Books About Illinois · 104 titles considered

The Best Illinois Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about illinois? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson
The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Illinois

Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 11–15 · 1978

The Westing Game

By Ellen Raskin · Puffin Modern Classics series

Sixteen heirs must solve a cryptic puzzle to claim a fortune. But what is the real game?

Newbery Medal (1979)
182 pages· 50,662 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
5.3/7 Bookroo experts·4.0/5 Goodreads · 240,043 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1957

Dandelion Wine

By Ray Bradbury · Book #1 in the Greentown series

A boy's summer of wonder and discovery in a small town hides timeless secrets and marvels.

239 pages· 64,709 words· Est. 6 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 80,828 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 1998

A Long Way from Chicago

Two siblings face wild summers with their unpredictable grandmother.

148 pages· 35,326 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 36,250 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2010

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Two teens named Will Grayson meet, altering their lives forever.

352 pages· 74,277 words· Est. 7 hour read
3.7/5 Goodreads · 414,883 ratings
$21.80Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 1954

Lord of the Flies

Stranded boys' paradise turns to chaos as order collapses.

219 pages· 60,305 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
3.7/5 Goodreads · 3,286,830 ratings
$12.00Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1984

The House on Mango Street

A young girl navigates harsh realities and dreams of escape in a Chicago neighborhood.

110 pages· 18,014 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
3.7/5 Goodreads · 247,062 ratings
$12.95Save 4%
Picture Book · Ages 6–9 · 2015

The House That Jane Built

By Tanya Lee Stone, Kathryn Brown (Illustrator)

A woman transforms a Chicago neighborhood with a community center, impacting thousands.

32 pages· 1,243 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud
6.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 1,254 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2012

Love, Amalia

A girl navigates loss and discovers her heritage's power to heal.

127 pages· 21,203 words· Est. 3 hour read
5.8/7 Bookroo experts·3.6/5 Goodreads · 354 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Picture Book · Ages 5–9 · 2015

Logan Pryce Makes a Mess

A boy's eagerness risks his father's new job. Can he fix his mistake?

128 pages· 4,471 words· Est. 35 min read-aloud
5.4/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 207 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2021

Becoming

From Chicago roots to the White House, discover a journey of resilience and self-discovery.

432 pages
4.4/5 Goodreads · 1,724 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
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Browse by age

Illinois Board Books for Babies & Toddlers

Sturdy, inviting books about illinois for the youngest readers and listeners.

123 Chicago

Ages 0–4 · 2009

Count to ten with Chicago's iconic landmarks and symbols.

Larry Loves Chicago!

Ages 0–3 · 2014

A lost pup explores Chicago's iconic landmarks.

Chicago

Ages 3–5 · 2020

Explore Chicago's landmarks and culture through a child's eyes.

View all illinois board books
Browse by age

Illinois Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about illinois for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Fiona's Lace

Ages 4–8 · 2014

A family's bond is tested by separation, but a unique lace leads them back together.

Coming on Home Soon

Ages 5–8 · 2004

A girl and her grandma await a letter during wartime, hoping for Mama's return.

Saving Strawberry Farm

Ages 5–10 · 2005

Can a single penny save a cherished farm during the Great Depression?

Abraham Lincoln

Ages 9–11 · 1939

A frontier boy rises to become a pivotal leader and emancipator in American history.

I'm Fast!

Ages 4–8 · 2012

A freight train races against time and obstacles to reach Chicago.

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Illinois

Ages 4–8 · 2012

Explore Illinois' wonders with Mia and uncover unexpected surprises.

Chicago ABC
Sale price
$1499

Chicago ABC

Ages 2–5 · 2016

Explore Chicago's iconic sites from A to Z with a curious pup.

Larry Gets Lost in Chicago

Ages 4–8 · 2010

A curious pup gets lost in Chicago. Can he find his way back to his family?

Edward and Annie

Ages 4–8 · 2022

Penguins explore their aquarium home, discovering new friends and surprises.

The Littlest Bunny in Chicago

Ages 4–7 · 2015

A tiny bunny with a big secret races to hide eggs before Easter morning ends.

Illinois

Ages 8–12 · 2013

Explore Illinois' plains and bustling Chicago, uncovering its history and culture.

Santa Is Coming to Illinois

Ages 4–8 · 2013

Santa's sleigh soars over Illinois. Have you been good this year?

Browse by age

Illinois Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about illinois for developing and independent readers.

Tornado Terror

Ages 7–10 · 2017

A massive tornado devastates a small town in Illinois in 1925, killing nearly 700 people and destroying entire towns.

Being Clem

Ages 8–12 · 2021

Clem's world unravels after his father's death. Can he uphold his legacy?

The Windy City

Ages 10–13 · 2013

Teens race to stop a deadly plot in Chicago while avoiding boarding school.

Who Is Michelle Obama?

Ages 8–12 · 2013

A biography of Michelle Obama, from her childhood to her time as First Lady of the United States

Dog Diaries #9: Sparky

Ages 8–11 · 2016

A fire dog and a rescue horse face Chicago's greatest blaze.

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871
Sale price
$599

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871

Ages 7–10 · 2015

Can Oscar escape the inferno consuming Chicago?

Leaving Lymon

Ages 8–12 · 2020

A boy's journey from the South to the North tests his resilience and love for music.

Ghost Boys

Ages 9–12 · 2018

A boy's ghost seeks justice and understanding after a tragic police shooting.

The Wrigley Riddle

Ages 6–9 · 2013

Ivy is missing at Wrigley Field. Is it sabotage or treasure hunting?

Finding Langston

Ages 8–12 · 2018

A boy finds solace in a library and a poet's legacy amidst the chaos of a new city.

Horse Diaries #13: Cinders

Ages 8–11 · 2016

A horse recounts her life from her idyllic childhood on a farm to her work as a fire horse in Chicago during the Great Fire of 1871

The World Series Curse

Ages 6–9 · 2016

A World Series mystery threatens the Cubs. Can it be solved before the final game?

Keep exploring
Books about city and town lifeBooks about codes, ciphers and puzzlesBooks about coming of ageBooks about identityBooks about inheritancesBooks about LGBTQBooks about Mexican cultureBooks about moving

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