade overlap on our quarantine booklist. Animals are still a fan-favorite and all of these books will teach your child strong values and morals.

During the 2018–2019 school year, 1,076,623 second graders each read, on average, 60.6 books and 87,287 words. Overall, approximately 10% of books were read to students, 7% were read with students, and 83% were read independently. (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

2021 Booklist Recommendations: top pick for 2nd grade

Click, Clack… Series by Doreen Cronin

  1. Dr. Seuss Collection, Dr. Seuss (0.6–5.2, LG, 180L–1000L) *

  2. Click, Clack… Series, Doreen Cronin (1.0–2.7, LG, 290L–490L) *
  3. If You Give… Series, Laura Numeroff (1.0–2.7, LG, 170L–590L) *

  4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle (2.9, LG, 460L) *

  5. Dog Man Series, Dav Pilkey (2.3–2.6, LG, 280L–390L)
  6. Officer Buckle and Gloria, Peggy Rathmann (3.4, LG, 570L)
  7. Fly Guy Series, Tedd Arnold (1.2–2.7, LG, 270L–530L)
  8. There Was an Old Lady Series, Lucille Colandro (2.1–3.8, LG, 240L–540L)

  9. Pete the Cat Series, James Dean (1.2–4.3, LG, 160L–640L)

  10. The Bug Diaries Series, Doreen Cronin (2.5–3.2, LG, 490L–510L

Second graders generally read the later books in each of these series as the Lexile level of those books is higher. You will see some continuation of earlier favorites from first grade on our quarantine booklist. This is good! If your child is interested in continuing a particular book series, then they are developing a love for reading!

Third to Fifth Grade

During the 2018–2019 school year, 1,158,568 third graders each read, on average, 52.3 books and 195,000 words. (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

2021 Booklist Recommendations: top pick for 3rd grade
Dog Man Series by Dav Pilkey
  1. Dog Man Series, Dav Pilkey (2.3–2.6, LG, 280L–390L)
  2. Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White (4.4, MG, 680L) *
  3. Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo (3.9, MG, 670L) *
  4. A Fine, Fine School, Sharon Creech (3.3, LG, 500L)
  5. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, Jon Scieszka (3.0, LG, 510L)
  6. A Bad Case of Stripes, David Shannon (3.8, LG, 610L)
  7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, Jeff Kinney (5.2–6.5, MG, 910L–1060L) *
  8. Wolf!, Becky Bloom (3.5, LG, 340L)
  9. Tops & Bottoms, Janet Stevens (3.2, LG, 580L)

  10. Dr. Seuss Collection, Dr. Seuss (0.6–5.2, LG, 180L–1000L) *

Children reading at the third-grade level will start to reach for more chapter books than picture books. While these chapter books still have illustrations in them from time to time, your child will be relying more on the text to understand what’s going on.

During the 2018–2019 school year, 1,173,798 fourth graders each read, on average, 38.2 books and 306,272 words. (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

2021 Booklist Recommendations: top pick for 4th grade
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney
  1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, Jeff Kinney (5.2–6.5, MG, 910L–1060L) * 
  2. Dog Man Series, Dav Pilkey (2.3–2.6, LG, 280L–390L)
  3. Fudge Series, Judy Blume (3.3–3.6, LG/MG, 470L–560L)
  4. Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo (3.9, MG, 670L) *
  5. Wonder Series, R.J. Palacio (4.2–4.8, MG, 790L) *
  6. Smile/Sisters/Guts, Raina Telgemeier (2.4–2.6, MG, 290L–480L) *
  7. Frindle, Andrew Clements (5.4, MG, 830L)
  8. Stone Fox, John Reynolds Gardiner (4.0, MG, 610L)
  9. Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O’Dell (5.4, MG, 1000L) *
  10. Captain Underpants Series, Dav Pilkey (4.3–5.3, MG, 640L–890L)

As your child reaches the fourth grade level of reading comprehension, the books they will enjoy will have more interesting and thought-provoking themes. Many of the books above on our quarantine booklist deal with issues that your fourth-grader may already be familiar with. Whether it’s feeling self-conscious about their appearance and dealing with friends and family (Smile/Sisters/Guts) or learning how to forgive and build trust with someone (Island of the Blue Dolphins), your child will learn important life lessons by reading how these beloved characters act in these situations.

