Beginning chapter books are so important because they are the connection between leveled readers and regular chapter books. You can often recognize beginning/easy chapter books simply by glancing through the interiors. Usually there are still a good number of illustrations and the chapters are incredibly short. Also, the text is often spaced out with extra room between lines and possibly even a larger font. My favorite thing about these books is that they actually have a plot! This is so much fun for new readers and I can’t wait for my kiddos to reach this stage.
One thing to note is that there is still quite a range within beginning/easy chapter books. Towards the beginning you have series like “The Princess in Black”, then it moves to series like “The Magic Treehouse” series and continues all the way to series like “The Boxcar Kids” which as a whole is on the cusp of middle grade chapter books. All beginning chapter books are geared towards children ages 5-8, but each child learns to read at their own pace and there is a lot of reading development that occurs in just those few years. Below is a list of some fantastic beginning chapter book series that include brand new series that are just starting out as well as some classic series that have been loved for generations. We hope you find a new favorite or two to enjoy!
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“The Princess in Black” by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale and LeUyen Pham (5-8)- This series is SO much fun! There are tons of full color illustrations (some even full page) and the wittiest little stories about this princess in disguise. A favorite for sure!
First two in the series: The Princess in Black
“Juana and Lucas” by Juana Medina (5-8)- This brand new series just started, but watch out because the next one is sure to be as fantastic! This story features a little girl in Columbia and even has Spanish words spread throughout. Plus, you see that little award down in the corner? Yup, it’s a winner!
First two in the series: Juana and Lucas
“Mrs. Noodlekugel” by Daniel Pinkwater and Adam Stowe (5-9)- Think Mrs. Pigglewiggle, but for an even younger audience. Mrs. Noodlekugel is quirky and does everything with flair nd a bit of magic. Our two protagonists can’t get enough, and I’m sure fans can’t either!
First two in the series: Mrs. Noodlekugel
Mrs. Noodlekugel and Four Blind Mice
“Polly Diamond” by Alice Kuipers and Diana Toledano (6-8)- This is another brand new series that only has one book released so far, but you can bet we are on the alert for the second. It is about a little girl who has a magical book appear at her doorstep one day that has the power to fulfill wishes. It is so cute and, most importantly, I just adore Polly the protagonist.
First two in the series: Polly Diamond and the Magic Book: Book 1
“Narwahl and Jelly” by Ben Clanton (6-9)- This positively clever and humorous series is an absolute must! It is an introduction for new readers to graphic novels and features two friends (a narwhal and jellyfish) that adore waffles and are bursting with creativity. These are ones that I enjoy just as much as my kids!
First 2 in series: Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea (A Narwhal and Jelly Book 1)
“Mercy Watson” by Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen (6-9)- Like The Princess in Black, these books are full of full color illustrations. It is the perfect step-up from picture books to chapter books and are a pure delight to read. They feature a lovable pic with a perchance for trouble and make lovely read-alouds.
First two in series: Mercy Watson to the Rescue
“Junie B. Jones” by Barbara Park and Denise Brunkus (6-9)- When my little sister was learning to read I read one of her Junie books out of curiosity and found myself reading as many as I could get my hands on afterwards. They are hilarious and I love how applicable they are for young children.
First two in series: Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (Junie B. Jones, No. 1)
“The Magic Treehouse” by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca (6-9)- This is a series that I fell in love with as a kid and now there are dozens and dozens of them published! I am so excited to share them with my kids and can completely see why they are such a hugely popular series!
First two in series: Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House, No. 1)
“Judy Moody” by Megan McDonald and Peter H. Reynolds (6-9)- Judy is full of spunk and sass and likes to do things her own way. With 14 books in the series (and counting) there is plenty of Judy and her friends to go around.
First two in the series: Judy Moody
“Ivy and Bean” by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall (7-9)- Ivy and Bean are the best of friends and enjoy navigating life together. They have a unique style and a creative solution for just about everything. Kids will delight in how relatable they are and how cute the series is.
First two in series: Ivy & Bean (Book 1) (Bk. 1)
“The Borrowers” by Mary Norton and Joe & Beth Krush (7-10)- This is another series that I fell in love with as a kid. The idea of tiny people living under the floorboards of your home and borrowing all the little knick knack that disappear was so appealing to me. You can bet I was so excited when the movie was released!
First two in the series: The Borrowers
“The Littles” by John Peterson and Roberta Carter Clark (7-10)- I loved this series as a child just as much, if not more, than The Borrowers. The main difference I could see as a child is that the Littles have mouselike features (such as a tail) and the Borrowers don’t. Both series are super fun.
First two books in the series:The Littles
“The Boxcar Children” by Gertrude Chandler Warner and L. Kate Deal (7-10)- Does this series even need an introduction?! Generations of children have loved this series and they are definitely ones worth checking out.
First two in the series: The Boxcar Children (The Boxcar Children, No. 1) (The Boxcar Children Mysteries)
“Flower Fairy Friends” by Cicely Mary Barker (7-10)- We are fairy fans over here so this series is an absolute must. They tell the sweet and charming little adventures of a bunch of flower fairies that live together in a magical garden. Both the stories and the scattered illustrations are adorable.
First two in the series: Almond Blossom’s Mystery: A Flower Fairies Friends Chapter Book
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