101 Books Every Girl Should Read
Need some books for girls? Here are 101 books for girls that we have read and loved!
It’s no secret that my daughters and I love to read. To dive into a good book — whether we’re reading aloud together or finding some quiet time to read alone — is a true joy. Thanks to the library and free or inexpensive books on the Kindle, it’s also an inexpensive activity that greatly enriches our minds and hearts. As I was reflecting on what to read next, I began a list of books that we consider favorites for all ages. These are the books that we can read again and again. Even as an adult I enjoy these stories because they are timeless and universal in the truths about life and character they show us. I thought at first that I’d stop at 101 titles since that sounded like a lot, but I kept going well past that number! I’m just including the first 101 and will save the others for another time.
Note: I’ve gone into more depth with some of the books in my Classic Books for Girls series, too. I marked those titles with an asterisk so you can read more about them if you’d like. I hope you enjoy these as much as we do!
101 Books for Girls
I have divided the books by age level for convenience: Early Readers, Middle Readers, and Teens. Some of the books in the Early Readers category were actually read alouds we did at that age, not necessarily books my daughters read on their own. I’ve arranged them with subject matter in mind, not just reading ability, so please consider that. Even struggling readers and younger children can enjoy great books when you read aloud, which I greatly encourage!
They are not ranked in particular order of favorites. I just wrote them down as my daughters helped me to name off books we have enjoyed. In other words — this is not a scientific list, but rather a list of books that real girls have really liked.
Note: Remember that age levels can be very subjective, so please keep that in mind when choosing books. These are my personal estimations based on when we read them in our family.
Early Readers
- Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
- Heidi by Johanna Spyri*
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
- Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
- Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett*
- A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
- On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
- These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
- Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
- Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
- Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
- Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
- Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
- The Boxcar Children by Getrude Stein Warner
- Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
- Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary
- Matilda by Roald Dahl
- Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
- Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald
- All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
- Hitty: Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field
- Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin
- Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
- Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
- The Doll People by Ann Martin
- The Meanest Doll in the World by Ann Martin
- The Runaway Dolls by Ann Martin
- More All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
- All-of-a-Kind Family Uptownby Sydney Taylor
- All-of-a-Kind Family Downtownby Sydney Taylor
- Ella of All-of-a-Kind Familyby Sydney Taylor
- Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney
- Mandie by Lois Leppard
- Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
- Diary of a Real Payne by Annie Tipton
- Emily’s Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary
- Lily Lapp by Suzanne Woods Fisher
- Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
- On the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
- The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
- The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
- Leah’s Pony by Elizabeth Friedrich
- Mack by Patricia Polacco
- Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
- Stormy, Misty’s Foal by Marguerite Henry
- Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
- Justin Morgan had a Horse by Marguerite Henry
- Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
- The Doll’s House by Rumer Godden
- Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
- American Girl book series
- Sisters in Time book series
- In Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson
- More Stories from Grandma’s Atticby Arleta Richardson
- Still More Stories from Grandma’s Atticby Arleta Richardson
- Sixteen and Away from Homeby Arleta Richardson
- Treasures from Grandma’s Atticby Arleta Richardson
- Eighteen and on Her Ownby Arleta Richardson
- Nineteen and Wedding Bells Aheadby Arleta Richardson
- At Home in North Branchby Arleta Richardson
- Christmas Stories from Grandma’s Atticby Arleta Richardson
- Stories from the Growing Yearsby Arleta Richardson
- A School of Her Ownby Arleta Richardson
- Letters from Grandma’s Atticby Arleta Richardson
- A Day at the Fairby Arleta Richardson
- Helen Keller by Margaret Davidson
- A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla
- The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz
- Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes
- Misty’s Twilight by Marguerite Henry
- The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
Middle Readers
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
- Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
- The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
- Elsie Dinsmore by Martha Finley
- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery*
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott*
- Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery
- Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
- Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
- The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
- Trixie Belden by Julie Campbell
- The Story Girl by L.M. Montgomery
- Christy by Catherine Marshall
- Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
- The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
- Phoebe the Spy by Judith Berry Griffin
- Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John
- Nory Ryan’s Song by Patricia Reilly Giff
- Rainbow Garden by Patricia St. John
- A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich
- National Velvet by Enid Bagnold
Teens
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
- Stepping Heavenward: One Woman’s Journey to Godliness by Elizabeth Prentiss
Are your favorites on the list? What would you add?
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I figured this would be another list of books my kid would refuse to read, but many of these are her favorites and it gives me a good start for adding to our collection! Thanks!
Oh good, I’m glad to hear it! Have fun reading! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