Accessibility
The Barnes & Noble Holiday Gift Guide Find the Perfect Gift | Shop Now The Barnes & Noble Holiday Gift Guide Find the Perfect Gift | Shop Now

Kids' Books: Ages 9-12

From the enticing mythos of Percy Jackson to the skies of Wings of Fire – there are plenty of worlds for young readers to explore. Trek across nature with The Wild Robot or enter the halls of middle school with Diary of a Wimpy Kid. If there’s a kid in need of a book — and there always is — you’re in the right place to find their next favorite series.

Return to Hogwarts in this brand-new illustrated edition. $5 Off Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Shop Now.
Return to Hogwarts in this brand-new illustrated edition. $5 Off Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Shop Now.
Our October Young Reader Pick, Nimbus. As a hero, Nimbus is as gritty and determined as she is adorable. Shop Now.
Our October Young Reader Pick, Nimbus. As a hero, Nimbus is as gritty and determined as she is adorable. Shop Now.
Trunk No 3. A mysterious trunk leads to a life-changing discovery. Shop Now.
50% Off Nikolas Nurdblock
The Magic Library of Waterfall Way. Books, spells and a lovable furry sidekick.
Camp Half-blood. Magical adventures, new friendships and epic battles await at camp half-blood. Preorder now
Camp Half-blood. Magical adventures, new friendships and epic battles await at camp half-blood. Preorder now
The Best Toys & Games of 2026
Winnie-the-Pooh Plush Only $34.99 with Purchase
Advent Calendars Shop Now
Bandits, beasts and magical adventures. Impossible Creatures Book Three, The Neverfear. Shop Now
Bandits, beasts and magical adventures. Impossible Creatures Book Three, The Neverfear. Shop Now
BN Children's & YA Book Awards Winner Overall Winner. School for Thieves. Shop Now
BN Children's & YA Book Awards Winner Overall Winner. School for Thieves. Shop Now

Nonfiction Books for Kids

Science & Technology

An Anthology of Remarkable Bugs
The Way Things Work: Newly Revised Edition: The Newly Revised Edition-From levers to lasers, windmills to wi-fi, a visual guide to the world of machines.
The Mysteries of the Universe: Discover the Best-Kept Secrets of Space
The Wizard's Guide to Magical Experiments: 40 Science Experiments to Try at Home
National Geographic Kids Almanac 2026 (B&N Exclusive Edition)

Nature

An Anthology of Remarkable Bugs
An Anthology of Fungi: A Collection of Mushrooms, Toadstools and Other Fungi
Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes that Dot Our Planet
Oceanarium: Welcome to the Museum
My Book of Rocks and Minerals: Things to Find, Collect, and Treasure

Art

Lots of Things to Doodle
How to Draw Cute Animals
The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia of Art History
The Art Book for Children
How to Draw: Easy Techniques and Step-by-Step Drawings for Kids

All Nonfiction Books for Kids

The Animal Book: A Visual Animal Kingdom Encyclopedia for Kids
What on Earth! Kids' Encyclopedia: Updated Edition - What We Know & What We Don't
There Are No Silly Questions: More than 200 Weird and Wacky Questions, Expertly Answered!
The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs: 100+ Recipes that You'll Love to Cook and Eat
Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life
Pokecology - Calling all Pokemon Trainers! Shop Now
Pokecology - Calling all Pokemon Trainers! Shop Now

Gifts for Kids Who Love...

planet

Science

football and soccer ball

Sports

comic book symbol

Graphic Novels

Dragon

Fantasy & Magic

Fairy Tales

Fairy Tales

art palette

Art

dog and cat

Animals

leaf

Nature

bee

Bugs

ghost

Spooky Stories

Favorite Young Reader Series

Warriors

Lost Stars (Warriors: The Broken Code #1)
Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin, Part Three of Three
Into the Wild (Warriors: The Prophecies Begin Series #1)
The Elders' Quest (Warriors: Changing Skies Series #1)
Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin, Part Two of Three

The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot (Wild Robot Series #1) (Movie Tie-In)
The Wild Robot Escapes (Wild Robot Series #2)
The Wild Robot (Wild Robot Series #1)
The Wild Robot Protects (Wild Robot Series #3)
The Wild Robot: Collector's Edition

I Survived

I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 (I Survived Series #3)
I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 (I Survived Series #1)
I Survived the Dust Bowl, 1935 (I Survived #25)
I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 (I Survived Series #15)
I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24)

