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Family Books for Kids

Browse 69,534 children's books about family, each rated for reading level and content intensity. Find books that match both your child's reading ability and emotional readiness.

Parents looking for family books for kids face the same problem with every search: the books are rated for reading level, or they're rated for age — but rarely both, and almost never together. A seven-year-old who reads at a fifth-grade level isn't necessarily ready for a fifth-grade book's emotional weight. That mismatch — what HootRated calls the reading-level gap — is the entire reason we built this site.

Across our catalog of family books, you'll find titles spanning picture books through Grade 10. About 87% are rated Gentle or Mild — good fits for sensitive readers or younger children with advanced reading skills. About 1% sit at the Intense or Very Intense end, with deeper emotional or thematic territory typically better suited to upper-grade readers or kids who specifically want a meatier read.

Use the intensity badges (color-coded: green for gentle, amber for moderate, red for intense) to filter by emotional readiness rather than just age. For deeper context on what each intensity level means, see our rating methodology.

A dangerous path

Erin Hunter

Cover of A dangerous path

A dangerous path

Erin Hunter

Level 5-6 Moderate

Diary of a Worm

Doreen Cronin

Cover of Diary of a Worm

Diary of a Worm

Doreen Cronin

Level 2-3 Gentle

Stuart Little

Laura Driscoll

Cover of Stuart Little

Stuart Little

Laura Driscoll

Level 1-2 Gentle

Going to town

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of Going to town

Going to town

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 3-4 Gentle

On Top Of Concord Hill

Maria D. Wilkes

Cover of On Top Of Concord Hill

On Top Of Concord Hill

Maria D. Wilkes

Level 5-6 Moderate

The best Halloween ever

Barbara Robinson

Cover of The best Halloween ever

The best Halloween ever

Barbara Robinson

Level 5-6 Gentle

Emma's yucky brother

Jean Little

Cover of Emma's yucky brother

Emma's yucky brother

Jean Little

Level 2-3 Gentle

How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found

Sara Nickerson

Cover of How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found

How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found

Sara Nickerson

Level 4-5 Mild

Little Critter

Mercer Mayer

Cover of Little Critter

Little Critter

Mercer Mayer

Level 2-3 Gentle

Just so thankful

Mercer Mayer

Cover of Just so thankful

Just so thankful

Mercer Mayer

Level 3-4 Gentle

Little House on the Prairie

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 4-5 Mild

By the Shores of Silver Lake

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of By the Shores of Silver Lake

By the Shores of Silver Lake

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 5-6 Mild

The long winter

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of The long winter

The long winter

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 5-6 Mild

Sounder

William H. Armstrong

Cover of Sounder

Sounder

William H. Armstrong

Level 5-6 Intense

Sour Land (Harper Trophy Books)

William H. Armstrong

Cover of Sour Land (Harper Trophy Books)

Sour Land (Harper Trophy Books)

William H. Armstrong

Level 5-6 Moderate

Harriet the Spy

Louise Fitzhugh

Cover of Harriet the Spy

Harriet the Spy

Louise Fitzhugh

Level 4-5 Moderate

Little house in Brookfield

Maria D. Wilkes

Cover of Little house in Brookfield

Little house in Brookfield

Maria D. Wilkes

Level 5-6 Mild

Little Town at the Crossroads

Maria D. Wilkes

Cover of Little Town at the Crossroads

Little Town at the Crossroads

Maria D. Wilkes

Level 5-6 Mild

Little Clearing In The Woods: The Caroline Years Book #3

Maria D. Wilkes

Cover of Little Clearing In The Woods: The Caroline Years Book #3

Little Clearing In The Woods: The Caroline Years Book #3

Maria D. Wilkes

Level 5-6 Gentle

Winter on the Farm (My First Little House)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of Winter on the Farm (My First Little House)

Winter on the Farm (My First Little House)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 3-4 Gentle

Going West (My First Little House)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of Going West (My First Little House)

Going West (My First Little House)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 3-4 Gentle

The Adventures of Laura & Jack (Little House Chapter Book)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of The Adventures of Laura & Jack (Little House Chapter Book)

The Adventures of Laura & Jack (Little House Chapter Book)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 3-4 Gentle

Pioneer Sisters (Little House Chapter Book)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of Pioneer Sisters (Little House Chapter Book)

Pioneer Sisters (Little House Chapter Book)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 3-4 Mild

