Elementary school takes kids from The Book With No Pictures to Harry Potter in the blink of an eye. The best books for grade schoolers include chapter books, series and easy readers that grow along with them.

You might long to see your grade schooler curled up with the classics you loved. (Are you there, God? It’s me, cramming this book down your throat.) But literacy experts say it’s important for kids to have a say over their choice of reading.

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Often as not, that’s going to lead them to graphic novels. Don’t fight it! Some parents sneer that graphic novels aren’t “real” books, but they are in fact an excellent tool for emerging literacy.

And don’t be too eager to let go of picture books, many of which are aimed squarely at kids over 5. The vocabulary used in picture books tends to be more sophisticated than early readers, and the pairing of images and words helps with comprehension.

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Nonfiction can be another great choice for a kid you might think is a reluctant reader. The most important thing for elementary school students is that they learn to love reading – whether it’s novels or comic books or cereal boxes. Don’t get in the way with outdated assumptions about “real” reading.

Here are some of the best books for grade-schoolers at all stages.

Best Picture Books for Grade Schoolers

The Day You Begin This book by Jacqueline Woodson is about beginning school, but also about using your voice and taking up space in the world. It’s a gift. Buy Now $11.61

Last Stop on Market Street This picture book won both the Newbery Medal and a Caldecott Honor. In it, a boy travels on a bus with his grandmother, who teaches him to see beauty in the dirt around them, and to share their blessings. Buy Now $14.52

Ish (Creatrilogy) Ramon loves to draw, until a comment by his brother makes him question his talent. For a certain kind of kid, perfectionism is a struggle that could keep them from trying new things. This book is all about letting go of perfection to embrace the struggle. Buy Now $10.29

Sweety Sweety is a naked mole rat who doesn’t quite fit in. She learns to march to her own beat and embrace her odd interests, like interpretive dance and mushrooms. A great choice for a quirky child. Buy Now $9.74

A Friend for Dragon: An Acorn Book This sweet story of a dragon who makes friends with an apple was released as part of Scholastic’s Acorn line of early readers. Buy Now $4.24

3 Adventures on Deckawoo Drive This spinoff of Kate DiCamillo’s Mercy Watson series is a bridge between the earliest readers and chapter books. Also worth a look is her Bink & Gollie series. Buy Now $8.79

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Best Graphic Novels for Grade Schoolers

Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls If you haven’t already been cajoled into buying all the books in this series and Pilkey’s Captain Underpants collection, buckle in for a long ride. Kids will read these over and over (and over). Buy Now $8.49

Guts Telgemeier is a master of the graphic novel memoir, and kids relate to her struggles with siblings, braces and more. In this latest release, Telgemeier talks about the anxiety that manifested as tummy aches, and how she learned to deal with it. Buy Now $7.01

Best Friends (Real Friends) Oh, the vagaries of female friendships. In life as on Project Runway, one day you’re in and the next, you’re out. This revealing look at shifting friendship alliances will feel all too familiar to girls navigating these waters. (And their moms.) Buy Now $5.79

New Kid Jordan is one of the only kids of color at his fancy private school. This graphic novel gets to the heart of what it’s like to start over in a new school when you’re different. Buy Now $8.74

El Deafo Making friends at a new school is never easy – but especially when your differences are obvious. This 2015 Newbery Honor book is a memoir from Cece Bell about her hearing loss at a young age and experience with a powerful hearing aid. Buy Now $7.44

Best Novels for Grade Schoolers

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane You can’t go wrong with a Kate DiCamillo book, but this one about a china rabbit who endures harrowing misfortune before a tender reunion will get them in all the feels. Buy Now $6.69

The One and Only Ivan This touching novel inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla, and told from his perspective, captures the spirit of Charlotte’s Web. Buy Now $7.99

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Yeah, that thing we said before about cramming Judy Blume down kids’ throats? Forget it. Turns out, some of her books are as relevant now as ever. This one stands the test of time.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise Coyote has lived on the road with her dad, Rodeo, ever since her mom and sisters died in a car crash. Buy Now $15.29

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Best Series for Grade Schoolers

The Princess in Black Collection She’s a princess and a superhero. What could be better for a girl emerging from princess mania and ready to kick butt? Buy Now $34.00

Dory Fantasmagory A little sister with a big imagination takes the lead in this series that will appeal to fans of Junie B. Jones. Buy Now $7.99

Warriors Box Set: Volumes 1 to 6 In this series for older grades, clans of great cats are at war, and it may be a lowly housecat who is the bravest of all. Buy Now $29.66

Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot We give this series to our favorite budding readers. It’s a funny adventure series that explores mythology from different cultures. Buy Now $11.39

Best Nonfiction for Grade Schoolers

The Undefeated An ode to African-American triumph from the Newbery winner and Caldecott honoree. It talks about the hardship of slavery and the perseverance of some of black history’s greatest heroes, in verse form. Buy Now $14.39

The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown This is a beautiful book that captures the life of someone your children know well in the most unexpected of ways. You have our permission to steal it from your child. Buy Now $15.69

Who Was...? Children’s Biography Series Set of 12 books This series addictively tells the stories of famous people (and places) in history, as well as contemporary musicians and athletes. It now has its own Netflix series, The Who Was Show. Get it for your little history buff. Buy Now $57.95

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales Another series that brings history to life – and covers everything from the civil war to the Donner party. Gripping nonfiction. Buy Now $31.00

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