Reluctant readers (Tamariki).

Struggling to get into reading? Check out this amazing selection of chapter books that is bound to turn the reluctant reader into a well renowned bibilophile!

Updated August 20, 2024
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The one and only Ivan
Applegate, Katherine
Paper Book
Now a major motion picture available on Disney+! Inspired by a true story, this is the beautifully written tale of how a mighty gorilla wins his freedom. A winning blend of humour and poignancy that will appeal to fans of Michael Morpurgo. This #1 New York Times...
Tales of a fourth grade nothing
Blume, Judy
Paper Book
The #1 New York Times bestselling author's first book in her classic Fudge series. "As a kid, Judy Blume was my favorite author, and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing was my favorite book."--Jeff Kinney, author of the bestselling Wimpy Kid series ...
The enchantress returns
Colfer, Chris
Paper Book
Alex and Conner Bailey have not been back to the magical Land of Stories since their adventures in The Wishing Spell ended. But one night, they learn the famed Enchantress has kidnapped their mother. Against the will of their grandmother (the one and only Fairy Godmother), the twins must find...
A Grimm warning
Colfer, Chris
Paper Book
In the third book in the New York Times bestselling series by Chris Colfer, the Brothers Grimm have a warning for the Land of Stories. Conner Bailey thinks his fairy-tale adventures are behind him--until he discovers a mysterious clue left by the famous Brothers Grimm....
The wishing spell
Colfer, Chris
Paper Book
The first book in Chris Colfer's #1 New York Times bestselling series The Land of Stories, about two siblings who fall into a fairy-tale world! The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Their world is about to change. ...
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
Collins, Suzanne.
Paper Book
The action and adventure continue in the second book in Suzanne Collins's masterful New York Times bestselling Underland Chronicles!Months have passed since Gregor first fell into the strange Underland beneath New York City, and he swears he will never go back. But he is destined to be a key player...
Gregor the Overlander : book 1 in The Underland chronicles
Collins, Suzanne.
Paper Book
This irresistible novel by Suzanne Collins tells the story of a boy who embarks on a dangerous quest in order to fulfill his destiny -- and find his father -- in a strange world beneath New York City. Gregor the Overlander joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and...
Matilda
Dahl, Roald
Paper Book
"A true genius . . . Roald Dahl is my hero" - David Walliams "So Matilda's strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting...
The twits
Dahl, Roald
Paper Book
From the bestselling author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG! NOW STREAMING ON NETFLIX: Don't miss the animated film The Twits, features the voices of Johnny Vegas, Margot Martindale, Emilia Clarke, and Natalie Portman and music by David Byrne and...
Even weirder!
Do, Anh
Paper Book
Weir's back and even weirder! But it's not just Weir who's weird, it's his whole family. Not even their pet bird is normal! How will he keep cool with a school trip to the zoo coming up AND Bella's birthday party?! It won't be easy . . . but it will be funny!
WeirDo
Do, Anh
Paper Book
From bestselling author Anh Do comes the hilarious hit chapter book series, WeirDo. These illustrated books will keep readers laughing as Weir and his friends navigate the trials of elementary school.Meet Weir Do.No, that's not a typo, that's his name!Weir Do's the new kid in school. With an...
Harriet, the spy
Fitzhugh, Louise.
Paper Book
It's no secret that Harriet the Spy is a timeless classic that kids will love! Every day can be an adventure if you just look carefully enough! A PARADE BEST KIDS BOOK OF ALL TIME Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. In her notebook, she writes down everything...
Fortunately, the milk...
Gaiman, Neil
Paper Book
From multi-award-winning Neil Gaiman comes a spectacularly silly, mind-bendingly clever, brilliantly bonkers adventure - with lip-smackingly gorgeous illustrations by Chris Riddell. Mum's away. Dad's in charge. There's no milk. So Dad saves the day by going to buy some. Really, that's all...
The 13-storey treehouse
Griffiths, Andy
Paper Book
Andy and Terry's 13-storey treehouse is the most amazing treehouse in the world! It's got a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a tank full of man-eating sharks, a giant catapult, a secret underground laboratory and a marshmallow machine that follows you around and shoots marshmallows into...
The 26-storey treehouse
Griffiths, Andy
Paper Book
From Australia's favourite children's storytellers comes the second instalment of the bestselling Treehouse seriesJoin Andy and Terry in their newly expanded treehouse, which now features 13 brand-new storeys, including a dodgem car rink, a skate ramp, a mud-fighting arena, an anti-gravity chamber,...
Don't look now. Book two
Jennings, Paul
Paper Book
Book 2 in the fantastic four book series about taking risks and flying high, from the children's book legend Paul Jennings and brilliant cartoonist Andrew Weldon.
Diary of a wimpy kid : Greg Heffley's journal
Kinney, Jeff
Paper Book
Being a kid can really stink. And no one knows this better than Greg Heffley, who finds himself thrust into high school where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. Luckily Greg has his best friend and sidekick, Rowley. But when...
Double Down: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (BK11)
Kinney, Jeff
Paper Book
The pressure's really piling up on Greg Heffley. His mom thinks video games are turning his brain to mush, so she wants her son to put down the controller and explore his "creative side." As if that's not scary enough, Halloween's just around the corner and the frights are coming at...
A bad spell for the worst witch
Murphy, Jill
Paper Book
Mildred Hubble is the most disastrous dunce of all at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. But even Mildred has the occasional good spell! Jolly broomsticks and brimstone in these very different school stories.
