Children's Classic Books

Classic books for grades 1 - 6

Updated June 18, 2026
C
City of Mission Viejo Library
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The adventures of Tom Sawyer
Twain, Mark
Paper Book
Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read Sparkling with mischief, jumping with youthful adventurousness, Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer is one of the most splendid re-creations of childhood in all of literature. It is a lighthearted...

AR: 8.1

Lexile: 950

Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day
Viorst, Judith.
Paper Book
A Latino-centric movie adaptation is now streaming on Disney+! From children's book legend Judith Viorst comes the perennially popular tale of Alexander's worst day. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a story that belongs on every child's...

AR: 3.9

Lexile: 970

Amelia Bedelia
Parish, Peggy.
Paper Book
Learn to read with the classic Amelia Bedelia! Ever since Amelia Bedelia made her debut in 1963, young readers have been laughing out loud at the antics of this literal-minded but charming housekeeper.  From dressing the chicken to drawing the drapes, Amelia Bedelia...

AR: 2.5

Lexile: 120

Anne of Green Gables
Montgomery, L. M.
Paper Book
The celebrated classic about a red-headed orphan and the family who falls in love with her. The Cuthberts are in for a shock. They are expecting an orphan boy to help with the work at Green Gables - but a skinny red-haired girl turns up instead. Highly spirited Anne Shirley...

AR: 7.3

Lexile: 970

The black stallion
Farley, Walter
Paper Book
Discover all the adventure, thrills, and tenderness of the beloved classic that introduced the world to "the most famous fictional horse of the century" (The New York Times). "There was no place to seek cover. Here was the wildest of all wild animals." ...

AR: 5.2

Lexile: 680


The Borrowers
Norton, Mary.
Paper Book
This is the classic story--read and loved by children all over the world--of Pod, Homily, and their daughter, Arrietty, who live under the kitchen floor in a quiet, half-empty house and get their livelihood by borrowing from the "human beans." "Delectable fantasy."--Booklist

AR: 5.3

Lexile: 780

The boxcar children
Warner, Gertrude Chandler
Paper Book
Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny are orphans. Determined to make it on their own, they set out to find a safe place to live. They discover an old, red boxcar that provides shelter from a storm. Against all odds, they make it into their home--and become the Boxcar Children.

AR: 3.9

Lexile: 470

The call of the wild
London, Jack
Paper Book
Stolen from his home and family, a dog named Buck must quickly learn the harsh law of survival among the men and dogs of the gold-crazed North. His intelligence, courage, and cunning transform him into a feared leader. As wolves attack and men grow desperate, Buck must heed the call of the wild....

AR: 8.0

Lexile: 1120

The cat in the hat
Seuss, Dr.
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * The classic picture book that introduced the world to the iconic, mischievous Cat in the Hat and the beloved characters Thing One and Thing Two! Dr. Seuss makes reading fun for kids of all ages. COMING IN 2026 AS A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE...

AR: 1.2

Lexile: 260

Charlie and the chocolate factory
Dahl, Roald.
Paper Book
Fifty years ago, Roald Dahl created a world that captured the imagination of millions of readers, and a boy who captured their hearts. Now featuring an introduction by award-winning author Jon Scieszka, this special edition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is perfect for longtime Roald Dahl fans...

AR: 4.8

Lexile: 810

Charlotte's web
White, E. B.
Paper Book
Don't miss one of America's top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS's The Great American Read. This beloved book by E. B. White, author of Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan, is a classic of children's literature that is "just about perfect." This high-quality paperback features...

AR: 4.9

Lexile: 680

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs
Barrett, Judi.
Paper Book
The classic children's book and inspiration behind a hit animated film, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a whimsical and imaginative picture book that has delighted generations of readers. The tiny town of Chewandswallow was very much like any other tiny town--except...

