5 Books Your Preteen Should Read

One of the most important habits you can instill in your children from an early age is a love of reading. 

Reading to your kids daily from the time they are very young is a great way to start the habit.

Don’t get discouraged if, as your child gets older and reading becomes required in school, she doesn’t show much interest in it.

For some kids, learning to read is hard and this fact alone can create an early dislike for books.

Even if we model reading for our kids by always being engaged with a book, some will love it and others just won’t take to it.

But, never give up.

As with so many things when it comes to your children, what they like and don’t like can change on a daily basis.

Continue to encourage even reluctant kids to read, and help them explore their interests so you can guide them to books they’ll enjoy.

Whether or not your child is a reader, there are five books that you should add to her collection that will help her navigate the tricky transition from child to teenager.

Kids are often embarrassed to talk to us about all that’s going on in their preteen life, and feel like we won’t understand or be able to help anyway. 

Each of these books can help fill in some of the gaps and get your child on the road to becoming a happy teen.

Exactly when you’ll want to introduce each book to your child will depend on the individual, but generally speaking these books are appropriate for the 9 to 13 years, and beyond.

The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life by Kwame Alexander

This is the perfect book for kids who love sports, as they’ll find words of wisdom from stars like Serena Williams, LeBron James, Carli Lloyd, and Steph Curry.

Designed to show kids how to win at the game of life, in addition to contributions from several famous role models, the author shares uplifting stories about overcoming obstacles and succeeding in life. 

This is a nice book to have on hand when your child is needing a little motivation and encouragement.

365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Precepts by R.J. Palacio 

 If your child hasn’t read the book Wonder, he’s probably at least seen the movie. 

This book is by the same author and is perfect for all kids, even those younger than nine, and is an especially good one to pick up if your child is not the kind to sit down and read 30 pages a night.

Designed to be “A quote for every day of the year about courage, friendship, love, and kindness,” you can use this book to get your reluctant reader to commit to reading a page a day.

You can also use it as a starting point for a daily discussion with your kids, or as a quick point of reference to help encourage your child when he’s facing a particular problem or challenge.

The book is organized so that each month focuses on a different theme, so it’s easy to jump around and find just the right words that address where your child or family is on any given day.

The 6 Most Important Decisions You’ll Ever Make by Sean Covey

 This book was updated last year to discuss how technology affects most every decision your child makes these days.

While it may be geared towards those closer to the teen years, our children are facing many of these six issues at younger and younger ages, so use your discretion about when to introduce this one.

Here Covey addresses how to deal with the major challenges of gaining self-esteem, dealing with parents, making friends, wise choices about sex, coping with substances, and succeeding at school and planning a career.

Your child will stay engaged with the book because it’s not preachy or in lecture format, but includes quizzes, quotes, and cartoons, as well as stories to illustrate the lessons that will benefit your child preparing to enter the teen years.

Also recommended by this author as your child gets older is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.

The Success Principles for Teens: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield and Kent Healy

 The purpose of this book is to be your child’s “road map whether your goal is to become a better student or athlete, start a business, make millions of dollars, or simply find guidance and direction.”

The book includes 23 success strategies that young people have used throughout history to get what they want out of life.

This is another practical and engaging book that will help your child understand that he can have anything he wants in life if he’s willing to do the work to get it. 

The book provides the tools your child will need, and encourages him to take the actions necessary to reach his goals.

While the title advertises it as a book “for teens,” it’s completely on target for younger readers too.

Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul by the same author is also a good collection of "stories of changes, choices, and growing up."

Good Vibes Coloring Book from Made You Smile Press

 For the child who simply won’t read but needs a little positivity in her life, this book is perfect.

Each coloring page includes an inspirational quote as part of the design, giving your child plenty of time to read and ponder the message.

The book is especially good for kids because the designs are simpler than in most coloring books and intended to be therapeutic, leading to less frustration in perfectionist kids.

Even if your child loves to read, this book is a nice edition to her collection when she wants a break.

Coloring patterns are known for reliving stress and promoting relaxation, so this is also a good alternative for times when your child is too angry or upset to read.

Take a Stress-Free Approach With Your Child 

Don’t get discouraged if your child shows little interest in these type of “self-help” books at first. 

This is traditionally an “adult” subject and may not be what the other kids are reading. 

Although, if you find one you and your child especially like, consider gifting a copy to the mom of one of your child’s close friends. You may have the beginnings of an informal mini-book club.

For many kids, these recommended books are the kind you’ll find your child reading in her room at night behind a closed door either out of curiosity, or when she’s in the midst of a challenge or crisis.

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