25 Books For 8-Year-Old Budding Readers

Third grade is a tricky year for budding readers. They’re just beginning to gain interest in more mature subjects and ideas, but are still in love with making jokes and being full of shenanigans! At the same time, their reading skills are still growing and they need to be challenged, just as much as entertained, in order to make the shift from learning to read to reading to learn. Check out these 25 highly engaging stories to help 8-year-olds learn to love reading! 

1. Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhiha Lai

Stronger 8-year-old readers will enjoy this author’s personal experiences as a child fleeing from Vietnam to the United States after the fall of Saigon. Though it is a chapter book, it is written in verse providing exposure to poetry which creates a seemingly digestible read.

Learn More: Thriftbooks

2. Brown Girl Brown Boy What Could You Be?, by Dr. Temika Edwards

This inspiring story helps bring inspiration to elementary students so that they can envision themselves in a multitude of careers. This would be a great story for 3rd-grade teachers to use as a read-aloud book on career day.

Learn More: Amazon

3. Trapped in a Video Game

What 8-year-old doesn’t enjoy a video game? Help inspire their imagination with a book series about being trapped in their favorite games to help save the world! While there are no colorful illustrations, the vivid imagery and humor sprinkled throughout the story will keep readers wanting to explore more!

Learn More: Books Run

4. Hilarious Jokes For 8-Year-Old Kids, by Hayden Fox

Reluctant readers will be dying to read this book full of jokes so they can share the hilarity and silliness with their friends and family. Sometimes all it takes is a little entertainment to get kids reading.

Learn More: Amazon

5. Maybe, by Kobi Yamada

This picture book is both inspiring and sweet. Maybe was created to help inspire possibilities for kids’ lives and the potential that they all carry around every day. The sweet illustrations and calm mood will have students dreaming big dreams. 

Learn More: Alibris

6. Young Change Makers: Making A Difference, by Stacy C. Bauer 

When it comes to this sweet story, your kids will want to read it again and again. Learning how kids around the world can make a difference will inspire them to want to find their own ways to contribute. 

Learn More: Amazon

7. Mistakes That Worked, by Charlotte Foltz Jones

This entertaining story about a variety of mistakes that worked is definitely one your kids will thoroughly enjoy reading! Students will be able to share all the fun facts with their families and friends as they progress through the pages!

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8. The Mystery of the Haunted House, by Willow Night

This book is the first in a series of five-chapter books for kids at a 3rd-grade reading level. It’s a slap-full of mystery and action, kids will enjoy reading cover to cover and then want to pick up the next in the series. 

Learn More: Goodreads 

9. The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids, by Ginjer Clarke

Animals always seem to capture the hearts of kids. This amusing book will keep students engaged and give them practice with non-fiction texts based on a popular topic: animals!

Learn More: Amazon

10. Interesting Facts for Curious Minds, by Jordan Moore

There are no rules when it comes to how your child or students will read this book. With vibrant illustrations and a variety of intriguing facts that kids can read in any order, this is one they’ll pick up again and again. 

Learn More: Barnes and Noble

11. Pokemon Super Special Chapter Book Collection, by Helena Mayer, Jeanette Lane, and Maria Barbo

Pokemon has made its way back into modern culture and kids are obsessed! Perfect for 8-year-old reluctant readers because of its high-interest content, this chapter book set is full of vibrant illustrations.

Learn More: Books-A-Million

12. Horrible Science: Bugling Box of 20 Brilliant Books, by Nick Arnold

If you have a young person in love with science, this is the perfect set of books to keep them occupied! It will be on your 8-year-olds top 40 best books because of the amazing facts and colorful illustrations. 

Learn More: Book Outlet

13. Bad Guys Series, by Aaron Blabey

This book series is a must-have set of action-packed graphic novels. This humorous set of stories each features a different “bad guy” doing a good deed- great for even the most reluctant readers! 

Learn More: Walmart

14. The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg

Add some enchanting books like this to your library for 8-year-olds. This sweet tale of a young boy who wants to believe in Santa comes to life in the pages of this touching story. 

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15. The Last Kids on Earth, by Max Brallier

This is book number eight in the New York Times best-selling series of The Last Kids on Earth. A hilarious and action-adventure chapter book and certainly one you’ll want to add to any 8-year-old’s book list. 

Learn More: Walmart

16. The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, by Stacy McAnulty

Imagine being struck by lightning and becoming a genius! This is an inspiring story about a 12-year-old girl getting out of her comfort zone to try new things and is sure to inspire!

Learn More: Amazon

17. Mystery in Rocky Mountain National Park, by Aaron Johnson

If you have an outdoor-obsessed kid in your life, they certainly need this epic adventure on their bookshelf. They will discover interesting information about natural history as this mystery unfolds.

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18. Code 7, by Bryan Johnson

A nice, wholesome beginners chapter book will get kids learning how to crack the code for the life they want. Code 7 takes readers on a journey with the sweetest bunch of characters! 

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19. Emily Windsnap Series, by Liz Kessler

This half-mermaid, half-human character captures the imaginations of young readers everywhere. Join her in her adventures as she swims through these chapter books on epic adventures. 

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20. Would You Rather Game Book, by Riddleland

This fun and exciting book allow kids to have an unlimited amount of “would you rather” questions to challenge friends and family, and get everyone involved in the reading! 

Learn More: Amazon

21. The Secret Zoo, by Bryan Chick

Living next door to a zoo is already exciting, but when the animals begin acting strange, a mystery unravels and a group of friends realizes that there is a whole lot more to the zoo than they originally thought! 

Learn More: Amazon

22. Funny Stories for 8-Year-Olds, by Helen Paiba

This collection of humorous stories is perfect for 8-year-olds. They can choose to read one, two, or all of them and pick it up and put it down at any time.

Learn More: Walmart

23. Unplugged, by Gordon Korman

Follow the spoiled son-of-a-billionaire as he goes to a sleep-away camp and is forced to leave all of his technology behind. As this hilarious tale begins to unfold, a series of strange occurrences begin to happen.

Learn More: Books-A-Million

24. Oh My Gods, by Stephanie Cooke, Juliana Moon, and Insha Fitzpatrick

This is a new graphic novel. It captivates readers as the main character moves to Mt. Olympus and begins to realize that her neighbors aren’t just ordinary kids – they’re gods and mythological creatures!

Learn More: Books-A-Million

25. Houdini and Me, by Dan Gutman

Living in Houdini’s old New York City home, a young boy coincidentally named Harry begins to receive strange messages from someone claiming to be Houdini himself. Should he believe the messages and go back in time to relive the life of the famed magician, Harry Houdini?

Learn More: Books-A-Million