AR: 3.2

Lexile: 730

Corduroy
Freeman, Don
Paper Book
Corduroy was first introduced to readers in 1968, and in the fifty years since, his adventures have never stopped. Corduroy has been on the department store shelf for a long time. Yet as soon as Lisa sees him, she knows that he's the bear for her. Her mother, though, thinks he's...

AR: 3.2

Lexile: 600

Frog and toad are friends
Lobel, Arnold.
Paper Book
Celebrate the power of friendship in these five adventurous stories starring Frog and Toad--a Caldecott Honor Book!  From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other--just as best friends should be. ...

AR: 2.9

Lexile: 400

The hundred dresses
Estes, Eleanor
Paper Book
Eleanor Estes'sThe Hundred Dresses won a Newbery Honor in 1945 and has never been out of print since. At the heart of the story is Wanda Petronski, a Polish girl in a Connecticut school who is ridiculed by her classmates for wearing the same faded blue dress every day. Wanda claims she has...

AR: 5.4

Lexile: 870

If you give a mouse a cookie
Numeroff, Laura Joffe.
Paper Book
If a hungry little mouse shows up on your doorstep, you might want to give him a cookie. And if you give him a cookie, he'll ask for a glass of milk. He'll want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache, and then he'll ask for a pair of scissors to give himself a trim....<...

AR: 2.7

Lexile: 410

Little house on the prairie
Wilder, Laura Ingalls
Paper Book
Inspiration for the Netflix series Little House on the Prairie! Based on the real-life adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie is the third book in the award-winning Little House series, which has captivated generations of readers. This edition features the...

AR: 5.3

Lexile: 930

The little prince
Saint-Exupéry, Antoine de
Paper Book
OVER 140 MILLION COPIES SOLD The beloved classic story about a young prince's travels through space--a profound philosophical tale about loneliness and loss, and love and friendship. A pilot crashes in the Sahara Desert and...

AR: 5.0

Lexile: 710

Madeline
Bemelmans, Ludwig
Paper Book
Set in picturesque Paris, this tale of a brave little girl's trip to the hospital is as appealing today as it was in 1940. The combination of spirited heroine, timelessly appealing art, cheerful humor, and rhythmic text makes Madeline a perennial favorite with children of all ages. Full color.

AR: 3.1

Lexile: 480

The magician's nephew
Lewis, C. S.
Paper Book
Narnia . . . a land frozen in eternal winter . . . a country waiting to be set free Witness the creation of a magical land in The Magician's Nephew, the first title in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, which has captivated readers of all ages for over sixty years. This beautiful...

AR: 5.4

Lexile: 790

Mary Poppins
Travers, P. L.
Paper Book
By P.L. Travers, the author featured in the major motion picture, Saving Mr. Banks. From the moment Mary Poppins arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, everyday life at the Banks house is forever changed. It all starts when Mary Poppins is blown by the...

AR: 6.1

Lexile: 830

The mouse and the motorcycle
Cleary, Beverly.
Paper Book
In this imaginative adventure from Newbery Medal-winning author Beverly Cleary, a young mouse named Ralph is thrown into a world of excitement when a boy and his shiny toy motorcycle check in to the Mountain View Inn. When the ever-curious Ralph spots Keith's red toy motorcycle, he vows to...

AR: 4.1

Lexile: 860

Mr. Popper's penguins
Atwater, Richard.
Paper Book
The classic Newbery Honor book that inspired the hilarious Jim Carrey movie--and a childhood favorite book for generations. Mr. Popper's Penguins is one of the handful of American books for children that has attained the status of a classic. A humble...

AR: 5.6

Lexile: 910

My father's dragon
Gannett, Ruth Stiles.
Paper Book
NEWBERY HONOR BOOK * The beloved tale of a boy on a daring quest to rescue a dragon, featuring the original black-and-white illustrations "Irresistible . . . a real delight."--The New Yorker Now a Netflix animated film featuring the voices of Jacob...

