Image: MomJunction Design Team
Choosing the best books for 9- to-10-year-olds can be overwhelming, given the sheer number of options available in the market. Thus, to help you narrow down your search, we bring you a list of the best options available online.
You can choose a book based on the genre your child is inclined towards—it could be fairytale, suspense, comedy, or science fiction. Whether your little one is an avid reader or one who loves looking at the images in the book, it is always a good idea to inculcate the reading habit in them. So, keep scrolling and add some of the best-selling books listed here to your shopping cart.
Top Picks
17 Books For Nine-To-Ten-Year-Old Kids
Here, we have listed the books along with the summary for each, to help you pick the right one.
1. Best Award-Winning: Frindle
Author: Andrew Clements
A fifth grader named Nicholas Allen, or One day, he comes across a pen on the street and decides to call it ‘Frindle’ instead of a ‘pen,’ just to liven things up. His friends love his idea and start using the word a lot, but his teacher Mrs. Granger doesn’t.
Soon, the new word gains popularity, and before Nick knows it, the word is being used nationwide. Thanks to this new word, Nick becomes a celebrity and his school becomes popular. While his teacher wants to put an end to this nonsense, the ‘word’ spreads like fire, and it is beyond Nick’s control to stop it now.
This fiction book inspires the kids to get creative with language and even improve their vocabulary while adding new words to it! This video review will help you learn more about this hilarious book.
2. Best Comedy: Diary Of A Wimpy Kid
Author: Jeff Kinney
It is the beginning of a new school year, and Greg Heffley goes to middle school, where the weak and undersized kids share the same hall with the taller and meaner ones. Greg records his pain of growing up in the form of words and drawings in a dairy. However, Greg is happy to have Rowley as his best friend. The duo kicks off a chain of events that hilariously test their friendship.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a time-tested, best-selling book series that combines fun and humor into easy-to-read stories about two friends and their life as middle-schoolers. It is one of the best middle-grade books that makes an ideal pick for a 9-year-old.
Pro tip3. Best For Young Boys: Nate Rocks The World
Author: Karen Pokras Toz
The story is about ten-year-old Nathan Rockledge, who has a tough time balancing all the things that fourth graders have to do. Between finding time for his science projects and football games, he also has to deal with his annoying older sister and parents who are always in their own world.
Nathan tries to escape the mundaneness of his life using his imagination and his love for drawing. His passion and wits lead him to unique situations in life and let him accomplish great things against all the odds. It is an excellent chapter book for 9-to-10-year-old kids.
4. Best Autobiography: Little House In The Big Woods
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
It is an autobiographical book for children, featuring the true story of four-year-old Laura Ingalls Wilder, who is the author of the book. This story takes place in the year 1871 when the Ingalls family is busy preparing for the fall. Laura lives in a log cabin in Big Woods of Wisconsin with her mother, father, sisters Mary and Carrie, and their lovable dog Jack. Their life is not easy, but they still make the best of it.
It is an excellent adventure book for nine-year-old girls, as it depicts the real-life adventures of little Laura and helps improve children’s literary proficiency.
5. Best Engaging Book: Half Magic
Author:
The book is about four siblings: Katharine, Mark, Jane, and Martha, who are going through the worst and most boring summer ever. The dull summer becomes better when Jane finds a magical coin. They find out that the coin can grant half of a wish made by its possessor and desire for something exciting to happen. The ‘half magic’ leads to a chain of events that become challenging for the kids, until they learn to double the wishes made and get exactly what they want.
This fantasy story with magical realism elements will keep the young readers absorbed throughout. This review video will help you make an informed decision about your purchase.
6. Best Fantasy Book: Mary Poppins
The story is about the Banks family that lives at Number Seventeen, Cherry Tree Lane, London, and how their life changes forever with the arrival of the nanny, Mary Poppins. Jane and Michael, and baby twins John and Barbara, the children of the Banks couple soon learn that their nanny has a magical touch that makes her special.
