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 strange case of Origami Yoda
Angleberger, Tom.
Paper Book
In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren't strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient....
One and Only Ivan : A Newbery Award Winner
Applegate, Katherine
Paper Book
The #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Award-winning novel The One and Only Ivan is now a major motion picture streaming on Disney+ This unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of...
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 ...
Flat Stanley.
Brown, Jeff, 1926-2003.
Paper Book
Invisible Stanley.
Brown, Jeff, 1926-2003.
Paper Book
Stanley, flat again!
Brown, Jeff, 1926-2003.
Paper Book
The enchantress returns.
Colfer, Chris, 1990-
Paper Book
After decades of hiding, the evil Enchantress who cursed Sleeping Beauty is back with a vengeance. 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...
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! Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with...
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
For most kids, aThe Trunchbulla is pure terror, but for Matilda, sheas a sitting duck.
The Twits.
Dahl, Roald
Paper Book
Based on the Disney film, this story tells the tale of Goofy and his son, Max, as they begin what proves to be a disasterous fishing trip. A run-in with Big Foot and a dangerous ride along the rapids are just some of the things that happen to them.
Bink & Gollie, best friends forever
DiCamillo, Kate.
Paper Book
All righty, then! Celebrate the tall and short of a marvelous friendship with this Bink and Gollie adventure. Gollie is quite sure she has royal blood in her veins, but can Bink survive her friend's queenly airs -- especially if pancakes are not part of the deal? Bink wonders...
Bink & Gollie, two for one
DiCamillo, Kate.
Paper Book
Your favorite marvelous companions are back! Meet them at the fair in this delightfully droll sequel to the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning Bink and Gollie. The state fair is in town, and now Bink and Gollie -- utter opposites and best friends extraordinaire -- must use...
Bink and Gollie
DiCamillo, Kate.
Paper Book
Winner of the 2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award! In a brilliant collaboration, best-selling authors Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, along with acclaimed illustrator Tony Fucile, introduce an outrageously funny pair of friends. Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls --...
WeirDo 2 : even weirder!
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.Weir's back and even weirder!But it's not just Weir who's weird, it's his whole family. Not...
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! Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. In her notebook, she writes down everything she knows about everyone, even her classmates and her best...
Fortunately, the milk.
Gaiman, Neil
Paper Book
An absolute delight of a madcap story for the young (and young-at-heart) by New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman, with equal parts pirates and piranhas, adventure and aliens, oddity and love. "I bought the milk," said my father. "I walked out of the corner shop...
The 13-story treehouse.
Griffiths, Andy, 1961-
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...
Mixed-up Max.
King-Smith, Dick
Paper Book
The hedgehog family of Number 5A longs to reach the park across the road, but the busy street traffic makes it much too dangerous. Max solves the problem in this funny animal tale from the author of the popular bestseller Babe.
Diary of a wimpy kid : Greg Heffley's journal
Kinney, Jeff
Paper Book
Boys don't keep diaries--or do they? The launch of an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate to It's a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where...
Double down
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...
From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
Konigsburg, E. L.
Paper Book
When Claudia decided to run away, she planned very carefully She would be gone just long enough to teach her parents a lesson in Claudia appreciation.  And she would live in comfort-at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  She invited her brother Jamie to go, too, mostly because he was a miser and would...
Stink : the incredible shrinking kid.
McDonald, Megan
Audiobook
The worst witch.
Murphy, Jill, 1949-
Paper Book
The Worst Witch written and illustrated by Jill Murphy is reissued with an exciting TV tie-in cover to accompany the new CBBC series in Spring 2017.The highly anticipated CBBC series stars Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones) as Mildred, Clare Higgins (Doctor Who) as Miss Cackle and...
The worst witch strikes again.
Murphy, Jill, 1949-
Paper Book
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
Paper Book
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
Mummies in the morning.
Osborne, Mary Pope
Paper Book
Wonder
Palacio, R. J
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Millions of people have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face--who shows us that kindness brings us together no matter how far apart we are. Read the book that inspired the Choose Kind...
Big Nate in a class by himself.
Peirce, Lincoln.
Paper Book
Big Nate strikes again.
Peirce, Lincoln.
Paper Book
The brilliant world of Tom Gates.
Pichon, Liz
Paper Book
Meet Tom Gates -- a master of excuses, an expert doodler, a comic story writer extraordinaire, and the bane of his teacher's existence! In this recent recipient of the 2011 Roald Dahl Funny Prize, readers will find an honest, silly and laugh-out-loud book in the format of Tom...
Excellent excuses (and other good stuff)
Pichon, Liz
Paper Book
Tom Gates, master of excuses, expert doodler and hilarious story writer is back -- and making the most of his holiday! No school for two whole weeks leaves Tom with tons of time for the important things in life. He can forget all about school and the irritating Marcus Meldrew...
Where the red fern grows : the story of two dogs and a boy.
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...
Ottoline and the yellow cat
Riddell, Chris
Paper Book
The first book in Chris Riddell's much-loved Ottoline series. Now in paperback for the first timeIntroducing Miss Ottoline Brown, an exceptionally inquisitive Mistress of Disguise, and her partner in crime, Mr. Munroe. No puzzle is ever too tricky for the two of them to solve . . .Ottoline lives in...
Ottoline goes to school
Riddell, Chris
Paper Book
A glorious Ottoline story from award-winning author and illustrator Chris Riddell. Now available in paperback for the first timeMeet Ottoline and her hairy, helpful friend Mr. Munroe. Ottoline is off to the Alice B. Smith School for the Differently Gifted, but she is rather worried that she doesn't...
Ottoline at sea.
Riddell, Chris
Paper Book
A charming and irresistible Ottoline story from award-winning and bestselling author Chris Riddell. Featuring a set of novelty gadget spectacles and now available in paperback for the first timeOttoline and Mr. Munroe do everything and go everywhere together. That is, until the day Mr. Munroe...
Sideways stories from wayside school.
Sachar, Louis, 1954-
Paper Book
Humorous episodes from the classroom on the thirtieth floor of Wayside School, which was accidentally built sideways with one classroom on each story. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.
Wayside School gets a little stranger.
Sachar, Louis, 1954-
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 Gets a Little Stranger! This is the rack-size paperback. Before you enter Wayside School, you should know that it's a thirty-story...
Horrid Henry. [online electronic book]
Simon, Francesca
Ebook
Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 to 5 Horrid Henry is the very first collection of stories about the master of mischief (and the funniest kid in the universe) including: Horrid Henry is dragged to dance class. Horrid Henry competes with Moody Margaret to make the...
Cat and mouse in a haunted house
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 love.I was lost in a dark, spooky forest! Until I stumbled upon Curlypaw Cannycat's Castle. The castle was...
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
Walliams, David
Paper Book
From the world's favourite author, David Walliams - ten cautionary tales and a delightfully dreadful cast of characters; all in a gorgeously gifty FULL COLOUR format! Are you ready to meet the World's Worst Children? Five beastly boys and five gruesome girls! ...

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