It's perfectly fine and normal for kids to have different reading levels and interests -- and it's important for the adults in their life to grow the love of reading by honoring their reading choices. However, if you're looking for help in identifying a book that is a perfect fit for your child, feel free to ask your librarians or try the 5 Finger Rule: Open the book to a full page of text. Read the page to yourself. Every time you come across a word you don’t know, hold up a finger. If you hold up 5 fingers before the end of the page, you should find another book. If you hold up 4 fingers or less, the book is right for you! Take a look at some of our favorite books that typically work for ages 6-9.
Staff Picks: Ages 6-9
Compiled by:
Children's Services Staff
(Juvenile Fiction - J Hopkins)
In Knob Creek, Kentucky, in 1816, seven-year-old Abe Lincoln falls into a creek and is rescued by his best friend, Austin Gollaher. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Pol)
Describes how a teacher named Miss Chew encouraged individuality, and accepted learning differences, and helped a young student with academic difficulties get extra time to take tests and permission to be in advanced art classes. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile Graphic Novels - J Holm)
Series: Babymouse; #1
*This item also available on Libby. An imaginative mouse dreams of being queen of the world, but will settle for an invitation to the most popular girl's slumber party. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Blabey)
Series: Bad Guys; 1
*This item also available on Libby and Cloud Library. The Bad Guys - Mr. Wolf, Mr. Shark, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Piranha - want to be heroes, and they decide that the way to do it is to free the 200 dogs in the city dog pound--but their plan soon goes awry. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Potter)
Series: Big Foot and Little Foot; 1
*This item also available on Cloud Library. Hugo is a young Sasquatch who longs for adventure. Boone is young boy who longs to see a Sasquatch. When their worlds collide, they become the unlikeliest pair of best friends. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile First Chapter Books - J Kirby)
Series: Captain Awesome
*This item also available on Libby. On a class field trip to the Sunnyview Memorial Zoo, Eugene McGillicudy's favorite animals--the elephants--are missing! Is Randy the tour guide really the evil Raging Radonkey, trying to ruin the field trip? Can the Sunnyview Superhero Squad save the day and find the elephants? Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Gidwitz)
Series: Unicorn Rescue Society; 1
*This item also available on Libby and Cloud Library. Along with a new friend--brave, outspoken Uchenna Devereaux-the new kid at school, Elliot Eisner, gets caught up in a secret group of adventurers, The Unicorn Rescue Society, whose goal is to protect and defend the world's mythical creatures. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile First Chapter Books - J Osborne)
Series: Magic tree house series; 1
*This item also available on Libby and CloudLibrary. Eight-year-old Jack and his younger sister Annie find a magic tree house, which whisks them back to an ancient time zone where they see live dinosaurs. Recommended for ages 6–9.
(Juvenile First Chapter Books - J Citro)
Series: Zoey and Sassafras
*This item also available on Hoopla. In the first book of this series, Zoey discovers a glowing photo and learns an amazing secret. Injured magical animals come to their backyard barn for help! When a sick baby dragon appears, it’s up to Zoey and Sassafras to figure out what’s wrong. Will they be able to help little Marshmallow before it’s too late? Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Woo)
*This item also available on Hoopla (audiobook). When Ms. Albert teaches a lesson on kindness, Chloe realizes that she and her friends have been wrong in making fun of new student Maya's shabby clothes and refusing to play with her. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Vernon)
Series: Hamster Princess; 1.
*This item also available on Libby. Harriet becomes an adventurer after learning she is cursed to fall into a deep sleep on her twelfth birthday, but after two years of exploits with her riding quail, things go awry at home and she must seek a prince to set things right. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Tarshis)
Series: I Survived; 11
*This item also available on Libby and Cloud Library. Originally not wanting to come to Chicago, young Oscar Starling finds himself not only in the middle of the city, but trying to survive when the town is ablaze. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile First Chapter Books - J Medina)
A spunky young girl from Columbia loves playing with her canine best friend and resists boring school activities, especially learning English, until her family tells her that a special trip is planned to an English-speaking place. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile Nonfiction - J 793.7 Mil)
Get hundreds of fun facts about all the coolest creatures and some of the craziest info about the history of funny business. It's the right formula for laughing, learning, and maybe even launching your stand-up comedy career! Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile Nonfiction - J 398.208 Tab)
Thirteen humorous traditional Jewish tales, each accompanied by an appropriate saying. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile First Chapter Books - J Dicamil)
*This item also available on Libby, Cloud Library (audiobook), and Hoopla. After Mercy the pig snuggles to sleep with the Watsons, all three awaken with the bed teetering on the edge of a big hole in the floor. Look for more Mercy Watson titles. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Cle)
*This item also available on Libby and Cloud Library. A reckless young mouse named Ralph makes friends with a boy in room 215 of the Mountain View Inn and discovers the joys of motorcycling. Read more Ralph stories in Runaway Ralph and Ralph S. Mouse. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Urban)
*This item also available on Hoopla. Third-grader Max pursues neighborhood adventures with his dad as they both adjust to recent changes in their family. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile First Chapter Books - J Holub)
Series: Heroes in Training; 1
*This item also available on Libby. When ten-year-old Zeus is kidnapped, he discovers he can defend himself with a magical thunderbolt. Recommended for ages 6-9.