To encourage the joy of reading, the Mensa Foundation has developed the Mensa for Kids Excellence in Reading Program, a year-round challenge to kids of all ages based on the NEH's "Summertime Favorites" reading list, with some alterations.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
by Judith Viorst
Recommended Age: 4
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Moving Beyond the Page Age 6-8 Literature Package
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: Reading Roadmaps Kindergarten
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury)
All-of-a-Kind Family
by Sydney Taylor
Also: Sonlight Level E for Ages 9-12
Amelia Bedelia
by Peggy Parish
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Reading Roadmaps 1st Grade
Also: Sonlight Grade 2 Readers
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Veritas Press 1st Grade Literature
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury)
Anansi the Spider
by Gerald McDermott
Bedtime for Frances
by Russell Hoban
Also: Reading Roadmaps 1st Grade
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury)
Blueberries for Sal
by Robert McCloskey
Recommended Age: 4
Also: Before Five in a Row Book List for Ages 3-4
Also: Mater Amabilis Pre-K Book List for Ages 4-5
Also: Moving Beyond the Page Age 4-5 Literature Package
Also: Reading Roadmaps 1st Grade
Also: Reading Roadmaps Kindergarten
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Top 10 Books for Toddlers
Also: Veritas Press 1st Grade Literature
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in Make Way for McCloskey: A Robert McCloskey Treasury)
The Cabin Faced West
by Jean Fritz
Also: Reading Roadmaps 3rd Grade
Also: Sonlight Level D for Ages 8-11
The Carrot Seed
by Ruth Krauss
Recommended Age: 3
Also: Before Five in a Row Book List for Ages 3-4
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: Reading Roadmaps Kindergarten
The Cat in the Hat
by Dr. Seuss
Also: Reading Roadmaps 1st Grade
Also: Sonlight Grade 1 Readers
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Charlotte's Web
by E. B. White
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Mater Amabilis Kindergarten Book List for Ages 5-6
Also: Mater Amabilis Level 1B Book List for Ages 6-7
Also: Moving Beyond the Page Age 7-9
Also: Reading Roadmaps 3rd Grade
Also: Sonlight Level B for Ages 6-8
Also: Veritas Press 3rd Grade Literature
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
by Judi Barrett
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Former Sonlight Books
Corduroy
by Don Freeman
Recommended Age: 4
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Before Five in a Row Book List for Ages 3-4
Also: Mater Amabilis Pre-K Book List for Ages 4-5
Also: Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten Read-Aloud Program
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: Reading Roadmaps Kindergarten
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Veritas Press 1st Grade Literature
The Cricket in Times Square
by George Selden
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Reading Roadmaps 3rd Grade
Also: Sonlight Level C for Ages 7-9
Curious George
by H.A. Rey
Recommended Age: 3
Also: Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten Read-Aloud Program
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: Veritas Press 1st Grade Literature
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury)
The Dot
by Peter Reynolds
Freckle Juice
by Judy Blume
Frederick
by Leo Lionni
Also: Memoria Press Kindergarten Read-Aloud Program
Frog and Toad are Friends
by Arnold Lobel
Also: My Father's World Kindergarten Literature Collection
Also: Sonlight Grade 2 Readers
Also: Veritas Press 1st Grade Literature
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time (in The Frog and Toad Collection)
The Garden of Abdul Gasazi
by Chris Van Allsburg
Also: Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards for Excellence in Children's Literature
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
George and Martha
by James Marshall
Recommended Age: 4
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Goodnight Moon
by Margaret Wise Brown
Recommended Age: 1
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Before Five in a Row Book List for Ages 3-4
Also: Mater Amabilis Pre-K Book List for Ages 4-5
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Top 10 Books for Babies
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury)
Harry the Dirty Dog
by Gene Zion; illustrated by Margaret Graham
Recommended Age: 3
Also: Mater Amabilis Pre-K Book List for Ages 4-5
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Top 10 Books for Toddlers
Also: Veritas Press 1st Grade Literature
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury)
How the Leopard Got His Claws
by Chinua Achebe
Also: New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2011
The Hundred Dresses
by Eleanor Estes
Also: Reading Roadmaps 2nd Grade
Also: Reading Roadmaps 3rd Grade
Also: Sonlight Level A for Ages 5-7
Also: Veritas Press 2nd Grade Literature
I Want My Hat Back
by Jon Klassen
Also: New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2011
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
If I Never Forever Endeavor
by Holly Meade
Leo the Late Bloomer
by Robert Kraus
Also: Reading Roadmaps 1st Grade
The Little Engine that Could
by Watty Piper
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Reading Roadmaps Kindergarten
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Top 10 Books for Toddlers
Also: Veritas Press 1st Grade Literature
Little House on the Prairie
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Angelicum Academy 2nd Grade Good Books
Also: Reading Roadmaps 3rd Grade
Also: Veritas Press 2nd Grade Literature
Little Toot
by Hardie Gramatky
Also: Memoria Press 1st Grade Read-Aloud Program
Also: Reading Roadmaps 1st Grade
The Littles
by John Peterson
Also: Sonlight Grade 3 Readers
Madeline
by Ludwig Bemelmans
Recommended Age: 4
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Five in a Row Book List for Ages 4-8
Also: Mater Amabilis Kindergarten Book List for Ages 5-6
Also: Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten Read-Aloud Program
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: Reading Roadmaps 1st Grade
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Veritas Press 1st Grade Literature
Also: What We Read: France
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury)
Make Way for Ducklings
by Robert McCloskey
Recommended Age: 3
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Caldecott Medal Winners
