Picture book read-aloud’s are perfect for younger grades, but one of the best parts about third and fourth-grade homeschooling is that you get to start reading chapter books as the read-aloud. Chapter books have entertaining and in-depth storytelling. There are so, so many chapter books on the market that it can be hard to tell which ones are worth your time to dive into and which ones aren’t. If you have a reluctant reader at home, reading chapter books to them or together can be a helpful way to get them interested in books and good storytelling.
In this blog post, I’ll be looking at some of the best chapter books to read together in upper elementary school.
Wayside School Series (4 books)
The Wayside School series is a collection of four amazing chapter books by Louis Sachar. He is also featured in the books as the yard teacher. These books are hilarious, imaginative, and fun for kids. In fact, they are some of my daughter’s favorite books. They were a total hit for this year. Even though this is an older series published in the late 1900s, with the first one being published in 1978, it still resonates with today’s readers. Each book contains 30 chapters, as the Wayside School contains 30 floors. The chapters are short, and though they are all connected, they almost act as a compilation of 30 interesting tales from the school. This isn’t your ordinary school but a silly school where almost everything is “backward.” It is kind of like an opposite day every day of the week. Louis Sachar has written a lot of books, but the Wayside School series is his most light-hearted and silly series.
The Tale of Despereaux (1 Book)
The Tale of Despereaux is a long chapter book for this age range, sitting at almost 300 pages long. It is a whimsical fairy tale about a mouse, a rat, and a princess named Pea. It features dungeons, betrayal, and a mouse as a hero. This unique story is whimsical and a wonderful fairy tale for younger readers. It does feature some darker elements within the story, but over all it is a very interesting tale.
It has silly moments, sad moments, and happy tales combined. It is broken up into three “books” and over 40 chapters, all in one book. The Tale of Despereaux is written by best-selling author Kate DiCamillo.
Barney the Bear Killer Series (4 Books)
The Barney The Bear Killer Series is by Pat Sargent, a lesser-known author. This series features three books that tell the tale of a dog named Barney. He’s a farm dog, owned by Famer John and his family. But he is very strong and very protective of his farm. The story is set in the early 1900s, so it has a bit of a historical tone to it. It is also told primarily about the dog, not the family. This makes for an interesting perspective for kids. The dog lives out his days on the farm. He goes on patrol of the fields, and Farmer John lands.
By book two, he is known for being a bear killer as he brings down a bear to protect his family in book one. Book two features his head-to-head fight with a black panther and escape from being dognapped. The dog is valued at a high price, which is why dog nappers stole him. On top of being a good farm dog, he is also a great hunting dog.
This book shows two sides of the dog: the loving family dog and the protective animal that he is. All of this is woven into an interesting story.
Starring Prima!: The Mouse of the Ballet Jolie (1 Book)
Starring Prima!: The Mouse of the Ballet Jolie is the embodiment of a “girly book.” It features all things ballet, from dance moves to costumes to the French names for all the ballet moves. It is the tale of a mouse who is born in a theater and becomes a dancer. She makes friends with a human girl who lives in a penthouse and has a princess room. The girl also gets a fluffy kitten, has a mom who’s a ballerina, and has a wide variety of other girl stuff. The story itself is set in the socialite society of New York City.
To be honest, the first several chapters of the book are rather slow, but it picks up to be a cute, girly children’s chapter book. About five chapters in, along with the ballet theme, the book centers on the importance of family and working hard.
Conclusion:
There are so many more chapter books that you could read with your third or fourth grader this year. However, these are some of my personal favorites. They are easy to read and understand and offer elements of educational value, whether that is historical references or new French words. Across the board, these are some great, wholesome books to read with your little ones.
Pin it!
