Community picks: 13 books for struggling readers

If your child struggles with reading, try one of these fun and engaging books.

Getting a struggling reader to pick up a book can be tough. But choosing books that capture kids’ imagination and match their reading skills 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, middle-schoolers, and high-schoolers who have trouble reading. And learn about graphic novels, which can be a fun choice for kids who shy away from reading.

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