Great Books for Building Vocabulary

Although your child could cram lots of word lists to learn new vocabulary quickly, the best way to build vocabulary is simply to read: read a lot, read often, read widely, and read for fun! Children who encounter new words in the context of a story more readily pick up on the meaning of the words. You can also have your child keep a word list as they read, adding to it every time they come across an unknown word.

But how to choose a book among the many, many examples? We’ve curated a list of our favorites that will entertain your child, while also enriching their vocabulary.

1. The Book Thief  by Markus Zuzak

Best for middle schoolers, this riveting adventure story follows a young girl who hides a Jewish child in Nazi Germany.

Sample vocabulary words: abhorrence, traipse, septic, illustrious, raucous

2. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

The well-loved tale of friendship between a girl, a pig, and a spider is suited for 3rd-6th graders.

Sample vocabulary words: runt, specimen, frolic, enchanted, perspiration

3. Doctor De Soto by William Steig

For younger elementary students, a picture book can be a wonderful way to introduce new words while keeping the readers entertained! This charming tail (no pun intended…) of a mouse dentist includes some difficult new words!

Sample vocabulary words: hoist, misery, quiver, extract, particle

4.To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Another middle school classic, To Kill a Mockingbird offers a powerful coming-of-age story against the backdrop of racial tensions in 1930s Alabama.

Sample vocabulary words: tyrannical, unsullied, concede, erratic, arbitrate

5. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Students from age 10 and up love following Harry’s adventures through the wizarding world of Hogwarts—have your child read the whole series, and watch their vocabulary grow!

Sample vocabulary words: tawny, chortle, astride, scrawny, hoodlum