BookGuru’s Top Picks For July
Children’s books are filled with unique characters, emotions, experiences, perspectives that are sometimes so relatable and at other times weave a different world altogether. Some books make the reader laugh, some inspire, some get them thinking, but what all books do is engage the reader, allow them a peek into a wonderful world that is created by powerful words.
BookGuru’s Top Picks for July list comprises 70 wonderful books to read. It is divided into top 10 books based on the grade and reading level of your reader. From picture books to read-along books, from bed-time stories to real-life stories, from graphic novels to inspirational reads, these kid-friendly titles have the power to engross your reader. Whether you have a reluctant reader or a budding bookworm, you can be sure that each book listed here is a fantastic read and will add value to your young reader.
Listed below are BookGuru’s top picks for the month of July recommended for your reader according to his/her reading level. Happy reading!
The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc
It was a fine autumn day when a lion found a wounded bird in his garden. The bird’s flock was nowhere to be found and the lion decided to take care of the bird. The two of them became fast friends but come autumn and the bird departs with it’s flock. Read on to know what becomes of their friendship.
Reading Level: Grade KG I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 72
I Will Surprise My Friend! by Mo Willems
Best friends Gerald and Piggie are complete opposites. Piggies smiles a lot while Gerald worries a lot. They both want to surprise each other and decide to play a game. Want to know what is the biggest surprise that comes their way?
Reading Level: Grade KG I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 58
Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman
Did you know, dogs were so busy? Big dogs, little dogs, red dogs, green dogs, blue dogs all going about their travel! Go, Dog. Go! with its simple words and illustrations has been a go-to favorite for over fifty years.
Reading Level: Grade KG I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 72
Is It Bedtime Wibbly Pig? by Mick Inkpen
Wibbly Pig doesn’t want to sleep. He just isn’t tired enough to get into bed. A delightful story that young children can easily relate to.
Reading Level: Grade KG I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 34
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Introduce your young reader to the basic body parts and movements with this vibrant and energetic interactive book by Eric Carle. Join in with your young reader as s/he claps, stomps, wriggles and bends with gorillas, elephants, camels and other animals.
Reading Level: Grade KG I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
The Eye Book by Dr Seuss
What do you see when you take a look around? Your little ones will find a whole new appreciation for all the amazing things they see and discover.
Reading Level: Grade KG I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
Rosie’s Hat by Julia Donaldson
Join Rosie and her smart hat on a hatful of adventures. Her hat is sometimes a toy for a dog and sometimes a nest for some birds. Rosie lost her hat! Will she ever find it again?
Reading Level: Grade KG I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
Trot, Pony! By Shira Evans
Introduce your little ones to lots of different kinds of ponies as they trot, prance and jump with this brilliant National Geographics Kids reader.
Reading Level: Grade KG I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 24
I Love My Mom by Anna Walker
Ollie the young gray and white striped zebra loves spending time with his mom. This book celebrates his special relationship with his mother.
Reading Level: Grade KG I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 24
Tadpoles by Julia Donaldson
Tadpoles is a perfectly crafted quality phonics teaching resource. It is a wonderful book for children to practice their phonics. There is something for every child as the series contains a variety of storylines, rhyme, rhythm and genre.
Reading Level: Grade KG I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 16
No-bot: The Robot with No Bottom! By Sue Hendra
Will Bernard the Robot get his bottom back? Bernard loses his bottom on the park swing and goes off to find it. Everytime he gets close, it disappears again.
Reading Level: Grade 1 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
The Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee
The young knight is sure the wall in the middle of the book protects his side of the book from unseen dangers- an angry tiger, a giant rhino, an ogre. What he doesn’t seem to notice is that it is his side of the wall that is becoming a danger – the crocodile and the growing sea of water. He’s calling for help and now who will come to his rescue from the other side of the wall?