School Days (Little House Chapter Book)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of School Days (Little House Chapter Book)

School Days (Little House Chapter Book)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 3-4 Gentle

Animal Adventures (Little House Chapter Books)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of Animal Adventures (Little House Chapter Books)

Animal Adventures (Little House Chapter Books)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 3-4 Gentle

Christmas Stories (Little House Chapter Book)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of Christmas Stories (Little House Chapter Book)

Christmas Stories (Little House Chapter Book)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 3-4 Gentle

Laura's pa

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of Laura's pa

Laura's pa

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 4-5 Gentle

Little house parties

Heather Henson

Cover of Little house parties

Little house parties

Heather Henson

Level 4 Gentle

Brookfield days

Maria D. Wilkes

Cover of Brookfield days

Brookfield days

Maria D. Wilkes

Level 4-5 Gentle

Caroline & her sister

Maria D. Wilkes

Cover of Caroline & her sister

Caroline & her sister

Maria D. Wilkes

Level 4-5 Mild

Frontier family

Maria D. Wilkes

Cover of Frontier family

Frontier family

Maria D. Wilkes

Level 3-4 Gentle

Brookfield friends

Maria D. Wilkes

Cover of Brookfield friends

Brookfield friends

Maria D. Wilkes

Level 4-5 Gentle

Emma's Magic Winter (I Can Read Book 3)

Jean Little

Cover of Emma's Magic Winter (I Can Read Book 3)

Emma's Magic Winter (I Can Read Book 3)

Jean Little

Level 2-3 Gentle

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

C. S. Lewis

Cover of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

C. S. Lewis

Level 5-6 Moderate

Prince Caspian (Narnia)

C. S. Lewis

Cover of Prince Caspian (Narnia)

Prince Caspian (Narnia)

C. S. Lewis

Level 5-6 Mild

The horse and his boy

C. S. Lewis

Cover of The horse and his boy

The horse and his boy

C. S. Lewis

Level 5-6 Mild

Winter in wartime

Jan Terlouw

Cover of Winter in wartime

Winter in wartime

Jan Terlouw

Level 4-5 Moderate

The story of the treasure seekers

Edith Nesbit

Cover of The story of the treasure seekers

The story of the treasure seekers

Edith Nesbit

Level 7-8 Mild

Little Lord Fauntleroy (Puffin Classics)

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Cover of Little Lord Fauntleroy (Puffin Classics)

Little Lord Fauntleroy (Puffin Classics)

