Books, Activities, and Games for Elementary Age Kids

Teachers, parents, librarians, and grandparents, find the best book reviews and recommendations, activities, lesson plans, writing ideas, fun educational ideas, games, and toy ideas for elementary age children who are ages 5 to 12.

In the U.S., elementary school is usually kindergarten to fifth or sixth grade.

Here are some quick links to get you started finding good children's chapter books, picture books, and nonfiction books.

5- and 6-Year-Olds:
Best Easy Reader Books for 5 and 6 Year Olds
Best NONFICTION Books for 5 and 6 Year Olds

6- and 7-Year-Olds:
Best Easy / Beginning Chapter Books for 6- and 7- Year- Olds
Best Book Series for 1st Graders

7-Year-Olds:
Best Books for 7 Year Olds (2nd Grade)
18 Fantastic Chapter Book Series for 2nd Graders (7-Years-Old)
Best NONFICTION Books for 7-Year-Olds

8-Year-Olds:
Best Books for 8-Year-Olds (3rd Grade)
24 Book Series for 3rd Graders (8-Years-Old)
Best NONFICTION Books for 8-Year-Olds

9-Year-Olds:
Best Books for 9 Year Olds (4th Grade)
32 Book Series for 4th Graders (9-Years-Old)
Best NONFICTION Books for 9-Year-Olds

10-Year-Olds:
Best Books for 10-Year Olds (5th Grade)
27 Book Series for 5th Graders (10-Years-Old)
Best NONFICTION Books for 10-Year-Olds

7 Must-Read (NEW) Graphic Novels, October 2020

Got a graphic novel reader? Me, too! And it’s always fun to give them more, wonderful reading choices, right? Here are seven new graphic novels for kids ages 7 to 18. Cat Ninja by Matthew Cody, illustrated by Yehudi Mercado (ages 7 – 10) By day Claude is Leon’s pet but by night, […]

11 Children’s Books to Teach Letter Writing to Kids

Want to teach your kids how to write a letter? Start by reading children’s books filled with letter writing and use them as examples! Mentor texts like these children’s books provide excellent examples and ideas for teaching the format of letter writing as well as voice (tone) and organization. If teaching writing is the WORST […]

15 Incredible New Chapter Books, October 2020

Lately, I can’t keep up with all the exceptional chapter books. Because there are SO MANY GOOD BOOKS! Here are some of the latest middle-grade books and one YA book that have made a big impression on me. I hope you love them as much as I do! New Chapter Books, October 2020 Three Keys […]

The Best Games for Kids, Gift Guide 2020

Giving games and puzzles as Christmas gifts is a time-honored tradition in our family. This is why I’ve found the best new games for 2020 that my kids and yours will love to play. From card games to board games and dice games, you’ll also discover the best games from years past that you don’t […]

The Best STEM Toys and Gifts for Kids

Are you shopping for the best STEM toys and gifts for your kids this holiday season? Here you’ll find what’s new and recommended for 2020 as well as the best classic STEM ideas for kids. Discover robots, building blocks, science kits, circuitry, math games, and much more! This is the best list of science, technology, […]

New Middle Grade Nonfiction Books, Fall 2020

I’m excited to share with you 18 great nonfiction books. I hope you check out the book about eels, weird animal names, ninjas, and fairies, just to name a few. I also love the knitting and braiding books, the dog and cat friendship book, and the atlases, too. Look for a checkmark to indicate books […]

The Latest Nonfiction Picture Books, Fall 2020

Ready for an eclectic assortment of new nonfiction picture books? Below, you’ll find good books about animals, tea, yoga, voting, ecosystems, and more. And, they’re all new! If you have older readers, visit New Nonfiction Middle-Grade Books for Ages 8 – 12. Also, I’m finally doing something I’ve thought about for months — adding a […]

Stocking Stuffers for Kids and Teens Ages 3 – 13

I’m so excited about these stocking stuffers for kids, tweens, and teens from ages 3 to 16 that I’m barely resisting buying them all. I did a lot of research on gifts for kids for my holiday gift guide and found some cool fun ideas that your kids will love. Hope you love them, too! […]