Discover These Must-Read Books for 8-Year Olds

Middle school is back and has never been more hilarious. In this edition of the New York Times bestselling series, lovable troublemaker “Big Nate” Wright pins the blame for failing to do his homework on Sherman, the class gerbil. Throughout his misadventures in this collection of comics, he’ll do anything to stay out of detention and make it to summer vacation. Will he succeed?

Boys don’t keep diaries—or do they? Greg Heffley does (it’s a journal, though, if you ask him). And as the new school year starts, he’s got plenty to write about. He shows up to his first day of middle school, along with his sidekick and best friend Rowley—only to discover he now has to share the halls with boys who are taller, meaner and already shaving. When Rowley starts to become more popular, Greg tries to use it to his advantage, triggering a series of events that test their friendship. 

In this first book in the hugely popular Wimpy Kid series, young readers can share in his relatable experience of growing up before one’s ready, through the hilarious words and drawings Greg records in his diary.

Four Fruit Ninjas from humble beginnings prepare to rediscover the long-lost art of Juice Jitsu in this thrilling graphic novel adventure based on the the hit game. Your kid can join a daring team of crime fighters as they protect their neighbors from villainous juice stands and other nefarious (and fruity) actors in this quirky martial arts tale.

What’s a fractured fairy tale and how exactly do you fracture one? Your kid can learn all about how to turn familiar favorites into hilarious tales of their own making in this fun-filled how-to. Filled with exciting writing prompts and activities, it’ll get their creative juices flowing and get ’em laughing at the same time.

Allie and Vic Taylor are just regular kids who help out in their parents’ antique shop. Until one day, when they find they can travel through time and explore important moments in history!

When Allie, Vic, and their friend Max are mysteriously sent back in time to the Titanic, they have to find a way to save their parents’ shop, their futures and get off the ship before it sinks. Your kid can join them as they explore the Titanic in its prime and attempt to find their way back to the present.

After the adventure, readers can learn interesting facts about antique stores as well as the Titanic and its passengers.

In the first book in this #1 New York Times bestselling series by “Dog Man” author and illustrator Dav Pilkey, hilarious grossness ensues when 4th-grade best friends George Beard and Harold Hutchins invent the wedgie-powered superhero Captain Underpants.

The only thing that class clowns George and Harold love more than jokes and pranks is making comic books, and that’s when they invent the greatest superhero in the history of their elementary school: Captain Underpants.

Faster than a speeding waistband! More powerful than boxer shorts! He can leap tall buildings without getting a wedgie. In other words, he’s the perfect hero to serve up plenty of giggles for kids in this age group. And this audio version makes the perfect read-aloud.  

The Atlantic Puffin is close to extinction, until scientists come to the rescue. In this fascinating book, kids can learn about a special conservation program aimed at repopulating the species, as well as the lifecycle of this amazing bird. 

“The Puffins Are Back” is particularly meaningful for the author, as  her inspiration for the book was a puffin sanctuary near her home. 

There’s a big race happening in the forest—but someone’s ruined all the posters! Wolf is on the case, but he soon discovers a wisecracking chickadee who feels left out of the fun. So he hatches a plan to help him win… a plan that involves a little creative thinking and you guessed it, Wolf’s trademark striped undies.

In this third book in the hilarious graphic novel series, you and your kid are in for some serious laugh-out-loud lessons in finding understanding.

If your kid loves this, they might like “The Wolf in Underpants Freezes His Buns Off!”

For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest under a warrior code that’s now under threat in this thrilling fantasy. In this #1 national bestseller, your kid can join the ThunderClan cats, and a seemingly ordinary housecoat named Rusty as they face the sinister ShadowClan and save their fellow warriors.