AR: 4.8

Lexile: 990

Peter Pan
Barrie, J. M.
Ebook

AR: 7.2

Lexile: 980

The phantom tollbooth
Juster, Norton
Paper Book
A PARADE BEST KIDS BOOK OF ALL TIME "Comes up bright and new every time I read it . . . it will continue to charm and delight for a very long time yet." --Phillip Pullman, New York Times bestselling author of His Dark Materials With almost 5 million...

AR: 6.7

Lexile: 1000

Pippi Longstocking
Lindgren, Astrid
Paper Book
Astrid Lindgren's story of feisty, red-haired Pippi has been given a sparkling new translation by award-winning Tiina Nunnally and engaging pictures by acclaimed Lauren Child.

AR: 5.2

Lexile: 870

The secret garden
Burnett, Frances Hodgson
Paper Book
Frances Hodgson Burnett's celebration of the kingdom of earth takes place in a secret garden, where the orphaned Mary Lennox and the invalid boy, Colin, are magically restored to health and well-being by Nature's mysterious living force. The original illustrations, by Charles Robinson, are perfect...

AR: 6.3

Lexile: 970

The secret of the old clock
Keene, Carolyn.
Paper Book
A special treat for Nancy Drew fans, and any reader who's new to the series! We're releasing a stunning new edition of an old favorite-The Secret of the Old Clock, the first book in the incredibly popular, long-running series. It's the same exciting mystery that readers have fallen in love...

AR: 5.4

Lexile: 760

Strega Nona : an old tale
DePaola, Tomie
Paper Book
When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.

AR: 4.4

Lexile: 800

The tale of Peter Rabbit
Potter, Beatrix
Paper Book
Level Two Follow the story of naughty Peter Rabbit as he squeezes under the gate into Mr. McGregor's garden and finds himself in all kinds of trouble! Beatrix Potter's original artwork and text have been adapted for this easy-to-read version of the classic tale.

AR: 4.2

Lexile: 660

Tales of a fourth grade nothing
Blume, Judy.
Paper Book
Nine-year-old Peter Hatcher's biggest problem is his naughty small brother, Fudge, who tries to acquire all Peter's possessions, even his tiny turtle.

AR: 3.3

Lexile: 470

The tower treasure
Dixon, Franklin W.
Paper Book
The Hardy Boys series, first published in 1927, has sold more than 70 million copies! Now with a brand-new look, this is an edition that collectors won't want to miss! InThe Tower Treasure, the first book in the incredibly popular, long-running series, Frank and Joe Hardy...

AR: 5.4

Lexile: 740

Treasure Island
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Audiobook
This performance was awarded Audio Best of the Year.-- Publishers WeeklyJim Hawkins and his mother unlock a sea chest belonging to Billy Bones, an old sea captain who died while staying at their inn. Inside the chest was a logbook and map. Thus begins one of the greatest adventures of all time. Once...

AR: 8.3

Lexile: 1100

Tuck everlasting
Babbitt, Natalie.
Paper Book
Doomed to - or blessed with - eternal life after drinking from a magic spring, the Tuck family wanders about trying to live as inconspicuously and comfortably as they can. When ten-year-old Winnie Foster stumbles on their secret, the Tucks take her home and explain why living forever at one age...

AR: 5.0

Lexile: 770

Winnie-the-Pooh
Milne, A. A.
Paper Book
Celebrating 100 years of one of the most beloved icons of children's literature, Winnie-the-Pooh! The adventures of Pooh and Piglet, Kanga and tiny Roo, Owl, Rabbit, and the ever doleful Eeyore are timeless treasures of childhood. In this beautiful edition of Winnie-the-Pooh<...

AR: 4.6

Lexile: 790

The wonderful Wizard of Oz
Baum, L. Frank
Paper Book
Journey to the spectacular land of Oz with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz! This classic tale from L. Frank Baum has enchanted readers for over a century. Now, in this stunning hundredth anniversary edition featuring the original illustrations by W.W. Denslow, new readers will learn the power of the...

AR: 7.0

Lexile: 980


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