Treasury · Merit

Halsted - Best Friends

The reading recommended at the back of Judith Wynn Halsted's award-winning guide for gifted readers, Some of My Best Friends Are Books — her own bibliography, marked by age.

239 books in the catalog stand on this list.

A reader aged

3 of these books carry no suggested reading age, so choosing an age leaves them out.

• A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck, 1994 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 690L · AR 4.4
  Remember
• A Dog on Barkham Street by Mary Stolz, 1960 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 790L · AR 4.6 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Mensa Kids
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• A Good Courage by Stephanie S. Tolan, 1998 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 700L
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• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, 1972 · ages 6–7 · Lexile 840L · AR 3.7 · AR Interest: LG (K–3)
  also on Mensa Kids, NY Public Library
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• Alice's Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, 1865 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 880L · AR 7.4 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Mensa Kids, TJEd Youth Recommended
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• Amanda Pig on Her Own by Jean Van Leeuwen, 1991 · age 4 · Lexile 490L · AR 2.4
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• Am I Blue? Coming Out from the Silence by Marion Dane Bauer, ed., 1995 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 760L
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• Amy in the Rain with Baby Duck by Amy Hest, 1995 · age 4 · Lexile 240L
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• Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott, 1987 · ages 5–7 · Lexile 430L · AR 2.8 · AR Interest: LG (K–3)
  also on Mensa Kids
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• Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry, 1979 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 700L · AR 4.5 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
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• Animalia by Graeme Base, 1986 · ages 5–7
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• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, 1935 · ages 9–12 · Lexile 710L · AR 7.3 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Deep Roots Grade, Mensa Kids, The Good & The Beautiful, TJEd Youth Recommended
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• Anno's Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno, 1975 · age 4
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• Anno's Journey by Mitsumasa Anno, 1977 · ages 5–7
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• Anthem by Ayn Rand, 1938 · ages 14–18 · Lexile 880L · AR 9.1 · AR Interest: UG (9–12)
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• Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman, 1960 · age 4 · Lexile 240L · AR 1.6 · AR Interest: LG (K–3)
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• Around the House by Deni Brown, 1993 · age 4
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• Arthur, for the Very First Time by Patricia MacLachlan, 1980 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 660L · AR 4.2
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• A Time to Fly Free by Stephanie Tolan, 1983 · ages 8–10
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• Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard, 1990 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 510L · AR 2.4
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• A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers by Nancy Willard, 1982 · ages 8–10 · AR 4.5 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Newbery Award
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• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, 1962 · ages 9–13 · Lexile 740L · AR 4.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Mensa Kids, Newbery Award, NY Public Library
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• Baby Talk: A Pudgy Book by Erika Stone, 1992 · age 4
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• Barabbas by Pär Lagerkvist, 1989 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 870L
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• Belle Prater's Boy by Ruth White, 1998 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 760L · AR 4.4
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• Ben’s Trumpet by Rachel Isadora, 1979 · ages 4–8 · Lexile 530L · AR 2.2 · AR Interest: LG (K–3)
  also on NY Public Library
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• Beyond the Burning Time by Kathryn Lasky, 1996 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 970L · AR 5.6
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• Black on White by Tana Hoban, 1993 · age 4
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• Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey, 1976 · ages 4–6 · Lexile 600L · AR 4.1 · AR Interest: LG (K–3)
  also on Deep Roots Grade, Mensa Kids
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• Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe, 1988 · ages 14–17
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• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, 1977 · ages 9–13 · Lexile 810L · AR 4.6 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Mensa Kids, Newbery Award, NY Public Library
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• Bronstein's Children by Jurek Becker, 1986 · ages 14–17
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• Brothers of the Heart: A Story of the Old Northwest 1837–1838 by Joan W. Bios, 1985 · ages 8–10
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• Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea by Joyce Carol Thomas, 1993 · ages 8–10 · AR 4.2
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• Building Blocks by Cynthia Voigt, 1994 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 680L · AR 4.2
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• Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink, 1970 · age 11 · Lexile 890L · AR 6.0 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Beautiful Feet, Deep Roots Grade, Mensa Kids, Newbery Award, The Good & The Beautiful
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• California Blue by David Klass, 1996 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 820L · AR 5.0
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• Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry, 1941 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 830L · AR 6.2 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Beautiful Feet, Mensa Kids, Newbery Award, The Good & The Beautiful
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• Carousel by Donald Crews, 1982 · age 4
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• Cathedral by David Macaulay, 1973 · ages 9–14 · Lexile 1180L · AR 7.3 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Beautiful Feet
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• Celine by Brock Cole, 1993 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 720L
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• Clifford's Bathtime by Norman Bridwell, 1991 · age 4
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• Colors Everywhere by Tana Hoban, 1995 · age 4
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• Daniel's Dinosaurs by Mary Carmine, 1984 · ages 5–7 · AR 2.6 · AR Interest: LG (K–3)
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• Daniel's Duck by Clyde Robert Bulla, 1979 · ages 5–7 · Lexile 430L · AR 2.0
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• Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl, 1975 · ages 8–10 · AR 4.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted
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• Demian: The Story of Emil Sinclair's Youth by Hermann Hesse, 1999 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 1010L
