10 Great Standalone Novels for Children

I admit I haven’t read of all these books. I’ve only read 6/10 selected yet I am sure in recommending the 4 other novels as friends and reviewer idols of mine love them. Your kids will be delighted by these books! I sorely want to start reading the books mentioned that I have not yet read but sadly, I promised myself to finish The Stand by Stephen King before starting anything else. I hope your kids or your younger friends and even you(if you are an adult) enjoy the works mentioned below.

The Graveyard Book

This book was just awesome to read. I remember going to my school library once and being bored out of my mind and then being suddenly enraptured by this book’s title and cover. I just had to pick it up and check out this story. It’s about a young boy named Bod who’s orphaned by an evil man named Jack. Thankfully, he is adopted and raised by supernatural occupants of a graveyard and Bod even gets some psychic powers. Doesn’t that already seem like an interesting premise?

The Little Prince

This book is widely lauded as timeless classic that can be both read and appreciated by kids and adults. On goodreads alone, there are over 1.5 MILLION ratings that are generally high as the average rating is 4.31 stars. Children can learn many life lessons from this novel like the importance of caring for others, love and laughter, and companionship. It retains its value for children in adults as well because it touches upon imagination, childhood, and the inevitability of growing up.

The Last Unicorn

“The Last Unicorn is a fantasy novel by American author Peter S. Beagle and published in 1968, by Viking Press in the U.S. and The Bodley Head in the U.K. It follows the tale of a unicorn, who believes she is the last of her kind in the world and undertakes a quest to discover what has happened to the others.”-Wiki

Daniel Greene(King of Booktube) recommended it so you know it’s good.

Charlotte’s Web

I was forced to read this book in elementary school and I’m glad my school did. Charlotte’s Web is classic that features a heartwarming story covering themes of friendship, love, life, and death. I remember sincerely adoring E.B White’s use of language and Wilbur’s heartwarming relationships, especially his friendship with the spider Charlotte. This is probably the only book recommendation from school I’ve ever appreciated.

The Tale of Despereaux

Kate DiCamillo is a master of children’s literature. I would even call her the Queen of Children’s Books and this sentiment of mine is well evidenced by her ability to collect 3 Newbery Medals(that’s a LOT). The main protagonist is a loveable & brave mouse who is very different from the other mice both physically and in spirit. He is set on a journey to save Princess Pea from a ruthless and cruel rat named who’s kidnapped the young maiden. It’s very easy to read through and even though it’s separated into four parts with different characters focused on in each, it works.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

“The novel follows an orphan boy-Hugo-who, after the death of his uncle, lives by himself in the walls of a Paris train station, repairing the clocks. There are mysteries in Hugo’s life which surround the death of his father and the damaged automaton that Hugo and his father have both tried to repair.”

The illustrations from what I’ve seen are just absolutely majestic. I’m sure this will be an entertaining read for the kids.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

I’m saving up to get this book as a physical copy as I believe that reading it online will not do it justice. One of my fav booktubers Merphy Napier had this to say about this enchantingly illustrated picture book:

“I LOVE THIS BOOK!

When I picked this up to read to my son one night, I didn’t expect to tear up, to need to pause to process these beautiful truths, and to buy copies for my family members. It’s a story I wish I grew up reading, and it’s a story I plan to read again and again.

I highly recommend it!”

Aesop Fables

I shouldn’t even be telling you to read these or buy this book for your kids. This short story collection is an absolute MUST for your kids. It teaches them important things like how caring for others is bountiful for both sides while also imparting that you should choose carefully those you help. Overall, it’s remarkably educational and the lessons will stay with your kids till the day they kick the bucket.

The BFG

Roald Dahl(Emperor of Children’s Novels) is my favorite children’s author. I’ve read and viewed a ton of his other stories: all the Willy Wonka books, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, The Witches, James and the Giant Peach, and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More. I got all the essentials down and I can safely say that The BFG is Dahl’s most “glumptious” novel.

Here’s a short summary if you aren’t convinced yet:

“The BFG is a story about a friendly giant known as The BFG who collects and gives good dreams to children, and an orphan named Sophie. Together, The BFG and Sophie, with help from the Queen of England, help to rid the world of the child-eating giants.”-study.com

Nimona

“Nimona is set in a mash-up of time periods, swords, and cellphones coexisting in a kingdom peopled by different races to make the story more universal. It follows the adventures of supervillain Ballister Blackheart and his shapeshifter sidekick, Nimona, as they fight the evil Institution” and wreck some serious havoc.

One of my idol reviewers, Patrick Rothfuss, praised this indie comic on goodreads by stating:

“This one did not disappoint.

It’s funny at times, sweet at times, pleasantly subversive without being heavy-handed or preachy.

I’m reading through it with my little boy right now, and he’s enjoying it too….”