Summer Reading For Kids Ages 8-11

By Secondchancesgirl
Summer break is officially here!! We are super excited to get up late and just hang out. One of my main goals this year for the kids is that they read at least 3 books each. It's hard to get them to read but once they actually get started they can't stop. I also like to read with them since I am such an avid reader. I usually choose 2 book from the recommended summer reading list issued by our school district and the other two are fun books! If you are stumped at book recommendations for kids ages 8-11, I have 9 recommendations for you:
The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locker Hero
The Misadventures of Max Crumbly is a new series of books about a boy named Max Crumbly about to face the scariest place he's ever been: South Ridge Middle School. This series is penned by the author of Dork Diaries and promises lots of fun and to tackle current issues such as bullying. 
 
The Misadventures of Max Crumbly

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone
Who doesn't love Harry Potter? I'm a huge fan, read every book and have watched every movie! The Harry Potter series though is a new series to my kids. The recently started reading the books and are thrilled. Amberly is on The Goblet of Fire and the boys are reading the Sorcerer's Stone. Once they are done with a book, then they watch the movie so believe me, they are flying through this series!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

The BFG
The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It's lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, or any of the other giants—rather than the BFG—she would have soon become breakfast. When Sophie hears that the giants are flush-bunking off to England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!
The BFG

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
We are big fans of the Diary of Wimpy Kid series and Hard Luck is probably my kid's favorite! This is already Book 8 but honestly, my kids read them all over and over. This one is all about finding and making new friends which is super important to kids in the 8-11 age range. 
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
The League and The Lantern
I am super excited to start reading this with my kids. I met the author personally, earlier this year, and fell in love with the story. The League and The Lantern is about three kids who go on an epic adventure at their seventh grade school sleepover. They unravel a mystery dating back to the civil war and find out some amazing family secrets along the way!
The League and The Lantern

Because of Winn Dixie
Because of Winn Dixie has been on our district's reading list for 4th grade for over 15 years. I don't know of a person who has read this book and hasn't fallen in love with it's main character: a dog named Winn Dixie. Winn Dixie helps Opal deal with family secrets, make new friends and learn to love!
Because of Winn Dixie
Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing
This is another book that has been on our reading list for years. This story is hilarious and perfect for incoming 4th graders. This book teachers kids about how to handle annoying siblings. 

Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing
101 Ways to Bug Your Parents
Believe it or not, this is on our district reading list also. This book is a fall back book for my kids. They are reading it little by little and enjoy every minute of it. This is a story about Steve, who is a child inventor and wants to enter a science competition with his new invention, the Nice Alarm. Follow along on Steve's quest to get to his competition, with or without his parents.
101 Ways to Bug Your Parents
Hip Hop Speaks to Children: a Celebration of Poetry With a Beat
A friend of mine purchased this book for her daughter and filmed a video of her daughter rapping to Sugarhill Gang's Rapper's Delight. I immediately knew I had to get this for my kids. They love hip hop music and this book has been so wonderful in them learning some cool songs and a little poetry! 
Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry With a Beat
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