Reading Level: Grade 1 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 44
Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? By Eve Bunting
It is when the sharp-eyed peacock sees something blue peeking out that the mystery is finally solved. “I have lost my new blue socks. Did I put them in my box?” Enjoy these simple socks, box, fox and ox rhymes.
Reading Level: Grade 1 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr Seuss
This one is a 1960 classic by Dr Suess. It’s a simple rhyming book with a freewheeling plot about a boy named Jay and a girl named Kay and their many friends and pets.
Reading Level: Grade 1 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 63
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
In this award winning book, a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth by poisoning it’s water. One young water protector takes a stand. But will she alone be able to defend Earth’s most sacred resource?
Reading Level: Grade 1 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 48
Pedro Keeps His Cool by Fran Manushkin
This year’s winter festival time is not much fun for Pedro.Even his snow dog is a flop! But will Pedro keep his cool and find a way to enjoy himself?
Reading Level: Grade 1 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 24
The Crocodile Who Didn’t Like Water by Gemma Merino
Crocodiles love water, but this little crocodile doesn’t. He prefers climbing trees. Although he tries his best to do what crocodiles do, fitting in isn’t easy! Is this little one a crocodile at all?
Reading Level: Grade 1 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
Hide and Seek by Anthony Browne
Siblings Cy and Poppy play hide and seek to distract themselves after their dog goes missing. Poppy, after counting to ten, looks for Cy but can’t find him anywhere. She hears some rustling in the wood. Is it their dog? A heartwarming tale of sibling love.
Reading Level: Grade 1 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 46
The Cow That Laid an Egg by Andy Cutbill
Marjorie the cow wishes she had some special talent. Then one day, she is thrilled to discover that she has laid an egg! Or has she?
Reading Level: Grade 1 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
Elephant by Petr Horacek
When Grandpa and Grandma are too busy to play, why not ask your imaginary elephant to join in? He gets a little splashy in the tub, breaks a few things in the house, squashes the flower bed, but he’s fun to be around.
Reading Level: Grade 1 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 36
A Piglet Named Mercy by Kate DiCamillo
The ordinary life of Mr. and Mrs. Watson takes an extraordinary turn when someone unpredictable finds her way to their front door. A tiny piglet named Mercy. This is an endearing prequel to the New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson series.
Reading Level: Grade 2 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
Meet the hero cop who’s part dog, part man. This cop with the head of a dog and the body of a man is the new upholder of justice. Follow the comic capers of this hero in the hugely popular graphic novel series.
Reading Level: Grade 2 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 192
How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
There was a boy who loved stars very much and decided to catch one. But that was not an easy task. Just when he was about to give up, he learned an extraordinary lesson.
Reading Level: Grade 2 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
Mr Wolf, Mr Piranha, Mr Snake and Mr Shark, all look like Bad Guys. But, are they? For the first good mission of Bad Guys Mr Wolf comes up with a daring plan. Will it be successful?
Reading Level: Grade 2 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 138
Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff
When Danny sees a dinosaur at a museum, he wishes out loud, “It would be nice to play with a dinosaur”. Pat comes the reply, “And I think it would be nice to play with you.” Join Danny and the dinosaur on the wonderful adventures they have together.
Reading Level: Grade 1 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 64
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
On a far-away island an imaginary friend is born who waits patiently for his turn to be chosen by a child. Time and again he is overlooked and he finally decides to go on a journey to find his perfect match. An award winning book told from Beekle’s point of view.
Reading Level: Grade 2 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 40
Yasmin in Charge by Saadia Faruqi
Yasmin has a clever solution to any problem that pops up: at home, at school, or out and about. With her creative thinking and quick mind, this little Pakistani girl faces all the challenges heads on.
Reading Level: Grade 2 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 91
Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel
Friends Frog and Toad are always together, be it winter, spring, summer or fall. A wise and wonderful story for each season of the year.
