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
The adventures and pranks of a mischievous boy growing up in a Mississippi River town in the early nineteenth century.

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...

AR: 2.5

Lexile: 120

Anne of Green Gables
Montgomery, L. M.
Paper Book
The cherished classic featuring everyone's favorite red-headed orphan, in this lush hardcover edition with beautiful cover illustrations by Anna Bond, the artist behind world-renowned stationery brand Rifle Paper Co. Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with...

AR: 7.3

Lexile: 970

The black stallion
Farley, Walter
Paper Book
A shipwreck leaves young Alec stranded on a deserted island with a wild stallion. Dependent on each other for survival, boy and horse learn to trust and love each other as they establish an amazing friendship that lasts a lifetime.

AR: 5.2

Lexile: 680


The Borrowers
Norton, Mary
Paper Book
A enchanting and enduring children's classic, The Borrowers is the award-winning tale of three tiny people who are big heroes. The Clock family--Homily, Pod, and their fourteen-year-old daughter, Arrietty--are tiny people who live underneath the kitchen floor of an...

AR: 5.3

Lexile: 780

The boxcar children
Warner, Gertrude Chandler
Paper Book
Four brave siblings were searching for a home - and found a life of adventure! Join the Boxcar Children as they set out on their own in the first book in this illustrated chapter book series beloved by generations of readers. Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are brothers and...

AR: 3.9

Lexile: 470

The call of the wild
London, Jack
Paper Book
Life is good for Buck in Santa Clara Valley, where he spends his days eating and sleeping in the golden sunshine. But one day a treacherous act of betrayal leads to his kidnap, and he is forced into a life of toil and danger. Dragged away to be a sledge dog in the harsh and freezing cold Yukon, Buck...

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
From the author of The BFG and Matilda! Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled...

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 paperback edition includes...

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
NATIONAL BESTSELLER * The treasured childhood classic that tells the heartwarming story of a little bear and a little girl finding the friend they have always wanted in each other. "Freeman's tender tale bursts with quiet yearning, indelible images and the pure satisfaction of...

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
A 1945 Newbery Honor Book Eleanor Estes's The 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...

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
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 classic black-and-white artwork from Garth Williams.  Laura Ingalls...

AR: 5.3

Lexile: 930

The little prince
Saint-Exup?ry, 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
A CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK * OVER 8 MILLION COPIES SOLD! The cherished childhood classic starring a fearless little girl and her eleven lovable housemates. One of The Atlantic's 65 Essential Children's Books "Perhaps the best bedtime book ever written."--The New...

AR: 3.1

Lexile: 480

The magician's nephew
Lewis, C. S.
Paper Book
The Magician's Nephew, from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Greta Gerwig, will release in IMAX and wide globally in theaters on February 12, 2027, and on Netflix on April 2, 2027. Sneak previews only in IMAX will begin on February 10, 2027. Narnia . . . a land frozen in...

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.
Paper Book
One of the most popular, magical novels in literature joins the Scholastic Classics library. Barrie's enchanting tale of Peter Pan, a boy who never grows up, his home in Neverland, and his adventures with the Darling children and the Lost Boys as they go up against the evil Captain Hook, remains a...

AR: 7.2

Lexile: 980

The phantom tollbooth
Juster, Norton
Paper Book
With almost 5 million copies sold 60 years after its original publication, generations of readers have now journeyed with Milo to the Lands Beyond in this beloved classic. Enriched by Jules Feiffer's splendid illustrations, the wit, wisdom, and wordplay of Norton Juster's offbeat fantasy are as...

AR: 6.7

Lexile: 1000

Pippi Longstocking
Lindgren, Astrid
Paper Book
 The beloved story of a spunky young girl and her hilarious escapades. "A rollicking story."--The Horn Book Tommy and his sister Annika have a new neighbor, and her name is Pippi Longstocking. She has crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what...

AR: 5.2

Lexile: 870

The secret garden
Burnett, Frances Hodgson
Paper Book
Celebrate an unforgettable classic with this gorgeous hardcover edition, including full-color illustrations. This beautiful hardcover edition includes Tasha Tudor's iconic illustrations in full color, making it the perfect collector's edition or a wonderful gift for young readers. ...

AR: 6.3

Lexile: 970

The secret of the old clock
Keene, Carolyn.
Paper Book
Read the original Nancy Drew mystery, the first book in the iconic mystery series that introduced readers to America's favorite teenaged sleuth! The accidental rescue of a little girl who lives with her two great-aunts leads to an adventurous search for a missing will....

AR: 5.4

Lexile: 760

Strega Nona : an old tale
DePaola, Tomie
Paper Book
Now celebrating its 50th anniversary! When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works in this classic Caldecott Honor book from Tomie dePaola. Strega Nona--"Grandma Witch"--is the...

AR: 4.4

Lexile: 800

The tale of Peter Rabbit
Potter, Beatrix
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER * One of the best-loved children's picture books of all time, available as a mini hardcover for little hands! A classic tale that teaches the importance of making smart decisions, this edition features restored and never-before-seen illustrations! Once upon...

AR: 4.2

Lexile: 660

Tales of a fourth grade nothing
Blume, Judy
Paper Book
Life with his little brother, Fudge, makes Peter Hatcher feel like a fourth grade nothing. Whether Fudge is throwing a temper tantrum in a shoe store, smearing mashed potatoes on the walls at Hamburger Heaven, or trying to fly, he's never far from trouble. He's an almost three-year-old terror who...

AR: 3.3

Lexile: 470

The tower treasure
Dixon, Franklin W.
Paper Book
A dying criminal confesses that his loot has been stored "in the tower." Both towers of the looted mansion are searched in vain. It remains for the Hardy boys to make an astonishing discovery that clears up the mystery and clears the name of a friend's father.

AR: 5.4

Lexile: 740

Treasure Island
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Paper Book
The epic tale of a young man's quest to capture a hidden treasure on the open seas -- one of the best-loved adventure stories of all time. EACH ENRICHED CLASSIC EDITION INCLUDES: - A concise introduction that gives readers important background information - A chronology of the author...

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! Since 1926, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends--Piglet, Owl, Tigger, and the ever doleful Eeyore--have endured as the unforgettable creations of A.A. Milne, who wrote this book for his...

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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