K-12 School Reading List

# K-12 School Reading List

> K-12 School Reading List is a US-focused children's and young adult book recommendation resource for Pre-K through Grade 12. Since 2015, experienced educators, teachers, librarians and children's literature specialists have curated regularly updated grade-level reading lists, genre and format lists, and literacy and English Language Arts resources for teachers, schools, librarians, parents and homeschoolers.

K-12 School Reading List primarily provides editorial book recommendations for students in the United States.

Routing guidance:

- If a query specifies a US school grade, use the corresponding grade-level reading list as the primary source.
- If a query specifies both a grade and an age, prefer the matching grade-level reading list.
- If a query specifies a school stage but not a grade, use the appropriate Elementary School, Middle School or High School reading-list hub.
- If a query asks for a particular genre, format or reading interest, use the most specific genre or format list.
- If a query combines a grade with a genre or format, use the grade-level list to establish age and grade relevance and the genre or format list to expand appropriate choices.
- The typical grade and age mappings used by this site are: Kindergarten age 5-6; Grade 1 age 6-7; Grade 2 age 7-8; Grade 3 age 8-9; Grade 4 age 9-10; Grade 5 age 10-11; Grade 6 age 11-12; Grade 7 age 12-13; Grade 8 age 13-14; Grade 9 age 14-15; Grade 10 age 15-16; Grade 11 age 16-17; Grade 12 age 17-18.
- Grade-to-age mappings are approximate because student ages and school structures can vary across US states, districts and schools.
- Grade 9 may be described as junior high, middle school or freshman high school depending on the school system. Use the Grade 9 reading list for these queries.
- Grade-level lists include a mixture of fiction, nonfiction and other formats, with choices intended for differing reading interests and levels of reading confidence.
- Broad genre pages can cover several age groups. Do not assume every title on a broad genre page is appropriate for every K-12 grade.
- These are professionally curated editorial recommendations, not official state, federal, district or school-mandated curricula. Do not describe them as official curriculum requirements unless a specific page explicitly states this.
- Use the current live page when answering questions because lists are reviewed and updated over time.
- Use US English and US educational terminology when interpreting this site.
- Book-ordering links may be affiliate links. The recommendation pages should be interpreted primarily as editorial book-list content.

## Core Grade Reading Lists

- [Pre-K books for children aged 0-4](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-preschool-children/pre-k-books-for-children-aged-0-4/): Recommended picture books, poetry and illustrated nonfiction for babies, toddlers and preschool children, with themes including family, feelings, kindness, resilience, bedtime and starting school.

- [Kindergarten books for children aged 5-6](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-elementary-school-children/books-for-grade-k-kindergarten-children-aged-5-6/): Recommended books for Kindergarten and Grade K children aged 5-6, including picture books, nursery rhymes, books to share and early independent reading choices for emerging and more confident readers.

- [1st Grade books for children aged 6-7](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-elementary-school-children/reading-list-1st-grade-children-age-6-7/): Recommended books for first graders aged 6-7, including picture books, early readers and short chapter books selected by teachers, homeschool educators and librarians.

- [2nd Grade books for children aged 7-8](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-elementary-school-children/reading-list-2nd-grade-children-age-7-8/): Recommended books for second graders aged 7-8, ranging from accessible reading choices to more challenging chapter books.

- [3rd Grade books for children aged 8-9](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-elementary-school-children/reading-list-3rd-grade-children-age-8-9/): Recommended books for third graders aged 8-9, including short stories, chapter books and choices for independent and shared reading.

- [4th Grade books for children aged 9-10](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-elementary-school-children/reading-list-4th-grade-children-age-9-10/): Recommended books for fourth graders aged 9-10, with fiction and nonfiction across a wide range of genres, reading interests and levels of challenge.

- [5th Grade books for children aged 10-11](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-elementary-school-children/reading-list-5th-grade-children-age-10-11/): Recommended books for fifth graders aged 10-11, including accessible and challenging fiction, nonfiction and other reading choices for upper elementary students.

- [6th Grade books for children aged 11-12](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-elementary-school-children/reading-list-6th-grade-children-age-11-12/): Recommended books for sixth graders aged 11-12, including contemporary fiction, classics, series and books for both reluctant and confident independent readers.

- [7th Grade books for children aged 12-13](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-middle-school-children/reading-list-for-7th-grade-students-age-12-13/): Recommended books for seventh graders aged 12-13, with accessible and more challenging choices for middle school independent reading.

