In the Harry Potter series of books, every student at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardy gets “sorted” into a house. Each house’s members are known for having certain traits. Potter fans have embraced these houses, and many of them (myself included!) love to show pride to the house that they feel reflects their personality. (Want to you know your house? Take the quiz on Pottermore!)
Gryffindors are know for being brave, chivalrous, and bold. The house colors are gold and scarlet, and the house mascot is the lion. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley are all Gryffindors.
If you have a young Gryffindor at home, you’ll love reading these books with them!
9 Books for Young Gryffindors
Book links are Amazon referral links.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll — This classic novel is one of my all-time favorites. A little girl falls down a rabbit hole and is transported to a whole new world where rabbits talk, food makes you shrink or grow, and a queen yells “Off with their heads!” Will Alice be able to keep her head and find her way home?
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi — Charlotte Doyle can’t wait to come home to Rhode Island from her boarding school in England. Things quickly change when she finds out she will be traveling alone on a ship where trouble is brewing between the captain and the crew. Charlotte becomes ensnared in the conflict, and her life takes a turn she never expected.
Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale — Rapunzel uses her own strength and smarts to escape her tower, and now she must face life in a world she’s never experienced. She partners with Jack (of the Beanstalk) and sets out to save her mother and exact revenge on the woman who kidnapped her.
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson — This new look at the classic Peter Pan story is full of adventure and excitement! Peter and his friends are sent off on a ship called the Never Land, headed toward an island ran by the treacherous King Zarboff. The journey is not a smooth one, and between storms and pirates powerful secrets are revealed.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg — Claudia has decided to run away from home, but she doesn’t want to run just anywhere. She enlists her younger brother Jamie and they run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art! They end up getting more when they bargained for when they’re pulled into the middle of a crazy mystery.
Harriet The Spy by Louise Fitzhugh — Harriet has an unusual hobby — spying. She watches everyone, and she writes down everything she sees and thinks about them in her spying notebook. Things get messy when Harriet loses her notebook. Her friends read the not-always-nice things she’s written about them, and she must try to repair those relationships. Will Harriet continue to spy after this awful mishap?
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl — James Trotter has had a rough life. His parents were killed in a rhinoceros attack when he was very young, which means James was forced to live with his evil relatives, Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge. James’s life is one of hard labor and no fun until he meets an old man who gives him a magical gift. Soon, James is riding on a peach with some unusual new friends, on his way to a new life across the ocean.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverley Cleary — Ralph is a brave little mouse who lives in the Mountain View Inn. When a young boy named Keith comes to stay, Ralph vows to ride on the toy motorcycle Keith has brought along. Ralph and Keith soon become friends, and Ralph is able to help his new pal when he needs it most, risking his own life in the process.
