I’ve read and enjoyed every last one of these books when I was in elementary school. I even have several of them in my personal collection. Now I understand their literary merit and how much they have influenced my development. My past teachers recommended many to me, and now I recommend these to any young student I meet. Those who have taken my advice have enjoyed them too.
1. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
2. Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
3. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
4. The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
5. Holes by Luis Sachar
6. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
7. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
8. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
9. Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
11. anything by Roald Dahl: James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc.
12. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
13. The Adventures of Peter Cottontail by Thorton Burgess
14. Anne of Green Gablesseries by Lucy Maud Montgomery
15. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
16. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
17. Rascal by Sterling North
18. Mandie and the Singing Chalet series by Lois Gladys Leppard
19. Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry
20. The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
21. The Trumpet of the Swans by E.B. White
22. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz series by L.M. Baum
23. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
24. Freak, The Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
25. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
26. Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
27. Sounder by William H. Armstrong
28. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
29. Bunnicula by James Howe
30. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
31. The Indian in The Cupboard by Lynne Reid Bank
32. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr
33. Winnie-The -Pooh by A.A. Milne
34. Abel’s Island by William Steig
35. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
36. Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
37. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
38. White Fang by Jack London
39. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
40. Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
41. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
42. The Fifth of March by Ann Rinaldi
43. Heidi by Johanna Spyri
44. Mr. God, This is Anna by Sydney Hopkins (Fynn)
45. Are You there God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
46. Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
47. I Rode a Horse of Milkwhite Jade by Dianne Lee Watson
48. Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher
49. Beverly Clery books
50. Dragon’s Gate by Laurence Yep
This list contains 50 classic novels for children from 8-11 that they are sure to enjoy. Many of them are teacher recommended and have been awarded various a