Reading Level: Grade 2 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 64
But, Excuse Me, That Is My Book by Lauren Child
Lola is obsessed with a book. It is funny, has lots of pictures and is an extremely interesting book. It is also the only book she wants from the library. But the book is already borrowed by someone else. What will Lola do now and can Charlie help her?
Reading Level: Grade 2 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
Nate the Great and the Pillowcase by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Rosamond’s pillowcase is missing and she needs it now. It’s two o’clock in the morning but our sleuth knows that the hunt must go on. Can Nate the Great find the missing pillowcase before the sun comes up?
Reading Level: Grade 2 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 48
Weird School Day by Alan Gibbons
It’s the first day of school and Katie Cat is all mixed up. She has feathers and fur and whiskers. What happened to Katie Cat?
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 60
Sisters: Venus & Serena Williams by Jeanette Winter
Venus and Serena Williams grew up in Compton, California with big dreams. This is the inspiring story of two young girls, their dreams, hardwork and determination to become two of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 48
Judy Moody Was in a Mood. Not a Good Mood. A Bad Mood. by Megan McDonald
What Judy Moody lacks is high hopes, she recovers with her individuality and an attitude. It is during a special Me project that she gets a chance to express herself. This book will especially delight any kid who’s managed to laugh even while going through a bad mood.
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years, Middle Years I Page Count: 152
The 13-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
Would you want to live in a treehouse, a 13-storey treehouse? This treehouse has a bowling alley, swimming pool, a tank full of sharks, a library full of comics, a secret laboratory, a games room, a marshmallow machine and so much more.
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years, Middle Years I Page Count: 239
Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette Winter
This is the true story of Wangari Maathai, environmentalist and the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Wangari as a young girl was surrounded by trees in her home town in Kenya. When she returns after years, she is shocked to see the forests being cut down. Can she do something about it?
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 32
The Art of Miss Chew by Patricia Polacco
Trisha is thrilled when her sketches get her into Miss Chew’s art class. But a substitute teacher tells her she’s wasting her time. After spending the summer with her artist grandmother, Trisha knows she wants to be an artist too and is up for this battle.
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 40
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
To stay together, four orphaned siblings make a home in a boxcar. Eventually, they even find their wealthy grandfather and go to live with him. This hugely popular series follows the many adventures of these four children.
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 168
The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale
While Princess Magnolia is enjoying her hot chocolate and scones, the big blue monster alarm goes up. Stopping the big bad monsters is no job for a dainty Princess but this one has a secret up her sleeve —she’s also the Princess in Black.
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 90
The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon
The Awesome Man has a secret. Yes, he can shoot positronic rays out of his eyeballs, fly as straight as an arrow, and even hug mutant Jell-O. But do you know what his astonishing secret is?
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 36
Detective Camp by Ron Roy
Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose are off to a camp for detectives where they are learning lessons in forensics and crime solving. But what happens when the kids stumble upon a real crime?
Reading Level: Grade 3 I Interest Level: Lower Years I Page Count: 131
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon
All the plans Tom Gates makes seem to get into trouble when he is up against his big sister Delia. His favourite band is in town and he wants to get tickets to see them. Will he be able to?
Reading Level: Grade 4 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, teen Years I Page Count: 249
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
Who will win the Lemonade War and will it ever end? Fourth-grader Evan Treski is people-smart while his younger sister, Jessie, is math-smart. There is no telling what will happen when the siblings’ lemonade stand war begins.
Reading Level: Grade 4 & above I Interest Level: Lower Years, Middle Years I Page Count: 173
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson
This middle-grade novel addresses some of the biggest issues of middle schoolers’: bullies, first crushes, finding out what makes each child special. With enough issues at home, Rafe Khatchadorian has now more problems as he enters his first year of middle school. Luckily, he’s got a plan. But will he be able to pull it off?
Reading Level: Grade 4 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 288
Bad Dad by David Walliams
Gilbert the Great was a champion hot-rod racer but after a terrible accident he loses it all. Frank and his dad Gilbert are left with nothing. Worse, Gilbert is thrown into prison. Will Frank be able to rescue his bad dad?
