50 Best Books For Kids (Aged 7 -12 )

Encouraging a love of reading in children opens the door to new worlds, fuels their imagination and builds essential literacy skills.

The right book can transform a reluctant reader into an avid one, offering them an escape, a challenge or simply a great adventure to enjoy.

Whether they love action-packed mysteries, laugh-out-loud humour or magical fantasy, there’s a book waiting to spark their curiosity.

Finding the right book for your child can sometimes feel overwhelming but what matters most is finding stories that ignite their imagination and excitement. Why not visit your local library and let your child explore different genres and formats, including graphic novels, audiobooks and adventure stories?

When you return home, help them create a cosy reading space, with plenty of light and comfortable cushions and blankets. Younger children might enjoy reading their book to you, their siblings, pets or a favourite soft toy and this will help them foster a deeper connection to literature.

To help you find your child's next favourite book, I’ve compiled a list of 50 of the best books for kids, aged 7-12 years old, based on my own children's favourites, my students' recommendations and insights from best-seller lists, expert reviews and reader feedback from The Times, WHSmith, and Waterstones.

This post contains affiliate links which means, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

To make it easier, I’ve split them into two categories:

📚 Books for Younger Readers (Ages 7-9) – Ideal for children beginning to explore longer stories and graphic novels.

📚 Books for Older Readers (Ages 10-12) – Engaging and challenging reads to keep them hooked.

Whether your child is an eager bookworm or still searching for their favourite story, this list offers something for everyone and I hope you find it useful.

Happy reading!

Best Books For Kids (7-9 Year Olds)

1. "Dog Man" series by Dav Pilkey -

   A humorous graphic novel series featuring a half-dog, half-human police officer battling crime.

   
   

2. "The Brilliant World of Tom Gates" by Liz Pichon - A doodle-filled diary following Tom Gates’ mischievous school and home adventures.

   
   

3. "The Bad Guys" series by Aaron Blabey - A hilarious take on villains trying to turn good, with action-packed storytelling.

   
   

4. "The Worst Witch" series by Jill Murphy - A classic tale of a clumsy young witch navigating magic school.

   
   

5. "Isadora Moon" series by Harriet Muncaster - A charming story about a half-fairy, half-vampire girl discovering where she belongs.

   
   

6. "Magic Tree House" series by Mary Pope Osborne - Jack and Annie travel through time on exciting historical adventures.

   
   

7. "Geronimo Stilton" series by Elisabetta Dami - A humorous mystery series featuring a reluctant mouse detective.

   
   

8. "The 13-Storey Treehouse" by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton - A whimsical, imaginative book about a growing treehouse filled with fun contraptions.

   
   

9. "Captain Underpants" series by Dav Pilkey - Two kids create a superhero who gets them into all kinds of mischief.

   
   

10. "Flat Stanley" series by Jeff Brown - A boy flattened by a bulletin board embarks on thrilling adventures.

    
    

11. "The Boy Who Grew Dragons" by Andy Shepherd - A magical story of a boy who discovers real dragons growing on a tree.

    
    

12. "Press Start!" series by Thomas Flintham - A video game hero leaps into real-life action in this pixelated adventure.

    
    

13. "The Majorly Awkward BFF Dramas of Lottie Brooks" by Katie Kirby - This series follows 11¾-year-old Lottie’s hilarious journey through school, friendships and growing up, told in a witty, diary-style format.

    

    
    

14. "Horrid Henry" series by Francesca Simon - A hilarious series about a mischievous troublemaker causing chaos.

    
    

15. "Rabbit & Bear" series by Julian Gough - A heart-warming story of unlikely friendship.

    
    

16. "The Bolds" series by Julian Clary - A hilarious story about a family of hyenas pretending to be human.

    
    

17. "Rainbow Magic" series by Daisy Meadows - A fairy-filled adventure series popular with young readers.

    
    

18. "Beast Quest" series by Adam Blade - Action-packed fantasy adventures filled with mythical creatures.

    
    

19. "Mr Gum" series by Andy Stanton - A wildly absurd and funny series about a grumpy old man.

