Best Classic Children's Chapter Books

Billy, a poor kid from the Ozarks, saves up enough to buy himself two hunting dogs. Together this team becomes legendary for their hunting skills, forming a strong bond in the process. When the team encounters a sad accident, Billy is forced to face loss for the first time in his short life, but emerges from his despair stronger than before.

Erika Roh...:  C.S. Lewis chronicles the adventures of 4 siblings when they stumble upon a magical wardrobe that transports them into the fantasy world of Narnia. There they meet many different creatures, talking animals, witches, etc and soon realize Narnia is world built on good versus evil. The kids must help their new friends, even in an all out battle. Just a warning, there is violence in this book and some main characters are affected by it. This is a wonderful fantasy book for kids that combines action and magic but still is appropriate for children.

Erika Roh...:  One of the all-time best classic children's chapter books ever written is a lovely story about friendship, loyalty and love. Fern is a little girl who saves a runt pig, Wilbur, and he befriends a spider named Charlotte. Charlotte realizes that Wilbur is going to be put up for slaughter so she devises a plan to save his life. The relationships that are built between the barnyard animals are truly special and mimic our friendships as well.

Vanessa M.:  Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell is based on the true story of a Native American girl named Karana as she survives for 18 years alone on an island, battling wild dogs and struggling to survive. As Karana faces hardships, a quiet strength grows within her - a strength that continues to inspire readers today.

Lisa R:  No author better captures the feeling of being a child lost in a world of arbitrary and ridiculous adult rules than Roald Dahl. The imaginative and often slightly naughty heroes in his many classic chapter books for kids consistently captivate readers with their mind bending adventures. In "James and the Giant Peach," a young orphan escapes his lonely life by setting off on a journey inside of an enchanted peach. Along the way, he meets a host of magical creatures, makes new friends, and finds the home he always wanted.

Erika Roh...:  L.M. Montgomery's heartwarming and funny tale about a fiery little red-headed girl named Anne. She is an orphan and sent to live with a family, not knowing they were looking for a boy! With her charming and witty personality and escapades, she wins their hearts and she finds the home she has always wanted. With Anne's vivid imagination and personality, any child will find joy in reading this book.

Vanessa M.:  Generations have adored The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The story follows 10-year-old Mary Lennox as she falls under the care of her uncle in England after losing both her parents to sickness. The book is full of mystery, as Mary tries to find the source of strange sounds in the old mansion and finds a key to a secret garden that has been locked away for years.

Vanessa M.:  Laura Ingalls Wilder has a way of bringing pioneer life alive through her vividly descriptive life stories in these classic children's chapter books. Laura, along with her sisters and parents, brave the harsh and oftentimes dangerous wilds of America in the 1870s. Readers can almost taste Ma's fresh, homemade biscuits and hear Pa playing one of Laura's favorite songs on his fiddle in the beloved Little House series.

Erika Roh...:  Mark Twain's American classic is a must-read for its literary accolades and history. This is a story of the spirited Huckleberry Finn, who escapes his abusive father and joins up with a runaway slave on an adventure down the Mississippi River, where they learn a lot about one another and develop an unconventional friendship. A good book for teens, who are better poised to grasp it as a commentary on social issues and racism.

Erika Roh...:  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle is an iconic book that blends together science, imagination, creativity and adventure. It follows the time travel experiences of a pair of siblings into another world where they have to battle good vs evil and also discover the fate of their missing physicist father. This is a great book to empower young children to explore math and science and for anyone to get inspired by a strong female character.

Vanessa M.:  E.B. White's The Trumpet of the Swan is a classic children's book that will draw young readers in. Louis is a little swan who was born without a voice. With the help of his human friend, Sam Beaver, Louis learns a new way to communicate!

Vanessa M.:  Generations of children have fallen in love with Astrid Lindgren's red-haired, freckle faced Pippi Longstocking, with her upside down braids and her wild sense of adventure. Readers will delight in Pippi's adventures with her friends and her unusual pets, a horse and monkey. The classic 80s family movie is a fun pick for movie night!

christadiserio:  Roald Dahl's Matilda is a classic book read by millions of children everywhere. It's about a very bright young girl with special abilities who was born to some very disengaged parents. They send Matilda to a school run by a horrible principal who cannot stand children. Matilda never imagined the outcome this school would provide for her, like meeting an incredible teacher who ultimately shows Matilda a new world she never knew existed.

Vanessa M.:  Stuart Little was celebrated author E.B. White's first children's book, and has stood the test of time among readers of all ages. Follow tiny Stuart Little, the mouse born into a human family, through all his difficulties and triumphs. The adorable illustrations scattered throughout the book's pages bring Stuart Little to life.

Vanessa M.:  Ramona has been a favorite of children since the 1950s! The first book in the series by renowned author Beverly Cleary focuses on the relationship between loud, spunky 4-year-old Ramona and her older, more mature sister, Beezus. Ramona and Beezus is charming and relatable, and today's parents will enjoy sharing Ramona's antics with their own children.