Nice Books for Nice Kids

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We have a problem in children’s literature.

There are many, many gorgeous picture books and storybooks for babies up through about…. 1st grade.

Then, something happens. We reach the “early chapter book” stage, and all of a sudden, we go from nice, friendly, stories about families supporting each other and getting along to this focus on everything annoying, mean-spirited, selfish, and disrespectful.

Let me tell you: Junie B. Jones, My Weird School, Captain Underpants, and other books, where kids are disrespectful to their parents and make fun of their classmates or siblings are NOT your only option, even if they’re the ones most commonly seen in the classroom and library today.

Here’s a list of good, quality, enjoyable literature in that upper elementary level (grades 2-4, primarily) that does NOT celebrate mean, catty girls or rude, potty-humored boys… but are still fun to read.