Books for 8 year olds are special because, often, they’re the first step into reading longer chapter books. I love the stories on this list because they’re fun, include tons of illustrations and are all (except a couple) under 150 pages long (which are all things new/beginning readers need in a chapter book). You’ll find that many of the books on this list are newer releases. If you want even more great books for 8 year olds, check out my list of books for 3rd graders (which has over 80 recommendations).
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Books for 8 Year Olds
Here are the best books for 8 year olds:
Anisa’s International Day
Published: September 20, 2022
Third grader Anisa is excited about her class’s international day. She’s going to ask her mom to bring samosas for the class and share her Pakistani culture with everyone. But before she gets to reveal her plans, another classmate snags the samosa spot. As a creative, Anisa is desperate to be unique. With her aunt getting married soon, she decides that Mehndi is the perfect activity to introduce. But first, she’ll need to resolve a friendship misunderstanding.
This is a delightful, heartwarming, and culturally expressive young middle grade book. Featuring a likable, relatable young protagonist, this illustrated chapter book centers on themes of family, sisterhood, friendship, and the love and pride of Pakistani culture.
Marya Khan and the Incredible Henna Party (Marya Khan #1)
Published: October 18, 2022
Marya’s eighth birthday is coming up in a week, and all she wants is an over-the-top birthday party just like the ones Alexa, her rich neighbor, always throws. When Alexa parades into school with fancy invitations, Marya can’t help herself—she claims that she’s having the most epic henna party ever. Now she has to convince her family to make it happen.
Enter Operation Help the Khans! Marya’s siblings clearly need help with their projects. Maybe she could cook dinner for her parents, or clean her grandmother’s room? Except everything Marya does seems to end in disaster. Will Marya and her family be able pull it together and throw the best party ever?!
Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun
Published: April 19, 2022
Ten-year-old Zara has been crowned Queen of the Neighborhood by a loving neighbor. Zara makes fair rules for all the games she and her brother Zayd play with the other kids and Zara likes things just like that. But when her neighbor, Mr. Chapman moves out, a new family moves in. Their daughter Naomi has other ideas for playing and the other kids seem to like many of her ideas too.
To win back her crown, Zara decides she’ll try to break a World Guiness Record. But as time goes on, she realizes that it may just be better to share her crown instead. This is a sweet chapter book from master storyteller, Hena Khan. Readers will love the black and white illustrations and short chapters.
Sejal Sinha Battles Superstorms
Published: May 2, 2023
Sejal Sinha is looking forward to celebrating Diwali with her family. But when a hurricane appears, Sejal and her cousin Mira learn that the house is in danger from the imminent storm. With the help of Sejal’s favorite stuffed animal, Professor Cheetah, the two girls use Cardboard Box Magic to build their own Hurricane Hunter and fly into the eye of the hurricane!
They learn about a project from the 1960s called Project Stormfury, where a team actually tried to stop hurricanes. Can Sejal and Mira do what the previous Stormfury team couldn’t and battle the superstorm? This chapter book has strong themes of STEM, Indian culture, and friendship.
The Girl in the Tree
Published: June 13, 2023
Cordelia is a girl who lives in a tree in Central Park. Found as a baby and raised by an adoring squirrel named Shakespeare, Cordelia acts just like any other young squirrel, leaping across treetops, chasing her squirrel friends, and sleeping in her treehouse. Still, she wonders what it would be like to have a human friend, and when she stumbles into a gymnastics class, it seems like she might have her chance.
Living in a tree might have made Cordelia an exceptional gymnast, but people skills are a whole other matter. Even if Cordelia can’t fully fit in with the other kids, can she at least make one friend? Cordelia starts her journey to be—not exactly a girl, but more than a squirrel—squirlish! I enjoyed this fun chapter book and kids who like books with talking animals or stories like Tarzan will enjoy this one.
Nina Soni, Former Best Friend
Published: October 1, 2019
Nina tried as hard as she could but still somehow forgot about her school project. Fortunately, a class lesson about Alexander Fleming suggests how she might make a great discovery—and thus a great project! But with little sister Kavita’s birthday party right around the corner, and her longtime friendship with Jay on the rocks, Nina has a lot to keep track of.
Squirrel Do Bad (1) (Trubble Town)
Published: September 14, 2021
Wendy the Wanderer has lived in Trubble Town her whole life but never had the chance to go exploring. For this reason, she thinks she was definitely misnamed. Her dad likes to know where she is to make sure she’s safe, so she’s never been anywhere on her own. Then, her dad leaves on a trip and the babysitter doesn’t reinforce all the usual rules. Or any of the usual rules! Suddenly, Wendy is free to do what she wants, and what she wants is to live up to her name…and find Trubble.
