Some of the most popular fiction written for children between the ages of 5 and 9 has exciting characters, fun story lines and fascinating facts. These books are also written in a way to help nurture reading and vocabulary skills. Children at these age levels are typically between kindergarten and third grade, and while their reading skills vary at this young age, their love for stories don't. The best thing you can do is to find some fictional books that cater to the child's interests and reading capabilities.
About Fiction Written for Children Between the Ages of 5 and 9
A fictional book for children tells the story from the point of the view of the author who many times also acts as the main character. The reader can identify through his or her thoughts, expressions and emotions with this person. The story is about a child and adults usually play secondary characters, if any at all. The story plots are clear and a lesson or moral is typically taught. Children's fictional books can be:
- Picture books (4 and under)
- Picture-story (5-9)
- Easy-to-read (5-9)
- 'Tween (9-12)
- Teen (10 and older)
Examples of Children's Fiction
There are a few types of fiction written for children between the ages of 5 and 9 that can be enjoyed by all age levels and reading skills:
Fantasy
Who can resist a story about brave heroes, magical kingdoms, outer space, trolls, goblins and princesses? Fantasy fiction books for children allow youngsters to use their imaginations and enter a world of fantasy that they have never seen or read about before. They usually contain conflicts between good and evil and allow the readers to associate with the story's main character. Examples of fantasy fiction books include:
- Night Flyer by Tyan Wyss brings a young boy's vivid imagination to life during a nighttime adventure. (8 and older)
- Larry Tyler and the Planet Buksdahuda by Lawrence R. Pefferly tells the story of an "out of this world adventure" about eight boys who were abducted by aliens and sent to the planet Buksdahuda. Larry helps the boys escape and foils a plot by aliens to invade Earth. (9 and older)
- Scarecrow Finds a Friend by Blume J Rifken is a light-hearted tale of a good witch who loses her powers to fly. She becomes friends with a scarecrow who helps her with her problem. (4-8 years old)
- My Fairy Glade by Smriti Prasadam is a cute story about little girls who have magical and fairy fun in a fairy glade. (5 and under)
Realistic Fiction
Also known as contemporary fiction, this type of books deals with issues facing children today and are depicted and presented with as much accuracy as possible. Topics include:
- Bullying
- Divorced or single parents
- Discrimination
- Mental or other illness
- Death of a family member, friend or pet
These topics allow children to have a glimpse of the world around them. The older the child, more complex and specific the story line is. Examples of realistic fictional books for children include:
- I Don't Have an Uncle Phil Anymore by Marjorie White Pellegrino is about a boy whose favorite uncle died unexpectedly and he is left with a multitude of emotions and questions. (5 and older)
- Was It the Chocolate Pudding?: A Story for Little Kids About Divorce by Sandra Levins tells the story of a little girl living with her single (divorced) father and brother. Many day-to-day situations are covered. (4-8 years old)
- Nobody Knew What to Do: A Story About Bullying by Becky Ray McCain is a simple and straightforward story about a child who is being picked on by other children at school and in time eventually learns to stand up to his bullies. (4-8 years old)
- Raaof by Joanne Calcagno is a book about a boy from Yemen who is discriminated against when he starts a new school. (All ages)
Historical Fiction
These books can teach a child about a certain period in history, such as World War II, 20th century America or the Middle Ages. Fictional stories are written about a person living or event occurring during this era. In the classroom, historical fiction stories usually accompany a lesson taught from a textbook. Examples of these types of stories for elementary school children include:
- The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder is for children 8 and older and is part of the Little House on the Prairie collection of books about life during pioneer times. (8 and older)
- George the Drummer Boy by Nathanial Benchley is the story about a drummer boy named George who experienced the start of the American Revolution. (4-8 years old)
- Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express by Eleanor Coerr is a book about the adventures of Bill Cody and his work with the Pony Express. (4-8 years old)
- Doing My Part by Teresa R. Funke is a fictional story based on a true event in World War II where a teen must find work to help support her family. (9 and older)
More Categories of Children's Fiction
Other genres of children's fiction include:
- Christian or religious
- Multicultural
- Personal narration or diary
- Humorous
- Horror
- Mystery
- Environmental
- Sports
- Travel
Final Thought
Fictional books are wonderful ways to teach young children about the world around them. Whether it's through an outer space exploration or by taking a step back in time and learning about the Civil War. These stories are meant to excite a child about reading while instilling a lesson or value along the way.
