Enjoyable Books for 7 Year Olds to Read By Themselves

This sweet (and actually mysterious) graphic novel follows a kitten named Beans, who’s obsessed with the idea of being a detective. When his hat goes missing, he embarks on his first mission, following a trail of surprising, funny clues to rescue his hat. This is a great pick for strong second-grade readers and older who love a good mystery.

Set in a whimsical garden world, this delightful early graphic novel follows Poppy and Sam as they try to solve the mystery of who’s eating Basil’s leaves. After several failed tactics, they finally figure it out, with charming results. This book is adorably illustrated with short, easy-to-read text and a gentle mystery for kids who love a sweet story.

This short chapter book series follows two owls — one with a penchant for adventure and shiny things and the other who wants to chill — as they try to solve a case of a maybe ghost in a neighbor’s yard. This is such a sweet series, especially if your 7-year-old isn’t quite a voracious reader yet.

When an immigrant family gets a new dwarf rabbit, their youngest child, Roya, begins to share the story of her family’s flight from Kabul, Afghanistan, to the Netherlands. This translated work of children’s fiction is heartwarming and would make for a delightful family readaloud.

The duck in this story wants to be a detective so badly that all her friends know her penchant for solving mysteries. Detective Duck is not your average duck. Her dad is a beaver, and her friends at the Dogwood Pond where she lives include a dragonfly, frogs, and a book-loving salamander. When a huge object lands in the pool, disrupting the residents’ daily lives, it’s up to Duck to solve the case and save their home. This one is fantastic on audio and has inspiring environmental connections without being TOO on the nose.

Meet Gabby Gomez, gum lover! Gabby loves chewing gum, even if her Mami has warned her many times to stop. Well, one day, Gabby gets gum stuck in her hair, and Mami’s had it: No more gum for Gabby! When Gabby tries to sneak a piece of gum one day, an accident involving a gum bubble and electricity leads to her developing stretch-tastic superpowers. Now, Gabby has to hide both her love for gum and her powers. This chapter book is funny and will make for an exciting readaloud for 1st graders. It includes monochrome (red and white) illustrations on nearly every page.

Bink and Gollie are unlikely friends, one short, one tall. Both girls are strong-willed and disagree often. Yet, what they share is a love for speeding by on rollerskates and, of course, each other. Readers join them on three adventures in this first book: a pair of blindingly bright socks, a perilous Andes hike, and a goldfish who might take Gollie’s place. This is so quirky, and though it has some complex words, kids will love having it read to them.

Cranky Chicken is, well, cranky. With one cranky eyebrow, cranky eyes, and even cranky, scratchy feet. But then, one day, Cranky meets a very friendly worm named Speedy, who wants nothing more than to be friends. Young readers will love seeing the mismatched friendship grow over the course of three charming and laugh-out-loud short adventures as Chicken and Speedy become BFFs (Best Feathered Friends) and Speedy shows Chicken how to look on the bright side.

Join Sophie Mouse and her forest friends in Silverlake Forest as they make a new friend, look for special emerald berries, learn to swim at Forget-Me-Not Lake, build a fort at Butterfly Brook, and more! This is a beloved series with easy-to-read text and beautiful illustrations.

Frank has a book, a map, and a plan to find the Stinky Feet Monster. Bean has new boots, a new hat, and a drum, and is ready to rock—BOOM, BOOM, BOOM! He doesn’t believe in the Stinky Feet Monster, but as the two friends trek through the dark woods, they encounter strange noises, big footprints, and a very foul odor. This is a funny book that is sure to make your 7-year-old giggle!

This spring break, everyone has plans except Amy. She’ll be reading Nancy Drew and helping her mom out at her vet clinic. But when an adorable pup goes missing, it’s up to Amy and her friends to solve the mystery. This is a sweet chapter book with a riddle that actually had me invested. Perfect for younger kiddos who love animals, friendship chapter books, and cozy mysteries.

This is a gorgeous chapter book about a spunky young protagonist whose dad tells her that if she can catch a chicken, she can keep it. Well, Starla Jean catches herself a chicken. I loved the full-color pictures in this book. Just charming! Great for new readers ages 5-7.

Mia Macarooney is a regular eight-year-old girl who finds out that she’s A SUPERHERO! Her life literally goes from totally ordinary to totally super when she’s invited to attend the afterschool Program for In-Training Superheroes a.k.a. THE PITS! This book is so much fun and readers will have a blast watching Mia learn some serious superhero skills!

Frankie and Friends: Breaking News is the first in the new Frankie and Friends series. Frankie’s mom is off on a reporting trip, and the whole family is missing her. With her stuffed animals as partners, Frankie decides to use the journalism tidbits she’s learned from her mom — like finding your beat and being honest — to solve a surprising family mystery. Frankie and Friends: Breaking News is a charming, educational, and imaginative start to a fun series that’s perfect for new readers. 

Harriet’s family is undergoing a change. Her mom is pregnant and has been placed on bed rest until the baby is born. Harriet, an energetic child, has been sent to Marble Island, where her grandmother lives and runs a bed and breakfast. She’s understandably frustrated and feeling abandoned by her parents. Thankfully, she takes her cat, Matzo Ball, with her. When she arrives at Marble Island, Harriet starts to learn more about her father’s childhood and discovers that they have more in common than she expects. Just Harriet is a charming, engaging chapter book/young middle grade book with a memorable, relatable protagonist.

Shermy is a rule-following, sometimes-rigid kid who is forced to share space with Shake, a spontaneous, can’t-sit-still boy visiting his grandmother (who’s Shermy’s neighbor) for the summer. As the boys’ two personalities bump heads, they eventually find a way to co-exist, and maybe even become friends. This is a highly relatable tale of unlikely friendships, summertime, and family. It’s also pretty funny in some parts!

Cordelia is a girl who lives in a tree in Central Park. Found as a baby and raised by an adoring squirrel named Shakespeare, Cordelia acts just like any other young squirrel, leaping across treetops, chasing her squirrel friends, and sleeping in her treehouse. Still, she wonders what it would be like to have a human friend, and when she stumbles into a gymnastics class, it seems like she might have her chance. Living in a tree might have made Cordelia an exceptional gymnast, but people skills are a whole other matter. Even if Cordelia can’t fully fit in with the other kids, can she at least make one friend? Cordelia starts her journey to be—not exactly a girl, but more than a squirrel—squirlish! I enjoyed this fun chapter book, and kids who like books with talking animals or stories like Tarzan will enjoy this one.

When three of Kayla’s freshly baked dog treats go missing, her first suspect is her dog, King, but King is determined to find the real culprit in this award-winning short chapter book. This one is perfect for not-so-strong readers who love cute mysteries and animals.

Daisy Dreamer loves to dream. Her grandmother gifted her a journal where she can write all the stories she dreams up. Some pages even have story prompts for her. But one day, when she and her friends draw a story character, it comes to life — her own imaginary friend! This is a whimsical series for kids who can’t get enough of fairies, imaginary friends, and dreamland.

Louie and Ralphie Ratso’s dad, Big Lou, always says that there are two kinds of people: those who are tough and those who are soft. Louie and Ralphie are tough, tough, tough, just like Big Lou, and they’re going to prove it. But every time they try to show just how tough they are, the Ratso brothers end up accidentally doing good deeds instead. What’ll Big Lou do when he finds out they’ve been acting like softies all over the Big City? Perfect for emerging and reluctant readers, this clever and surprisingly warmhearted chapter book shows that being tough all the time can be really tough.