Turns out, there’s lots going on in Trubble Town. As she encounters endearingly goofy animals and hilariously hapless townsfolk, Wendy’s very first adventure takes more twists and turns than she could have ever expected. She learns some really valuable life lessons and even teaches a few of her own.
Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters
Published: October 3, 2023
Mr. Whiskers is a street-wise stray dog with a nose for trouble and a fondness for two girls he calls the Shenanigan Sisters. So when Misty and Zelda’s professor father is kidnapped, Mr. Whiskers follows that car, picking up vital clues.
Then the two intrepid girls and one great dog follow the trail through the streets of San Francisco, discovering hidden passageways, buried secrets, and even pirate treasure.
But will they be able to rescue Dad? You bet your best biscuit, they will! This is a longer young middle grade book just about 200 pages long. Kids who love animal stories and mysteries will love it.
Izzy’s Dog Days of Summer
Published: September 5, 2023
Isabel and Zoë are so excited to be starting Fun in the Sun Camp! It’s too bad Isabel’s dog, Rollo, isn’t allowed, but the songs and sports, wiener roasts and crafts, swimming and storytelling will surely make up for that, right? Wrong! It turns out, the camp counselors do a big amount of saying no: NO singing your own song, NO running like a penguin, NO trading lunches (even when your sandwich bread is mushy from pickle juice!).
Isabel wants to have her own Bigger Amount of Fun in the Sun Camp in the backyard, with Rollo, instead. But will Isabel’s mom let her? And what will they do about Mr. Entwistle, their neighbor who lives on the grumpy side of the fence?
Super-Serious Mysteries #1: The Untimely Passing of Nicholas Fart
Published: May 23, 2023
Nicholas Fart toppled from his chair, rolled across the carpet, and passed out cold on the floor after smelling something foul. It was the perfect crime.
Never fear! Penelope Whiff is on the case, and she is sure to get to the bottom of this who-dealt-it mystery. Can she sniff out the source of the nasty, PUTRID smell? This hilarious new young graphic novel is just wacky enough for 8 year olds.
A to Z Animal Mysteries #1: The Absent Alpacas
Published: July 4, 2023
A is for ALPACAS . . .
It’s time for the alpaca costume contest, and Abigail “Abbi” Wallace is excited to see it at the Maine State Fair. But there’s only one alpaca left—the rest are missing! What sent the alpacas packing? Abbi; her dog, Barkley; and her friends Lydia and Daniel are ready to sniff out this mystery!
Peach and Plum: Here We Come!
Published: August 2, 2022
Here they come! It’s Peach and Plum!
Welcome to Fruitdale! School is out and work is done. Now it’s time for summer fun. Peach and Plum have lots to do. Beach day, bikes, and basketball, too. Will they wind up stuck indoors with a pesky list of chores? True adventure never ends for this pair of sweet best friends.
Tally Tuttle Turns into a Turtle (Class Critters #1)
Published: August 31, 2021
It’s Tally Tuttle’s first day of second grade, and she’s so nervous that she feels like she ate butterflies for breakfast! On top of moving to a new town and new school where she doesn’t know anyone, everyone starts teasing her when her full name, Tallulah, is revealed during roll call. She just wishes she could retreat into a shell . . . Then, all of a sudden, the desks and her classmates around her seem enormous, and Tally is shell-shocked to discover that she’s actually turned into a turtle! She’d heard that Mrs. Norrell’s class was special, but she hadn’t expected this.
Tally likes having a shell to hide in, but there are other parts of turtle life–like the fear of being stepped on–that aren’t exactly ideal. And once she’s tired of hiding, how can she change back into a girl? Tally will have to forge her own transformation back to herself and come out of her shell–both literally and figuratively!
Emmett and Jez (Adventures in Fosterland)
Published: June 7, 2022
When a tiny piglet named Emmett bounces off the truck carrying his mother and siblings, he’s lost, hungry, and stuck on the side of the road. He has no idea where he’s supposed to go, or where he belongs.
Then a giant scoops Emmett up and takes him to a wonderful, magical place called Fosterland, where he meets a kitten named Jez. Emmett has a lot of questions, and once he hears all about life as a kitten, he decides it’s much better than being a piglet. So, Emmett decides to just become a kitten instead! Problem solved.
But as both Jez and Emmett grow older and realize they might be headed off to different forever homes, Emmett will have to confront his fears and face the scariest question of all: Is there a Foreverland out there for him?
Super Dweeb and the Pencil of Destiny
Published: October 1, 2021
Andy wishes that he had *awesome powers*, like the heroes of his home-made comic stories. But instead, he’s stuck in the real world, where he has an annoying little brother, a super-weird teacher … and everyone says he’s a total dweeb.
Then one day, he discovers an oversized, glowing pencil on a school trip to the local toxic waste dump. He starts sketching and finds that he can redraw reality.
