Favorite Novels for Middle Grade ELA (and other good reads)

As a reading teacher I have a ton of favorite books!  I have favorite picture books to read aloud to my own children, some for teaching different reading skills, easy reader chapter books for new readers, favorite novels to share with students as well as for my own personal reading…I could go on!

Here are a few of mine broken into categories:

Family Favorites:
1. Fancy Nancy books to read with my daughter
2. How I Survived… books to discuss with my son
3. Snuggle Puppy by Boynton
4. Goodnight, Gorilla by Peggy Rathman
5. Where’s My Hug? by Amy Hest
6. Firefighter Ted by Andrea Beaty and Pascal Lemaitre
7. Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
8. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

Teaching Reading Strategy Favorites:
1. Strega Nona-Inferring
2. Just Another Ordinary Day-Imagery
3. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble and The Sand Castle Contest-Summary
4. Mmm, Cookies!-Cause and Effect

Novels to Teach to 5-8th Grades:
1. Crash by Jerry Spinelli
2. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
3. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
4. The Lottery Rose by Irene Hunt
5. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
7. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
6. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I am always in search of new titles, but these are a few of my absolute favorites that I never get tired of reading/sharing!

Recently, I updated a novel unit that I love teaching for Maniac Magee.  If you have taught this novel or plan to teach it, be sure to check out this complete novel study unit. Your students will love this Newberry Medal Winner by Jerry Spinelli.

Click image for details…

I would love to hear more about any favorite novels you have.  Feel free to leave a comment below so I can check them out!