Older Books for Younger Readers That Aren't Too Mature or Sophisticated
a list by Susie Wilde, composed with the help of Child-Lit members
2 May 2002

Humor
Bonny Becker. My Brother the Robot
Betsy Byars. The Not-Just-Anybody Family
Judy Blume. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing;
---. Freckle Juice
Patrick Catling. The Chocolate Touch
Kathleen Leverich. Best Enemies series
Barbara Parks. Skinnybones; Junie B. Jones (series)
Barbara Robinson. The Best School Year Ever
Thomas Rockwell. How to Eat Fried Worms
Louis Sacher. Marvin Redpost Books
---. The Sideways Stories from Wayside School
John Scieska. Time Warp Trio Books
Shel Silverstein Lafcadio. The Lion Who Shot Back
Robert Kimmel Smith. Chocolate Fever

Mystery and Adventure

David Adler. Cam Jansen books
Beverly Cleary. Beezus and Ramona (and others)
Andrew Clements. Frindle
Louise Fitzhugh. Harriet the Spy (and others)
Johanna Hurwitz Russell. Sprouts
---. Eliza in the Middle and more
Brian Jaques. Redwall series
Arthur Ransome. Swallows and Amazons series
Donald Sobol. Encyclopedia Brown
Lemony Snicket. Series of Unfortunate Events series
EB White. Stuart Little
Gertruce Chandler Warner. Box Car Children series

History--Up Close and Personal

Barbara Cohen. Molly's Pilgrim
---. Make a Wish Molly
Jane Kurtz. I'm Sorry, Almira Ann
Patricia Maclachlan. Sarah Plain and Tall (and others)
Martin Sandler. Immigrants; Presidents
Sydney Taylor. All of a Kind Family (and others)
Laura Ingalls Wilder. Little House in the Big Woods (and others)

Sports
Matt Christopher. Man Out at First
---. Pressure Play

Fairy Tale and Fantasy

Lynne Reid Banks. The Indian in the Cupboard
Bill Brittan. The Wish Giver (and others)
Oliver Butterworth. The Enormous Egg
Roald Dahl. James and the Giant Peach
---. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Edward Eager. Half-Magic (and others)
Ruth Styles Gannett. My Father's Dragon (series)
Astrid Lindgren. Pippi Longstocking (and others)
Bettty MacDonald. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series
Mary Pope Osbourne. Magic Tree House series
Katherine Paterson. The King's Equal
William Pene Du Bois. Twenty-One Balloons
James Thurber. Many Moons

Animals

Richard Atwater. Mr. Popper's Penguins
Avi. Poppy
---. Poppy and Rye
---. Ereth's Birthday
Michael Bond. A Bear Called Paddington
Roald Dahl. Fantastic Mr. Fox
Dean Harvey. The Secret Elephant of Harlan Kooter
Dick King-Smith. Babe
---. The School Mouse (and others)
George Selden. A Cricket in Times Square (and others)
William Steig. Abel's Island
---. Doctor DeSoto (and others)