The worst witch
Murphy, Jill
Paper Book
Puffin Clothbound Classics are stunning collectable hardback editions of some of the best-loved classics in the world - including this spellbinding 50th anniversary edition of The Worst Witch, the original magical boarding school series. School spells trouble for Mildred Hubble! ...
The worst witch strikes again
Murphy, Jill
Paper Book
"I wonder," said Miss Cackle, "if there is any hope for you in this Academy, Mildred." Summer term at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches has just begun and disaster-prone Mildred Hubble is in deep trouble again - all because of the new girl, Enid Nightshade, who isn't nearly as placid as she looks.
Dinosaurs before dark
Osborne, Mary Pope
Other
Where did the magic tree house come from? Before Jack and Anie can find out, the mysterious tree house whisks them back to the prehistoric past. Now can they do it before dark... or will they become a dinosaur's dinner?
The knight at dawn
Osborne, Mary Pope
Paper Book
"Peacocks for dinner and boys in skirts? hats what Jack and Annie When the Magic Tree house whisks them back to the middle ages for another wild adventure. In a great hall of a castle, a feast is underway. But Jack and Annie are not welcome guests!"
Wonder
Palacio, R. J.
Paper Book
Celebrating 85 years of Sparking Imaginations A beautiful clothbound edition of the much-loved modern classic Wonder. Bound in real cloth with two coloured foils and sprayed coloured edges, this deluxe edition is a perfect gift or collector's item. Part of an eight book set...
Big Nate : in a class by himself
Peirce, Lincoln.
Paper Book
Now an animated series from Paramount + & Nickelodeon! For fans of the hilarious Diary of a Wimpy Kid series: Get ready to meet Big Nate! In the very first novel in the New York Times bestselling series, Big Nate is in a class by himself! Nate knows he's meant for big...
Big Nate strikes again
Peirce, Lincoln.
Paper Book
Now an animated series from Paramount + & Nickelodeon! For fans of Jeff Kinney and Raina Telgemeier, here comes the second novel in the New York Times bestselling Big Nate series.  BIG NATE will surpass all others! But it won't be easy. He's stuck with Gina,...
The brilliant world of Tom Gates
Pichon, Liz.
Paper Book
Warning: Do not attempt to read this in public. You will snigger loudly. When my teacher, Mr Fullerman, doesn't have his BEADY EYES on me, I like to draw pictures and write stories about stuff, like when we had the worst holiday ever (camping sucks), and when my parents came to school for parents'...
Everything's amazing (sort of)
Pichon, Liz.
Paper Book
Back to school, but it's not all bad. Sports Day, the School Fair and my birthday are coming up so this term's going to be amazing! Mostly because Delia's not invited to any of these. There's only one small problem with my birthday, Granny Mavis says she's going to make my cake ... uh oh! Oh and Mr...
Excellent excuses (and other good stuff)
Pichon, Liz.
Paper Book
"No school for two whole weeks! (Yeah!) I can forget ALL about lessons (and irritating things like Marcus Meldrew). And concentrate on good stuff like: inventing new ways to annoy my sister Delia. (So many). Band practice for DOGZOMBIES (with my mate Derek). Watching TV and eating caramel wafers....
Where the red fern grows
Rawls, Wilson
Paper Book
Read the beloved classic that captures the powerful bond between man and man's best friend. This edition also includes a special note to readers from Newbery Medal winner and Printz Honor winner Clare Vanderpool. Billy has long dreamt of owning not one, but two, dogs. So when...
Sideways stories from Wayside School
Sachar, Louis
Paper Book
Meet the delightfully eccentric and unusually gifted pupils of Wayside School in this instalment of the brilliantly quirky Wayside School series - from Louis Sachar, author of the bestselling novel Holes As recommended on Radio 4 Kids Book Club, August 2024 ...
Wayside School gets a little stranger
Sachar, Louis
Paper Book
When a substitute teacher is called to stand in for Mrs Jewls, it can mean only one thing - strange things are going to happen at Wayside School. Miss Mush has prepared a special lunch of baked liver in purple sauce and it is pet day on the thirtieth floor. There are dogs and cats and frogs and...
Wayside School is falling down
Sachar, Louis
Paper Book
Watch closely, said Mrs Jewls. You can learn much faster using a computer instead of a paper and pencil. Then she pushed the computer out of the window. The children all watched it fall thirty floors. See? said Mrs Jewls. That's gravity... That's the way things happen at Wayside School....
Holiday horrors
Simon, Francesca
Paper Book
Number One for Fiendish Fun! Get up to mischief with Horrid Henry in this brilliant bind up of his best holiday themed stories! Keep busy in the school holidays with Horrid Henry! This book contains six of Henry's most horrible holiday stories, plus lots of fun jokes and activity...
The curse of the cheese pyramid
Stilton, Geronimo
Paper Book
Enter the world of Geronimo Stilton, where another funny adventure is always right around the corner. Each book is a fast-paced adventure with lively art and a unique format kids 7-10 will loveI'm off to Egypt! I climbed onboard a crabby old camel that would take me across the desert to the Great...
Lost treasure of the emerald eye
Stilton, Geronimo
Paper Book
Re-enter the world of Geronimo Stilton, where another funny adventure is always right around the corner. Each book is a fast-paced adventure with lively art and a unique format kids 7-10 will loveWho Is Geronimo Stilton?That's me! I run a newspaper, but my true passion is writing tales of adventure....
The world's worst children. 1
Walliams, David
Paper Book
The World's Worst Children 1, from Children's author David Walliams. Are you ready to meet the World's Worst Children? Five beastly boys and five gruesome girls! Like Sofia Sofa - a TV super-fan so stuck to the sofa that she's turning into one! Or...

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