Now, thanks to the power of doodling, Andy can bring to life anything that he can imagine, erase his problems, and doodle his way of sticky situations. He’s not just a dweeb … he’s a SUPER DWEEB! Even Mona, the ice-cool new girl at school, seems impressed.
But there’s a twist in the tale.. because everything goes very wrong when little brother Oscar does some doodling of his own. Now there’s a scribble monster on the loose! Run for it, Andy!
PAWS: Gabby Gets It Together
Published: March 8, 2022
Meet best friends Gabby Jordan, Priya Gupta, and Mindy Park. They’re different in just about every way—personalities, hobbies, family, and more—but they have a few important things in common: they’re all in the same class, they absolutely love animals, and for reasons that are as varied as the trio themselves none of them can actually have any pets.
Unable to resist the adorable temptation any longer, the girls decide to come up with a way to finally get their hands on some furry friends. And, as luck would have it, it seems like their neighborhood is in need of some afterschool dog-walkers. So, just like that, PAWS is born!
But it turns out that running a business is harder than it looks, especially with three co-owners who are such different people. The girls soon argue about everything, from how to prioritize their commitments to the best way to keep their doggy clients happy. And when their fighting ultimately leads to a doggo crisis, will it tear their business and friendship apart or will they be able to get it together to save the day?
Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash (Detective Duck #1)
Published: October 17, 2023
Willow Feathers McBeaver, aka Detective Duck, is a crime-solving (and very precocious) little duck. She and her animal pals live on Dogwood Pond, a beautiful pond in New England adjacent to Lazy Days, a human campground. Dogwood Pond has always been a pristine spot with clear water, abundant wildlife, and shady willow trees, but now it is encountering puzzling problems—mysteries that arise from human-caused disruptions in nature, such as water pollution, refuse, warming climate, and human encroachment.
Fortunately, Detective Duck is on the job, solving these puzzling mysteries before they get out of hand and destroy their habitat! Armed with her ever-present satchel for collecting clues, her logical mind, and endless curiosity, she boldly goes where no pond creature has before, determined to unravel the mysteries and solve any environmental problem that besets her beloved Dogwood Pond!
Pocket Peaches
Published: September 26, 2023
Pocketon is a cute animal town, and a new cat, Taro, has just moved in. Peaches, Pogi, and Mago are besties and are immediately curious about Taro, who’s a bit introverted and withdrawn. But when Taro leaves a book behind, Peaches finds an in to invite her over and start a friendship. This beginner graphic novel is SO CUTE and explores the idea of befriending people even though, on the surface, you seem to have few common interests. It’s also written in a dyslexia-friendly font that makes it easy to read.
Super Pancake
Published: February 14, 2023
I was delighted to see that Allergic‘s Megan Wagner Lloyd had a younger graphic novel out this year. This book for 8-year-olds is set in Breakfast Town where a young Pancake develops superhero abilities after exposure to a special serum. Peggy Pancake is her family’s black sheep. She’s always late for the bus and is constantly losing track of time, but with superpowers, can she save her town and impress her family? I really enjoyed this funny, delightful, and poignant graphic novel.
Too Small Tola
Published: March 2, 2021
Too Small Tola is a new chapter book from Atinuke featuring three stories about a girl living with her grandmother and siblings in Lagos, Nigeria. Everyone teases Tola — sometimes lovingly — for being so small. They think she can’t lift heavy loads or do other things because of her size. But Tola’s grandmother reassures her that you can be small, but mighty, and Tola proves that she is!
This is a short, engaging collection of three stories about a young Nigerian girl, Tola. This chapter book depicts life in the city of Lagos, as well as the challenges of being a smaller child. Readers who appreciate an international appeal and enjoy books about bullying and grandparent and sibling relationships will enjoy this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few questions people commonly ask about books for 8 year olds:
What books should an eight year old be reading?
Every 8 year old is different and there really aren’t any “shoulds,” but 8 year olds will benefit from reading a mix of picture books, shorter chapter books or early readers and graphic novels for elementary schoolers (or young graphic novels.
Are 8 year olds reading chapter books?
Most 8 year olds are starting to read chapter books — that is, books divided into chapters. These shorter novels are typically 150 pages or less long and have shorter chapters with plenty of illustrations.
What authors are recommended for 8 year olds?
Some of my favorite authors for this younger age group are Elana K. Arnold (I love Just Harriet), Atinuke, Saadia Faruqi, and Hena Khan.
Which Harry Potter books are suitable for 8 year old?
It depends on your 8 year old! If you’re a big Harry Potter fan, you can start your kids off with the first two books in the series. Many younger kids prefer the illustrated versions of the books to begin.
There they are: 25+ of the best books for 8 year olds! Which of these books have you read and loved? Which ones did I miss?
More Books for 8 Year Olds
- 80+ chapter books for 3rd graders
- Great graphic novels for 8 year olds
- The best books for 8 year old boys
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