Children at this stage like to read about themselves and their own experiences.  Choosing age-appropriate autobiographies and biographies can be a good way to inspire and encourage further self-discovery.

By the fifth grade books that focus on poetry, rhyming, and word play come into deeper focus.  Children may graduate from Mother Goose and Dr. Seuss to Shel Silverstein and Gwendolyn Brooks.

Children begin to build a very complex identity during these years.  The J.R.R. Tolkien, the Narnia Chronicles, and Harry Potter series of books mine the intricacies of those bourgeoning souls and their bent towards the fantastical.

By twelve-years old, some children may also begin to focus their endeavors on what may lead to life-long passions, like medicine, astronomy, politics, or geography.