10 Essential Chapter Books for Girls
Give these amazing chapter books for girls to the young child in your life. Recommended as the first book that inspired a life long love of reading from book club members.
When I was still pregnant with my youngest daughter, my book club gave me the best baby shower gift EVER.
While other family and friends ensured my baby would have all the clothing and gear a newborn needs, my beloved book soul mates pulled together a baby shower gift basket of the essential chapter books for girls that inspired their own love of reading.
As they handed the amazing gift over, they told me:
"These books turned us into readers, our hope is that they'll do the same for your sweet little pea, too."
Queue all the tears.
You can read about the other fun goodies they tucked into that precious gift here, but I wanted to share the specific chapter books they included to help you find something special to give the sweet girl in your life, too.
How I Chose the Books
These girls' chapter books are absolute classics from my generation's childhood. Most of my friends grew up reading these titles.
But the list isn't random.
Each book is here on the list because it inspired one or more of my book club friends to become a lifelong reader.
I included some of my own personal childhood favorites at the end of the list. I've read them each out loud to my daughters and we have loved them.
What Makes These "Essential?"
While some book lists will suggest children's books because they are classic literature or because they are filled with excellent life lessons or have some level of "intelligence-meter" quality to them, this list is a bit different.
These books did the most important job a book can do:
They captured the imagination of a young girl who read it and turned her into A Reader for Life.
Would Boys Like These, Too?
A good book is a good book!
I strongly believe that boys can and should read stories about girl characters just as girls should read amazing stories featuring boy characters.
Books are a very personal preference.
As a general rule these chapter books may appeal more to girls than boys but the themes are quite general and could easily apply to any child who wants to read.
Only you know your child the best!
If you're looking for a list of chapter books for your son or if you have a daughter who prefers action and adventure and a male protagonist, you may also enjoy this list of books for boys.
We've read several of these books in our home of two daughters and enjoyed them, too!
Essential Chapter Books for a Girl's Home Library
Who doesn't love Beezus and Ramona?? These sweet classic novels make amazing read-aloud chapter books for both boys and girls.
I have fond memories of reading about Ramona's adventures while laying on the "nap mat" in my elementary school classroom.
Roald Dahl is one of my all-time favorite children's book authors and Matilda rises right to the tippy top of his list of books for me.
This is one of the very first chapter books I read out loud with both of my girls and all three of us have loved Matilda's story.
Were you ever really a child if you didn't read Charlotte's Web??
I remember my 2nd grade teacher reading this book out loud and the entire class was on the edge of our seat to hear what happens next.
It is still read in many elementary classrooms, but this classic story absolutely deserves a spot on your child's bookshelf.
The Great Gilly Hopkins is one of the special books that was tucked inside the gift basket from my book club friends.
This middle grade novel explores the joys and struggles of adoption through the eyes of a spirited eleven year old girl.
You could argue that Judy Blume is an essential author to introduce to any young girl, and you would be right!
Freckle Juice has a much broader appeal than several of her titles and was another gift from a book club friend.
I distinctly remember being so utterly absorbed in the Wrinkle in Time series during DEAR (drop everything and read) time in 4th and 5th grade.
This wonderful series is perfect for introducing a bit of science fiction to young girls.
As a child I fell in love with Black Beauty, but a book club friend gifted us this copy of Misty of Chincoteague and said it was the first book that captured her imagination as a young girl.
I plan to include it as a read aloud book for our summer rotation this year.
This stunning set of hardcover classic novels for children includes:
- Little Women
- Anne of Green Gables
- Heidi
- The Little Princess
As a stunning gift, buy the whole box set but you couldn't go wrong with any of the titles sold individually. All four are precious and beloved from my own childhood.
I've read all but Anne to my girls and she's up next!
The entire "Shoe Books" series held a very special pride of place on my childhood bookshelf.
I was utterly enamored with Pauline, Petrova, and Posy from Ballet Shoes most of all.
Rereading it as an adult to my daughter was such a fun experience and I picked up on so many more historical details I missed as a child.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is considered essential childhood reading. It is Book 2 in the Chronicles of Narnia series but could be read as a stand alone book.
However, the entire series would make a lovely gift for a child's home library.
More Books to Give as Gifts
