Image: MomJunction Design Team
When your kid reaches the age of seven and eight, they will get used to reading by themselves. However, if they enjoy reading books, you need to get your hands on the best books for 7- and 8-year-olds. We help you find some useful books for kids that can strengthen the practice of reading and drastically improve your children’s language skills. In addition, exposing your kids to various genres can help them develop a great interest in reading, thereby improving their literary proficiency. So if you are looking for age-appropriate books for them, we have got you covered. Read through the post to get some time-tested, best-selling books for your child.
Top Picks
Best Books For Seven- And Eight-Year-Old Children
1. Best Lighthearted: The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Author: Beverly Cleary
Ralph is a tiny mouse who lives in a second-floor hotel room. One day, a young boy named Keith and his family move into the room. Keith has a small red motorcycle, and Ralph is immediately enticed by it. The discovery of the motorcycle marks the beginning of Ralph’s adventures with it. Soon Ralph and Keith become best friends and go on several adventures together. The animal story is lighthearted and entertaining thanks to the motorcycle-riding mouse. This book assessment video can help you make an informed decision about this storybook for 7- and 8-year-olds.
2. Best Mystery: Ginger Pye
Author: Eleanor Estes
The story of this mystery book for 7- and 8-year-olds is about the Pye family and their smart and adorable dog Ginger Pye. Everyone in the neighborhood loves him. But one day, Ginger disappears, and the Pyes suspect that someone has kidnapped him. The disappearance of Ginger coincides with the appearance of a new resident of the neighborhood, a man with a yellow hat. ‘Ginger Pye’ is a simple story of whodunit that seven and eight-year-olds will enjoy reading.
Quick tip3. Best Graphic Novel: Big Nate: From the Top
Author: Lincoln Peirce
It is a graphic novel that tells the sweet story of Nate Wright, a middle school student going through the usual grind and challenges of school life. In one episode, he is shopping for school clothes with his father who always picks something boring. In another story, Nate is so scared of his teacher that he sees her face everywhere. ‘Big Nate: From the Top’ is a witty, funny, and humorous graphic novel for 7- and 8-year-olds that young children will love.
4. Best Superhero Story: Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure!
Author: Jeff Brown
This funny story begins with the bulletin board falling on Stanley, the protagonist. When Stanley’s family members take the board off of him, they realize that Stanley has turned flat – like a piece of paper! Stanley can be rolled, mailed, and even be flown like a kite. The new physical form gives the boy near superhuman power, which he puts to good use. This hilarious book will become your kid’s favorite in no time.
5. Best Easy-To-Read: Dinosaurs Before Dark
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Jack and his younger sister discover a treehouse while venturing in the woods. The treehouse is a magical one, and it transports them into the time of dinosaurs. It is all exciting until the brother and sister duo realize that there seems to be no way to return to the present. The story is thrilling, exciting, and is written in a language that is easy to understand to help improve children’s comprehension skills.
6. Best All-Time Classic: Calvin and Hobbes (The First Book)
Author: Bill Watterson
Calvin and Hobbes is a time-tested classic. The first book in the comic series tells the adventures of the boisterous six-year-old named Calvin and his stuffed toy tiger Hobbes who comes alive in Calvin’s imagination. This best-selling book series for 7- and 8-year-olds is known for its witty humor and is loved by children as well as adults.
Do remember7. Best Illustration: Dog Man
Author: Dav Pilkey
‘Dog Man’ is a funny graphic novel that tells the story of Dogman, a crime fighter with the head of a dog and body of a human. The adventures are illustrated in artwork that has a child-like drawing style. The language is elementary so that it is easy for children to understand. The artwork, adorable illustrations, and humor make this a highly entertaining picture book for 7- and 8-year-olds.
8. Best Educational: Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs
Author: Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart
This best-selling educational book for 7- and 8-year-olds is both academic and entertaining. Each page of this fantastic book provides information about the different kinds of dinosaurs, with the help of a foldable paper cutout that pops out when you open the page of the book. The pop-ups give a three-dimensional effect that makes the reading experience exciting.
9. Best For Reading Practice:Meet Yasmin!
Author: Saadia Faruqi
Yasmin is in her second-grade, but that does not stop her from thinking about new adventures. In one chapter, she decides to become an explorer and draws a map of her neighborhood. We see Yasmin as a painter in another story. ‘Meet Yasmin!’ is a wonderful second-grade reading book — thanks to its simple language and lovable main character.
Quick tip10. Best Funny: Silly Jokes for Silly Kids
Author: Silly Willy
This tried-and-tested funny book for 7- and 8-year-olds contains a collection of fun jokes and riddles primarily written for young children. Several hilarious illustrations complement the jokes and complete the funny theme of this book for seven and eight-year-olds.
11. Best Imaginery Book:Ricky, the Rock that Couldn’t Roll
Author: Jay Miletsky
It is one of the best stories about friendship. The story is about a group of rocks that play together on a hill. One day, all the rocks except one named Ricky decide to roll down the hill. Ricky is flat on one side and thus cannot roll. But the rocks do not leave their friends behind and decide to help Ricky. ‘Ricky, the Rock that Couldn’t Roll’ is an adorable tale of perseverance and true friendship.
