Sharing interesting books is a great way to develop a joy of reading. Books are incredible because of their interesting plots, charismatic characters, imaginative settings, eventful adventures, unraveled mysteries, and explored human dramas hook readers.
Disclaimer: Please buy the books below to support the efforts of the writers, illustrators, and the publishers that make books possible, preferably from local bookstores. Links to pdfs and audio versions of books are available here to improve equity, making books accessible to students who are blind, dyslexic, poor, or who may otherwise have difficulty accessing books. No money is collected from this website.
Many of the books selected are ones that have entered the public domain. For newer books, efforts have been made to select sites that appear to be more reputable and are not charging money without permission. However, at times, it is very difficult to clearly tell who has permission to distribute audio versions of written books. Links have been severed immediately when it has been discovered that certain hosts did not have permission to distribute the audio-books.
Here are some of my family’s and my students’ favorites:
Photo credit: (Ann M. Martin)
The Baby-Sitters Club: Kristy’s Great Idea
The Baby-Sitters Club: Claudia And The Phantom Phone Calls
The Baby-Sitters Club: The Truth About Stacey
The Baby-Sitters Club: Mary Anne Saves The Day
Photo credits: Stephanie Yue (author: Raina Telgemeier)
Smile – part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5 (read aloud by Claire)
Sisters – part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 (read aloud by Claire)
Ghosts – part 1, part 2 (read aloud by Claire)
Drama – part 1, part 2, part 3 (read aloud by Claire)
Photo credit: Victoria Jamieson (author: Victoria Jamieson)
Roller Girl
Photo credit: Jeff Kinney (author: Jeff Kinney)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8 (read by Claire)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul – part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8 (read by Claire)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down – part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8 (read by Claire)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway
Photo credit: Tracy Dockray (author: Beverly Cleary)
The Mouse And The Motorcycle
Runaway Ralph
Ralph S. Mouse
Photo credit: Lin Oliver (author: Henry Winkler)
Hank Zipzer: Niagara Falls, Or Does It?
Hank Zipzer: I Got a D in Salami
Hank Zipzer: The Day of the Iguana
Hank Zipzer: The Zippity Zinger
Hank Zipzer: The Night I Flunked My Field Trip
Hank Zipzer: Holy Enchilada!
Hank Zipzer: Help! Somebody Get Me Out of Fourth Grade!
Hank Zipzer: Summer School! What Genius Thought That Up?
Hank Zipzer: The Secret Life of a Ping-Pong Wizard
Hank Zipzer: My Dog’s a Scaredy-Cat
Hank Zipzer: The Curtain Went Up, My Pants Fell Down
Hank Zipzer: Barfing in the Backseat
Hank Zipzer: Who Ordered This Baby? Definitely Not Me!
Hank Zipzer: The Life of Me (Enter At Your Own Risk)
Hank Zipzer: A Tale of Two Tails
Hank Zipzer: Dump Trucks and Dogsleds
Hank Zipzer: A Brand-New Me!
Further episodes available on YouTube.
Photo credit: Ellen Raskin (author: Madeleine L’Engle)
Photo credit: Edward Gorey (author: John Bellairs)
The House with a Clock in its Walls
Photo credit: Lincoln Peirce (author: Lincoln Peirce)
Big Nate: From the Top – part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5 (read aloud by Claire)
Big Nate: Silent But Deadly – part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 (read aloud by Claire)
Amulet: The Stonekeeper – part 1, part 2, part 3 (read aloud by Claire)
Amulet: The Stonekeeper’s Curse – part 1, part 2 (read aloud by Claire)
Amulet: The Cloud Searchers
Photo credit: (author: Robert C. O’Brien)
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Little House of the Prairie
The Tale of Peter Rabbit (author: Beatrix Potter)
The Secret Garden
Charlotte’s Web
Classics of Literature (these books have entered the public domain; they are free to download)
(author: Carlo Collodi)
The Adventures of Pinochio; pdf version
(author: Lewis Carroll & Alice Gerstenberg co-authored Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland)
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; pdf version
Through the Looking Glass; pdf version
The Story of Dr. Dolittle; pdf version
The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle; pdf version
Gulliver’s Travels; pdf version
(author: Johanna Spyri)
The Jungle Book; pdf version (author: Rudyard Kipling)
Peter Pan; pdf version
(author: Eleanor H. Porter)
Polyanna Grows Up; pdf version