This time-tested magical fantasy narrates the adventures that she takes the children on while disciplining them in her own way. It’s one of the perfect books to encourage imagination and creativity in children.
Did you know?7. Best Fiction: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Author: Roald Dahl
Mr. Fox is a clever fox who visits the farms of three mean farmers named Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. He raids the farms at night and steals their livestock to feed his family. Once they find out who is behind the missing livestock, the three farmers team up and surround the fox and his family. Little do these farmers know what the Fantastic Mr. Fox has planned for them and are soon outwitted by him!
It is an exciting fiction book that will keep the kids hooked until the last page.
8. Best For Beginners: Stuart Little
Author: E.B. White
Born into a human family, Stuart Little is not an ordinary mouse. He lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George, and Snowbell, the cat. Though his parents are worried about his survival in the human world, Stuart starts to think and behave like a human by the age of seven.
One day he finds that his friend, a songbird named Margalo, has disappeared from the nest. Stuart then embarks on a quest to find Margalo that takes him on an adventurous ride. Stuart Little is a popular, best-selling classic and an enchanting book for beginners.
9. Best Narrative Style: Wonder
Author: R. J. Palacio
August Pullman, or Auggie, is a little different from the other kids. Owing to a medical condition, Auggie has a facial deformity which prevents him from going to a mainstream school. But he finally makes it to Beecher Prep as a fifth grader. There, he doesn’t have a very good time and lands up in trouble constantly. But against all the odds, August emerges as a Wonder kid.
With its unique narrative style and storyline, Wonder is one of the bestsellers in the children’s books category.
Quick fact10. Best For Moral Lesson: From Riches To Rags
Author: Jaclyn Howel
The story is about a girl who goes from riches to rags. Meet Serendipity a.k.a. Serene, who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but looks down upon others who do not meet her standards. She is known for being a bully and attracts the wrath of others for getting away with it, thanks to her father’s high-profile connections. Will she ever become humble? The inspiring story shows how her life turns upside down and how she learns the purpose of her life.
Riches to Rags has a lesson for every kid, one that teaches them not to be haughty or a bully and that all actions have consequences.
11. Best Wondrous:The Witches
Author: Roald Dahl
A seven-year-old boy loves listening to his grandma’s stories, especially the ones about the witches – the real ones. As explained by his grandma, the witches are terrible creatures that loathe children more than anything. She convinces him that they will do anything to eradicate kids. The boy is fascinated by the story, but little does he expect to come face-to-face with a real witch.
The rest of this delightful book is about his encounter with the witch and if they are actually as bad as his grandma has made them out to be.
12. Best Miracle:George’s Marvelous Medicine
Author: Roald Dahl
Eight-year-old George is bullied and bossed by his grandmother. Tired of her tantrums, he thinks of punishing her by replacing her medicine. He decides to make an unusual medicine from various ingredients that create miracles. George’s parents and the grandmother are taken aback by the results of the magical mixture.
This is a fantasy children’s book that combines the elements of humor and adventure.
13. Best Thriller:Treasure At Lure Lake
Author: Shari L. Schwarz
Bryce stumbles upon a treasure map in his grandfather’s barn and plans an adventurous trip to find the treasure. But that’s not all that the map has to reveal – it also leads him to an old family secret. Come what may, Bryce is determined to follow the clues and dig out the truth. With his brother, he embarks on an exciting journey that turns out to be the biggest adventure of his life. Join him on this exciting adventure by picking this engaging mystery book.
14. Best Friendship:Where The Red Fern Grows
Author: Wilson Rawls
A team of an awesome threesome – Billy, Dan, and Ann are on an adventurous journey. No matter how tough it gets, they are determined to roam the hills of Ozarks at night. They become famous as a great hunting team as the story of their achievements spreads across the region. The old Dan’s brawn, the little Ann’s intelligence, and Billy’s determination put together, always lead them to victory and glory.
A heartwarming story that depicts friendship and teamwork will surely capture the young hearts. It is an excellent pick for 10-year-old children.
