Book Gifts for 8 to 10 Year Olds
Ages 8–10 · 3rd to 5th grade
For an 8 to 10 year old, give a chapter book that starts a habit: a funny one, an animal story, or book one of a series. Several of the best-loved books for this age are also on school lists in many states, so the count under each book shows how likely it is that the child reads it in class anyway.
Not for a child still learning to read alone: the 5 to 7 page has read-aloud picture books. And check Wonder and Because of Winn-Dixie first: each is on school lists in 30 or more states.
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Charlotte's Webby E.B. White · Grades 3rd–5th · 184 pages · 1952
184 pages of the friendship every kid remembers for the rest of their life.
On school lists in 4 states (most often 3rd grade)
E. B. White box set: Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan
Get the box set on AmazonOnly this book: editions and formats →
The Wild Robotby Peter Brown · Grades 4th–6th · 288 pages · 2016
Kindness, survival, and a robot who learns to be a mom. Genuinely unputdownable.
On school lists in 8 states (most often 4th grade)
The Wild Robot paperback boxed set
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Matildaby Roald Dahl · Grades 3rd–6th · 240 pages · 1988
The genius-kid-vs-awful-grown-ups revenge fantasy every 4th grader deserves.
On school lists in 9 states (most often 4th grade)
Get it on Amazon
The One and Only Ivanby Katherine Applegate · Grades 3rd–7th · 320 pages · 2012
A gorilla, a baby elephant, and a friendship that won the Newbery. Tears guaranteed.
On school lists in 10 states (most often 4th grade)
Ivan & Friends 2-book box set: The One and Only Ivan, The One and Only Bob
Get the box set on AmazonOnly this book: editions and formats →
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson, Book 1)by Rick Riordan · Grades 4th–7th · 384 pages · 2005
The book that turns a 4th grader into a five-book-series binger overnight.
On school lists in 17 states (most often 6th grade)
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New Kidby Jerry Craft · Grades 4th–8th · 256 pages · 2019
The first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal — even reluctant readers fly through it.
On school lists in 20 states (most often 6th grade)
New Kid and Class Act: the box set
Get the box set on AmazonOnly this book: editions and formats →
Because of Winn-Dixieby Kate DiCamillo · Grades 3rd–5th · 182 pages · 2000
A Newbery Honor novel and Common Core exemplar.
On school lists in 31 states (most often 4th grade)
Get it on Amazon
Wonderby R.J. Palacio · Grades 3rd–7th · 320 pages · 2012
R.J. Palacio's rotating-narrator novel about a boy with a facial difference is a fixture of 4th–6th grade ELA for its anti-bullying framing.
On school lists in 32 states (most often 5th grade)
Get it on Amazon
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What reads well at ages 8–10?
This is the age of 180 to 390 page novels and the first long series. A Newbery winner with short chapters (The One and Only Ivan) suits a child who reads in bursts; The Lightning Thief suits one who will want books two to five.
How were these picked?
Each book comes from one of ReadingList's hand-checked lists, and the awards named are the award bodies' own. The school-list line counts the states whose reading lists include the book in our data (see how we source lists). Books set in fewer states come first, because a gift they already read in class is a wasted gift.
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