The Essentials
A 9-year-old should read books that are fun, engaging and appropriate for their age and abilities. Read more here.
Some recommendable authors for 9-year-olds are J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, Jacqueline Wilson, Tamzin Merchant and Adam Kay. Click here for more.
You can motivate your 9-year-old boy to read by making reading fun and enjoyable, setting aside some time for reading, providing a variety of reading materials, rewarding him for reading and joining or starting a book club.
What books are perfect for 9-yearl-old boys? Luckily for you, we can provide an answer. We will tell you what kind of books a 9-year-old can and should read; which authors are recommendable for 9-year-olds; and how you can motivate your boys to read more!
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Book Recommendations for 9-Year-Olds
Depending on their interests, reading level, and preferences, there are many books that a 9-year-old can read and enjoy. What can and should you consider when choosing a book for your child?
Look for books that match your child’s reading level and interests. You can find books by grade level, genre, topic, and difficulty using online tools such as Scholastic Book Wizard or Lexile Find a Book.
Help your child read different genres and forms, including fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, poetry, magazines, and more. This helps them build vocabularies, understanding and critical thinking.
Be sure to ask your child for their opinions and preferences about the books you read. You can also read the same books as your child and discuss them together. This will help them develop their ability to communicate and analyze.
Browse the shelves for books that catch your child’s eye at your local library or bookstore. Based on your child’s interests and reading level, you can ask librarians or booksellers for recommendations.
Tip: Join or start a book club with your child’s friends or classmates. This will help them connect with other readers, share their opinions, and discover new books.
What are good book recommendations? We summarized a list with recommendations from various sources to give you some examples of books that 9-year-olds might enjoy.
| Title | Author | Genre | Description |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone | J.K. Rowling | Fantasy | The first book in the bestselling series about a young wizard who discovers his magical heritage and attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. |
| Percy Jackson and the Olympians | Rick Riordan | Fantasy/Adventure | A series of books about a boy who finds out he is a demigod, the son of a Greek god and a mortal woman, and goes on quests with his friends to save the world from mythological monsters and villains. |
| The Secret Garden | Frances Hodgson Burnett | Classic | A novel about a spoiled orphan who moves to her uncle’s gloomy manor in England and discovers a hidden garden that changes her life and the lives of those around her. |
| The Hatmakers | Tamzin Merchant & Paola Escobar | Historical Fantasy | A novel about a girl who comes from a family of hatmakers who can weave magic into their hats, and who embarks on a quest to find her missing father and stop a war. |
| Kay’s Marvellous Medicine | Adam Kay & Henry Paker | Non-Fiction/Humor | A book that explores the history of medicine in a funny and informative way, from ancient times to modern day. |
Authors That Write Great Children’s Books
Many authors write books that are appropriate and enjoyable for 9-year-olds, depending on genre, style, and subject matter. How can you find the best authors for your child?
Look for authors who write books that are appropriate for your child’s reading level and interests. You can find books by grade level, genre, topic, and difficulty using online tools such as Scholastic Book Wizard or Lexile Find a Book.
Encourage your child to read books by a variety of authors and from a variety of cultures and points of view. This is a great way for your child to broaden his or her horizons, learn new things, and have an appreciation for diversity.
Ask what they think and like about the authors they read. You can also be a part of your child’s reading and discussion of the same books. This will help them develop their communication and analytical skills.
Tip: Just like stated before, you can visit your local library or bookstore and browse the shelves for books written by authors who have caught your child’s attention. Based on your child’s interests and reading level, you can ask librarians or booksellers for recommendations.
Which authors are appropriate for your child?
- J.K. Rowling
- Rick Riordan
- Tamzin Merchant
- Adam Kay
Fact Check – Jacqueline Wilson
Author of more than 100 books for children and young adults, many of which deal with realistic and sensitive issues such as divorce, bullying, foster care, illness and disability. Wilson’s books are honest, empathetic, humorous, and hopeful as they portray the lives and emotions of her characters with warmth and compassion.
How To Motivate Your Boy To Read
Motivating your 9-year-old boy to read can be a challenge, especially if he is a reluctant or struggling reader. However, reading is an important skill that can benefit him in many ways, such as the development of his vocabulary, comprehension, imagination, creativity, and critical thinking skills.
How can you change his reluctantness into motivation?
Make reading fun and enjoyable. Reading should be a rewarding and enjoyable activity, not a chore or punishment. You can make reading fun by choosing books about sports, animals, superheroes, jokes, etc., that match your child’s interests and preferences. You can also use a variety of voices, expressions, and gestures when you read aloud to your child, or act out scenes from the books with your child.
Try to make reading a part of your daily routine. Preferably when your child is relaxed and not distracted by other activities, set aside some time each day for reading. You can read together before bed, after breakfast, or during a quiet afternoon. You can also encourage your child to read on his or her own. This could be during a car ride, while waiting in line, or on a rainy day.
Read to and listen to your child. Reading aloud can expose your child to new words, ideas, and stories he might not encounter alone. It can also spark his curiosity and interest in reading more. Listening to your child’s reading can be a great way for your child to practice fluency, accuracy, and expression. It can also provide an opportunity for you to praise his efforts, to correct his mistakes, and to ask him questions about the text.
Provide a variety of reading materials. Like we said before – there’s so much more to reading than books, including comics, newspapers, websites, blogging, podcasting, and more. Expose your child to a variety of genres and formats, including fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, poetry, biography, and more. You can find a variety of reading materials at your local library, bookstore, or online.
Create a comfortable reading area. You can motivate your child to spend more time with books by providing a comfortable and inviting reading space. You can create a comfortable reading nook in your child’s bedroom or another room in the house. Fill it with pillows, blankets, beanbags, lamps, posters, etc. You can also fill it with books and other reading materials that your child likes.
Reward your child for reading. Positive reinforcement can help build your child’s confidence and motivate him to read. You can reward your child for reading with verbal praise, stickers, certificates, bookmarks, etc. You can also track his progress and achievements by keeping a reading chart or log. You may also want to set some goals and incentives for your child to read more, such as reading a certain number of books or minutes per week or month.
Little reminder: Again, a book club with your child’s friends or classmates can also encourage you boy to read more. Being part of a book club can help your child connect with other readers, share opinions and recommendations, and discover new books. You can have fun discussions and activities related to the books by choosing a theme or genre for each meeting.
In Conclusion: Books for 9-Year-Old Boys
In conclusion, reading is an important and enjoyable skill that can benefit 9-year-olds in many ways. To help your child develop a love of reading, you can choose books and authors that match your child’s reading level and interests; make reading a part of your daily routine by reading and listening to your child read; provide a variety of reading materials and a comfortable reading area; reward your child for reading; and join or start a book club.