I’d like chapter books that are in paperback and are age-appropriate for 3rd-6th graders. Cussing and sexual content should be kept to a minimum if at all. Classics are probably out of the question b/c I don’t want to step on the toes of teachers. So far I’ve got The Secret Apartment, The Landry News, The War with Grandpa, and The Watsons Go to Birmingham. If you’re a middle schooler who has some books you really like(d), I’d love your opinion. Same thing for parents and book lovers in general. 
Thanks!
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I’ve thought about series books as many of you have mentioned, but these are books kids read already. I’d like for the books to be ones they might not normally select on their own. I also don’t want to alienate boys w/the selections as they’re less inclined to go to the club meetings as it is. Keep ‘em coming!
Dec 272009
For 3rd graders (and maybe 4th), the Junie B. Jones books by Babara Park are really cute and funny. My daughter is going into 3rd grade this year and loves them. The Bailey School Kids series and Magic Tree House books are also very good and educational. All of these are easier chapter books. My daughter also loves another series called Puppy Pals that the younger of these kids may like.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, A Wrinkle in Time, The Phantom Tollbooth, Charlotte’s Web, Because of Winn Dixie, The Secret Garden, The BFG, Matilda, Stuart Little, The Borrowers, Half Magic, The Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing, S Cricket in Times Square, Ben and Me, Harriet the Spy, Anne of Green Gables, Tales of Despereaux, Encyclopedia Brown, Sarah Plain and Tall, The Witches, The Hundred Dresses, and my personal favorite From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil F. Frankweller. Pax – C
Among the Brave, Haddix
Surviving the Applewhites, Tolan
The Cricket in Times Square, Seldon
The Mixed up Files of Basil T. Frankweiler,
Matilda-Dahl
Twenty-One Balloons (So Awesome!) Dubois
Here’s some of my favorites:
Pictures of Hollis Woods
Magic Tree House series
Bud, Not Buddy
Because of Winn-Dixie
Artemis Fowl series
Ella Enchanted
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Holes
Harry Potter series
Happy Reading!
How about any of the series of Tree House Mysteries? Or 4th grade Rats? Or A-Z mysteries? OR Pee-Wee Scouts? Or how about any of the Henry & Mudge series? OR the Junie B. Jones series? Or Bunnicula? These are all books that my kids loved to read & also books that I see kids take out of our public school library. I ordered alot of these kinds of books through the school (the kids would bring home these little paper flyers about every 6 weeks or so)…..through Troll Books & Scholastic Books. Hope this helps.
Well I’d recommend Princess Diaries series and The Borrowers
There are some sites that can give you info on some great books like bookadventure.com
Sabrina the Teenage Witch are some great series as well
The Listmaker
Teen Power Inc.
Harry Potter
My Teacher is an Alien by Bruce Coville
I am a 6th Grade Alien by Bruce Coville
Whales on Stilts by M. T. Anderson
Try
The Ghost Cadet by Elaine Marie Alphin (about a boy discovering family honor and a famous Civil War battle),
The Giver by Lois Lowry(there is a disturbing scene in which boy witnesses his father euthanizing a baby by injecting it with a needle. Also there are mild sexual references.)
Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osbourne
The Boxcar Children by Warner
The Judy Moody Books