Free resource Β· New Zealand
Homeschool reading list by age
Read-alouds, first chapter books and novels for ages 3 to 15+, mixing New Zealand favourites with classics children everywhere love. Ages are a guide only β read ahead of your child and skip anything that doesn't suit your family.
Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 13 October 2026. How we review
Ages 3β5: picture books to read aloud
Read the same favourites again and again β repetition builds vocabulary and early phonics. Pause to let your child finish rhymes.
Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
Simple, funny and perfect for early readers to join in.
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd
Rhythm and rhyme children memorise quickly.
Greedy Cat by Joy Cowley
A New Zealand classic for first readers.
A Lion in the Meadow by Margaret Mahy
Imagination and gentle humour.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Counting, days of the week and a life cycle.
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
Clever rhyme and a twist.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Big feelings, beautifully told.
Ages 5β7: early readers and longer read-alouds
Keep reading aloud even once your child can read β they can understand far harder stories than they can decode.
The Word Witch by Margaret Mahy
A collection of Mahy's poems and stories to dip into.
Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Gentle chapters for brand-new readers.
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
A classic read-aloud, one chapter at a time.
The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
A different land at the top of the tree each chapter.
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
Funny, illustrated first chapter book.
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Rhyme and repetition that early readers can tackle themselves.
Ages 7β9: first chapter books
Let your child choose some books purely for fun. Series are great for building reading stamina.
The 13-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
Silly, illustrated and hugely popular with reluctant readers.
The Haunting by Margaret Mahy
A gripping family mystery; better as a read-aloud at this age.
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
Friendship, farm life and a lot to talk about.
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Inventive language children love to imitate.
Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
A boy flattened by a falling board β and the start of many letter-writing projects.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
A classic fantasy read-aloud.
Ages 9β12: middle-grade novels
Ask your child to tell back a chapter in their own words, or keep a short reading journal β it's easy evidence of learning for your records.
Deltora Quest: The Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda
Fast fantasy adventure with puzzles to solve.
Under the Mountain by Maurice Gee
Science fiction set under Auckland's volcanoes.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Friendship and a big, scruffy dog.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Kindness, difference and point of view.
Matilda by Roald Dahl
A book about loving books.
Ages 12β15: novels for young teens
Read some of the same books as your teen and talk about them β it's one of the best parts of homeschooling older children.
Once by Morris Gleitzman
A boy in Nazi-occupied Poland. Deals with war and loss; best read together.
The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
A MΔori girl, her grandfather and her people's traditions.
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
The classic quest β a great family read-aloud too.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
A seemingly perfect community with a dark secret.
Alex by Tessa Duder
A teenage swimmer chasing the 1960 Olympics.
Holes by Louis Sachar
A funny, twisty mystery set at a desert camp in Texas.
Ages 15+: older teens and senior years
Mix modern and classic books, and include some non-fiction. Check what any senior course or exam requires before you plan the year.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
A girl in Nazi Germany, narrated by Death. Deals with war and grief.
The Changeover by Margaret Mahy
A supernatural coming-of-age story in Christchurch.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Justice and racism in 1930s Alabama.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
A short fable about power β good for discussion.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A witty classic for confident readers.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
A short, powerful novel about friendship and the Great Depression.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
A world where books are burned β great for discussing ideas and media.