In this set of recommendations, Yamini and I shared books for 7-9 year olds!

Do you remember your favourite book when you were 8? By then, many children are reading chapter books independently, some are raring to move onto more complex book series, others are devouring comics. Our selection here is a mix of all this for ages 7-9, happy reading!

Manya Learns to Roar - Shruthi Rao & Priya Kuriyan

Manya is convinced that she’ll be an excellent Shere Khan in her school play. But not everyone agrees—her stammer being the chief reason. A warm and empathetic story about friendship, bullies and living with a disability.

Ottoline - Chris Riddell 

Ottoline and her companion Mr Munroe live in a stylish apartment in the Big City while her parents travel the world acquiring things. The book follows their bizarre escapades that include among other things solving high-society dog thefts. Riddell’s illustrations are filled with charming quirks.   

Jamlo Walks - Samina Mishra & Tarique Aziz

A heartbreaking but sensitively told story about 12-year-old Jamlo who walked for more than 100 kms to get home, when the lockdown was imposed in India. This important bit of our history, which records the reality of migrant workers, should be in every school library. 

Zita the Spacegirl - Ben Hatke 

A normal girl who turns into an intergalactic superhero has to battle chickens and robots to rescue her friend from an alien. Do we really need to say more about this adventurous graphic novel?

Sideways Stories from Wayside School - Louis Sachar 

This wildly popular book about a bizarre school and its whacky teachers and students was first published in 1978, but it has aged remarkably well. Funny and just the right amount of dark, it’s a great series to transition to.  

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit - Judith Kerr

You might think that it would be impossible to tell a story set during World War II that makes readers laugh, but Judith Kerr manages to do this. This autobiographical novel is told through the eyes of young Anna, whose family keeps moving, making it hard for her to have friends. There’s so much love in this book that you’ll find yourself laughing and crying in turns.  

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