15. Best Fantasy:The Enchanted Castle
Author:
Three children named Jerry, Jimmy, and Cathy happen to visit a mysterious castle. They stumble upon a magic ring, a beautiful princess who is now invisible, and many more adventures in the castle. Soon they realize that the princess is not a real princess, but is the niece of the housekeeper. That is because of the magic ring, a treasure they find in the castle, which turns an ordinary story to magical fantasy.
It is a great timeless classic that can keep the kids hooked until the last page.
16. Best Visionary:Follow My Leader
Author: James B. Garfield
Jimmy loses his eyesight when he is hit with a firecracker. Forced to learn to live with a disability, Jimmy relearns everything he once knew. He learns to use a cane and read Braille with the help of Miss. Thompson. He also gets accepted into a school after he gets a guide dog, which he names ‘Leader’. Jimmy is more confident with his guide dog. Although it is difficult to work with Leader, Jimmy tries his best to overcome all the obstacles.
This modern classic is a beautiful story rendering a good message that a disability should never limit you.
17. Best Valuable:The Secret Of The Ruby Ring
Author: Yvonne MacGrory
The story centers around an 11-year-old girl named Lucy, who gets a Ruby ring as a special birthday present from her grandma. Accidentally, Lucy discovers the magical power of the ring and makes her first wish that takes her to another age. She is transported to Ireland during the turbulent times of the year 1885. As she starts missing her family, Lucy decides to get back to her home by making a wish. Suddenly, she realizes that the ring is missing.
This rest of the story is about Lucy finding the ring and a way back home to her parents. It is a combination of historical details and valuable lessons for life, which makes it an educational historical period book for ten-year-old kids.
How To Choose The Right Books For 9-To 10-Year-Olds?
Here are some significant points to consider when buying a suitable book for your child.
- Interest: Consider the child’s interest while buying a book. From funny stories to adventure tales, you can narrow down your choices and pick something they are going to enjoy.
- Length: Choose books that are short enough for your child to finish comfortably. Books that are too lengthy to finish may feel demotivating, while books that are too short may not help develop their reading habit.
- Ease of understanding: Consider books you feel your child can independently read and understand. A good pick should have simple language and concepts yet be challenging enough to enhance your child’s reading skills.
, a reading specialist, school administrator, and English teacher, says, “At this age, many children begin to apply their learning from books to real life. Consider the character traits and lessons you’d like to instill in your child and choose a book accordingly.”
Why Trust MomJunction?
Wedetso Chirhah, our in-house writer and reviewer, is experienced in choosing suitable books for every age group. In this post, he has selected books ideal for the age groups of nine and ten. The books on this list have interesting illustrations and explain the struggles of most ten-year-olds. In addition, the book’s storylines and moral values remain inclined throughout. He has also described briefly why these books are worth reading.
The Bottom Line
The best books for 9-and-10-year-olds must have a lot of exciting stories for an enjoyable reading experience. Such books may help sharpen your child’s vocabulary, improve their literary proficiency, and inculcate the habit of reading at an early age. Among our top picks are Frindle, which inspires language exploration and creativity, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which is a captivating and humorous story. Also, the Little House In The Big Woods is an excellent adventure book for young children. Before picking a book for your child, consider the ones with stories that are simple to read. Look at the summary and scholarly analysis of the book to understand whether your child would be interested in the stories or pick a book with more pictures to grab their attention.
Infographic: A Quick Guide To Pick The Right Book For 9 To 10-Year-Olds
The habit of reading can be effectively cultivated when your child is about 9 to 10 years old. However, choosing the right book for your child can be a complicated task when you have a wide range of books at your disposal. We have compiled the following infographic on buying tips to simplify your job. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
References
- Reading Milestones (for Parents)
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/milestones.html
Community Experiences
Join the conversation and become a part of our nurturing community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with fellow parents.
Read full bio of Taylor Beal
Read full bio of Wedetso Chirhah
Read full bio of Poulami Nag
Read full bio of N Pravenchandra Singh
