6 Book Series to Help Kids Fall in Love With Chapter Books
One of our favorite things about having sisters in similar stages of life is constantly swapping book recommendations. What are your kids reading? What book actually held their attention? And what series made them immediately ask for the next one?
Lately, we’ve been comparing notes on book series for kids starting chapter books. That tricky stage where they’re ready to move beyond picture books, but aren’t quite ready for long, complicated chapter books yet.
We wanted books with short chapters, plenty of illustrations, and stories exciting enough to make them want to keep reading. These are six series we’ve been recommending back and forth to each other and reaching for with our own kids.
The Last Firehawk Series by Katrina Charman
If you have a kid who loves magical creatures and big adventures, The Last Firehawk is such a fun place to start. The series follows a young owl named Tag and his friends as they set out to protect their world from an evil vulture and his army.
We love that these feel like big fantasy adventures while still being really accessible to younger readers. There are illustrations throughout, manageable chapters, and plenty of action to keep kids wanting to find out what happens next.
The Kingdom of Wrenly Series by Jordan Quinn
This has become one of our favorite recommendations for kids who are starting to get interested in fantasy. Prince Lucas and his friend Clara explore the Kingdom of Wrenly, encountering dragons, trolls, fairies, sea monsters, and plenty of problems to solve along the way.
The books are short, illustrated, and easy to follow, but they still give kids that exciting feeling of entering an entire fantasy world. There are also lots of books in the series, which is always a win when your child gets hooked.
Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne
There’s a reason Magic Tree House has been around for so long. Jack and Annie travel through time and around the world from their mysterious tree house, landing everywhere from the age of dinosaurs to ancient Egypt.
We love how much kids learn without the books ever feeling like they’re trying to teach them a lesson. They’re full of history, adventure, mystery, and just enough magic to keep things exciting.
Ivy + Bean Series by Annie Barrows
For kids who aren’t as interested in dragons and magical kingdoms, Ivy + Bean is such a fun option. Ivy and Bean are two very different girls who become unlikely best friends and manage to find themselves in all kinds of hilarious situations.
These books feel playful and relatable, with plenty of illustrations and humor throughout. They’re especially great for kids who love stories about friendship, school, neighborhood adventures, and kids getting themselves into a little bit of trouble.
Bravepaw Series by L.M. Wilkinson
Bravepaw combines an adorable mouse hero with a much bigger fantasy adventure. Bravepaw sets off on a dangerous quest filled with creatures, challenges, and plenty of opportunities to discover just how brave she can be.
It’s another great option for kids who are drawn to fantasy but still need something that feels manageable as an early chapter book. The combination of adventure and an unlikely little hero makes this one especially fun to read together.
The Adventures of Sophie Mouse Series by Poppy Green
The Adventures of Sophie Mouse is such a sweet option for kids who love gentle stories about friendship, animals, and everyday adventures. Sophie lives in the cozy little world of Silverlake Forest, where she and her friends explore, solve problems, and learn how to be good friends along the way. With short chapters and illustrations throughout, it’s a great series for kids just starting to read chapter books on their own.
Finding That Sweet Spot for Early Readers
There’s such a tricky stage between picture books and the bigger chapter books kids eventually grow into. They want the excitement of a “big kid book,” but they still benefit from illustrations, shorter chapters, and stories that move quickly.
These book series for early readers have been hitting that sweet spot for us. And one of the best parts about finding a series your child loves is that you don’t have to figure out what to read next, you can just grab the next book!
If you have an early chapter book series your kids can’t put down, please send it our way. We’re always looking for another one to recommend to each other.
X.o. The Threads Between Sisters
