These 25 Classic Childhood Books Will Make You Yearn For Those Scholastic Book Fair Days
As I look at the calendar and realize yet another year is winding down, I've felt extra nostalgic for the books I spent countless hours reading in elementary and middle school.
This list compiles some of my favorite childhood reads, many of which I purchased at Scholastic book fairs or catalogs, and a few personal choices sprinkled in. Quite a few are still my all-time favorite books!
(And yes, I did re-read some of these for the first time in decades so I could write the plot summaries!)
1.Goosebumps - R.L. Stine
Publish Year: 1992
Plot Summary: R.L. Stine's classic horror books—filled with monsters, ghosts, the supernatural, and all the twists you could possibly imagine.
Growing up, I kept all my Goosebumps books in a big box arranged in numerical order so I could easily pick out the one I wanted to read. There were iconic villains like Slappy, Monster Blood, and the Haunted Mask, and some truly jaw-dropping twists, like in The Ghost Next Door and The Curse of Camp Cold Lake.
Check out my interview with illustrator Tim Jacobus for some Goosebumps history!
2.Holes - Louis Sachar
Publish Year: 1998
Plot Summary: Stanley Yelnats is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Accused of stealing a famous pair of shoes, he chooses to serve time at Camp Green Lake, where he is made to dig a 5-foot hole every day. While he is told this is to 'build character,' he quickly becomes suspicious there are ulterior motives.
Holes is a rare case where the movie adaptation is just as good as the book. Before reading, I had watched the first half hour of the movie in elementary school during a rainy recess day. We never finished the movie (though I have watched it many times since!), but I quickly checked out the book to see what happens. The character growth and development are truly stunning, and I consider Holes one of my favorite books of all time. Don't miss the sequel, Small Steps.
3.Sideways Stories From Wayside School - Louis Sachar
Publish Year: 1978
Plot Summary: 30 different stories about the children and faculty of Wayside School, one for each building floor.
Honestly, the title pretty much says it all—I loved reading these wacky stories that start off silly, and just get siller. This is one of those books that is unexplainable; you just have to read it. For the longest time, I didn't realize the author of Holes also wrote this book!
4.Chasing the Falconers - Gordon Korman
Publish Year: 2005
Plot Summary: The Falconers are the world's most famous criminals, sentenced to life in prison for betraying country secrets. The one catch—their kids, Aiden and Meg, escape from juvenile detention and go on the run, determined to prove their parents' innocence.
I remember buying this book from the Scholastic Catalog and being so excited to learn it was part of a six-book series. Chasing the Falconers had incredible suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat. My library had every book except the second for the longest time, and I had to wait years before finishing the series because I couldn't bear to skip ahead. I still re-read this series from time to time (and I'll probably start it again after writing this!)
5.Hatchet - Gary Paulsen
Publish Year: 1986
Plot Summary: Brian is flying to meet his father in Canada when his pilot has a heart attack and crashes into the wilderness. Brian has to learn how to survive on his own, starting out with nothing but a hatchet gifted to him by his mom.
I feel like everyone read this book at some point in elementary school. My third-grade teacher read us a chapter a day, and we all were curious about how Brian would survive and what challenges he would face next. This book made me think a lot as a kid: "How would I have reacted in that situation?" (Not as well as Brian did!). How on earth has this book not been made into a miniseries yet?
Fun fact: Hatchet is actually the start of a series called Brian's Saga.
6.The Ravenmaster's Secret: Escape from the Tower of London - Elvira Woodruff
Publish Year: 2003
Plot Summary: Forrest's father is a ravenmaster in the Tower of London. Maddy, a Scottish rebel and a prisoner in the tower, becomes a friend to Forrest. When she is sentenced to death, Forrest has to make a choice between the law and what he thinks is right.
I don't remember what drew me to buy this at the Scholastic Fair (maybe the face in the moon?), but I'm so happy I did. Elvira Woodruff created a thrilling novel that completely took me by surprise when I first read it. Some of the story's many strengths are the bonds Forrest forms with his friends and the imagery that brings the world to life. Ever since fifth grade, I've wished for a sequel!
7.The Magic Tree House Series - Mary Pope Osborne
Publish Year: 1992
Plot Summary: Courtesy of a magic tree house, Jack and Annie travel back to various historical events, including the dinosaurs, Shakespeare, the Titanic, Pompeii, and many more.
These books made learning about history fun. I distinctly remember Jack and his notebook and the detailed black-and-white illustrations. The series later expanded into the Merlin Missions, which I continued to read throughout middle school.
8.Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney
Publish Year: 2007
Plot Summary: The diaries of middle schooler Greg Heffley as he navigates the world of popularity, mean older brothers, friendship drama, and, of course, the cheese touch.
