
Age rating and parents' guide:Jada Jones
by Kelly Starling Lyons
Ages 6–8
Jada Jones by Kelly Starling Lyons is best for children aged 6–8. It has no violence, nothing scary, no romance and no bad language.
Jada Jones is an energetic, science-loving girl who faces the everyday ups and downs of elementary school. When her best friend moves away, Jada feels lonely, but a class project on rocks and minerals gives her a chance to explore her passions and connect with potential new friends. Written in an accessible chapter-book style with illustrations, it offers an encouraging, relatable story that newly independent readers will easily connect with.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- None
- Scary moments
- None
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Early chapter book
- Part of the Jada Jones series
- Easy to get into from the first page
- Plenty of illustrations
- Emotionally light
- A good pick for reluctant readers
Great for kids who like
- Realistic Fiction (School & Friendships)
- Science
- School life
Reading mood
- Inspiring
Good to talk about
- Friendship
- Emotions & empathy
Books like Jada Jones
Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.

Ages 6–11
Each Kindness
by Jacqueline Woodson
Chloe and her friends repeatedly shut out Maya, a new girl at school whose clothes are worn and who plays alone. Each time Maya tries to join in, she is met with cold stares and laughter. When Maya suddenly stops coming to school, their teacher gives a lesson showing how every small act of kindness sends ripples out into the world. Chloe is left reflecting on missed chances. It is a quiet, deeply moving picture book that helps children think about empathy, exclusion, and how their everyday choices affect others.

Ages 6–8
Phoebe G. Green
by Veera Hiranandani
Phoebe G. Green is a spirited, curious third-grader with a huge appetite for food and adventure. Whether she is welcoming a new classmate from France or experimenting with unusual snacks, Phoebe approaches everyday school and family challenges with humor and plenty of enthusiasm. Young readers will enjoy her lively personality, relatable friendship dilemmas, and the fun, food-centered themes woven through her charming early chapter-book escapades.

Ages 6–8
Our Principal Is a Frog!
by Stephanie Calmenson
When a visiting magician makes a mistake during a school assembly, Mr. Bundy is transformed into a green, fly-catching frog. Still determined to run the school, the tiny principal hops around trying to do his daily job while the children help him out. It is a silly, lighthearted early reader filled with fun illustrations and easy vocabulary. Young readers will enjoy the goofy classroom mishaps and the funny idea of an amphibian trying to keep an entire elementary school in order.

Ages 6–8
Clementine
by Sara Pennypacker
Eight-year-old Clementine has a heart of gold and an exuberant imagination, but she often finds herself in trouble for paying attention to the wrong things. When she tries to help her best friend Margaret after a bad haircut incident, things quickly spiral into a week of comical mishaps. Warm, funny, and deeply relatable, this story captures the dizzying logic of childhood and the security of a loving family who understand Clementine just as she is.

Ages 6–8
Judy Moody
by Megan McDonald
Feisty third-grader Judy Moody starts a new school year in a famously foul mood, dreading the typical getting-to-know-you assignments. Things take a turn when her teacher asks everyone to create a collage all about themselves. With help from her best friend Rocky and her annoying younger brother Stink, Judy dives into funny projects and quirky mishaps. Young readers love Judy's relatable temper tantrums, lively humor, and big personality.

Ages 6–11
The World According to Humphrey
by Betty G. Birney
Humphrey is the classroom hamster in Room 26, where he secretly watches the children and teachers navigate daily challenges. When he spends weekends at different students' homes, he finds clever ways to help them solve their problems, from shy classmates to tricky family routines. Told from Humphrey's funny and observant perspective, this warm story is an engaging chapter book that appeals to young animal lovers and early independent readers.
A good book is the start. A mentor makes it stick.
In a free 1:1 session, a trained Bookstaken mentor reads with your child, asks what they think and helps the reading habit last.