Kids: Reluctant readers

If your tamariki haven't caught the reading bug yet, the books on this list may pique their interest! Here you'll find books that are funny, large text, pictures, cartoons, and maybe something short and sweet.

Updated July 28, 2025
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Madeline
Bemelmans, Ludwig
Paper Book
"In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines the smallest one was Madeline."     Nothing frightens Madeline--not tigers, not even mice. With...
Flat Stanley
Brown, Jeff
Paper Book
In this 50th anniversary edition, join Flat Stanley and the rest of the Lambchop family on the adventure that started it all!  Kids love Flat Stanley--even reluctant readers. And for parents and teachers, each Flat Stanley book delivers multicultural adventure, plot and character...
The 13-story treehouse
Griffiths, Andy
Paper Book
Andy and Terry live in a treehouse. But it's not just any old treehouse, it's the most amazing treehouse in the world! This treehouse has thirteen stories, a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a secret underground laboratory, and a marshmallow machine that follows you around...
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...
Sideways stories from Wayside School
Sachar, Louis
Paper Book
Bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning author Louis Sachar knows how to make readers laugh. And there are laughs galore in perennial favorite Wayside School Is Falling Down! This is the rack-size paperback. Yum! Miss Mush is dishing out her famous Mushroom Surprise in the Wayside School...
Horrid Henry
Simon, Francesca.
Paper Book
Henry is horrid. Everybody thinks so. He throws food. His favorite pastime is tormenting his brother, Perfect Peter. Moody Margaret is the only friend who can stand up to him. His own parents pretend not to know him! He destroys his class's dance recital, feeds his little brother disgusting glop,...

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