Also: Five in a Row Book List for Ages 4-8
Also: Mater Amabilis Pre-K Book List for Ages 4-5
Also: My Father's World Kindergarten Literature Collection
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: Reading Roadmaps 1st Grade
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in Make Way for McCloskey: A Robert McCloskey Treasury)
Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel
by Virginia Lee Burton
Recommended Age: 4
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Five in a Row Book List for Ages 4-8
Also: Mater Amabilis Pre-K Book List for Ages 4-5
Also: Memoria Press 1st Grade Read-Aloud Program
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: Reading Roadmaps 1st Grade
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: What We Read: Trucks and Construction
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in Mike Mulligan and More)
Millions Of Cats
by Wanda Gág
Recommended Age: 3
Also: Mater Amabilis Pre-K Book List for Ages 4-5
Also: Memoria Press 1st Grade Read-Aloud Program
Also: Moving Beyond the Page Age 4-5 Literature Package
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury)
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
by Beverly Cleary
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Reading Roadmaps 3rd Grade
Mr. Popper's Penguins
by Richard Atwater
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Mater Amabilis Level 1B Book List for Ages 6-7
Also: Sonlight Level B for Ages 6-8
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
by Robert C. O’Brien
Recommended Age: 9
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Newbery Medal Winners
Paul Revere's Ride
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, illustrated by Ted Rand
Recommended Age: 6
Also: Five in a Row Book List for Ages 4-8
Also: Memoria Press 2nd Grade Read-Aloud Program
The Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg
Recommended Age: 4
Also: Caldecott Medal Winners
Also: Memoria Press 1st Grade Read-Aloud Program
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: Reading Roadmaps 1st Grade
Also: Top 25 Christmas Picture Books
Peppe the Lamplighter
by Elisa Bartone
Pippi Longstocking
by Astrid Lindgren
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Former Sonlight Books
Also: Mater Amabilis Level 1B Book List for Ages 6-7
Also: Reading Roadmaps 3rd Grade
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Put Me in the Zoo
by Robert Lopshire
Also: Sonlight Grade 1 Readers
Rabbit Hill
by Robert Lawson
Recommended Age: 9
Also: Newbery Medal Winners
Ramona Quimby, Age 8
by Beverly Cleary
The Quiltmaker's Gift
by Jeff Brumbeau
Also: Top 25 Christmas Picture Books
The Reluctant Dragon
by Kenneth Grahame
Also: Reading Roadmaps 2nd Grade
Sam the Minuteman
by Nathaniel Benchley
Sarah, Plain and Tall
by Patricia MacLachlan
Recommended Age: 8
Also: Newbery Medal Winners
Also: Sonlight Level D for Ages 8-11
Also: Veritas Press 2nd Grade Literature
Shiloh
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Recommended Age: 11
Also: Newbery Medal Winners
The Snowy Day
by Ezra Jack Keats
Recommended Age: 2
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Before Five in a Row Book List for Ages 3-4
Also: Caldecott Medal Winners
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Top 10 Books for Toddlers
Also: What We Read: Winter and Snow
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury)
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
by Jon Scieszka
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Stone Soup
by Marcia Brown
Also: Mater Amabilis Pre-K Book List for Ages 4-5
Also: My Father's World Kindergarten Literature Collection
Also: Reading Roadmaps Kindergarten
Also: Top 10 Thanksgiving Picture Books
Also: Veritas Press 1st Grade Literature
The Tale of Despereaux
by Kate DiCamillo
Recommended Age: 8
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Newbery Medal Winners
The Story of Babar: The Little Elephant
by Jean De Brunhoff
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
The Story of Ferdinand
by Munro Leaf
Recommended Age: 4
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Five in a Row Book List for Ages 4-8
Also: Mater Amabilis Pre-K Book List for Ages 4-5
Also: Memoria Press Kindergarten Read-Aloud Program
Also: My Father's World Kindergarten Literature Collection
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: Reading Roadmaps 1st Grade
Also: Reading Roadmaps Kindergarten
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: What We Read: Spain and Portugal
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury)
Strega Nona
by Tomie DePaola
Recommended Age: 4
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Stellaluna
by Janell Cannon
Also: Memoria Press Kindergarten Read-Aloud Program
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
by William Steig
Recommended Age: 4
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Caldecott Medal Winners
Also: Moving Beyond the Page Age 6-8 Literature Package
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury)
The Tale Of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter
Recommended Age: 4
Also: Five in a Row Book List for Ages 4-8
Also: My Father's World Kindergarten Literature Collection
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: Reading Roadmaps Kindergarten
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Sonlight Pre-K Book List for Ages 4-5 (in The Complete Adventures of Peter Rabbit)
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime (in Beatrix Potter The Complete Tales)
The Three Little Pigs
by Paul Galdone
Also: Reading Roadmaps Kindergarten
Tikki Tikki Tembo
by Arlene Mosel
Also: Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards for Excellence in Children's Literature
Also: Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten Read-Aloud Program
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: What We Read: China
Where the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak
Recommended Age: 4
Also: Amazon's 100 Children's Books to Read in a Lifetime
Also: Caldecott Medal Winners
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Sonlight Preschool Book List for Ages 3-4 (in 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury)
Winnie-the-Pooh
by A. A. Milne
Also: Mater Amabilis Kindergarten Book List for Ages 5-6
Also: Memoria Press 3rd Grade Read-Aloud Program
Also: Reading Roadmaps 3rd Grade
Also: TIME: The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time
Also: Veritas Press 2nd Grade Literature