85% of Aralia Students Place in Top Writing Competitions
Reading the right book can help you spark your imagination and improve your academic performance. Feel free to skip to your level using the page’s table of contents.
Elementary School (Grades K–5): Building Foundations
In the early years, reading focuses on discovery and engagement. Picture books and early chapter books introduce young readers to new ideas and stories. Many of the most successful picture books are beloved not only because of their compelling stories and striking illustrations, but also because they resonate across generations and cultures.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle has sold over 50 million copies worldwide, been translated into more than 70 languages, and remains a consistent bestseller in multiple formats.
Another classic, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, had sold over 8 million copies by the year 2000 and is often cited as Dr. Seuss’s top-selling title.
Equally enduring is One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, also by Dr. Seuss, which had sold over six million copies by the early 2000s.
These books, along with others like The Cat in the Hat, Where the Wild Things Are, Dear Zoo, and Peepo!, illustrate how simple text, strong rhythm or rhyme, vivid illustrations, repetition, and interactive elements (lift-the-flaps, holes, etc.) help engage young readers’ curiosity and build early literacy.
Kindergarten to 2nd Grade (Ages 5–7)
At this stage, children are developing basic reading skills. Books should have simple sentences, repetition, and engaging illustrations. To best leverage these books, reading aloud can help build fluency and comprehension. Discussing stories together makes reading a shared experience and a pleasant habit. We have 3 recommendations for this age range.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle employs a predictable, rhythmic pattern and repetition, which helps beginning readers build confidence with vocabulary and syntax. It has sold over 2.5 million copies and remains a perennial favourite.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle uses very simple language, counting, vibrant illustrations, and interactive elements (holes in pages, etc.) to support understanding. It has sold over 50 million copies worldwide, translated into more than 60 languages, making it one of the biggest-selling picture books in English.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak offers richer imagery but still supports developing readers through its strong narrative, imaginative illustrations, and emotional depth. As of around 2009, it had sold about 19 million copies worldwide, with 10 million of those in the United States.
3rd to 5th Grade (Ages 8–10)
At this stage, children are ready for more complex narratives and characters. Furthermore, books at this stage expose kids to a more advanced vocabulary than previous books, and kids are ready to be on their own adventure. Parents should have frequent check-in sessions about what children are reading to develop critical thinking and comprehension skills.
Here are some of our recommended titles:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley’s Journal by Jeff Kinney. This series connects especially well with readers transitioning to more independent reading. The narrative voice is informal, sharp, and humorous; episodes about daily life, and illustrations help with comprehension even when the vocabulary gets more challenging. The series has sold over 300 million copies worldwide as of its twentieth book.
Matilda by Roald Dahltells. This book tells the story of a clever girl who overcomes adversities with courage and wit. Its narrative introduces more advanced vocabulary, humor, irony, and complicated relationships. Worldwide sales have reached around 17 million copies, and since about 2016, it has been one of Dahl’s best-selling works.
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White. This book is a classic that remains a touchstone for many readers. It balances fairly advanced themes (friendship, mortality, sacrifice) with accessible prose, memorable characters, and settings children can relate to (a farm, animals, a spider’s web). It has sold more than 45 million copies and been translated into dozens of languages. It regularly appears on “best of children’s literature” lists.
Middle School (Grades 6–8): Expanding Horizons
Middle school is a time of exploration and self-discovery. Students can handle more complex plots and characters and develop critical thinking skills. For this age range, we have 3 recommendations:
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. The first in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, this book weaves myth, adventure, and modern settings. It introduces readers to a richer vocabulary, including names of mythological creatures, elevated descriptive language, and more complex plot structure. With the complexities, the book nevertheless remains an exciting page-turner. The Percy Jackson series has sold tens of millions of copies globally. The Lightning Thief itself has been a bestseller for many years, and recently marked its 13th year on the New York Times Best Seller list.