Reading Level: Grade 4 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 448
Star Wars: Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown
Join Roan Novachez, a young boy from Tatooine on his adventures as he is invited to attend the Jedi Academy. In this popular graphic novel, Roan discovers his powers under the tutelage of the revered Master Yoda.
Reading Level: Grade 4 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 160
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Being at boarding school, Percy Jackson is only getting worse. Percy is a good kid but lately he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. It is time Percy’s mom tells him the truth about where he came from, and send him to the one place where he’ll be safe.
Reading Level: Grade 4 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 384
The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett
Miles Murphy has to raise his game if he wants to hold on to the title of the best prankster in his new school as he moves to Yawnee Valley.
Reading Level: Grade 4 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 220
Holes by Louis Sachar
Stanley Yelnats has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center at Camp Green Lake where he has to dig holes – exactly five feet wide and deep. This critically acclaimed book explores the interconnected stories from Stanley’s past and how they impact his present.
Reading Level: Grade 4 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 265
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Can the twelve-year-old Aru Shah get out of the mess she created by stretching the truth in order to fit in at school? Unwittingly, she freezes her mother and classmates in time. Bringing them will prove to be a challenge that is almost .
Reading Level: Grade 4 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen YearsI Page Count: 355
The Parent Agency by David Baddiel
Choosing a new Mom and Dad is not that simple! This is what Barry Bennett finds out when he travels to an alternate world where kids get to choose their own parents. This bestselling adventure is sure to appeal to all Roald Dahl fans.
Reading Level: Grade 4 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 383
The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
The seven dragon tribes that have been at war for generations locked in an endless battle over an ancient, lost treasure. The prophecy calls for a great sacrifice. But will the Talons of Peace be able to bring an end to the fighting?
Reading Level: Grade 5 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen YearsI Page Count: 332
Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman
Get ready for an exciting road trip with the twelve-year-old twins Coke and Pepsi McDonald. Coke and Pepsi are on a family vacation. But they find themselves in a race against time as they dodge nefarious villains from the Pez museum in California, all the way to the Infinity Room in Wisconsin.
Reading Level: Grade 5 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen YearsI Page Count: 287
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
The running boy is intriguing: running away from the school bus, with no books in his hands, and no shoes on his feet. Sensing a mystery, Roy sets himself on the boy’s trail and ends up finding strange creatures.
Reading Level: Grade 5 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 276
I Am Not a Loser by Jim Smith
Barry’s coolness always cancelled out the Loser in his name. Catch him on his adventures as he tries to throw off his ‘loserness’ and overcomes challenges. A comic series that is perfect for the fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Reading Level: Grade 5 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 240
The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
Twins Alex and Conner leave their world behind as they find themselves in a foreign land full of magical creatures- witches, wolves, goblins, trolls. They never thought getting back home would be this hard!
Reading Level: Grade 5 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 438
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza and her Mama’s life depend on her. She must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances. Esperanza never thought she’d have to leave her family ranch in Mexico and flee to a camp for Mexican farm workers in California during the Great Depression.
Reading Level: Grade 5 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 262
Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal by Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley is Rowley’s best friend and has been part of his middle-school misadventures in thirteen Diary of a Wimpy Kid journals. Now it’s time for readers to hear directly from Rowley as he writes about his experiences.
Reading Level: Grade 5 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 217
The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani DasGupta
Kiranmala is a regular sixth grader living in New Jersey. On the morning of her twelfth birthday her parents mysteriously vanish and a drooling rakkhosh demon slams through her kitchen. Kiranmala now wonders if the stories her parents told her about her being a real Indian princess might be true?
Reading Level: Grade 5 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 200
Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
Twelve-year-old Emily is relocating to San Francisco with her family. San Francisco is also home to her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, creator of the online game sensation – Book Scavenger. But as things start to go dangerously wrong, will Emily and her new friend solve the puzzles Griswold left behind?