During the 2018–2019 school year, 1,153,475 fifth graders each read, on average, 28.7 books and 388,397 words. (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

The Wonder Series by R.J. Palacio quarantine booklist top pick for 5th grade
Wonder Series by R. J. Palacio
  1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, Jeff Kinney (5.2–6.5, MG, 910L–1060L) *
  2. Wonder Series, R.J. Palacio (4.2–4.8, MG, 790L) *
  3. Brian’s Saga Series, Gary Paulsen (5.5–5.9, MG/MG+, 960L–1140L)
  4. Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (4.5, MG, 670L)
  5. Dog Man Series, Dav Pilkey (2.3–2.6, LG, 280L–390L)
  6. Frindle, Andrew Clements (5.4, MG, 830L)
  7. Esperanza Rising, Pam Muñoz Ryan (5.3, MG, 750L
  8. Holes, Louis Sachar (4.6, MG, 660L) *
  9. Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG, 770L)
  10. Smile/Sisters/Guts, Raina Telgemeier (2.4–2.6, MG, 290L–480L) *

As your child nears the end of elementary school, the books they will reach for will have themes that they will return to for the rest of their lives. Some of the books on this quarantine booklist will leave a lasting impact on your child. They’ll grow to be kinder and more empathetic. At the same time, they will start to understand how their actions can affect the world around them.

Sixth to Eighth Grade

During the 2018–2019 school year, 754,468 sixth graders each read, on average, 16.9 books and 404,001 words. (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

quarantine booklist top pick for 6th grade
Brian’s Saga Series by Gary Paulsen
  1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, Jeff Kinney (5.2–6.5, MG, 910L–1060L) *
  2. Brian’s Saga Series, Gary Paulsen (5.5–5.9, MG/MG+, 960L–1140L)
  3. Wonder Series, R.J. Palacio (4.2–4.8, MG, 790L) *
  4. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, Rick Riordan (4.1–6.7, MG, 590L–790L) *
  5. Number the Stars, Lois Lowry (4.5, MG, 670L)
  6. Freak the Mighty Series, Rodman Philbrick (5.0–5.5, MG/UG, 870L–930L)
  7.  Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis (5.0, MG, 950L)
  8. Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt (5.0, MG, 770L)
  9. Giver Quartet, Lois Lowry (4.9–5.7, MG/MG+, 680L–760L) *
  10. Hunger Games Trilogy, Suzanne Collins (5.3–5.3, MG/MG+, 800L–820L)

Series and trilogies are big favorites for middle schoolers. As students start to vary in their interests in literature, the genres of books available to them also start to expand. Some fan favorites during this age are dystopian young adult fiction as well as fantasy children’s fiction. Based on what your child already loves to read, we can guarantee they will like many of the books in our quarantine booklist.

During the 2018–2019 school year, 538,928 seventh graders each read, on average, 11.3 books and 376,580 words. (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

quarantine booklist top pick for 7th grade
Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry
  1. Giver Quartet, Lois Lowry (4.9–5.7, MG/MG+, 680L–760L)
  2. The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG, 750L) *
  3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, Jeff Kinney (5.2–6.5, MG, 910L–1060L) *
  4. Hunger Games Trilogy, Suzanne Collins (5.3–5.3, MG/MG+, 800L–820L)
  5. Wonder Series, R.J. Palacio (4.2–4.8, MG, 790L) *
  6. A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story, Linda Sue Park (5.0, MG+, 720L)
  7. Freak the Mighty Series, Rodman Philbrick (5.0–5.5, MG/UG, 870L–930L)
  8. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Rudyard Kipling (5.0, LG, 810L) *
  9. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, Rick Riordan (4.1–6.7, MG, 590L–790L) *
  10. The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963, Christopher Paul Curtis (5.0, MG, 920L) *

The love for series continues in our summer quarantine booklist. While dystopia and fantasy continue to be major players in the books your seventh grader loves to read, there are also some amazing standalone novels in this list. Let your child travel into the past learn about the racial struggles that continue to plague our nation (The Watsons Go to Birmingham) or navigate socio-economic class struggles through the eyes of a teenager with an interesting name (The Outsiders).

During the 2018–2019 school year, 477,357 eighth graders each read, on average, 9.7 books and 378,979 words. (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

quarantine booklist top pick for eighth grade
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
  1. The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG, 750L) *
  2. Giver Quartet, Lois Lowry (4.9–5.7, MG/MG+, 680L–760L)
  3. The Tell-Tale Heart, Edgar Allan Poe (7.3, UG, 1350L)
  4. The Diary of Anne Frank, Frances Goodrich (3.1, MG, 1020L)
  5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, Jeff Kinney (5.2–6.5, MG, 910L–1060L) *
  6. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, John Boyne (5.8, UG, 1000L)
  7. Hunger Games Trilogy, Suzanne Collins (5.3–5.3, MG/MG+, 800L–820L)
  8. Night, Elie Wiesel (4.8, UG, 590L)
  9. The Monkey’s Paw, W.W. Jacobs (6.5, UG, 420L)
  10. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (5.6, UG, 790L) *

Toward the end of middle school, your child will be learning difficult parts of history and literature that will hopefully shape their worldview as someone with empathy and compassion for others. These amazing novels on our summer quarantine booklist will supplement their learning!