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton is a classic novel that deals with themes of class, identity, conflict, loyalty, and coming of age. It offers rich character development and encourages readers to think about moral ambiguity. Though estimates of exact copies vary, the novel has been widely taught in middle and high schools since its publication in 1967, showing its enduring relevance in education and youth literature.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio has been especially successful in recent years. Wonder has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 50 languages. The book is about kindness, acceptance, and seeing others’ perspectives. This book remains on our curated list because it addresses issues middle graders often struggle with, such as identity, bullying, and empathy.
High School (Grades 9–12): Deepening Understanding
High school students are ready to engage with complex themes, diverse genres, and critical analysis. Reading helps students reflect on themselves and the world. If you are in this age range and don’t see the book you want to read, don’t worry. Find more information about top-rated books here: Mid-Columbia Libraries. Otherwise, these are some great books to get you started:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee confronts issues of race, justice, prejudice, and moral growth. The story, set in the Depression-era American South, uses the perspective of young Scout Finch to explore how innocence is challenged by systemic racism and societal expectations. Themes such as the coexistence of good and evil, courage, empathy, reputation, and the importance of moral conscience make them rich ground for class discussion. The novel has had a major influence and remains widely taught in high schools for its timeless relevance. Since its publication in 1960, it has sold over 30 million copies.
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger centers on themes of alienation, loss of innocence, hypocrisy, authenticity, mental health, and the turbulence of adolescence. Throughout the novel, Holden Caulfield shared his internal struggles with skepticism of the adult world and his longing to preserve purity. This ongoing topic invites students to analyze character motivation and moral ambiguity.
1984 by George Orwell exposes students to a dystopian society where surveillance, manipulation of truth, propaganda, control of history, censorship, and loss of individual freedom take place. These themes are especially relevant in modern contexts (technology, media, government power), making it useful for drawing connections to current events. The novel continues to sell strongly, particularly when public discourse shifts toward privacy and surveillance.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This novel provides rich opportunities to explore the American Dream, social stratification, illusion versus reality, the hollowness of wealth, moral decay, love and obsession, identity, and disillusionment. In terms of literary significance, the novel contains a lot of symbolism through setting, objects, and imagery to critique post-World War I society. Since its publication in the 1920s, The Great Gatsby has become one of the most taught and widely read works in American high school curricula. By 2020, it had sold roughly 30 million copies worldwide, with translations in many languages; it continues to sell steadily each year in the U.S. alone.
Beloved by Toni Morrison. The novel deals with the legacy of slavery, memory and trauma, identity and selfhood, motherhood and family, and the interplay between individual suffering and collective history. Reading through the novel, you will notice the author’s writing: nonlinear narrative, use of supernatural or ghostly elements, symbolism, and deeply portrayed inner lives. Her creative brilliance challenges readers to think about the ways the past continues to shape identity and culture.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy is a powerful post-apocalyptic novel that explores themes such as survival in extreme conditions, hope and despair, moral choice, father/son family bonds, the meaning of goodness, and what it means to “keep going” in the face of annihilation. The novels spark meaning not only in what is said, but also in silences, symbolism in objects, and the significance of small acts of care and kindness. These traits make it excellent for developing students’ interpretive skills.
The Power of Reading Books by Grade Level
Reading books that match a student’s stage of growth plays a vital role in both their learning and personal development. Stories can be a mirror for emotions and a window into different lives, helping children and teens understand themselves and others. According to a large meta-analysis of 26 studies with over 25,000 students, performance on reading comprehension assessments is tied to college achievement, showing that strong reading skills support school performance. So, it is never too late to start your reading journey! To search further for books that fit a specific grade level, look here.
If you are curious about these books or more strategies to integrate reading into your studies, Aralia Education can help! With guidance from expert tutors and mentors, you can score your dream program with a well-laid-out plan and advice from past successful students. Outside of these programs, don’t hesitate to chat with us if you want a partner to tackle tough school subjects, write standout college essays, or practice for advanced exams and competitions. Click below to start!
Intensive Reading Program for Young Learners
INTENSIVE READING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG LEARNERS The best reading program for growing minds Unlock deeper comprehension, stronger writing, and a lifelong love of literature. Inquire