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• Don't Feed the Monster on Tuesdays! by Adolph Moser, 1991 · ages 8–10
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• Down the Amazon: A Travel Novel by John Battaile Hall, 2015 · ages 5–7
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• Dragonwings by Laurence Yep, 1975 · ages 10–12 · Lexile 870L · AR 5.3 · AR Interest: MG+ (6–8)
  also on Mensa Kids
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• Elfwyn's Saga by David Wisniewski, 1990 · ages 5–7
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• Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, 1997 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 670L · AR 4.6 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted
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• Eva by Eva Dickinson, 1990 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 930L · AR 6.3
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• Evan's Corner by Elizabeth Starr Hall, 1967 · ages 5–7
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• Everett Anderson's Friend by Lucille Clifton, 1976 · ages 5–7 · Lexile 990L · AR 2.9
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• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, 1969 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 890L · AR 5.2 · AR Interest: UG (9–12)
  also on Mensa Kids
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• Feelings by Aliki, 1984 · ages 5–7 · AR 2.0
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• Flame-Colored Taffeta by Rosemary Sutcliff, 1999 · ages 11–13
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• Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers, 1972 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 730L · AR 4.4
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• Frederick by Leo Lionni, 1967 · ages 5–7 · Lexile 590L · AR 3.1 · AR Interest: LG (K–3)
  also on Mensa Kids
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• Free Fall by David Wiesner, 1988 · ages 5–7
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• Freight Train by Donald Crews, 1978
  also on NY Public Library
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• Friedrich by Hans Peter Richter, 1987 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 650L · AR 4.7
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• Friends by Helme Heine, 1982 · age 4 · Lexile 600L · AR 3.2
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• From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg, 1967 · ages 9–10 · Lexile 700L · AR 4.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Mensa Kids, Newbery Award, NY Public Library
  Remember
• Go Fish by Mary Stolz, 1991 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 770L · AR 4.4
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• Golem by David Wisniewski, 1996 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 690L · AR 4.3
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• Goodbye, Vietnam by Gloria Whelan, 1993 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 810L · AR 5.2
  Remember
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, 1947 · ages 4–5 · Lexile 360L · AR 1.8 · AR Interest: LG (K–3)
  also on Deep Roots Grade, Mensa Kids, NY Public Library
  Remember
• Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say, 1993 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 650L · AR 3.6 · AR Interest: LG (K–3)
  also on Beautiful Feet, NY Public Library
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• Guiding the Gifted Child by James T. Webb, Elizabeth A. Meckstroth, and Stephanie S. Tolan, 1989 · ages 14–17
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• Half-a-Moon Inn by Paul Fleischman, 1980 · ages 8–10 · AR 5.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
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• Hannah by Gloria Whelan, 1993 · ages 5–7 · Lexile 740L · AR 4.3 · AR Interest: LG (K–3)
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• Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, 1964 · ages 9–12 · Lexile 760L · AR 4.5 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Mensa Kids, NY Public Library
  Remember
• Heads, I Win by Patricia Hermes, 1988 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 600L · AR 3.7
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• Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by D. B. Johnson, 2000 · ages 5–7 · Lexile 500L · AR 2.1
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• Hide and Seek Fog by Alvin Tresselt, 1965 · age 4 · Lexile 740L · AR 4.3
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• Hiroshima by Laurence Yep, 1995 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 760L
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• Home Place by Crescent Dragonwagon, 1990 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 840L · AR 4.4
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• Hooray for Me! by Remy Charlip and Lilian Moore, 1975 · age 4
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• How Many Snails? A Counting Book by Paul Giganti, 1988 · age 4
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• How Would You Survive as an Ancient Egyptian? by Jacqueline Morley, 1995 · ages 5–7
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• I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier, 1991 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 750L · AR 5.2 · AR Interest: UG (9–12)
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• Iktomi and the Berries: A Plains Indian Story by Paul Goble, 1989 · ages 5–7
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• Imaginary Gardens: American Poetry and Art for Young People by Charles Sullivan, ed., 1989 · ages 11–13
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• I'm Terrific by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, 1977 · age 4 · Lexile 490L · AR 2.6
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• In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming, 1993 · age 4 · AR 2.0 · AR Interest: LG (K–3)
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• Ironman by Chris Crutcher, 1996 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 980L · AR 5.5
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• Island Boy by Barbara Cooney, 1988 · ages 5–7 · Lexile 890L · AR 4.7
  Remember
• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, 1960 · ages 10–12 · Lexile 1000L · AR 5.4 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Mensa Kids, Newbery Award, The Good & The Beautiful, TJEd Youth Recommended
  Remember
• I Spy: An Alphabet in Art by Lucy Micklethwait, 1992 · age 4
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• Izzy, Willy-Nilly by Cynthia Voigt, 1995 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 790L · AR 4.9 · AR Interest: UG (9–12)
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• Jackaroo by Cynthia Voigt, 1995 · ages 14–17 · Lexile 840L · AR 5.6
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• James and the Rain by Karla Kuskin, 1995 · age 4 · Lexile 610L · AR 3.8
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• Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth by E.L. Konigsburg, 1967 · ages 8–10 · AR 4.5
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• JumpStart: Ideas to Move Your Mind by Beatrice Ely, 2000 · ages 14–17
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• Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin and John Archambault, 1987 · ages 5–7 · Lexile 550L
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• La Féticheuse by Blaise Cendrars, 1929 · ages 5–7
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• Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, 2016 · ages 4–7 · Lexile 610L · AR 3.3 · AR Interest: LG (K–3)
  also on Newbery Award
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• Later, Gator by Laurence Yep, 1995 · ages 8–10 · Lexile 590L · AR 4.0
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Only the first 100 of 239 are listed here. Choosing an age narrows the list.