12. Best Friendship Story:Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot
Author: Dav Pilkey
This friendship book for 7- and 8-year-olds introduces Ricky Ricotta, a young mouse who lives in a town called Squeakyville. Ricky does not have many friends at school, and the neighborhood bullies do not make it easy for him to play outside. One day, Ricky rescues a big robot sent by a mad scientist who wants to destroy Squeakyville. But the robot is a kind one and becomes Ricky’s best friend. It marks the beginning of an unusual yet adorable friendship between a mouse and a robot.
13. Best Dragon Tale Storybook:Zoey And Sassafras – Dragons And Marshmallows
Author: Asia Citro
The adventure mystery book for 7- and 8-year-olds is the first one in the Zoey and Sassafras series. It is about the adventures of a young girl named Zoey and her cat Sassafras. In ‘Dragons and Marshmallows,’ the duo notices that injured mythical animals seem to visit their backyard. One day, they are visited by a cute baby dragon who is unwell. Zoey and Sassafras have to figure out what’s wrong with the dragon while also watching out for other magical creatures.
14. Best Superhero Book:Zita the Spacegirl
Image: Ben Hatke 
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 697 reviews on Amazon indicate that this product has a loyal following.
Author: Ben Hatke
Aliens abduct Zita’s friend Joseph, and Zita decides to rescue him. But when she lands on the alien planet, she realizes that everything there is strange. There are humanoid chickens and weird robots. But Zita is determined and takes the role of an intergalactic superhero to save the day. The story is told in a graphic novel style, with colorful illustrations and a relatable main character that children will love.
15. Best Baby Adeventure Tale:Are You My Mother?
Author: P.D. Eastman
A bird lays an egg in the nest, and a few moments later, the egg starts to bounce. The mama bird flies hurriedly to get something for the chick to eat. But as she leaves, the baby bird pops out of the egg. He searches for his mother and even asks some other animals if they are his mother. Ultimately, the mama bird and baby bird unite, but not before the little bird had an adventure of his own. This heartwarming story will keep the kids engaged to the end.
16. Best Magic Storytale:Magic Faraway Tree
Author: Enid Blyton
The time-tested story is about three siblings namely Joe, Beth, and Frannie, who discover an enchanted forest with a magical tree. The magical creatures living on the tree lead the children to other magical lands for fun and adventure. ‘Magic Faraway Tree’ is an original story written by the popular children’s books author Enid Blyton. Children will love the simple yet exciting story of this adventure book for 7- and 8-year-olds, which was first published more than 75 years ago.
17. Best Classic Tale:The Story of Ferdinand
Author: Munro Leaf
A classic tale that was first published in 1936, ‘The story of Ferdinand’ is about a bull who loves nature and smelling flowers over bull-fighting. But Ferdinand is also the strongest bull among his siblings and is eventually selected for a bullfight. But the gentle bull chooses to be calm rather than fight the matador, to the amazement of the audience. ‘The Story of Ferdinand’ is a classic children’s tale that conveys a message of peace, love, and compassion.
How To Choose The Right Books For 7- And 8-Year-Olds?
Here are some important points to consider when buying books for seven- and eight-year-olds.
- Age: Choose age-appropriate books written specifically to suit the reading levels of this age group. Your child can learn the necessary language and social skills and values suitable for their age.
- Interest: Consider your child’s interests and passions when choosing a suitable book. A book based on what they enjoy will help them stay engaged. Opt for a sports-themed book for 7- and 8-year-olds for your little athlete, and a science and nature book for 7- and 8-year-olds for your scholar.
- Illustration: Look for books with bright, unique, and colorful illustrations so that reading does not get too boring for your child.
- Complexity: Choose books with enough complexity to challenge and develop your child’s knowledge and skills. You should also introduce your child to serious themes and ideas for all-around development.
H Shamsi, book reviewer and founder of Book Nerdection, says, “Children aged around seven to eight years enjoy looking at pictures. Thus, graphic novels and comics are excellent choices for this age group. The short texts scattered across picture frames gives them the illusion that they are not reading much, which builds their reading stamina and keeps them engrossed.”
Why Trust MomJunction?
Wedetso Chirhah is a keen product writer, covering books, household items, electronics, and more. He is well-versed with quality books and ensures his book list contains items that can help his readers. After an in-depth examination of various books, reader reviews, and testimonials he has compiled this list of the best books for 7- and 8-year-olds that contain inspiring and amusing stories to pique your child’s interest in reading.
The Bottom Line
Books not only entertain your children but also help improve their language skills and reading level. Now that you’ve gone through our curated list of the best books for 7- and 8-year-old kids, you can pick ones that best suit your child’s interests. Featuring novels and classic animal-themed books for 7- and 8-year-olds to fantasy books for 7- and 8-year-olds, this list of informative and educational book recommendations will keep the child engaged for hours. Our top picks include the comic Calvin and Hobbes, the adventure-themed Are You My Mother?, and the Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs, with three-dimensional pop-ups. Your children will undoubtedly enjoy reading various books. So, gather a good collection of best-selling books for your child to read and encourage their reading habit.
Infographic: Why Is Reading Books Beneficial For Children?
Improving your child’s reading habits by encouraging them to read age-appropriate, well-written literature can have numerous benefits beyond just the joy of reading. Explore the infographic below to learn more about how cultivating a love for reading serves your child’s growth and development.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Recommended Articles
- Best Books For 13 And 14-Year-Olds
- Best Dinosaur Books For Kids
- Best Light Novels To Read
- Best Science Books For Kids
