--- title: 'Community picks: 13 books for struggling readers' description: 'If your child struggles with reading, try one of these fun and engaging books. ' slug: community-picks-13-books-for-struggling-readers author: The Understood Team published: '2019-08-05T15:40:51.392Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/4LuMLipjqJhe0XLgFtwH66/8b439dcf0e5fdc9b6e2ed40a5ad57ba5/G1144786317.png source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/community-picks-13-books-for-struggling-readers lang: en --- # Community picks: 13 books for struggling readers Getting a struggling reader to pick up a book can be tough. But [choosing books](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/video-how-to-choose-books-for-children-who-struggle-with-reading) that capture kids’ imagination and [match their reading skills](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/4-steps-to-choosing-books-at-your-childs-reading-level) can make all the difference. Members of the Understood Community shared these titles that grabbed their young readers! ## 1. *Bad Kitty* series, by Nick Bruel **Reading level:** Grades 1–4 **Interest level:** Grades Pre-K–1 ## 2. *Big Nate* series, by Lincoln Peirce **Reading level:** Grades 2–4 **Interest level:** Grades 3–8 ## 3. *Diary of a Minecraft Zombie,* by Zack Zombie **Reading level:** Grade 3 **Interest level:** Grades 2–5 ## 4. *Diary of a Wimpy Kid* series, by Jeff Kinney **Reading level:** Grades 5–6 **Interest level:** Grades 3–8 ## 5. *Fly Guy* series, by Tedd Arnold **Reading level:** Grades 1–2 **Interest level:** Grades Pre-K–3 ## 6. *Geronimo Stilton* series, by Geronimo Stilton **Reading level:** Grades 2–4 **Interest level:** Grades 2–5 ## 7. *Ninja Meerkats: The Clan of the Scorpion,* by Gareth P. Jones **Reading level:** Grades 4–7 **Interest level:** Grades 1–5 ## 8. *The Notebook of Doom* series, by Troy Cummings **Reading level:** Grades 2–3 **Interest level:** Grades 1–3 ## 9. *Percy Jackson and the Olympians* series, by Rick Riordan **Reading level:** Grades 2–5 **Interest level:** Grades 4–9 ## 10. *Pete the Cat* series, by James Dean **Reading level:** Grades 1–3 **Interest level:** Grades Pre-K–2 ## 11. *Roscoe Riley Rules* series, by Katherine Applegate **Reading level:** Grades 2–4 **Interest level:** Grades 1–3 ## 12. *Timmy in Trouble,* by Holly Webb **Reading level:** Grades 2–3 **Interest level:** Grades 2–5 ## 13. *Whatever After* series, by Sarah Mlynowski **Reading level:** Grades 2–4 **Interest level:** Grades 3–5 Looking for more book ideas? Explore great books for [grade-schoolers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/12-great-books-for-reluctant-readers-in-grades-3-5), [middle-schoolers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/great-books-for-reluctant-readers-in-middle-school), and [high-schoolers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/great-books-for-reluctant-teen-readers) who have trouble reading. And learn about [graphic novels](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/5-reasons-graphic-novels-can-help-kids-with-reading), which can be a fun choice for kids who shy away from reading. --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [Summer reading reimagined: How to help all kids enjoy reading](https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/in-it/how-enjoy-kids-summer-reading) - Summer is a great time for kids to fall in love with reading. How can we make summer reading fun for all kids even those who dont think of themselves as readers? Summer is a great time for kids to fall in love with reading. How can we make summer reading fun for all kids even those who dont think - [7 fun summer books for reluctant readers in grades 6–8](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/fun-summer-books-for-reluctant-readers-in-grades-6-8) - The best summer books are entertaining but not overwhelming. Encourage your tweens and teens to read more with these approachable titles. Some are classic, some are new. But all of these books are fresh and fun. Batman Science: The Real-World Science Behind Batmans Gear, by Tammy Enz and Agnieszka - [12 great books for reluctant readers in grades 3–5](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/12-great-books-for-reluctant-readers-in-grades-3-5) - Even kids who aren’t big fans of reading enjoy these fun books. --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/community-picks-13-books-for-struggling-readers#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/community-picks-13-books-for-struggling-readers","description":"If your child struggles with reading, try one of these fun and engaging books. "},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/community-picks-13-books-for-struggling-readers","name":"Community picks: 13 books for struggling readers"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","datePublished":"2019-08-05T15:40:51.392Z","description":"The best way to encourage a struggling reader is to find fun books at the right reading level. Check out these picks from the Understood Community.","headline":"Community picks: 13 books for struggling readers","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/community-picks-13-books-for-struggling-readers","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.understood.org/#organization","name":"Understood for All Inc","logo":"https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/307jFAYQevghG8nQMCjh89/ccdbbec895765824db43f6d30b496e83/logo_lockup_navy.jpg"}}] ```