Ninth to Twelfth Grade

During the 2018–2019 school year, 96,911 ninth graders each read, on average, 6.2 books and 280,132 words. (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

quarantine booklist top pick for 9th graders
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  1. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (5.6, UG, 790L) *
  2. Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck (4.5, UG, 630L) *
  3. Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare (8.6, UG) *
  4. The Most Dangerous Game, Richard Connell (5.3, UG) *
  5. Night, Elie Wiesel (4.8, UG, 590L)
  6. The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton (4.7, UG, 750L) *
  7. Hunger Games Trilogy, Suzanne Collins (5.3–5.3, MG/MG+, 800L–820L)
  8. Animal Farm, George Orwell (7.3, UG, 1370L)
  9. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Series, Jenny Han (4.2–4.5, UG, 630L–700L)
  10. The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas (3.9, UG, 590L) *

The last book on this quarantine booklist is highly culturally relevant! Make sure to pick that one up for your child if they haven’t read it already. In ninth grade, your child will be reading a mix of literary works and conventional literature. Both have strong merits and the mix of books on this list is a great place to start.

During the 2018–2019 school year, 74,764 tenth graders each read, on average, 5.4 books and 285,604 words. (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

quarantine booklist top pick for tenth graders
Night by Elie Wiesel
  1. Night, Elie Wiesel (4.8, UG, 590L)
  2. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (5.6, UG, 790L) *
  3. Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck (4.5, UG, 630L) *
  4. Lord of the Flies, William Golding (5.0, UG, 770L) *
  5. Animal Farm, George Orwell (7.3, UG, 1370L)
  6. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Series, Jenny Han (4.2–4.5, UG, 630L–700L)
  7. Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare (10.8, UG)
  8. The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas (3.9, UG, 590L) *
  9. Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe (6.2, UG, 890L)
  10. The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka (10.5, UG, 1340L)

Tenth graders will likely see many of the books on this quarantine booklist on the syllabus for their English class. If your child loves sci-fi, we suggest they pick up The Metamorphosis for a great read with much societal insight and discourse for them to reflect on. If they’re a lover of love stories, the popular book series now Netflix cinematic universe, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series is a great pick.

During the 2018–2019 school year, 58,703 eleventh graders each read, on average, 5.1 books and 261,580 words. (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

quarantine booklist top pick for 11th graders
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
  1. The Crucible, Arthur Miller (4.9, UG)
  2. The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald (7.3, UG, 1010L) *
  3. The Scarlet Letter (Unabridged), Nathaniel Hawthorne (11.7, UG, 1280L)
  4. A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry (5.5, UG) *
  5. Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury (5.2, UG, 890L) *
  6. The Book Thief, Markus Zusak (5.1, UG, 730L) *
  7. The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood (5.4, UG, 970L) *
  8. The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (6.0, UG, 890L)
  9. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey (6.2, UG, 1110L) *
  10. The Bite of a Mango, Mariatu Kamara (5.5, UG, 800L)

We’re going to be honest with you. A lot of the books on our quarantine booklist can be pretty depressing. Happy endings in these books are a little few and far in between. However, these books will leave your child with much to reflect on and are great for critical readers.

During the 2018–2019 school year, 42,217 twelfth graders each read, on average, 5.0 books and 250,436 words. (What Kids Are Reading, Renaissance)

quarantine booklist top pick for 12th graders
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
  1. Hamlet, William Shakespeare (10.5, UG)
  2. Frankenstein (Unabridged), Mary Shelley (12.4, UG, 1040L)
  3. The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini (5.2, UG, 840L) *
  4. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen (12.0, UG, 1190L) *
  5. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte (7.9, UG, 840L) *
  6. Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison (9.5, UG, 950L) *
  7. The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern (6.5, UG, 950L)
  8. The Souls of Black Folk, W.E.B. DuBois (9.6, UG, 1280L) *
  9. The 57 Bus, Dashka Slater (6.5, UG, 930L) *
  10. They Both Die at the End, Adam Silvera (5.5, UG, 870L)

For our seniors, this 2021 booklist recommendation is a combination of classics and some recent favorites. Your child will soon be an adult who can now significantly affect their larger society as a whole. We chose these books because they impart important truths about life that our young adults can hold close to their hearts.

What’s Next?

We hope our 2021 booklist recommendation gives you plenty of material to read with the entire family. For children, books are often the best sources of learning while giving them a chance to marvel at and get lost in a completely different world of stories. All the above-recommended books have that larger goal in mind!

For their 2021 resolutions, get your child to learn something new and creative like playing an instrument, painting, creative writing, and much more! Check out some free trial lessons with Talentnook.

Looking for an all-in-one writing program for students who want to build an effective writing skillset – early on. So they can communicate with confidence!

Join the Talentnook Writing Program to hone your child’s writing skills

Tags
Home Schooling Author Bhagyeshwari Chauhan