The Again List / Ages 9 to 12

The best books to share with 9 to 12 year olds

Plenty of kids this age stop being read to, and most of them miss it. A short list, on purpose, of books that reward an older child and the adult reading along.

Ages 0 to 2 Ages 3 to 5 Ages 6 to 8

Matilda

Roald Dahl & Quentin Blake

A small genius, the worst parents in fiction and a headmistress who throws children, and all of it is very funny.

Ages 6–12 · ≈ 20 min a sitting · 5 h total

The Wild Robot

Peter Brown

A robot learns to be a mother on a wild island, and you will both want to read the next chapter.

Ages 6–11 · ≈ 15 min a sitting · 4 h total

Moominland Midwinter

Tove Jansson

The strangest and most beautiful winter book for kids, from Finland, about being awake when everyone you love is asleep.

Ages 6–12 · ≈ 20 min a sitting · 3 h total

Charlotte's Web

E.B. White & Garth Williams

Still the best first novel to read aloud to a child, and still the one that will break you.

Ages 5–11 · ≈ 20 min a sitting · 4 h total