    
    

20. "Bunny vs Monkey" series by Jamie Smart  - A hilarious graphic novel series about a chaotic battle between a troublemaking Monkey and a determined Bunny, packed with slapstick humour and wild adventures.

    

    
    

21. "Foxy Tales" by Caryl Hart - A fun, trickster-filled adventure series.

    
    

22. "Super Happy Magic Forest" by Matty Long - A vibrant, fun-filled journey with heroes saving their magical world.

    
    

23. "Billy and the Mini Monsters" series by Zanna Davidson - A humorous take on childhood fears, featuring funny little monsters.

    
    

24. "Little Badman" series by Humza Arshad and Henry White - A laugh-out-loud story of a young boy tackling villains at school.

    
    

25. "Hotel Flamingo" by Alex Milway - A bright, uplifting tale of a young girl running a hotel for animals.

    
    
    
    

Best Books For Kids (10-12 Year Olds)

26. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series by Jeff Kinney - A hilarious diary of a middle-schooler navigating life’s ups and downs.

    
    

27. "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series by Rick Riordan - A modern-day boy discovers he’s the son of a Greek god and embarks on mythical adventures.

    
    

28. "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio - A touching story about a boy with a facial difference navigating school life.

    
    

29. "Holes" by Louis Sachar - A gripping mystery that unravels in a desert camp for troubled kids.

    
    

30. "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate - A heartfelt story of a captive gorilla seeking freedom.

    
    

31. "The Chronicles of Narnia" series by C.S. Lewis - A timeless fantasy series set in the magical land of Narnia.

    
    

32. "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart - Four clever kids take on a secret mission to stop an evil mastermind.

    
    

33. "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein - A fun adventure filled with puzzles and a thrilling escape challenge.

    
    

34. "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick - A magical blend of words and illustrations following an orphan’s mystery.

    
    

35. "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston - A girl discovers a secret supernatural world in her quest to find her missing brother.

    
    

36. "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds - A powerful sports story about a boy running from his past.

    
    

37. "Kid Normal" by Greg James and Chris Smith - A humorous superhero story where the main character has no powers.

    
    

38. "The Wizards of Once" by Cressida Cowell - A battle between wizards and warriors in an enchanted world.

    
    

39. "Skulduggery Pleasant" series by Derek Landy - A skeleton detective and a young girl solve supernatural mysteries.

    
    

40. "Murder Most Unladylike" series by Robin Stevens - A historical mystery series starring a young detective duo.

    
    

41. "Artemis Fowl" series by Eoin Colfer - A genius criminal mastermind navigating the magical world.

    
    

42. "Warriors" series by Erin Hunter - A captivating series about clans of wild cats navigating rivalries and survival.

    
    

43. "Goosebumps" series by R.L. Stine - A collection of spooky yet humorous horror stories, each following different characters as they encounter eerie and supernatural events.

    
    

44. "A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket - Three orphans outsmart a villainous guardian in darkly comedic adventures.

    
    

45. "Pages & Co." series by Anna James - A book-lover’s dream where characters step out of books.

    
    

46. "The Last Kids on Earth" series by Max Brallier - A fun, post-apocalyptic adventure featuring zombie-fighting kids.

    
    

47. "The Storm Keeper’s Island" by Catherine Doyle - A magical adventure steeped in Celtic mythology.

    
    

48. "Nevermoor" series by Jessica Townsend - A young girl faces magical trials in a world of wonder.

    
    

49. "How to Train Your Dragon" series by Cressida Cowell - The origins of a Viking and his dragon companion.

    
    

50. "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke - A thrilling fantasy about books that bring stories to life.

About the Author

I’m a private tutor, a former secondary school English Teacher and the founder of English Home Studies. In addition to offering 1:1 tuition sessions for students from 9 - 16 years old (Year 5 - Year 11), I create digital and printable revision guides and activity packs.

I often post advice and links to free and affordable English resources on the English Home Studies Facebook and Instagram pages but, if you have a child in KS3 or KS4, you might like to join one of my Facebook groups:

KS3 English Support for Parents 

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If you would like to find out more about my qualifications and experience or read some of the lovely reviews I've received from previous clients, please have a look around my website and, if you have any questions, please send me a message. Many thanks.