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
Tom Sawyer is sure to find trouble wherever the river leads him in this timeless classic full of laughter, daring escapes, and unforgettable friendships! On the banks of the Mississippi River, Tom Sawyer and his friends seek out adventure at every turn. Then one fateful night in...

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

Alice's adventures in Wonderland
Carroll, Lewis
Paper Book
For over 125 years John Tenniel's superb illustrations for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland have been the perfect complement to Lewis Carroll's timeless story. This edition is a wonderful high-quality version, the first to reproduce Tenniel's exquisite drawings from prints taken directly...

AR: 7.4

Lexile: 890

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
Anne Shirley is unforgettable, and this beautifully packaged edition of L.M. Montgomery's classic novel is as memorable as its heroine. When Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables, she surprises everyone: first of all, she's a girl, even though Marilla Cuthbert and her brother...

AR: 7.3

Lexile: 970

Ballet Shoes
Streatfeild, Noel.
Paper Book
Three orphan girls. A pair of pink slippers. A lifetime in the spotlight. Read the classic that has captivated generations! A PARADE BEST KIDS BOOK OF ALL TIME Pauline, Petrova, and Posy love their quiet life together. They are orphans who have been raised as...

AR: 5.7

Lexile: 930

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
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 about a little bear and a lost button--now in a fortieth-anniversary edition featuring bonus archival materials! "Freeman's tender tale bursts with quiet yearning, indelible images and the pure satisfaction of finding your person....

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-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
THE ADVENTURE IS JUST BEGINNING. . . . One touch of a magical ring sends two friends hurtling into another world and accidentally releases an evil sorceress from her enchanted sleep. Hungry for ultimate power, she's determined to destroy everyone--and every world--in her path. But a song...

AR: 5.4

Lexile: 790

Mary Poppins
Travers, P. L.
Paper Book
By P.L. Travers, the author featured in the movieSaving 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...

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
When Elmer Elevator hears about the plight of an overworked and underappreciated baby flying dragon, he stows away on a ship and travels to Wild Island to rescue the dragon. This book has been selected as a Common Core State Standards Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Stories) in Appendix B

AR: 4.8

Lexile: 990

Peter Pan
Barrie, J. M.
Paper Book
Peter Pan and Tinkerbell lead the three Darling children over the rooftops of London and away to Neverland - the island where the lost boys play. Magic and mischief is in the air but if villainous Captain Hook has his way, before long someone will be swimming with the crocodiles . . .

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.   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 to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a pet monkey...

AR: 5.2

Lexile: 870

The Saturdays
Enright, Elizabeth
Paper Book
Four reasons to cheer! Meet the Melendys! Mona, the eldest, is thirteen. She has decided to become an actress and can recite poetry at the drop of a hat. Rush is twelve and a bit mischievous. Miranda is ten and a half. She loves dancing and painting pictures. Oliver is the...

AR: 5.5

Lexile: 820

The secret garden
Burnett, Frances Hodgson
Paper Book
The beloved original text offered in a definitive gift edition by esteemed illustrator Inga Moore. "Then she slipped through the door, and shut it behind her, breathing quite fast with excitement, and wonder, and delight. She was standing inside the secret garden." ...

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
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 ...

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
Following the demise of bloodthirsty buccaneer Captain Flint, young Jim Hawkins finds himself with the key to a fortune. For he has discovered a map that will lead him to the fabled Treasure Island. But a host of villains, wild beasts and deadly savages stand between him and the stash of gold. Not...

AR: 8.3

Lexile: 1100

Tuck everlasting
Babbitt, Natalie.
Paper Book
Violence erupts when the Tuck family members discover that their secret about a spring that brings immortality has been discovered.

AR: 5.0

Lexile: 770

Winnie-the-Pooh
Milne, A. A.
Paper Book
Little ones who love Winnie-the-Pooh and terrific textures to touch and feel will delight in this year's Winnie-the-Pooh's Touch and Feel. On every sturdy page, baby will have endless interactive fun with ten tactile elements, ranging from Pooh's sticky honey to Piglet's rubbery red balloon to a...

AR: 4.6

Lexile: 790

The wonderful Wizard of Oz
Baum, L. Frank
Paper Book
Dorothy thinks she is lost forever when a terrifying tornado crashes through Kansas and whisks her and her dog, Toto, far away to the magical land of Oz. To get home Dorothy must follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City and find the wonderfully mysterious Wizard of Oz. Together with her...

AR: 7.0

Lexile: 980


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