Looking for books for kids in the preteen years? Homeschool kids in the late elementary and preteen years (9-12 years old) should be advancing in reading difficulty, so short novels (100-300 pp.) with minimal or no illustrations should provide the primary reading material. Don’t discount the benefits of series chapter books. Although you may get bored reading books for kids about the same characters over and over again, your preteen brings valuable prior working knowledge about the characters, the setting, and the anticipated plot line each time she selects a new book in the series. When considering the plot, discuss the standard literary elements like character, setting, conflict, theme, and resolution. Short novels like Tolkien’s The Hobbit also satisfy the desire for plot and descriptive narratives. Nonfiction books (with photos) like the Eyewitness Encyclopedias are also appropriate for the preteen.
