Can I tell you something? It took my oldest daughter a long time to learn to read. She didn't learn until she was almost 9 years old. Thanks to us, she could learn at her own pace and not feel rushed.

Another secret? It made me crazy! She knew how to read and write, but she couldn't make the last connection. That's why it took her so long. When she finally did, she read like a champ. She sped through all of the easy readers and was reading chapter books in no time at all, so

The reason I tend to underestimate how well my kids can read is because they were late readers. My younger daughter only learned to read when she was 8. I think that's a good thing! In this case, it's better for them to enjoy the book even though it's a little below their reading level.

It could be that your daughters are like mine or that they are more advanced for their age than they should be for their age. I have 10 books for 9-year-old girls that should be good for all girls. Some of the books are for beginners, and some are for people who already know how to read. Let's start now!

Books for 9 Year Old Girls

Beginner Chapter Books

Judy Moody Was in a Mood by Megan McDonald

Judy Moody doesn't have high hopes for third grade, to start with. Her new desk will not have a sticker with her name on it. When she moves into her new classroom, there will not be a porcupine named Roger. It looks like she'll be stuck in the first row, where Mr. Todd will see every time she tries to pass a note to her best friend, Rocky. Judy has a little brother who helps her practice medicine, a new pet, and a lot of Band-Aids. She wants to be a doctor.

Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo

He and she aren't just two people: They think that Mercy is more than just an animal. As for Mercy, the Watsons are great for buttered toast, as well as the buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them, which makes her happy. Not so good for the Watsons' bed, but this is not a bad thing. CRACK! It takes a long time for the bed and its people to sink through the floor. Mercy flees in a split second. To start, "Welcome to the world of Mercy Watson."

Because I love Mercy Watson, I love her very much These books have great pictures and a great story. I love this little porcine wonder!

The Absent Author (A to Z Mysteries) by Ron Roy

You can help Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve all kinds of mysteries from A to Z! A stands for Author... A well-known author is coming to Green Lawn! Dink wants to meet his favorite author, Wallis Wallace, and get all of his books signed by her. He runs to the store right away. But the author never comes. Where did Wallis Wallace go to? Josh and Ruth Rose are going to help Dink find him.

Amelia Bedelia Means Business by Herman Parish

Mom and Dad say they will split the cost of a new bike with Amelia Bedelia. Amelia Bedelia needs to work hard and earn some money! As long as you have Amelia, anything can happen. Young people will enjoy the Amelia Bedelia chapter books because they have short, fast-paced stories, a lot of friends, silly situations, and funny wordplay. Look around! The next person to show up is Amelia Bedelia, and she's ready to go to work right now.

Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace

On Hill Street, there are a lot of little kids, but there aren't any little girls that age." Betty wants to play with the little girl who comes over when a new family moves in next door. They do have a little girl named Tacy. At Betsy's fifth birthday party, Tacy and Betsy first meet. They become so close that people start to think of them as one person, "Betsy-Tacy."

To study our state, we read this book together. It's so cute! When a girl reads this story of good friendship, she will be happy.

Searching for even MORE books for 9 year olds???

Chapter Books

Keeper of the Doves by Betsy Byars

People say that Amen McBee, the youngest of five sisters, eats words like other kids eat candy. She is very different from her older twin sisters, Arabella and Annabella, who are known as the Bellas. She is very different from her older twin sisters. They scare Amen with stories about Mr. Tominski, the old recluse who lives in the woods nearby and mysteriously cares for a flock of doves that he doesn't know how to care for. They say Mr. Tominski is a scary monster who eats kids whole. Papa, on the other hand, says that the "keeper of the doves" would never hurt anyone. During a tragedy, Amen must decide who is right.

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary

Winner of the Newbery Award Beverly Cleary makes light of the ups and downs of being a sister in her book. He doesn't always like having an older sister, like Ramona, because it's hard for him to get along with her all of the time. Ramona has a wild imagination, no sense of order, and a strong desire for chaos, which makes it hard for Beezus to be the responsible older sister she knows she should be, even though she wants to be. Will Beezus be able to deal with her little sister?

Almost all kids should read the Ramona books. They're so good! My kids have read them at least four times.

Tumtum & Nutmeg by Emily Bearn

"Tumtum and Nutmeg live in a cozy and quiet way, secretly looking after Arthur and Lucy, the messy human children of the cottage. They didn't know that so many exciting adventures would soon come their way." It's only when Aunt Ivy, a squeamish schoolteacher named Miss Short, and pirate pond rats threaten the safety of the people they care about that the brave pair will do everything they can to save them.

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

It's the first in a set of six books. In the case of Margaret, Clementine's best friend and next-door neighbor, she goes to a lot of trouble to help her. In the beginning, Clementine gets into a lot of trouble. She also learns some important lessons about how to live a good life.

Happy Little Family by Rebecca Caudill

If you go to the Fairchild house in the Kentucky hills, whether it's winter or summer, there's always something going on. One hundred years ago or more." And, even though Bonnie is only four years old, she always finds a way to be in the middle of the fun! It doesn't matter if you're sliding on the ice, looking for arrowheads, or going on that journey of all journeys across the swinging bridge to get to school."

An old family who lived a long time ago is the subject of another heartwarming story now. If your child likes the Little House books, this is a great book for them. If they aren't ready for it yet, it's still great.

It doesn't matter whether your child was an early reader or a late reader. We all need to choose books for our kids to read. In general, I always recommend books I would or have read myself, but more important, books I would want my own kids to read. You should be able to find something new on this list.

Happy reading, everyone!

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