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Top 10 Chapter Books for Kids

Best Children’s Chapter Books

Chapter books are the next step in keeping young minds interested in reading. The top 10 best children’s chapter books make this task easy for you, as it features a rich and varied variety of options your kids will love…and find hard to put down.

The 2017 best children’s chapter books help children feel more “adult” in their reading efforts, as they are no longer reading books with pictures and a few sentences on every page. They will learn more vocabulary words as a result and help themselves stay ahead in school.

This fantastic collection features stories of mythic proportions, including tales about dragons, the “unfairest of them all” in a high school setting, an eerie elementary school, and a princess in black clothing. The top 10 list also includes a chapter book about the dredges of middle school and how to survive, something about every middle schooler on the planet can relate to.

Give your kids the gift of books that make it easy to disappear into other worlds and expand their minds. You might even want to read a book or three from this amazing collection!

What’s here: This fantastic compilation of the ten best children’s chapter books was created by real moms and educators who enjoyed these books themselves or taught them in class. Numerous types and themes of books are included in the list to keep your youngin’ stimulated.

For shoppers: Purchasing any of these high-quality book options is easy–just visit Amazon! Please note that we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links.  Also note that our recommendations are 100% made because we love the companies and products and are never influenced in any way by any commission we may receive.

Update note: April 9th, 2017.


What’s Here:

1. Eva and the New Owl (Owl Diaries) by Rebecca Elliott
2. Dragon Masters – Song of the Poison Dragon by Tracey West
3. Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale
4. Eva’s Treetop Festival (Owl Diaries #1) by Rebecca Elliott
5. Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson
6. Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
7. The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh
8. The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale
9. The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
10. Eerie Elementary – The Locker Ate Lucy! by Jack Chabert


Top 10 Chapter Books for Kids:

1. Eva and the New Owl (Owl Diaries) by Rebecca Elliott

Ages: 4 – 8

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Eva and the New Owl by Rebecca Elliott comes in as the #1 pick of the top 10 chapter books for kids in 2017.

Eva is a creative little own with a bunch to talk about. She details her entire life in a series of journals, known as the Owl Diaries. Number 4 in the series, this tale is about Hailey, the new owl in school who befriends Eva’s best friend, Lucy. Jealousy ensues.

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2. Dragon Masters – Song of the Poison Dragon by Tracey West

Song of the Poison DragonAges: 4 – 8

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Second among the ten best chapter books for kids this year – Dragon Masters – Song of the Poison Dragon by Tracey West.

From the Dragon Masters series, this book is the fifth in the collection. It tells the tale of Petra; a know-it-all with an attitude problem. She has no interest in bonding with her four-headed dragon, or making friends with the others. However, to save the king, she has to compromise.

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3. Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale

Ever After HighAges: 8 – 12

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Next up on the list – Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale.

The charmed students of Ever After High are reeling from the Legacy Day aftermath. The Royals and Rebels are fighting worse than ever—so much that it puts Madaline Hatter’s life in peril. To save their Happily Ever Afters, the groups must come together to end their feud for good.

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4. Eva’s Treetop Festival (Owl Diaries #1) by Rebecca Elliott

Eva's Treetop FestivalAges: 5 – 7

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Another from the Owl Diaries lineup – Eva’s Treetop Festival by Rebecca Elliott hits 4th of the best children’s chapter books 2017.

The first in the Owl Diaries series. This book is an introduction to Eva; the artsy, sweet-hearted owl that I mentioned at the beginning of this list. In this story, she is prepping for the Treetop Festival. However, she can’t seem to keep organized, putting the entire festival in jeopardy.

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5. Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

Middle School, The Worst Years of My LifeAges: 10 – 13

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Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson also marks a spot among the top children’s chapter books this year.

You might recognize the author as one who writes compelling mysteries for adults. In this career twist, Patterson tells the tale of Rafe Khatchadorian—a brand-new middle schooler. His school has TONS of ridiculous rules…and he intends to break them.

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6. Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Nate the GreatAges: 6 – 9

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And at #6 on the list – Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat.

Written in 1977, this paperback classic follows Nate the Great, an original super sleuth. In this book, Nate has a brand-new case. Annie’s prized picture is missing, and Nate is her only hope of following clues and solving the mystery.

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7. The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh

The Truth About Twinkie PieAges: 8 – 12

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The Truth About Twinkie Pie  by Kat Yeh is a new favorite on the list of kids’ favorite chapter books.

I love this book because it teaches real life lessons, with quirk, truth, and a smattering of humor. In this story, we meet two sisters—Gigi (an intelligent preteen), and Didi (a junior-high dropout with big dreams). Throw in a million dollars, a cooking contest, and a year of changes.

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8. The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale

The Princess in BlackAges: 5 – 8

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Hitting the 8th spot of the best kids’ chapter books in 2017 – The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale.

Princess Magnolia has a deep, dark secret. Shh! Her secret identity is the Princess in Black—a crime-fighting royal with a sparkling tiara. In this book, the monster alarm sounds when she is lunching with a well-to-do Duchess. Coincidentally, Princess Magnolia fights the urge to transform into her alter ego.

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9. The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

The Thing About JellyfishAges: 10 – 13

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Next up – The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin.

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I laughed several times, cried many, and felt so much for the main character, Suzy. In this story, Suzy’s best friend drowns, causing Suzy to derail into a world of imagination. Where finding rare jellyfish is her driving force against heartbreak.

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10. Eerie Elementary – The Locker Ate Lucy! by Jack Chabert

The Locker Ate LucyAges: 6 – 8

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The final item on the list of the top ten children’s chapter books this year – Eerie Elementary – The Locker Ate Lucy! by Jack Chabert.

The Locker Ate Lucy! Yep. Sam Grave’s is devastated…and a bit surprised and freaked out, when his locker gobbles up his best friend. Together with Antonio, another school pal, Sam journeys deep inside the locker to find and rescue Lucy. But beware! EVERYTHING in this school is alive…and hungry.

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