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Level 8-9 Mild

Pollyanna grows up

Eleanor Hodgman Porter

Cover of Pollyanna grows up

Pollyanna grows up

Eleanor Hodgman Porter

Level 6-7 Mild

Once upon a Golden Apple

Jean Little

Cover of Once upon a Golden Apple

Once upon a Golden Apple

Jean Little

Level 3-4 Gentle

Seven-Day Magic

Edward Eager

Cover of Seven-Day Magic

Seven-Day Magic

Edward Eager

Level 4-5 Mild

School Trouble for Andy Russell

David A. Adler

Cover of School Trouble for Andy Russell

School Trouble for Andy Russell

David A. Adler

Level 3-4 Gentle

Mary Poppins in the kitchen

Pamela L. Travers

Cover of Mary Poppins in the kitchen

Mary Poppins in the kitchen

Pamela L. Travers

Level 4-5 Gentle

Just Fishing With Grandma

Mercer Mayer

Cover of Just Fishing With Grandma

Just Fishing With Grandma

Mercer Mayer

Level 2-3 Gentle

Little Critter's This is my school

Mercer Mayer

Cover of Little Critter's This is my school

Little Critter's This is my school

Mercer Mayer

Level 1-2 Gentle

My Big Sister

Mercer Mayer

Cover of My Big Sister

My Big Sister

Mercer Mayer

Level 2-3 Gentle

The Trip

Mercer Mayer

Cover of The Trip

The Trip

Mercer Mayer

Level K-1 Gentle

Little Critter's staying overnight

Mercer Mayer

Cover of Little Critter's staying overnight

Little Critter's staying overnight

Mercer Mayer

Level K-1 Gentle

Little Critter's little sister's birthday

Mercer Mayer

Cover of Little Critter's little sister's birthday

Little Critter's little sister's birthday

Mercer Mayer

Level 1-2 Gentle

Just a rainy day

Mercer Mayer

Cover of Just a rainy day

Just a rainy day

Mercer Mayer

Level 1-2 Gentle

Just grandpa and me

Mercer Mayer

Cover of Just grandpa and me

Just grandpa and me

Mercer Mayer

Level 1-2 Gentle

Behind the desk with-- Matt Christopher

Dale Christopher

Cover of Behind the desk with-- Matt Christopher

Behind the desk with-- Matt Christopher

Dale Christopher

Level 6-7 Gentle

Sonata #1 for Riley Red

Phoebe Stone

Cover of Sonata #1 for Riley Red

Sonata #1 for Riley Red

Phoebe Stone

Level 5 Moderate

The little Brute family

Russell Hoban

Cover of The little Brute family

The little Brute family

Russell Hoban

Level 4-5 Mild

A great day for pup.

Bonnie Worth

Cover of A great day for pup.

A great day for pup.

Bonnie Worth

Level 3-4 Gentle

Hurray for Today!

Bonnie Worth

Cover of Hurray for Today!

Hurray for Today!

Bonnie Worth

Level 4-5 Gentle

Nate the Great and the monster mess

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Cover of Nate the Great and the monster mess

Nate the Great and the monster mess

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Level 2-3 Gentle

A gift for Meg

Susan Beth Pfeffer

Cover of A gift for Meg

A gift for Meg

Susan Beth Pfeffer

Level 4 Gentle

Because a little bug went ka-choo!

Dr. Seuss

Cover of Because a little bug went ka-choo!

Because a little bug went ka-choo!

Dr. Seuss

Level 2-3 Gentle

Showing our 60 curated picks of 69,534 rated family books. Search all of them.

For teens (ages 13+)

6,918 family books are written for readers 13 and up. A few of them:

A Little house traveler

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cover of A Little house traveler

A Little house traveler

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Level 5-6 Gentle

The Other Wind

Ursula K. Le Guin

Cover of The Other Wind

The Other Wind

Ursula K. Le Guin

Level 6 Moderate

Scribbler of dreams

Mary Pearson

Cover of Scribbler of dreams

Scribbler of dreams

Mary Pearson

Level 4-5 Moderate

Prince across the water

Jane Yolen

Cover of Prince across the water

Prince across the water

Jane Yolen

Level 5-6 Moderate

This side of paradise

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Cover of This side of paradise

This side of paradise

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Level 7-8 Moderate

An Abundance of Katherines

John Green

Cover of An Abundance of Katherines

An Abundance of Katherines

John Green

Level 5-6 Moderate

A wizard of Earthsea

Ursula K. Le Guin

Cover of A wizard of Earthsea

A wizard of Earthsea

Ursula K. Le Guin

Level 6-7 Intense

Little men

Louisa May Alcott

Cover of Little men

Little men

Louisa May Alcott

Level 8-9 Mild

The Beautiful and Damned

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Cover of The Beautiful and Damned

The Beautiful and Damned

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Level 7-8 Moderate

Tehanu

Ursula K. Le Guin

Cover of Tehanu

Tehanu

Ursula K. Le Guin

Level 5-6 Very Intense

The Tombs of Atuan (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 2)

Ursula K. Le Guin

Cover of The Tombs of Atuan (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 2)

The Tombs of Atuan (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 2)

Ursula K. Le Guin

Level 5-6 Moderate

Uncle Vampire

Cynthia D. Grant

Cover of Uncle Vampire

Uncle Vampire

Cynthia D. Grant

Level 3-4 Intense

Questions parents ask about family books

What are the best family books for kids?
HootRated catalogs 69,534 family children's books spanning picture books through Grade 10. Each is rated on two dimensions: reading level (text difficulty) and content intensity (emotional weight). The featured picks above are sorted by quality signals — hook factor, discussion potential, and parent-vetted content appropriateness.
Are family books appropriate for sensitive readers?
60,631 of our 69,534 family books are rated Gentle or Mild — appropriate for sensitive readers. 671 are rated Intense or Very Intense. Average intensity across this theme is 1.6/5. Filter by intensity badge color (green = gentle, red = intense) to match your child's emotional readiness.
What's the difference between reading level and content intensity?
Reading level measures text difficulty. Content intensity measures emotional weight. A child can read several grade levels above their age but not yet be ready for high-intensity content — what we call the reading-level gap. For family specifically, the typical reading level lands around Grade 3.