I was just starting in middle school when the books were first published, and they were so relatable. Jeff Kinney's art style makes this series fun to read over and over. The many drawings supplementing the writing add a distinct flair that has carved out a massive following over the years. The series is still going strong with Book #19, "Hot Mess" released this October.
9.Warrior Cats - Erin Hunter
Publish Year: 2003
Plot Summary: Four clans of cats live in the forest: ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan. The series focuses on multiple generations as they rise to power, battle for territory, and face other dangers.
Think of Game of Thrones, but with cats, and you get the Warriors books. There is so much lore and word-building in these books that I was engrossed in the power struggles, battles, and character development. My best friend and I literally had a Warriors fan club and knew everything about the characters. It is easy to go down the rabbit hole—there are dozens of books (and the series is still going!)
10.The Baby-Sitters Club - Ann M. Martin
Publish Year: 1986
Plot Summary: Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey (and new characters along the way) start a middle school babysitting business. Each book focuses on a different character, various babysitting jobs, and their personal lives.
I don't know what middle school these characters went to, but they always had more going on in one week than my entire year! The BSC novels were fun, quick reads, and always full of dramatic situations, and character growth. Anyone remember when Claudia and Dawn got stranded on an island, or Logan and Mary Anne's big breakup? Classics!
11.The Berenstain Bears - Stan & Jan Berenstain
Publish Year: 1962
Plot Summary: Starting in 1962, Stan and Jan Berenstain created a series of colorful and fun books about the Bear family as they learn various life lessons.
Words cannot describe how much I loved the Berenstain (not Berenstein!) Bears, and still do today. The colorful illustrations were entertaining, and the stories were relatable. Who can forget when Brother and Sister got into a big fight, or the Bears had the worst family vacation ever? Bonus points if you watched the cartoon show! It is great to see that the Bears' legacy is continued by Stan and Jan's son, Mike.
12.Arthur - Marc Brown
Publish Year: 1976
Plot Summary: The adventures of Arthur and his friends Buster, Francine, Muffy, and more!
I loved these books SO much, and the TV show made me love them even more. I still go onto YouTube and TikTok to watch episodes, see the latest memes (the fist!), and hilarious compilations of D.W.'s sass. Arthur was even my 2023 Halloween costume!
The most iconic Arthur memory for me will always be the library card song. Can we please get that on Spotify?
"Having fun isn't hard when you've got a library card!"
13.The Castle in the Attic - Elizabeth Winthrop
Publish Year: 1985
Plot Summary: William's nanny, who is returning to England, gifts him a magic castle that comes to life. He is thrown into a medieval world, where he learns about an evil wizard rising to power.
In fifth grade, we had a reading competition called "Battle of the Books," and this was a book on the list. I loved the concept of getting accidentally sucked into a fantasy world full of knights, wizards, and adventure. I had a toy castle in my room, so it was fun to pretend I was in the story while reading. I hadn't thought about this book in years until I found my old castle and just had to re-read it (and the sequel).
14.Captain Underpants - Dav Pilkey
Publish Year: 1997
Plot Summary: Best friends and comic creators George Beard and Harold Hutchins accidentally hypnotize their crabby elementary school principal into their made-up superhero, The Amazing Captain Underpants.
TRA-LA-LAAAA! I'm shocked these books are over 25 years old—I remember seeing them in the Scholastic Catalog like it was yesterday!
Dav Pilkey expertly weaved his unique art style (like the comics within the stories), running gags (the messages on the school sign), memorable villains (Professor Poopypants!), and interactive elements (remember Flip-O-Rama?) to create a series that stood out amongst the masses. There was nothing like it when it was released, and I still don't think there has been anything close decades later.
15.The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton
Publish Year: 1967
Plot Summary: A deep dive into the class warfare of Tulsa, OK, in the 1960s, told from the perspective of Ponyboy Curtis. When a fight between the Greasers and Socs gets out of hand, Ponyboy's life changes forever.
After seeing The Outsiders musical three times this year, I re-read the book and re-watched the movie for the first time in at least a decade. I was shocked to remember I read this in middle school—what an INTENSE book! S.E. Hinton created some of the most memorable characters, and it was difficult to put the book down because I wanted more from that world. Luckily, there are four additional novels (not quite sequels, but in the same universe), continuing with That Was Then, This Is Now.
16.The Giver - Lois Lowry
Publish Year: 1993
Plot Summary: In a dystopian society, Jonas is selected to be the Receiver of Memory. He meets "The Giver," who slowly transfers his memories to Jonas, revealing dark secrets about everything he's ever known.
AKA the book that made every middle schooler love dystopian fiction. This was the first school-assigned book I read that made me think—like really think about the structure of their society and all the layers of complexity that came with it. Lois Lowry developed a very complicated story but made it accessible for middle-schoolers to comprehend.
