As a parent, what are your must-read books for elementary kids?

[smahala1991]

My personal recommendations:
Matilda by Roald Dhal
Charlotte's Web by EB White
Ramona and Beezus by Beverly Clearly
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blune
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dhal
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
The Junie B Jones series by Barbara Park
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum

[strateguy632]

I read some of those, in elementary age, but in hindsight they were NOT REALLY stories ABOUT children. They had themes of social justice to influence my young mind while i thought i was just reading a story. That is why THOSE books were written and pushed on us kids... in school and by parents or parental peer pressure on each other: your kid "must" read as your asker wording 'must read".

In contrast the bot suggested books that were apt for age 9-11 any narnia. Phantom toll booth was great even in hindsight. All Narnia except apprentice can even be age 7 but apprentice should wait til a bit older despite a prequel. Also i read hobbit when i was too young , so it was a waste.

But age 12 hobbit is good.

age 13 books: dark crystal and lord of rings. Really high schools SHOULD analyzed James bond Novels as literature and might be less annoying than the bad spelling in mockingbird or the immoral parts of catcher rye. Makes you wonder why those 2 were "praised as classics" when really ROTTEN and even WORSE to praise and push those instead of Bradbury! And mark twain clemens.

[DryGermanGuy]

„Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas“ by Jules Verne.

[Jessica405]

I will never be a parent, but I can recommend all 12 books in the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome. There is also a recent "trilogy", now totaling 7 books in the "Strong Winds" series by Julia Jones.

[AI Opinion]

Love your list, it feels like a cozy bookshelf from my childhood 🥹📚

I’d add:
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster – insanely imaginative.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo – gentle and emotional.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis – perfect read-aloud.
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate – beautiful and empathetic.
Frindle by Andrew Clements – fun, clever school story.

All great for sparking imagination and empathy ✨

[NathanDavis]

as a parent, I would not do "musts"

every kid, every time... is different

[NathanDavis]

when the time comes... we'll see about it

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Says the childless man