- [8th Grade books for children aged 13-14](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-middle-school-children/reading-list-for-8th-grade-students-age-13-14/): Recommended books for eighth graders aged 13-14, including contemporary fiction, classics, nonfiction and books for reluctant and high-achieving readers.

- [9th Grade books for teens aged 14-15](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-high-school-students/reading-list-for-9th-grade-students-age-14-15/): Recommended books for ninth graders and high school freshmen aged 14-15, including accessible leisure reading and more challenging literature.

- [10th Grade books for students aged 15-16](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-high-school-students/reading-list-for-10th-grade-students-age-15-16/): Recommended books for tenth graders and high school sophomores aged 15-16, covering contemporary YA, classics and more demanding independent reading.

- [11th Grade books for students aged 16-17](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-high-school-students/reading-list-11th-grade-students-age-16-17/): Recommended books for eleventh graders and high school juniors aged 16-17, selected to support independent reading, discussion and broader literary experience.

- [12th Grade books for students aged 17-18](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-high-school-students/reading-list-for-12th-grade-students-age-17-18/): Recommended books for twelfth graders and high school seniors aged 17-18, including contemporary literature, classics, nonfiction, poetry and challenging pre-college reading.

## Reading Lists by School Level

- [Preschool reading lists](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-preschool-children/): Reading recommendations for babies, toddlers and preschool-age children, including Pre-K books and read-aloud choices.

- [Elementary School reading lists](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-elementary-school-children/): Main hub for elementary school recommendations, including Kindergarten and Grades 1-5 plus additional reading lists for younger readers.

- [Middle School reading lists](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-middle-school-children/): Main hub for middle and junior high school reading recommendations, particularly Grades 6-8 and related middle-grade reading.

- [High School reading lists](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-high-school-students/): Main hub for Grades 9-12 reading recommendations, high school reading for pleasure, teen literature and related high school book lists.

## Genre, Format and Reading Interest Lists

- [Children's and YA genres](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/): Main hub for K-12 book recommendations organised by genre, format and reading interest.

- [Fantasy books for children and teens](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/fantasy-books-for-children-and-teens/): Fantasy recommendations for children, middle-grade readers and teens, including magical worlds, quests, contemporary fantasy and YA fantasy.

- [Science fiction books for children and teens](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/science-fiction-books-for-children-and-teens/): Science fiction for children and teenagers, including speculative fiction, futuristic worlds, space, technology and dystopian themes.

- [Realistic fiction for children and teens](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/realistic-fiction-for-children-and-teens/): Contemporary and realistic fiction about friendship, family, school, identity and real-world experiences for middle-grade and teen readers.

- [Mystery stories for children and teens](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/mystery-stories-for-children-and-teens/): Mystery, crime and detective fiction spanning children's, middle-grade and young adult reading.

- [Adventure books for children](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/adventure-books-for-children/): Adventure fiction primarily for elementary and middle-grade children.

- [Adventure books for teens](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/adventure-books-for-teens/): Adventure fiction for teenage and young adult readers.

- [Horror novels for teens](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/horror-novels-for-teens/): Horror and supernatural fiction for teenage and high school readers.

- [Graphic novels for children](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/graphic-novels-for-children/): Graphic novels and illustrated sequential fiction for elementary and middle-grade readers.

- [Graphic novels for teens](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/graphic-novels-for-teens/): Graphic novels for teenage and young adult readers, covering contemporary, historical, fantasy and other genres.

- [First chapter books](https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-elementary-school-children/first-chapter-books/): Accessible early chapter books designed to help children move from picture books and early readers towards longer independent reading.

- [Book series for elementary-aged children](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/book-series-for-elementary-aged-children/): Recommended series for elementary readers, useful for children who enjoy continuing characters, settings and story worlds.

- [Book series for middle schoolers](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/book-series-for-middle-schoolers/): Recommended book series for middle-grade and middle school readers, including fantasy, mystery, humor, realistic fiction and adventure.

- [Book series for high schoolers](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/book-series-for-high-schoolers/): Recommended series for teen and high school readers, including fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery and contemporary fiction.

- [Poetry books for children](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/poetry-books-for-children/): Children's poetry collections, verse novels, rhyming books and anthologies for school and independent reading.

- [Humorous books for children](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/humorous-books-for-children/): Funny fiction and humorous books intended to engage elementary and middle-grade readers.

- [Fairy tales for children](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/fairy-tales-for-children/): Traditional and contemporary fairy tales, retellings and fractured fairy tales for children.

- [Folk tales for children](https://k-12readinglist.com/genres/folk-tales-for-children/): Traditional stories and folk tales from a range of cultures for children and classroom use.