Reading Level: Grade 5 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen YearsI Page Count: 354
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
When Greg Heffley finds himself in a new school where the taller kids are meaner and already shaving, he tries to prove his new-found maturity. Along the way he finds a not-quite-so-cool sidekick, Rowley.
Reading Level: Grade 5 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 217
The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
The most powerful book that has ever existed, ‘The Book of Abraham the Mage’ is in the wrong hands. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world.
Reading Level: Grade 6 & aboveI Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 375
George’s Secret Key to the Universe by Lucy & Stephen Hawking
When George makes friends with his scientist neighbour and meets Cosmos, the most powerful computer in the world, he doesn’t tell his parents. Why? George’s parents are environmentalists who think science is destroying our planet.
George sets off on wonderful adventures with Cosmos until one day it leads him towards the terrible nothingness of a black hole.
Reading Level: Grade 6 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 320
Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
Serafina and her father have secretly lived in the basement of the grand home at the Biltmore estate. Suddenly children at the estate start disappearing and only Serafina knows the culprit. It is the terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks the Biltmore’s corridors at night.
Reading Level: Grade 6 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 293
Ticket to India by N.H. Senzai
Twelve-year-old Maya and her big sister Zara start their journey from Delhi to their grandmother’s childhood home of Aminpur with a map, two train tickets. They are on a mission to find a chest of family treasures. It belonged to their grandmother’s family and they left it behind when they fled from India to Pakistan during the Great Partition. A lovely coming of age book by the award winning author.
Reading Level: Grade 6 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 274
Being Miss Nobody by Tamsin Winter
Rosalind is the weird new girl at school who doesn’t talk. She hates her new secondary school as she is often bullied there. To fight back Rosalind starts a blog – Miss Nobody. But soon it seems like Miss Nobody is becoming a bully herself!
Reading Level: Grade 6 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 368
The Ickabog by J.K. Rowling
The tiny kingdom of Cornucopia was as rich in happiness as it was in gold. But the legend of the monster Ickabog marked this happy kingdom. It was best friends Bert and Daisy who took it upon themselves to bring back happiness and hope to Cornucopia.
Reading Level: Grade 6 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 304
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
It was Malala who spoke out when the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan. She fought for her right to an education but on October 9, 2012, she had to pay a huge price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range. This is her story of courage, grit and determination.
Reading Level: Grade 6 & above I Interest Level: Teen Years I Page Count: 320
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March live with their mother Marmee, in a quiet Massachusetts town while their father is away fighting in the American Civil War. The book is a classic coming-of-age story of these girls, and is loosely inspired by Alcott’s own biography.
Reading Level: Grade 6 & above I Interest Level: Teen Years I Page Count: 352
The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine
The Sinclair’s Department Store is where the daring theft of the priceless clockwork sparrow takes place. Young Sophie must solve the mystery in order to avoid getting accused of the theft.
A fast paced mystery adventure for Enid Blyton fans.
Reading Level: Grade 6 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 314
The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
The Bad Beginning tells an unhappy tale about three charming and clever children, the Baudelaire siblings who are extremely unlucky and lead lives filled with misery and woe. This is a hugely popular book that has sold over 60 million copies worldwide.
Reading Level: Grade 6 & above I Interest Level: Middle Years, Teen Years I Page Count: 272
From the classics to the latest releases, this list comprises books that cover a wide number of genres. We have categorised the books by age, grade and reading level so that you can figure out the ones best suited for your child.
You know what would appeal to your young reader, so go ahead and choose books that are just right for them. With children eight and above, encourage them to choose their own books. The freedom of choice increases their interest and thereby their desire to read. We suggest letting them read through this list of recommendations to pick books of their choice.
As Kate DiCamillo rightly said, “Reading should not be presented to children as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift”. We completely agree. After all, kids become readers one book at a time.
