Recommended Books for a 7 year Old

A question I read on a lot of homeschool message boards is "Could you please recommend some books for my 7 year old to read." I rarely see this question asked for any other age. So I've been thinking about why that is. I believe it is because at the age of 7 many children are transitioning from picture books to chapter books. They're not quite ready for the challenging chapter books recommended in the higher grades, but ready for more than just short stories.

Both my older children, daughter and son, have passed through this phase. Here is my list of books they were able to read on their own while transitioning from picture books to chapter books.

There are many different books series which have been thoroughly enjoyed:

Animal Stories by Thornton W. Burgess - The Ambleside On-line curriculum uses the Animal Book and Bird Book by Thornton W Burgess as part of the science curriculums around years 1-3. These Animal Stories such as The Adventures of Buster Bear, are quite a bit easier, educational and very entertaining.
26 Fairmount Avenue Series by Tomie De Paola - This is a semi-autobiographical series of books and very good for the transition phase.
The Littles by John Peterson
Little House Chapter Books by Roger Lea MacBride (adapted) - This series is an extension of the Little House on the Praire books by Laura Ingles Wilder. The books follow her daughter Rose on her childhood adventures. I don't usually recommend adapted books, but these are good for children just beginning to read chapter books.
Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne - Although these are not my favorites, they do contain lots of historical and geographical information. The kids really like them.
Magic School Bus by Joanna Cole - This series is another which is on my ok list. Again the kids really seem to like them and the stories contain lots of science information.

In addition to the series books listed above, these books are great.
Milly Molly Mandy by Joyce Lankester Brisley - The book contains several short stories which are particularly good for girls. They follow the oh so innocent adventures of a Little British Girl. I remember one of them about when she ran a store for the afternoon and another about her new bedroom.
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes - This is another story particularly suited for girls.
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett - This is actually a series, but we have only read this book. 
Abel's Island by William Steig - This is charming tale of adventure and survival as related by a newly wed mouse.
The Big Wave by Pearl S Buck - Set in Japan this story deals with death and Tsunami.
Tornado by Betsy Byars - This is the story of a dog who is lost to another family during a tornado.
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleishman - Set in the middle ages, the prince and his Whipping boy go on an adventure together.
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dagliesh - A growing child must cross the wilderness to complete an errand.
Viking Adventure by Clyde Robert Bulla - This book is an excellent example of a Living Book. Through story readers come away with an excellent understanding of life during Viking times.
The Last Little Cat by Meindert De Jong - This is the story of how a little cat finds a home.
Quake! Disaster in San Francisco, 1906 by Gail Langer Karwoski - This is the story of how a boy is seperated from his family during the earthquake, befriends another lost child, and eventually finds his family.

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No Time for Flash Cards
Living and Learning at Home