Chronicles of Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia Deluxe Edition: 7 Books in 1 Hardcover
The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia Series #1)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia Series #2)
The Chronicles of Narnia (7 Books in 1)
The Chronicles of Narnia Box Set
Prepare to join the pack: Dog Man is back. Pre-order Dog Man A Sprinkle in Time
Prepare to join the pack: Dog Man is back. Pre-order Dog Man A Sprinkle in Time
LEGO Gifts for Everyone. Shop Now
LEGO Gifts for Everyone. Shop Now

Bookseller Favorites

Classics

Where the Red Fern Grows
Charlotte's Web
Because of Winn-Dixie (Reissue)
Matilda
The Tale of Despereaux (Newbery Medal Winner)

Fantasy & Magic

The Phantom Tollbooth
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series #1)
A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet Series #1) (Newbery Medal Winner)
The Hobbit
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia Series #2)

Humor

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Wayside School Series #1)
The Bad Guys (The Bad Guys Series #1)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series #1)

Adventure

Into the Wild (Warriors: The Prophecies Begin Series #1)
Holes (Newbery Medal Winner)
The Wild Robot (Wild Robot Series #1)
Hatchet (Brian's Saga Series #1)
Pax

Historical Fiction

Bud, Not Buddy (Newbery Medal Winner)
Number the Stars (Newbery Medal Winner)
The Book Thief
Esperanza Rising (Scholastic Gold)
Refugee

Mysteries

The Sherlock Society
Spy School (Spy School Series #1)
City Spies (City Spies Series #1)
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (Mr. Lemoncello Series #1)
The Boxcar Children (The Boxcar Children Series #1)

Toys & Games

LEGO

Puzzles

Arts & Crafts

All Toys & Games

Building 903. A Story of power, resilience and humanity from the author of The Giver
Building 903. A Story of power, resilience and humanity from the author of The Giver

From the B&N Blog

The Best Picture Books of 2026

The Best Picture Books of 2026

By Emily de Almenara|October 1, 2026
The best picture books of 2026 combine gorgeous illustration with heartfelt stories for a reading experience to remember. Our roundup includes returns to iconic characters like Cat in the Hat and Gruffalo, as well as new favorites sure to delight generations to come.
Read More
The Best Young Readers' Books of 2026

The Best Young Readers' Books of 2026

By Nina Braca|October 1, 2026
This year, young readers were transported to new realms, discovered secret societies and, of course, learned the wonders of middle school. With a new Wimpy Kid adventure, an Impossible Creatures story, a thrilling Spy School mystery and much more, budding readers can discover the books that kept us turning the pages in 2026.
Read More
The Best Young Adult Books of 2026

The Best Young Adult Books of 2026

By Nina Braca|October 1, 2026
Featuring fairytale realms, dystopian worlds and high school halls, this year’s favorite stories for teens are packed with magic, adventure and unforgettable characters. We’ve rounded up the stories that kept YA readers turning the pages all year long, from the highly anticipated Heartstopper finale to a new Shadowhunters tale and so much more.
Read More

Kids

Kids who are aged 9 to 12 start to develop a greater attention span along with logical skills, a wider scope of vocabulary, and an ability to understand a wider range of emotions. Kids this age generally have a good idea of what they like to read, like the topics or genres that interest them. Discover new releases, bestsellers, and popular series that your kids will enjoy. Browse together to find the perfect new read for 9-year-olds, 10-year-olds, 11-year-olds and 12-year-olds. Whether they're elementary school students or middle school students, this collection of books is the perfect fit. From mystery, fantasy, and science-fiction to comic books, there’s a great book waiting for every type of young reader. A fantasy or adventure book series is perfect for middle school students during their summer vacation, while short stories and chapter books are great for 9-year-olds who are just starting to read more challenging books. Entertain, teach, and inspire children with a wide selection of chapter books, with genres spanning from mystery to action and adventure. Some must-read books for 9 to 12 year olds include the Harry Potter series, The Unteachables, The Bookwanderers, The Dog Man Series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Percy Jackson Series, Matilda, The Hobbit, Charlotte's Web, and Guts.

Popular Books for 9-12 Year-Olds

  • Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
  • Stellarlune by Shannon Messenger
  • Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer
  • The Flames of Hope by Tui T. Sutherland
  • Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao
  • The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
  • The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo
  • The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
  • Lightfall by Tim Probert
  • The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
  • Big Shot by Jeff Kinney
  • Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston