Books for boys ages 8-10
Our son, Bear (age 8), is a voracious reader, and these are his favorite books he's read over the past year. Certainly, many of these books could also be enjoyed by girls as well. But if you have a boy in your life looking for book recommendations, keep these in mind!
Books are listed alphabetically by author.
Mr. Popper's Penguins
by Florence and Richard Atwater
When a house painter unexpectedly receives a penguin through the mail, his ordinary life quickly turns into a hilarious adventure as a whole colony of penguins takes over his home. This makes a great read-aloud, too!
Poppy
by Avi
Though technically the second book in the series, Poppy is our family’s favorite! With adventurous woodland animals, excellent writing, and a brave little mouse heroine, this beloved 7-book series is a treasure.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
Dorothy journeys through the magical land of Oz with unforgettable companions as she searches for her way home. A classic!
The Gospel of John
from the Bible
The Gospel of John tells the story of Jesus through powerful encounters, miracles, and teachings that reveal who He is. This was the first book of the Bible that Bear read, and he highly recommends it to all.
The Enchanted Wood
by Enid Blyton
Three children discover a magical forest filled with whimsical creatures and a faraway tree whose lands change constantly. If your child enjoys this book, there are literally hundreds more Enid Blyton books to choose from (she wrote over 700 books in her lifetime!). Our favorite series for this age group are The Magic Faraway Tree series and The Adventure series.
The Wild Robot series
by Peter Brown
A robot stranded on a wild island learns what it means to survive, love, and become part of a community in this 3-book series.
A note for parents: We’ve enjoyed this series as a whole, though Book 3 leans more heavily into environmental messaging and includes a brief mention of a goby fish changing genders (which, scientifically speaking, some gobies do), so it may be worth previewing for those reasons. Books 1 and 2 are fantastic!
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
by Roald Dahl
Charlie Bucket wins a golden ticket to tour Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory, where surprises await around every corner. Whimsical and fun!
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
by Roald Dahl
Did you know Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has a sequel? Charlie and his family blast into space in Wonka’s magical glass elevator for another wild adventure.
My Side of the Mountain
by Jean Craighead George
A boy runs away to live in the wilderness of the Catskill Mountains and learns to survive on his own. Boys who love adventure will enjoy this one!
The Boy Who Biked the World series
by Alastair Humphreys
Inspired by the author’s real-life travels, this 3-book adventurous series follows a boy who bicycles around the world. Kids learn geography along the way!
The National Park Mystery Series
by Aaron Johnson
This exciting 5-book mystery series (with more books to come!) follows Jake Evans and his two friends on a scavenger hunt through some of America’s most rugged, wild, and beautiful national parks.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
by C. S. Lewis
Four siblings step through a wardrobe into Narnia, where they join Aslan in the battle to free the land from the White Witch’s endless winter. This book is a perfect way to enter the land of Narnia!
The Magician's Nephew
by C. S. Lewis
Two children are swept into the newly created world of Narnia and must confront an evil sorceress before she destroys it.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series
by Betty MacDonald
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle helps children overcome bad habits with imaginative and unforgettable cures. These books are laugh-out-loud funny and make fantastic read-alouds, too!
Winnie-the-Pooh
by A. A. Milne
Pooh and his friends embark on the sweetest adventures. This makes a wonderful read-aloud for younger kids, too!
The Songs of a Warrior: Saul and David: A Retelling
by Katy Morgan
This beautifully written retelling of Saul and David’s story brings Scripture to life for young readers.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
by Robert C. O'Brien
This story follows a widowed mouse who enlists the help of a colony of highly intelligent rats to save her sick son and move her home before destruction. My favorite part of this story is how the mother's love for her children really shines!
Adventures with Waffles
by Maria Parr
A warm and funny story about two best friends in Norway and their everyday misadventures. This is a wonderful audiobook as well!
The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins is swept into an epic quest filled with dwarves, dragons, treasure, and unlikely bravery. This is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings series.
The Hobbit (Graphic Novel)
by J.R.R. Tolkien
If readingThe Hobbit is a bit overwhelming, this graphic novel adaptation would be a great entry point.
The Trumpet of the Swan
by E. B. White
A voiceless swan learns to communicate through music in this charming animal story. This was the first chapter book I ever read aloud to our kids, so it holds a special place in our hearts!
Little House in the Big Woods
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Ingalls shares stories from her family’s pioneer life in the Wisconsin woods during the late 1800s.
Little House on the Prairie
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura and her family travel west to begin a new life on the prairie, facing both hardship and adventure together.
