When you were a kid, what were your favorite chapter books? I couldn't get enough of the Anne of Green Gables series (the heroine had me hooked from the first pages, when she insisted on the "e" at the end of her name). My seven-year-old currently laughs out loud (and stays up way past bedtime) reading Judy Blume's Fudge books. We loved the B.F.G. so much we're hoping to see the movie later this summer. And who doesn't love the Magic Treehouse series? Everywhere I turn, I seem to meet another Jack and Annie fan.

The truth is, there are SO many great chapter books out there, it can get a little overwhelming for kids (and adults) to choose which ones to read. Thankfully, the internet is full of some handy lists. We recommend the following:

The Popular Children's Chapter Books Shelf on Goodreads

The Timeless Chapter Books List from Scholastic

100 Best Children's Chapter Books of All-Time

You can also find age-specific lists easily by googling the type of book (e.g. chapter books) and age range (e.g., fourth grade) you're looking for. 

For your reference, we've compiled an alphabetical list, below, of some of our favorites for all ages. It's by no means complete! Which of these books have you and your students read? Which books would you add? What's missing from your bookshelf? Summer is a great time to stock up on a few new favorites.

Often, all it takes is one great book or series to get a child hooked on reading. This year, if a student approaches you not knowing what to read, pull out this list and see what piques his or her interest. Who knows, you might get hooked on a few of these books as well. Happy reading!

A Wrinkle in Time

Anne of Green Gables, series

Because of Winn-Dixie

The BFG

The Borrowers

Boxcar Children, series

Betsy-Tacy, series

Bromeliad Trilogy

Charlotte’s Web

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The Children of Noisy Village

The Chronicles of Narnia

Clementine, series

Danny, the Champion of the World

The Doll People

The Enchanted Castle

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Flora and Ulysses

Fortunately the Milk

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

The Giver

Gone-Away Lake

The Great Brain, series

Harry Potter, series

Harriet the Spy

Hatchet

Heidi

Henry Huggins, series

Holes

The Hundred Dresses

Island of the Blue Dolphins

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Ivy & Bean, series

James and the Giant Peach

Lemony Snicket, series

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Little House on the Prairie, series

The Little Prince

Little Women

Magic Tree House, series

Mandie, series

Mercy Watson, series

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

My Father’s Dragon, series

Nancy Drew, series

Number the Stars

The Penderwicks

The Phantom Tollbooth

Ramona Quimby, series

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

The Secret Garden

Stuart Little

Superfudge

The Tale of Despereaux

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Trumpet of the Swan

Tuck Everlasting

The Velveteen Rabbit

Where the Red Fern Grows

Wind in the Willows

Wonder