Our Ultimate 11 Plus Reading List

Looking for a single list to work through? These eleven classics are all suitable for children preparing for the 11 Plus, cover a wide range of interests, and are all out of copyright, so they’re free to read.

The list

• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll: playful language that stretches imagination and vocabulary.
• Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: a moving story told by a horse, perfect for animal lovers.
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain: mischief and adventure on the Mississippi.
• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett: a gentle, rewarding first classic.
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: four sisters growing up, ideal for confident readers.
• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame: rich, descriptive writing about the riverbank.
• The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling: Mowgli’s adventures among the animals of the jungle.
• The Railway Children by E. Nesbit: three siblings, a mystery and a lot of heart.
• Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie: fantasy, pirates and Neverland.
• The Call of the Wild by Jack London: a gripping survival story for older readers.
• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson: the pirate adventure that started them all.

Keeping your child reading

• Ten to fifteen minutes a day is a great start, and it soon grows.
• Read together and chat about the story as you go.
• Let them choose the next book from the list.
• Create a cosy reading spot that feels special.
• Visit the library regularly to keep things fresh.