17.Tuck Everlasting - Natalie Babbitt
Publish Year: 1975
Plot Summary: Winnie Foster meets mysterious Jesse Tuck in the middle of her family's woods, where she witnesses a big secret—the secret to everlasting life.
This was another book I read courtesy of my third-grade teacher, who read us a chapter a day. For such a tiny novel, Tuck Everlasting packs an emotional punch, with Winnie's character development, the twists of the Tuck family's secrets, and the incredible imagery Natalie Babbitt uses. The movie (available on Disney Plus) is a great adaptation of the book and never fails to make me weep!
18.Tales of a Fouth Grade Nothing - Judy Blume
Publish Year: 1972
Plot Summary: Peter's younger brother (nicknamed Fudge) gets up to hilarious mischief and keeps Peter on his toes.
I read these books over and over growing up. I loved reading about Fudge's antics and all the wacky situations he would get Peter in. Sometimes, random facts about this series will pop into my head, like the turtle's name was Dribble, and their dad worked for an ad agency. I don't know why these random things stuck in my head, but it is a testament to how memorable these books were.
19.Redwall - Brian Jacques
Publish Year: 1986
Plot Summary: Redwall Abbey is a building in the middle of Mossflower Wood, home to mice, moles, badgers, and other peaceful creatures. However, the Abbey is frequently besieged by hordes of rats, foxes, and others looking to take the Abbey for themselves.
Another anthropomorphic series with world-building and oodles of lore, the Redwall books were intense and full of epic battles. Each book captivated me (I read Martin The Warrior the most), and I like how they built off each other, even if the books weren't always direct sequels. The Nelvana cartoon series was true to the source material and is still one of my favorite animated shows.
If you want to relive the show, the Redwall series is available to stream on YouTube.
20.Dear Mr. Henshaw - Beverly Cleary
Publish Year: 1983
Plot Summary: Leigh Botts tells his story through his letters to Mr. Henshaw, his favorite author. In them, he discusses his parents' divorce, being the new kid, and other issues he faces growing up.
This is one of Beverly Cleary's most underrated books—she successfully captured Leigh's voice as we read his story through letters written to his favorite author. I remember being skeptical about the unique style of the book, but it is one of my favorite childhood reads. The sequel, Strider, is great as well!
21.The War With Grandpa - Robert Kimmel Smith
Publish Year: 1984
Plot Summary: When Peter's Grandpa moves into his room, Peter decides to take matters into his own hands and try to get his room back by any means possible.
I always thought this book had a great humorous touch. It's an easy and fun read with some good life lessons. (Spoiler ahead) One scene that always sticks out to me is near the ending, where Peter's Grandpa can't find his dentures. For the first time in their 'battle,' Peter sees his Grandpa as family instead of an adversary, and I thought that was a powerful moment.
22.Watership Down - Richard Adams
Publish Year: 1972
Plot Summary: After their home is destroyed, Fiver, Hazel, and a group of rabbits journey to find a new place to live.
After my mom recommended it, I first read Watership Down on a plane in eighth grade. This was a high school read for her, and I was shocked by the story's worldbuilding, politics, and intensity. (If you've seen the movie, you know exactly which scene I'm talking about.) This book is a true classic and a must-read for anyone who likes books told in the POV of animals. Looking at this list so far, that was a big genre for me as a kid!
23.The Trumpet of the Swan - E.B. White
Publish Year: 1970
Plot Summary: Louis is a trumpeter swan but was born with no voice. To overcome this obstacle, his father gifts him with a trumpet, to great success.
When thinking of E.B. White, you generally think of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. The Trumpet of the Swan is a truly underrated book with one of the most unique plots I've ever heard. E.B. White was a genius of anthropomorphic writing, and while reading his books, I often forget I'm reading about animals. If you haven't read this one yet, don't miss out—it is a beautiful read.
24.Danny the Champion of the World - Roald Dahl
Publish Year: 1975
Plot Summary: Told from Danny's point of view, Danny and his father navigate life living in a Gypsy caravan and fixing cars for a living. When Danny discovers a secret about his father, his life suddenly becomes filled with a little more adventure.
Danny the Champion of the World had a more serious undertone than other Roald Dahl books, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It focused heavily on Danny's bond with his father and their life together in a Gypsy caravan. In true Roald Dahl fashion, there were iconic villains like Mr. Hazell and great moments like the pheasant-hunt-prank. BBC ranked it as the 92nd greatest children's book of all time in 2023.
25.A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle
Publish Year: 1962
Plot Summary: Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin take a journey through time through her father's invention, the tesseract.
I never fully understood the plot of this book until a few reads through. It was one of my first introductions to science fiction, and I'll never forget my first time meeting characters like Meg, Mrs. Whatsit/Who/Which, and IT. I also didn't know it was a series for the longest time, and will be adding those to my reading list!
I could go on all day, but what are some titles I missed? Which one of these were your favorites?
Let me know in the comments below!
