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50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

From picture books to graphic novels, fantasy to family fun, these must-read books have the power to hook both boys and girls. Some are cultural touchstones that belong in every kid's library. Others open kids' minds to cultures beyond their own. And some are modern releases that have the timeless quality of classics -- the kinds that get handed down to siblings and passed around classrooms. Whether you have a reluctant reader or budding bookworm, check out these sure-fire, kid-tested titles. (We've included a few rated best for 12 and up for the precocious readers out there!)
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Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (Mo Willems)
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
1
Mo Willems
Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site
Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site
2
Goodnight Moon (Margaret Wise Brown)
Goodnight Moon
3
Margaret Wise Brown
The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
4
Eric Carle
Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak)
Where the Wild Things Are
5
Maurice Sendak
Harold and the Purple Crayon (Crockett Johnson)
Harold and the Purple Crayon
6
Crockett Johnson
The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter)
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
7
Beatrix Potter
The Cat in the Hat (Dr. Seuss)
The Cat in the Hat
8
Dr. Seuss
Frog and Toad Are Friends (Arnold Lobel)
Frog and Toad Are Friends
9
Arnold Lobel
Madeline (Ludwig Bemelmans)
Madeline
10
Ludwig Bemelmans
The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh
The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh
11
Mercy Watson to the Rescue (Kate DiCamillo)
Mercy Watson to the Rescue
12
Kate DiCamillo
Ramona the Pest (Beverly Cleary)
Ramona the Pest
13
Beverly Cleary
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
14
Roald Dahl
Ivy + Bean
Ivy + Bean
15
Stuart Little (E.B. White)
Stuart Little
16
E.B. White
Where the Sidewalk Ends (Shel Silverstein)
Where the Sidewalk Ends
17
Shel Silverstein
Charlotte's Web (E.B. White)
Charlotte's Web
18
E.B. White
Coraline (Neil Gaiman)
Coraline
19
Neil Gaiman
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (J.K. Rowling)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
20
J.K. Rowling
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
21
C.S. Lewis
The Tale of Despereaux (Kate DiCamillo)
The Tale of Despereaux
22
Kate DiCamillo
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
23
Lewis Carroll
Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
Anne of Green Gables
24
L.M. Montgomery
The Bad Beginning (Lemony Snicket)
The Bad Beginning
25
Lemony Snicket
Big Nate Collection
Big Nate Collection
26
Bridge to Terabithia (Katherine Paterson)
Bridge to Terabithia
27
Katherine Paterson
Bud, Not Buddy (Christopher Paul Curtis)
Bud, Not Buddy
28
Christopher Paul Curtis
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
29
Jeff Kinney
The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)
The Hobbit
30
J.R.R. Tolkien
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lighting Thief (Rick Riordan)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lighting Thief
31
Rick Riordan
Little House in the Big Woods (Laura Ingalls Wilder)
Little House in the Big Woods
32
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (Judy Blume)
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
33
Judy Blume
A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L'engle)
A Wrinkle in Time
34
Madeleine L'engle
Esperanza Rising (Pam Muñoz Ryan)
Esperanza Rising
35
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Hold Fast (Blue Balliett)
Hold Fast
36
Blue Balliett
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the I (Malala Yousafzai and Christian Lamb)
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the I
37
Malala Yousafzai and Christian Lamb
Inside Out & Back Again
Inside Out & Back Again
38
My Side of the Mountain (Jean Craighead George)
My Side of the Mountain
39
Jean Craighead George
Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party (Ying Chang Compestine)
Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party
40
Ying Chang Compestine
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